Computers Are Your Future Twelfth Edition
Chapter 12: Databases and Information Systems
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Databases and Information Systems
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Objectives • Describe the basic components of a
database. • Describe the qualities of a good
database. • Distinguish between file management
programs and relational database management systems, and explain the advantages and disadvantages of each.
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Objectives • Differentiate between advanced database
programs and applications, such as data warehouses, data mining, client/server database systems, and Web-database integration.
• List the components and main functions of an information system.
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Objectives • Recognize the functional divisions and
business units of an organization. • List the major types of information
systems used in today’s organizations. • Describe how the retail sector is taking
advantage of computer databases to increase sales and gain a competitive edge.
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Hierarchy(Levels) of Data Storage
• Database oFiles (Tables)
•Records (Rows) oFields (Columns)
•Characters (Types)(Bytes) oBits
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The Levels of Data in a Database
• Database units (con’t.) o Database
• One or more related data files/tables o Data file (table)
• Collection of related records (rows)
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The Levels of Data in a Database
• Database units (con’t.) o Record
• Includes a group of related fields • Contained in tables or data files • Has a primary key—unique identifier for each
record o Field
• Single unit of relative information • Has a field name—identifies content • Content is data type—includes items as Text,
Number, Currency, Date/Time
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The Levels of Data in a Database
• Database units o Character (Byte)
• A letter, number, or symbol • Made of bytes—groups of 8 bits • Smallest useable unit of data
o Bit • Smallest unit of data stored by a computer • Contains either a 1 or a 0
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The Levels of Data in a Database
• Database oOrganized collection of related data so it is
easy to: • Access • Manage • Update • Group • Summarize
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The Levels of Data in a Database
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Advantages of Database Management Systems
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Advantages of Database Management Systems
• Data integrity o Data is valid
• Data validation o Techniques used to
help prevent errors
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Advantages of Database Management Systems
• Data independence o Separate from applications o Changes do not require changes in structure of
forms, reports, or programs accessing databases
• Avoiding data redundancy o Enter data only once o Multiple entries of the same data—a sign of a poorly
developed system
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Advantages of Database Management Systems
• Data security o Prevents contents from being accessed by
unauthorized users (e.g., medical records, financial data)
o Audit trail—report of who accesses which data
• Data maintenance o Required for proper care and protection o Add records o Modify records o Delete records
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Types of Database Programs
Database Programs • Software used to create databases
o File management program • Generates a flat file, meaning that there is no
relationship with fields in other files o Database management systems (DBMS’s)
• Manage multiple tables or files
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Types of Database Programs
• File management systems o Useful for personal and small business needs o Used to develop a simple computerized system for
information storage and retrieval o Inexpensive and easy to use o Unable to link to data stored in other files
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Types of Database Programs
• DBMS (Database management systems) o Connects several files or tables o Manages, accesses, stores, and edits data o Available in a variety of forms o Able to present information in reports and other
formats
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Types of Database Programs
Popular DBMS software
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Types of Database Programs
• DBMS classifications o Flat o Relational o Object oriented o Multidimensional
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Types of Database Programs
• RDBMS (Relational database management systems) o Most widely used class of DBMS o Primary key field used as index to locate records o Queries can be done through SQL o Data dictionary lists all tables in database o Compared to file management program, RDBMS is:
• More expensive • More difficult to learn • Better at controlling data redundancy • Better at preventing potential data errors
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Types of Database Programs
• Microsoft Access
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Types of Database Programs
• ODBMS (Object-oriented database management systems) o Suits media applications o Data represented as objects o Incorporate sound, video, text, and graphics o Well suited for applications such as:
• Financial portfolio risk analysis • Design and manufacturing systems • Hospital patient record systems
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Types of Database Programs
• Multidimensional databases o Depicted as a data cube o Dimensions typically
categories (i.e., time, products, sales, customers, budget, and markets)
o Choice for online analytical processing (OLAP)
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Types of Database Programs
• Data warehouses o Central location capable of storing all corporate
information o Data available for analysis o Helps executives make decisions
• Use drill-down method (start with summary level and move down) to focus on specific data
o Data marts similar but support a department or division
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Types of Database Programs
• Data mining o Explores and analyzes data o Determines data patterns
helpful for making decisions o Managers better understand
customers and market o Can help predict future
