Chapter 1 The Database Environment and Development Process

1) A database is an organized collection of ________ related data.

A) logically
B) physically
C) loosely
D) badly
Answer: A

2) Older systems that often contain data of poor quality are called ________ systems.
A) controlled
B) legacy
C) database
D) mainframe
Answer: B

3) Program-data dependence is caused by:

A) file descriptions being stored in each database application.
B) data descriptions being stored on a server.
C) data descriptions being written into programming code.
D) data cohabiting with programs.
Answer: A

4) Because applications are often developed independently in file processing systems:

A) the data is always non-redundant.
B) unplanned duplicate data files are the rule rather than the exception.
C) data can always be shared with others.
D) there is a large volume of file I/O.
Answer: B

5) Relational databases establish the relationships between entities by means of common fields
included in a file called a(n):
A) entity.
B) relationship.
C) relation.
D) association.
Answer: C

6) A(n) ________ is often developed by identifying a form or report that a user needs on a
regular basis.
A) enterprise view
B) reporting document
C) user view
D) user snapshot
Answer: C

7) A graphical system used to capture the nature and relationships among data is called a(n):
A) XML data model.
B) hypertext graphic.
C) relational database
D) data model.
Answer: D
8) Data that describe the properties of other data are:
A) relationships.
B) logical.
C) physical.
D) metadata.
Answer: D

9) All of the following are properties of metadata EXCEPT:

A) data definitions.
B) processing logic.
C) rules or constraints.
D) data structures.
Answer: B

10) A person, place, object, event, or concept about which the organization wishes to maintain
data is called a(n):
A) relationship.
B) object.
C) attribute.
D) entity.
Answer: D

11) ________ are established between entities in a well-structured database so that the desired
information can be retrieved.
A) Entities
B) Relationships
C) Lines
D) Ties
Answer: B

12) All of the following are primary purposes of a database management system (DBMS)
EXCEPT:
A) creating data.
B) updating data.
C) storing data.
D) providing an integrated development environment.
Answer: D

13) With the database approach, data descriptions are stored in a central location known as a:
A) server.
B) mainframe.
C) PC.
D) repository.
Answer: D

14) A user view is:

A) what a user sees when he or she looks out the window.
B) a table or set of tables.
C) a logical description of some portion of the database.
D) a procedure stored on the server.
Answer: C

15) Which organizational function should set database standards?

A) Management
B) Application development
C) Technical services
D) Database Administration
Answer: D

16) ________ is a tool even non-programmers can use to access information from a database.
A) ODBC
B) Structured query language
C) ASP
D) Data manipulation query language
Answer: B

17) Which of the following is NOT an advantage of database systems?

A) Redundant data dư thừa
B) Program-data independence
C) Better data quality
D) Reduced program maintenance
Answer: A

18) The most common source of database failures in organizations is:

A) lack of planning.
B) inadequate budget.
C) inadequate hardware.
D) failure to implement a strong database administration function.
Answer: D

19) A rule that CANNOT be violated by database users is called a:

A) password.
B) constraint. Ràng buộc
C) program.
D) view.
Answer: B

20) In a file processing environment, descriptions for data and the logic for accessing the data are
built into:
A) application programs.
B) database descriptors.
C) fields.
D) records.
Answer: A

21) E. F. Codd developed the relational model in the:

A) 1960s.
B) 1970s.
C) 1980s.
D) 1990s.
Answer: B
22) Which of the following is NOT an objective that drove the development and evolution of
database technology?
A) The need to provide greater independence between programs and data
B) The desire to manage increasing complex data types and structures
C) The desire to require programmers to write all file handling functionality
D) The need to provide ever more powerful platforms for decision support applications
Answer: C

23) The period that can be considered a "proof of concept" time was the:
A) 1950s.
B) 1960s.
C) 1970s.
D) 1990s.
Answer: B

24) A relatively small team of people who collaborate on the same project is called a:
A) server group.
B) workgroup.
C) data collaborative.
D) typical arrangement.
Answer: B
25) A workgroup database is stored on a central device called a:
A) client.
B) server.
C) remote PC.
D) network.
Answer: B

