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Robert answered on
Dec 25 2021
DATABASE DESIGN CONCEPTS
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Database Design Concept
Name
Institution
Lecturer’s Name
Date
DATABASE DESIGN CONCEPTS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of contents ...................................................................................................................................................... ii
Abstract .................................................................................................................................................................... iii
Chapter one—Focuses on theoretical knowledge and understanding of database management systems .................. 1
1.1 Key issues and application of databases within organizational environment ...................................................... 1
1.2 Features and advantages of database management systems ................................................................................ 3
Chapter Two –Understanding database design techniques ........................................................................................ 6
2.1 Database developmental methodology ................................................................................................................ 6
2.2 Entity-relationship modeling and normalization .................................................................................................. 7
Chapter 3—designing, creating and documentation of databases ............................................................................. 9
3.1 Database developmental cycle ............................................................................................................................. 9
3.2 Effectiveness of database solutions and suggested methods of improvement ................................................... 10
3.3 Supporting user and technical documentation ................................................................................................... 12
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ABSTRACT
Database systems are vital aspects in the commercial world. The assist the users to receive, store,
and modify large volume of data easily with application of little effort and using less time.
Database management systems enable the business organizations to run effectively by obtaining
data from various database systems. In this paper, we shall focus on the significance of database
management systems in various fields, issues facing database systems, designing and
developmental techniques of a database and technical documentation of database systems. Entity
elationship modeling and normalization will also be looked at. The assignment will also help the
esearcher to develop a database system from the case study as a demonstration of understanding
of database design concepts.
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CHAPTER ONE—FOCUSES ON THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF
DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Database management system (DBMS) is a software program system that employs standard
techniques of receiving, storing, modifying, cataloguing and running queries from a database. Its
main factions are to administer the incoming data, organizing it and providing means by which
the data can be modified and accessed by other programs or users. Database management
systems can be classified as relational databases, object-oriented databases, hierarchical
databases and network databases. Some of the commonly known databases include SQL server,
Microsoft Access, MySQL, RDBMS, FoxPro and file maker.
1.1 Key issues and application of databases within organizational environment
1.1.1 Applications of database
Database management systems can be applied in many fields such as:
Flight reservation systems – These systems are used in railways and airways to assists in
showing the planned information and it supports online reservations.
Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) – To provide the customers with their transactions
information such as loans and their inquiries.
Computerized li
ary systems – To keep the records of the people using the books in the
li
ary and the number of books that are available within the li
ary. Also, li
ary database
systems keep records of books available and those that have been given out to students and
they assist the li
arians to be able to easily track the person who has bo
owed a given book.
Human resource managers – Human resource mangers uses the database systems to keep
ecords of their employees, their salaries and they also to assist them in producing pay slips
and salary checks. It also helps the company to details of the applicants, the training they
undergo and the details of the jobs they are hired to ca
y out.
Hospitals – Hospitals also use database systems to keep the details of all the patients visiting
the hospitals. It helps the hospital managements to view the regularity of patient visiting the
hospital and the diseases they have been treated earlier. The doctors are also in a position to
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determine the patients’ history even if they are not the one who had attended the patients
previously.
Telecommunication networks – Telecommunication networks requires the use of database
systems to help them to be able to handle the large amount of data resulting from many users.
Using database systems the telecommunication networks are able to keep records of their
customers’ calls, telephone numbers and they are able to produces bills to their customers.
1.1.2 Issues of databases within the organization environment
Database management systems are facing quite a number of challenges that tend to deter the
effectiveness of database management in a business environment. One of the critical most issues
that are facing database management in a business environment is its prone to being attacked by
hackers thus causing security threats. In order for a business that makes significant use of
database to be successful, there is need to realize the challenges emerging that are facing the
database management so that the appropriate strategies can be employed to protect the business
these threats. Some of the recent emerging threats to database systems include
Data security – Data base systems of many businesses have been the target of hackers who
attack the systems with an intention of te
orizing them and stealing some important information
(Khosrowpour, 2002) Businesses have the responsibility of ensuring all the data they hold is
secured as required by law. They purpose therefore is to make maximum utilization of the data
the hold maintaining the highest security of the data.
Inadequate trained personnel – The rate at which the data is increasing is not proportional to
the available data management experts. Lack of adequate qualified database experts have
compelled the business organization to hire people who are not fully equipped with database
knowledge and skills thus making the database system prone to attacks by hackers and other
cyber criminals.
Data recovery - Data recovery is a critical concept in all business as most of the business are
moving digital where almost all of the transactions are conducted through electronic means with
very little paperwork left as evidence or for back up. In case of system failures, it is of great
importance to recover the data lost and especially a given section of the data may be urgent. It
therefore become more intricate as the IT experts have found it easier to recover the whole
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database system compared to a specific part of the database. Maintaining the data to avoid losing
it in case it is needed for future reference has substantially contributed to the growth of data
available within the systems.
Increasing data volumes – Many businesses retain most of their historical data for future
eferences. The amount of data stored together with the incoming data results in increase in data
volumes that requires more storage spaces. The rate at which data is increasing is wo
ying.
Business organizations are also experiencing increase in the cost of data storage as its volume
increases. The costs that accompany the high data sizes in companies include need for recovery
and back up spaces, the performance of the queries in to the databases reduces and also the costs
incu
ed for memory maintenance.
1.2 Features and advantages of database management systems
1.2.1 Features of database management systems
Database management systems have many features that assist them to work effectively and
efficiently. They work together to help the business organizations to maintain its data security
and integrity as identified by Ginter (2013 p.53). Some of the data base management features
include
Metadata – Metadata is a li
ary that
iefly explains of how the data is organized in the
database and the composition of its structures.
Data Query language – Database management systems make use of query language that
enables them to maneuver through the database easily and to modify the data by sorting,
searching collecting, deleting and changing the descriptions of the data.
Multi users access – Database management systems allows the access of the data base to many
users all having the authorization to use the data. It also protects the data from unauthorized
personnel through the use of security features that prevent viewing, use and modification of the
data by unauthorized personnel.
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Data integrity – The major role of database is to secure the data held and to regulate its access
y the users. The capability of the DBMS to secure and regulate data access protects the system
from data failure and database co
uption.
Data structuring – The data contained in a database is organized in a certain manner using
tables, records and other objects to enhance the simplicity of accessing, retrieving and modifying
data in DBMS.
Customizing features – Data bases contain special features that allow the user to create a
database structure with specific elements that meet the users’ needs.
1.2.2 Merits of database...