CIS - Ch 7

Integration

* Allows direct communication between separate systems * Increase the quality of the information * Ensures consistency across multiple systems

Relational Integrity Constraints

* Basic and fundamental information-based constraints * Example: No orders for nonexistent customers; no negative percentage markups; no zero value orders.

Data Dictionary

* Compiles all of the metadata about the data elements in the data model. * Data model + Data dictionary = Tremendous insight in database functions, purpose, and business rules.

Database management system (DBMS)

* Creates, reads, updates and deletes data in a database while controlling access and security * Manipulates the data in the database upon request

Dynamic Information

* Dependent data; change according to user events * Dynamic Websites: Changes information when users request information.

Business Critical Integrity Constraints

* Enforce business rules vital to an organizations success; often requires more insight and knowledge than relational integrity constraints * Tends to mirror the very rules by which and organization achieves success.

Primary Key

A field (or group of fields) that uniquely identifies a given record in a table. * Critical piece of a relational database because they provide a way of distinguishing each record in a table.

Foreign Key

A primary key of one table that appears as an attribute in another table and acts to provide a logical relationship between the two tables * The logical relationship allows managers to turn data into useful info.

Static Information

* Fixed data * Independent; won't change according to user events. * Static websites: will not change information until the content editor change it

Why a data-driven database?

* Good for large amounts of information, products or services * Limits the information displayed to a customer based on unique search requirements. * Makes internal data bases available for customers and business partners

What are the business advantages of a Relational Database?

* Increased : Flexibility; Scalability and Performance; Information Integrity; Information security * Reduced Information Redundance.

Data Models

* Logical data structures that detail the relationship among data elements using graphics or pictures.

Database?

* Maintains info about various types of: objects (inventory), events (transactions), people (employees), and places (warehouses) * Store the information.

Metadata

* Provides details about data. * Provided for the type of data. Ex: Metadata for a image could include: size, resolution, date created.

The two primary tools for retrieving info from DBMS are?

* Query by example (QBE): - Helps users graphically design the answer to a question against a database - Typical for Managers * Structured query language (SQL) - Ask users to write lines of code to answer questions against a database. - Typical for MIS professionals

Data Element/Data Field

* Smallest or basic unit of info * Can include: customer's name, address, email, discount rate, preferred shipping method, product name, quantity ordered etc.

Without integration a company will..

* Spend time entering same info in multiple systems * Suffer from low quality and inconsistency embedded in the redundant information

Relational Database Model

* Stores information in the form of logically related two-dimension tables.

Why do we need an increased information security; and what type of security does databases offer?

* Systems become more and more complex and rise in availability over the internet, on many devices security has come to be a bigger issue. * Databases can for example provide: - Passwords (authentication) - Access Levels (who can access?) - Access Controls (what can be accessed?)

What is information redundancy and why reduce it ?

* The duplication of data or storage of the same data at multiple places * Interfers with storage and data integrity --> Difficulty to determine most accurate and current values. * Saving data on a single place in the database saves disk space, makes performing information updates easier and improves information quality.

Benefits of using the web to access a company data base

* Web browser are easier to use than a custom-query tool. * Web interface require few/no changes to the database model. * Less costly than to redesign and rebuild the system to support changes *Easy to manage content: Don't need MIS professionals to update a data-driven website * Easy to store large amounts of data: Organized, easy to implement changes for layouts, navigation and structure with templates. Improves reliability, scalability and performance * Easy to eliminate human errors: Eliminates errors and inconsistencies, ensures correctness

Record

Collection of related data elements. * Each record in any entity occupies one row in its respective table

What is the core component of any system?

Database and a Database management system

Business Rule

Defines how a companies performs certain aspects in its business --> Yes/No or True/False answers. Ex: Returns allowed within 10 days : Yes or No?

Where is the dynamic information for a dynamic website stored?

Dynamic Catalog (or and area of a website that stores info about products in a database)

What are the two methods for integration

Forward and Backward Integration * Link processes in the value chain Central repository for a particular type of info * Users can only create, update and delete info in the central system --> Sends info automatically to other systems. * Users are limited to read-only access of customer info in the other systems.

What is the most common integration system of F and B integration?

Forward, since integration is costly most companies go only with Forward. * Sales --> Billing * Change in initial system (sales) --> changes in all other systems

3 primary data models used by DBMS to organize information?

Hierarchical, network and relational database.

What is a common benefit of increased information integrity ?

Higher quality information; increase in accuracy --> Increase in usage of organizational information by business professionals

Forward Integration

Info --> automatically to all downstream systems Sales --> Order ES --> Order FS --> Billing system

Backward Integration

Info --> automatically to all upstream systems Sales <-- Order ES <-- Order FS <-- Billing system

Information Integrity

Measure of the quality of information

Performance

Measures how quickly a system performs a certain process or transaction

Physical view of information

Part of the increased flexibility accompanying a relational database * Deals with the physical storage of information on a storage device. * Doesn't differ non regarding of what the user is looking for.

Logical View of Information

Part of the increased flexibility accompanying a relational database * Focuses on how individual users logically access information to meet their own particular business needs * Differs due to what the user is looking for.

What do you use to manage and organize various entities within the relationship database model?

Primary and foreign keys to create logical relationships

Scalability

Refers to how well a system can adapt to increased demands

Integrity Constrains

Rules helping to ensure the quality of information * Database design needs to consider integrity constraints * DB & DBMS ensures users can never violate these * 2 types: Relational & Business-Critical

Entity (Table)

Stores information about a person, place, thing, transaction or event.

Attributes (columns/fields)

The data elements associated with an entity

Content Creator

The person responsible for creating the original website content.

Content Editor

The person responsible for updating and maintaining website content

What does a Relational Database Model System Allow?

Users to create, read, update, and delete data in a relational database.

Does an organization want to build both forward and backward integrations? Why/Why not?

Yes, It provides the flexibility to create, update, and delete information in any of the systems

Is integration of changes outside the initial system possible? What troubles does it bring about? How can it be fixed?

1.No 2. Can result in inconsistent organizational info 3. Business rule: All systems other than the initial system can have read-only access to the integrated info.(Users have to change in the initial system only)

Data Driven Website

An interactive website kept constantly updated and relevant to the needs of its customers using a database