26) Organizations that utilize the file processing approach spend as much as ________ of their IS
development budget on maintenance.
A) 40 percent
B) 25 percent
C) 60 percent
D) 80 percent
Answer: D

27) Which of the following is NOT a cost and/or risk of the database approach?
A) Specialized personnel
B) Cost of conversion
C) Improved responsiveness
D) Organizational conflict
Answer: C

28) The need for consensus on data definitions is an example of which type of risk in the
database environment?
A) Specialized personnel needs
B) Organizational conflict xung đột tổ chức
C) Conversion costs
D) Legacy systems
Answer: B

29) A knowledge base of information or facts about an enterprise is called a(n):

A) enterprise information system.
B) repository. Kho lưu trữ
C) systems information unit.
D) database process.
Answer: B

30) Which of the following is software used to create, maintain, and provide controlled access to
databases?
A) Network operating system
B) User view
C) Database management system (DBMS)
D) Attribute
Answer: C

31) A centralized knowledge base of all data definitions, data relationships, screen and report
formats, and other system components is called a(n):
A) index.
B) data warehouse.
C) repository.
D) database management system.
Answer: C

32) Languages, menus, and other facilities by which users interact with the database are
collectively called a(n):
A) client.
B) user interface.
C) icon.
D) development environment.
Answer: B

33) Database development begins with ________, which establishes the range and general
contents of organizational databases.
A) database design
B) cross-functional analysis
C) departmental data modeling
D) enterprise data modeling
Answer: D

34) The traditional methodology used to develop, maintain and replace information systems is
called the:
A) Enterprise Resource Model.
B) Systems Development Life Cycle.
C) Unified Model.
D) Systems Deployment Life Cycle.
Answer: B

35) The SDLC phase in which every data attribute is defined, every category of data is listed and
every business relationship between data entities is defined is called the ________ phase.
A) planning
B) design
C) analysis
D) implementation
Answer: C
36) The SDLC phase in which database processing programs are created is the ________ phase.
A) planning
B) design
C) analysis
D) implementation
Answer: D

37) The SDLC phase in which the detailed conceptual data model is created is the ________
phase.
A) planning
B) design
C) analysis
D) implementation
Answer: C

38) Organizing the database in computer disk storage is done in the ________ phase.
A) design
B) maintenance
C) analysis
D) implementation
Answer: A
39) An iterative methodology that rapidly repeats the analysis, design, and implementation
phases of the SDLC is called:
A) CASE.
B) CAD.
C) RAD.
D) MST.
Answer: C

40) One of the most popular RAD methods is:

A) automated design.
B) structured walkthrough.
C) prototyping.
D) crafting.
Answer: C

41) ________ analyze the business situation and identify the need for information and
information services to meet the problems or opportunities of the business.
A) Programmers
B) Users
C) Systems analysts
D) Database analysts
Answer: C
42) ________ do NOT concentrate on determining the requirements for the database component
of an information system.
A) Database analysts
B) Systems analysts
C) Programmers
D) End Users

43) The three-schema approach includes which of the following schemas?

A) Internal
B) Logical
C) Cross-functional
D) Dissecting
Answer: A

44) A data warehouse derives its data from:

A) on-line transactions.
B) various operational data sources.
C) reports.
D) a datamart.
Answer: B

45) ________ is the most popular RDMS data model notation.

A) ERD
B) END
C) DRE
D) RED
Answer: A

46) Information is processed data.

Answer: TRUE

47) Metadata are data that describe the properties of other data.
Answer: TRUE

48) Databases were developed as the first application of computers to data processing.
Answer: FALSE

49) File processing systems have been replaced by database systems in most critical business
applications today.
Answer: TRUE

50) Unplanned duplicate data files are the rule rather than the exception in file processing
systems.
Answer: TRUE

51) Organizations that utilize the file processing approach spend only 20 percent of development
time on maintenance.
Answer: FALSE
52) Many of the disadvantages of file processing systems can also be limitations of databases.
Answer: TRUE

53) With the traditional file processing approach, each application shares data files, thus enabling
much data sharing.
Answer: FALSE

54) Development starts from scratch with the traditional file processing approach because new
file formats, descriptions, and file access logic must be designed for each new program.
Answer: TRUE