trends o Variation is Web mining
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Types of Database Programs
• Client/server database systems o Use database server software—responds to remote
users’ requests for information o Use database client software—provides an interface
with the user o Use queries to request information from the
database server • Examples: ATMs and online banking
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Types of Database Programs
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Types of Database Programs
• Web–database integration • Taking database information and making it accessible
via the Internet o Google, Yahoo!, Wikipedia
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Types of Database Programs
• Cloud computing database • Amazon SimpleDB • Google AppEngine Datastore • Microsoft SQL Data Services
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Information Systems: Tools for Global Competitiveness
• Information systems o Integrate:
• People • Hardware • Software • Data • Procedures
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Information Systems: Tools for Global Competitiveness
• Information systems (con’t.) o Perform many functions:
• Accepts input (data) • Processes data into information • Stores data • Disseminates information throughout organization
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Information Systems: Tools for Global Competitiveness
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Information Systems: Tools for Global Competitiveness
• Reduce information overload o Route to appropriate users o Summarize o Provide information to selected people with specific
needs o Eliminate unnecessary information
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Information Systems: Tools for Global Competitiveness
• Functional divisions o Manage core functions
of an organization
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Information Systems: Tools for Global Competiveness
• Typical functional divisions o Accounting
• Accounts payable, accounts receivable, cost accounting, sales information, accounting reports
• May use spreadsheets on a client/server network o Finance
• Forecasting, budgeting, cash management, budget analysis, financial reports
• Spreadsheets o Marketing and sales
• Maintaining public image and generating sales • Spreadsheets, Databases
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Information Systems: Tools for Global Competiveness
• Typical functional divisions (con’t) o Human Resources
• Tracks employees • Databases
o Production/operation • Plans and controls processes that produce goods and
services • Mainframe systems
o Information Systems • System of people, data records, hardware and
software that process data and information
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Information Systems: Tools for Global Competiveness
• Business units: Division of company, product line or group independent of other business units o Use of information systems:
• Analyze markets • Provide analysis and summary of market
information • Review and adjust strategies • Influence competition
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Information Systems in Organizations: A Survey
• Transaction processing systems o Handle day-to-day accounting needs o Keeps record of every transaction involving money o Save money by automating routine recordkeeping o Batch online processing
• Management information systems o Provide information needed to make decisions o Generate predefined reports
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Information Systems in Organizations: A Survey
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Information Systems in Organizations: A Survey
• Decision support systems o Produce reports more specific than management
information system reports o Enable managers to create simulations
• OLAP (online analytical processing)
• Executive information systems o Help top-level managers make strategic decisions o Filter critical information to show trends
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Information Systems in Organizations: A Survey
• Knowledge management systems o Use information from books and experienced
individuals to assist decision making
• Expert systems o Rely on detailed and in-depth knowledge of experts
in a specific field o Use knowledge base to generate answers
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Information Systems in Organizations: A Survey
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Information Systems in Organizations: A Survey
• Retail sector o Computers and databases not
only used for traditional applications
• Point-of-sale (POS) o Credit card authorization o Inventory system o Check-screening system o Signature capture system o Photo checkout system o Marketing devices
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Summary • A database is a collection of data stored
in an organized way. The units of a database are: table or data file, records, field, and bit.
• A good database ensures data integrity, promotes data independence, avoids data redundancy, ensures data security, and provides procedures for data maintenance.
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Summary • File management programs, which work
with a single flat file, are easy to use and inexpensive. A database management system works with two or more data files that can be related by common fields.
• Data warehouses bring data together from many smaller databases into one massive database. Data mining and Web mining explore data to discover unknown patterns.
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Summary • Client-server database systems and Web–
database integration are examples of Database management systems (DBMS).
• An information system includes data, hardware, software, people, and procedures.
• Functional divisions of an organization include: accounting, finance, marketing and sales, human resources, production/ operations, and information systems.
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Summary • Information systems include: transaction
processing systems, management information systems, decision support systems, executive information system, knowledge management systems, and expert systems.
• The retail sector’s use of POS terminals, when linked with inventory databases and other systems such as check-screening systems, provides businesses with the ability to perform many business tasks effectively.
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