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Problem Solving Exercise 1

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17 views3 pages

Problem Solving Exercise 1

Uploaded by

anthonytutmulai8
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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IS302 Database Design

Module 1 Database Systems: An Introduction


Problem Solving Exercise 1

Problem 2
Use Figure 1.2 to find the solutions for Problems 2.1 – 2.4

FIGURE 1.2 - The File Structure for Problems 2.1 – 2.4

Problems:

2.1 Identify and discuss the serious data redundancy problems exhibited by the file structure
shown in Figure 1.2.
For the above-given figure, in some cases, there is multiple records exist for some of the clients. It
seems like that for a client record exists for each of the projects which the client is associated.
there are multiple places where information is being maintained. suppose, for example, phone
number of a client for employee number 105 has two entries. one under hurricane project and
other one are under satellite project. If the user changes the information at one place it won’t be
the case that the user will change the phone number in the other place also.
2.2 Looking at the EMP_NAME and EMP_PHONE contents in Figure 1.2, what change(s) would you
recommend?
For the EMP_NAME and EMP_PHONE. there are two changes which can be done, I
would like to recommend a table for client information and a table for project
information. You can use EMP_NUM as a primary key for the employee table and
EMP_NUM as the foreign key for the project table. What does this whole process mean
that the phone number would only exist in the employee table and it would only be
maintained in the employee record. By using this, this will eliminate data redundancy
and information will be centralized.
2.3 Identify the various data sources in the file you examined in Problem 2.1.
Personal, Payroll and Project will be three data source in the file system.
2.4 Given your answer to Problem 2.3, what new files should you create to help eliminate the data
redundancies found in the file shown in Figure 1.2?
For every new project only one file is needed, due to which you will be able to tied the
existing personal and payroll records.

Problem 3
Use Figure 1.3 to find the solutions for Problems 3.1 – 3.2

FIGURE 1.3 - The File Structure for Problems 3.1 – 3.2

Problems:
3.1 Identify and discuss the serious data redundancy problems exhibited by the file structure shown in
Figure 1.3. (The file is meant to be used as a teacher class assignment schedule. One of the many
problems with data redundancy is the likely occurrence of data inconsistencies – that two different
initials have been entered for the teacher named Maria Cordoza.)

 The TEACHER_INITIAL column holds two different initials for the teacher, Maria Cordoza,
that are ‘I’ and ‘L’.

This would lead to inconsistency and inaccuracy of data regarding the identification of the
teacher Maria Cordoza. Both the initials would retrieve only partial and incomplete
details of her classes.
 The DAYS_TIME column holds two classes, one with Horace Willingston and the other
with Maria Cordoza, on the same days and timings “MWF 8:00-8:50”.

This would lead inconsistency of data regarding the lecture on “MWF 8:00-8:50”.

3.2 Given the file structure shown in Figure 1.3, what problem(s) might you encounter if building KOM
were deleted?

Deletion of building KOM would lead to the below mentioned consequences:

 Details of the teacher Maria Cordoza would be deleted from the database.
 Details of classes on “MWF” would be deleted from the database.
This would lead to lack of data integrity in the database as the data would no longer be
accurate and consistent with the real-life scenario.

Problem 4
Use the template shown in the Figure 1.4 to answer the Questions a, b and c.

FIGURE 1.4 – Students Schedule Data Format

Using your school’s student information system, print your class schedule. The schedule probably would
contain the student identification number, student name, class code, class name, class credit hours, class
instructor name, the class meeting days and times, and the class room number. Use Figure 1.4 as a
template to complete the following actions.

a. Create a spreadsheet using the template shown in Figure P1.11 and enter your current class
schedule.
b. Enter the class schedule of two of your classmates into the same spreadsheet.
c. Discuss the redundancies and anomalies caused by this design.
There are duplicate values in some column that leads to redundancy. The such columns are
Class_Code,Class_Name,Room,Class_Days,Instr_Name etc.
 The Redundancies in here are; Dublicate classes, Repeated Locations, Repetitive Days and
Times.
 Anomalies I found in this are; Inconsistent Data, Conflicting Information & Data Entry
errors.

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