Chapter 3
Data Resource Management
Learning Objectives
Explain the importance of implementing data resource management
processes and technologies in an organization.
Understand the advantages of a database management approach to
managing the data resources of a business.
Explain how database management software helps business
professionals and supports the operations and management of a
business.
Illustrate each of the following concepts:
Major types of databases
Data warehouses and data mining
Logical data elements
Fundamental database structures
Database access methods
Database development
Section I
Managing Data Resources
Data Resource Management
A managerial activity
Applies information systems technology to managing data resources
to meet needs of business stakeholders.
Foundation Data Concepts
Levels of data
Character
Single alphabetical, numeric, or other symbol
Field
Groupings of characters
Represents an attribute of some entity
Records
Related fields of data
Collection of attributes that describe an entity
Fixed-length or variable-length
Files (table)
A group of related records
Classified by
Primary use
Type of data
permanence
Database
Integrated collection of logically related data elements
Consolidates records into a common pool of data
elements
Data is independent of the application program using
them and type of storage device
Logical Data Elements
Types of Databases
Operational
Supports business processes and operations
Also called subject-area databases, transaction databases,
and production databases
Distributed
Replicated and distributed copies or parts of databases on
network servers at a variety of sites.
Done to improve database performance and security
External
Available for a fee from commercial sources or with or without
charge on the Internet or World Wide Web
Hypermedia
Hyperlinked pages of multimedia
Data Warehouses and Data Mining
Data warehouse
Stores data extracted from operational, external, or other
databases of an organization
Central source of “structured” data
May be subdivided into data marts
Data mining
A major use of data warehouse databases
Data is analyzed to reveal hidden correlations, patterns, and
trends
Database Management Approach
Consolidates data records and objects into databases that can be
accessed by many different application programs
Database Management System
Software interface between users and databases
Controls creation, maintenance, and use of the database
Database Interrogation
Query
Supports ad hoc requests
Tells the software how you want to organize the data
SQL queries
Graphical (GUI) & natural queries
Report Generator
Turns results of query into a useable report
Database Maintenance
Updating and correcting data
Application Development
Data manipulation language
Data entry screens, forms, reports, or web pages
Implementing Data Resource Management
Database Administration
Develop and maintain the data dictionary
Design and monitor performance of databases
Enforce database use and security standards
Data Planning
Corporate planning and analysis function
Developing the overall data architecture
Data Administration
Standardize collection, storage, and dissemination of data to
end users
Focused on supporting business processes and strategic
business objectives
May include developing policy and setting standards
Challenges
Technologically complex
Vast amounts of data
Vulnerability to fraud, errors, and failures
Section II
Technical Foundations of Database Management
Database Structures
Hierarchical
Treelike
One-to-many relationship
Used for structured, routine types of transaction processing
Network
More complex
Many-to-many relationship
More flexible but doesn’t support ad hoc requests well
Relational
Data elements stored in simple tables
Can link data elements from various tables
Very supportive of ad hoc requests but slower at processing
large amounts of data than hierarchical or network models
Multi-Dimensional
A variation of the relational model
Cubes of data and cubes within cubes
Popular for online analytical processing (OLAP) applications
Object-oriented
Key technology of multimedia web-based applications
Good for complex, high-volume applications
Accessing Databases
Key fields (primary key)
A field unique to each record so it can be distinguished from
all other records in a table
Sequential access
Data is stored and accessed in a sequence according to a key
field
Good for periodic processing of a large volume of data, but
updating with new transactions can be troublesome
Direct access
Methods
Key transformation
Index
Indexed sequential access
Database Development
Data dictionary
Directory containing metadata (data about data)
Structure
Data elements
Interrelationships
Information regarding access and use
Maintenance & security issues
Data Planning & Database Design
Planning & Design Process
Enterprise model
Entity relationship diagrams (ERDs)
Data modeling
Develop logical framework for the physical design
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