55) A data model is a graphical system used to capture the nature and relationships among data.
Answer: TRUE

56) A well-structured database establishes the entities between relationships in order to derive
the desired information.
Answer: FALSE
57) A person is an example of an entity.
Answer: TRUE

58) The data that you are interested in capturing about an entity is called an instance.
Answer: FALSE

59) A relational database establishes the relationships between entities by means of a common
field.
Answer: TRUE

60) Separation of metadata from application programs that use the data is called data
independence.
Answer: TRUE

61) Data redundancy is used to establish relationships between data but is never used to improve
database performance.
Answer: FALSE
62) Redundancy increases the risk of inconsistent data.
Answer: TRUE

63) A user view is how the user sees the data when it is produced.
Answer: FALSE

64) One reason for improved application development productivity with the database approach is
that file design and low-level implementation details do not need to be handled by the
application programmer.
Answer: TRUE

65) The data repository assists database administrators in enforcing standards.

Answer: TRUE

66) The failure to implement a strong database administrative function is the most common
source of database failures in organizations.
Answer: TRUE
67) A constraint is a rule in a database system that can be violated by users.
Answer: FALSE

68) Reduced program maintenance is an advantage of file processing systems.

Answer: FALSE

69) Cost and complexity are just two of the disadvantages of database processing.
Answer: TRUE

70) The term legacy system refers to a newly installed database management system.
Answer: FALSE

71) A modern database management system automates more of the backup and recovery tasks
than a file system.
Answer: TRUE

72) Organizational commitment to a database project is not necessary for its success.
Answer: FALSE
73) Repositories are always used in file processing systems.
Answer: FALSE

74) The user interface includes languages, menus, and other facilities by which users interact
with various system components.
Answer: TRUE

75) Personal databases are designed to support a small group of individuals working together on
a project.
Answer: FALSE

76) Database development begins with the design of the database.

Answer: FALSE

77) An enterprise data model describes the scope of data for only one information system.
Answer: FALSE

78) Database development projects are never done in a bottom-up fashion.

Answer: FALSE
79) The systems development life cycle is the traditional methodology used to develop, maintain,
and replace information systems.
Answer: TRUE

80) The steps of the systems development life cycle can only be viewed as a linear process.
Answer: FALSE

81) Enterprise modeling sets the range and general contents of organizational databases.
Answer: TRUE

82) All projects move from the planning-enterprise modeling step to the planning-conceptual
data modeling step of the systems development life cycle.
Answer: FALSE

83) The repository is populated during the analysis phase of the systems development life cycle.
Answer: TRUE

84) The physical structure and storage organization of the database is decided upon during the
implementation phase of the systems development life cycle.
Answer: FALSE

85) Database processing programs are coded and tested during the design stage of the systems
development life cycle.
Answer: FALSE

86) Data from prior systems is converted to the new system during the implementation phase of
the systems development life cycle.
Answer: TRUE

87) Database maintenance is typically the longest step of the database development process.
Answer: TRUE

88) Characteristics of the structure of the database are generally changed during the
implementation phase of the database development process.
Answer: FALSE
89) Prototyping is a type of rapid application development.
Answer: TRUE

90) In prototyping, implementation and maintenance activities are repeated as necessary until the
product is correct.
Answer: TRUE

91) Visual programming tools such as Visual Basic have made prototyping more difficult.
Answer: FALSE

92) Systems analysts work directly with both management and users to analyze the business
situation and develop detailed project specifications.
Answer: FALSE

93) Database architects establish standards for data in business units.

Answer: TRUE

94) In 1998, ANSI/SPARC published an import document describing the three-schema

architecture.
Answer: FALSE

95) The conceptual schema is always technology specific.

