Chapter 7 -- Managing Data Resources

(This page last modified June 23, 1997. Please send comments to H.E. Dunsmore)

Teaching Objectives

• To dramatize how critical file management is to effective use of information.
• To provide students with an understanding of the problems of maintaining a traditional data environment.
• To introduce the database concept and the vision of a database environment.
• To describe the three basic database models.
• To describe the components of a database management system and their functions.
• To emphasize the managerial and organizational requirements for creating a database environment.
• To introduce the concept of distributed processing and distributed databases.
• To provide students with knowledge of recent developments and new technology in the data management area.

Key Terms

Field
Record
File
Entity
Attribute
Key field
Sequential file organization
Direct or random file organization
Indexed sequential access method (ISAM)
Index
Direct file access method
Transform (hashing) algorithm
Hashing Collisions
Traditional file environment
Data redundancy
Program-data dependence
Database
Database management system (DBMS)
Data definition language
Data manipulation language
Structured Query Language (SQL)
Data dictionary
Data element
Logical view
Physical view
Hierarchical data model
Pointer
Network data model
Relational data model
Tuple
Entity-relationship diagram
Distributed processing
Distributed database
Object-oriented database
Hypermedia database
Multidimensional database model
Data warehouse
Data administration
Information policy
Database administration

Chapter Outline and Other Resources

7.1 Organizing Data in a Traditional File Environment

File Organization Terms and Concepts

Accessing Records from Computer Files

Problems with the Traditional File Environment

7.2 A Modern Database Environment

Database Management Systems (DBMS)

Logical and Physical Views of Data

Advantages of Database Management Systems

Creating a Database

7.3 Designing Databases

Hierarchical Data Model

Network Data Model

Relational Data Model

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Three Database Models

7.4 Database Trends

Distributed Processing and Distributed Databases

Object-Oriented and Hypermedia Databases

Multidimensional Databases

Data Warehousing

7.5 Management Requirements for Database Systems

Data Administration

Data Planning and Modeling Methodolgy

Database Technology and Management

Users

Internet Resources

The Data Warehousing Information Center Website has a wealth of links. Data warehousing is discussed on pages 218-220.

Customers can check the status of packages and calculate the cost of shipping a package via the United Parcel Service (UPS) Website (described in the Window on Management on page 221).

Oracle is a commercial database provider.

Ask the SQL Pro.

Association for Computing Machinery's Special Interest Group on Management of Data (SIGMOD).

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