Week 7: Databases

Databases:

1. List, describe, and provide an example of each of the five characteristics of high quality information
Business decisions are only as good as the quality of information used to make the decisions.
- Accuracy: it is important that information needs to be correct.
- Completeness: needs to be complete to achieve accurate result
- Consistency: making sure that all the data is consistent, eg worldwide data needs consistency
- Uniqueness: eg student registration in notre dame
- Timeliness: being able to extract & deliver information when its needed. eg service orientated architecture

2. Define the relationship between a database and a database management system.
Database is the logical organized collection of data; where the database mgmt system (DBMS) is the actual application. ie. the group of programs that manipulate the database and provide an interface between the database and its users and other application programs,

3. Describe the advantages an organisation can gain by using a database.
Increased flexibility, Increased scalability and performance, Reduced information redundancy, Increased information integrity (quality), Increased information security, accurately store records.
Through the use of a database, an organisation can benefit through; data security (protection from theft,
modification & destruction), data integrity (data meeting constraints) and data independence (applications & data are independent from eachother.) Whilst also preventing; data redundancy, data iscolation & data inconsistency.

4. Define the fundamental concepts of the relational database model.
A relational database is a series of 2D tables that can link to each-other. This allows infinite amounts of data linking to each-other.

5. Describe the benefits of a data-driven website.
By having a database behind the website you only need to update the data once in the website. Development, Content management, Future expandability, Minimising human error, Cutting production and update costs, More efficient, Improved stability, Real time info like stock levels & price changes


6. Describe the roles and purposes of data warehouses and data marts in an organization:
Provide intelligence from many different systems. ie. Relational database management systems specifically designed to support management decision making

Development - allows the website owner to make changes at any time, all without having to rely on a developer or knowing HTML programming. A well structured, data-driven website enables updating with little or no information or no training.

Future expandability- having a data driven website enables the site to grow faster than would be possible with a static site

Minimising Human Error- A well desgined, data-driven website will have 'error trapping' mechanisms to ensure that required information is filled out correctly and that content is entered and displayed in its correct format.

Cutting production costs- convenient and cuts costs, and updates take fraction of time they would with static site

More efficient- system keep track of templates, so users do not have to

Improved Stability- content is never lost, even if your programmer is.