Answer: FALSE

96) The external schema contains a subset of the conceptual schema relevant to a particular
group of users.
Answer: TRUE

97) A physical schema contains the specifications for how data from a conceptual schema are
stored in a computer's secondary memory.
Answer: TRUE

98) The internal schema consists of the physical schema and the enterprise data model.
Answer: FALSE

99) E. F. Codd developed the relational data model during the 1970s.
Answer: TRUE

100) The relational data model is no longer popular in the 21st century.
Answer: FALSE

101) Although personal databases improve productivity, one risk is that data cannot be shared
with other users.
Answer: TRUE

102) The most common way to support a group of individuals who work together on a project or
group of similar projects is with a two-tier client/server database.
Answer: TRUE
103) Each member of a workgroup accesses data located on a database server.
Answer: TRUE

104) In two-tier database architectures, little functionality needs to be programmed into the client
application.
Answer: FALSE

105) Multitier client/server database applications contain a business logic layer.

Answer: TRUE
106) An enterprise resource planning system integrates all functions of the enterprise.
Answer: TRUE

107) A data warehouse contains summarized and historical information.

Answer: TRUE

108) An extranet uses Internet protocols to establish limited access to company data by the
company's customers and suppliers.
Answer: TRUE

109) Discuss the differences between data and information.

Answer: Data consists of raw facts, such as figures, strings, images, etc. Most of the time, data
itself is not very meaningful until we add some additional information, such as descriptive fields
as well as some structure. For example, if one were looking at set of student grades with just
course numbers and a semester key, this might not be very useful. If we were to add in some
additional information, such as course title, semester and year, then we would have information.
110) Discuss some of the disadvantages of file processing systems.
Answer: File processing systems have several disadvantages, including:
1. Program-data dependence—The program is tied to the underlying data. Whenever the data
changes, (in the sense of structurally), then the program must be modified.
2. Duplication of data—Applications are often developed separately, resulting in duplicate data.
3. Limited data sharing—This is closely related to disadvantage 2, since often applications are
developed in a silo. So, for example, the accounting department might develop an application
which uses some of the same data as another department. However, there is no data sharing, so
two sets of data are maintained.
4. Excessive program maintenance and lengthy development times—Since the programmer has
to write all of the low-level file I/O for the application, this adds to the complexity of the
application. Also, since the program might need maintenance whenever there is a change to the
attributes of the data, there is a need for a lot of program maintenance.

111) Discuss some of the advantages to the database approach.

Answer: The database approach has several advantages including:
1. Program-data independence—Since the metadata is stored in a repository, the underlying data
can change and evolve without the need for maintenance to the applications.
2. Improved data consistency—Since there is less redundant data, the data is much more
consistent.
3. Improved data sharing—A database can be created once, and then several different
applications for organization units can access the underlying tables.
4. Increased application development productivity—Increased productivity since database
management systems contain tools for development which aid in productivity. In addition, the
developer does not have to worry about writing low-level file I/O.
5. Improved data quality—Data quality improves because of integrity constraints and range
controls that can be built into the database.
112) Discuss some of the costs associated with the database approach.
Answer: The database approach does not come without additional costs. These are specifically
tied to the following:
1. New specialized personnel
2. Cost of installation and management
3. Conversion costs
4. Need for explicit backup and recovery

113) Provide a brief overview of the various components of the database environment.
Answer: Components of the database environment include: CASE tools, a repository, the
database management system, the database itself, application programs and the user interface. In
addition, there are people such as the end users, system developers, data and database
administrators. All of this is an integrated environment which improves the productivity of the
organization.

114) Discuss why alternative IS development approaches have evolved, and provide an overview
of a couple of these methodologies.
Answer: The SDLC is often criticized for being too long from the time of system start until a
finished product is delivered. As such, organizations have begun to adopt rapid application
development techniques. One technique is prototyping, where a system is designed as a
prototype, given to the user for testing and then corrected as needed. This is an iterative process.
Another methodology is Agile software development, which focuses more on people than
processes.

115) Discuss who is involved in the database development process.

Answer: There are many different types of individuals involved in the database development
process. First there are the users, next the business analysts who work with the users to develop
business specifications. Systems analysts turn the specifications into technical specifications.
Database analysts and modelers develop the actual database design. Programmers write the
application. Project managers manage the entire project from start to finish.

116) Discuss Enterprise Resource Planning Systems, and contrast these to data warehouses.
Answer: An ERP system integrates all functions of the enterprise. ERP systems provide the data
necessary for an organization to manage all of its data. While ERP systems rely on operational
data, data warehouses are designed to use summarized, historical data and are used more in the
role of decision support.