Association of Business Practitioners

Unit title: Database Management Systems

Unit Title Database Management Systems

Unit value (in hours) 200
Unit credit 20
Links with NOS It should be noted that stating certain areas of the NOS does not imply full coverage of every
aspect – only that this unit provides opportunities to work towards the performance criteria,
knowledge and content therein.
IT Users
DB Database Software C1, knowledge and some content
IT & Telecoms at P (and sometimes S) level
4.2 Data Analysis
4.3 Human needs analysis
4.4 Systems analysis
4.5 Data design
4.6 HCI design
4.7 System design
5.1 Systems development
5.2 Software development
5.3 IT solution testing
6.1 Information management
Unit assessment 33% coursework, 67% examination
Unit level 7
Unit description Databases are an important feature of the management of information in any organisation.
This unit follows on from the concepts delivered in the Data analysis and Design unit (DAD)
and invites learners to investigate applications of databases in the modern business and
information systems environments, whereas DAD allowed learners to gain a deep insight into
the underlying theories and principles involved in the analysis and design of databases.
Delivered in conjunction with DAD it will permit learners to be able to develop large systems
for use in modern organisations, such as distributed databases, object-oriented databases
and data-warehousing/mining.
Unit delivery and assessment This is an essentially theoretical unit, with many underlying principles that need addressing.
guidance These can be assessed through either the coursework assessment or through the
examination. This unit should be delivered after both the OOP and SDM units as some of
the material in this unit builds on the knowledge and skills previously acquired. It can be

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Association of Business Practitioners

Unit title: Database Management Systems

delivered either alongside or following the DAD unit.

The coursework assessment should be the implementation of a database using the relational
approach. The database project could possibly involve, but is not restricted to, a data
warehouse with data mining activities or a web based catalogue shopping activity. It should
demonstrate the use of security controls.
The design output from DAD could form the basis of the coursework assignment for this unit.
Hence the assessment activities could possibly be combined into a mini-project. The project
should be a real world situation with either a real end user or simulated. It should be large
enough to permit a functional system of about 9 or 10 tables to be created with a viable user
interface. This interface could be web-based or desktop based.
The required investigations could be used as topics in the research methods unit.
The examination should concentrate on the theoretical aspects and any underlying principles
not clearly addressed by the coursework assignment.
Learning Outcome Content for Learning Outcome Assessment criteria
To Achieve this unit a learner must:
1 Show knowledge of database Database management: transactions, 1.1 Discuss the issues involved with
management and security concurrency, security, consistency, validity, transaction processing in a database
techniques, features and query optimization system
facilities Security: database administrator role, 1.2 Evaluate the problems that can occur if a
access, user needs, privileges database is not properly managed
1.3 Explain the facilities how a database
administrator ensures the security of a
database system
2 Demonstrate an understanding Architecture of databases: client/server, 2.1 Discuss the differences between the
of the architecture of database fragmented (horizontal, vertical), replicated, various database architectures
systems distributed 2.2 Explain the circumstances where each
architecture could be used effectively
2.3 Investigate emerging technologies in
database architecture
3 Recognise the application of Data warehouse: format and structure, data 3.1 Discuss the techniques in creating a data
databases in modern business cleansing, warehouse
and information systems Data mining: knowledge discovery, trend 3.2 Evaluate the uses of data mining in
analysis, prediction of events different situations and organisations

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Association of Business Practitioners

Unit title: Database Management Systems

Applications: online transaction processing, 3.3 Investigate current and emerging

online analytical processing, visual data applications of databases
mining, web content mining, mobile systems,
business systems

4 Develop a modern business or Project: Project: 6-9 tables, requirements, 4.1 Create the full design for a real world
information database system real world situation database project
Design: relational model, user interface, 4.2 Implement the design using SQL as a
sample data, test plan functional system
SQL: tables, triggers, macros, queries 4.3 Evaluate the effectiveness of the
developed system against the user
requirements
Indicative reading Connolly and Begg, Database Systems 4th Edition, Addison Wesley, 2004
Date C.J, An Introduction to Database Systems 8th ed., Addison Wesley, 2004
Ward and Dafoulas, Database Management Systems, Thomson, 2006
Smith W, Systems Building with Oracle, Palgrave, 2004
Hellerstein and Stonebraker, Readings in Database Systems 4th edition, MIT Press, 2005
Journal of Database Management
The learner should also make full use of the internet to undertake the required investigations