Chapter 1:

The Database Environment

Modern Database Management

8th Edition
Jeffrey A. Hoffer, Mary B. Prescott,
Fred R. McFadden

© 2007 by Prentice Hall 1

 Objectives
 Definition of terms
 Explain growth and importance of databases
 Name limitations of conventional file processing
 Identify five categories of databases
 Explain advantages of databases
 Identify costs and risks of databases
 List components of database environment
 Describe evolution of database systems

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 Definitions
 Database: organized collection of logically
related data
 Data: stored representations of meaningful
objects and events
 Structured: numbers, text, dates
 Unstructured: images, video, documents
 Information: data processed to increase
knowledge in the person using the data
 Metadata: data that describes the properties
and context of user data
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 Figure 1-1a Data in context

Context helps users understand data

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 Figure 1-1b Summarized data

Graphical displays turn data into useful

information that managers can use for
decision making and interpretation
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 Descriptions of the properties or characteristics of the
data, including data types, field sizes, allowable
values, and data context

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 Disadvantages of File Processing
 Program-Data Dependence
 All programs maintain metadata for each file they use
 Duplication of Data
 Different systems/programs have separate copies of the same data
 Limited Data Sharing
 No centralized control of data
 Lengthy Development Times
 Programmers must design their own file formats
 Excessive Program Maintenance
 80% of information systems budget

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 Problems with Data Dependency
 Each application programmer must maintain
his/her own data
 Each application program needs to include
code for the metadata of each file
 Each application program must have its own
processing routines for reading, inserting,
updating, and deleting data
 Lack of coordination and central control
 Non-standard file formats

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 Figure 1-3 Old file processing systems at Pine Valley
Furniture Company
Duplicate Data

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Problems with Data Redundancy

 Waste of space to have duplicate data

 Causes more maintenance headaches

 The biggest problem:

 Data changes in one file could cause

inconsistencies
 Compromises in data integrity

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 SOLUTION:
The DATABASE Approach
 Central repository of shared data
 Data is managed by a controlling
agent
 Stored in a standardized, convenient
form

Requires a Database Management System (DBMS)

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 Database Management System
 A software system that is used to create, maintain, and provide
controlled access to user databases

Order Filing
System

Invoicing Central database

DBMS
System
Contains employee,
order, inventory,
pricing, and
Payroll
customer data
System

DBMS manages data resources like an operating system manages hardware resources

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Advantages of the Database Approach
 Program-data independence
 Planned data redundancy
 Improved data consistency
 Improved data sharing
 Increased application development productivity
 Enforcement of standards
 Improved data quality
 Improved data accessibility and responsiveness
 Reduced program maintenance
 Improved decision support

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 Costs and Risks of the Database
Approach
 New, specialized personnel
 Installation and management cost and
complexity
 Conversion costs
 Need for explicit backup and recovery
 Organizational conflict

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Elements of the Database Approach
 Data models
 Graphical system capturing nature and relationship of data
 Enterprise Data Model–high-level entities and relationships for
the organization
 Project Data Model–more detailed view, matching data structure
in database or data warehouse
 Relational Databases
 Database technology involving tables (relations) representing
entities and primary/foreign keys representing relationships
 Use of Internet Technology
 Networks and telecommunications, distributed databases, client-
server, and 3-tier architectures
 Database Applications
 Application programs used to perform database activities
(create, read, update, and delete) for database users

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 Segment of an Enterprise Data Model

Segment of a Project-Level Data Model

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 One customer
may place many
orders, but each
order is placed by
a single customer
 One-to-many
relationship

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 One order has
many order lines;
each order line is
associated with a
single order
 One-to-many
relationship

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 One product can
be in many
order lines, each
order line refers
to a single
product
 One-to-many
relationship

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 Therefore, one
order involves
many products
and one product is
involved in many
orders

 Many-to-many
relationship

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Figure 1-4 Enterprise data model for Figure 1-3 segments

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 Figure 1-5 Components of the Database Environment

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 Components of the
Database Environment
 CASE Tools–computer-aided software engineering
 Repository–centralized storehouse of metadata
 Database Management System (DBMS) –software
for managing the database
 Database–storehouse of the data
 Application Programs–software using the data
 User Interface–text and graphical displays to users
 Data/Database Administrators–personnel
responsible for maintaining the database
 System Developers–personnel responsible for
designing databases and software
 End Users–people who use the applications and
databases
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The Range of Database Applications

 Personal databases
 Workgroup databases
 Departmental/divisional databases
 Enterprise database

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 Figure 1-6
Typical data
from a
personal
database

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 Figure 1-7 Workgroup database with wireless
local area network

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Enterprise Database Applications

 Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

 Integrate all enterprise functions
(manufacturing, finance, sales, marketing,
inventory, accounting, human resources)
 Data Warehouse
 Integrated decision support system derived
from various operational databases

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 Figure 1-8 An enterprise data warehouse

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 Evolution of DB Systems

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