BUS 188: Chapter 5 Outline

Matthew Mercado

07/23/16

BUS 188 (11:00am-3:00pm)

Chapter 5 Outline (2 page minimum)

Aggarwal

Chapter 5 Outline

            In our day-to-day lives, we keep track of every single we do. From waking up to lying in bed after a long day, there isn’t a day where our days aren’t eventful and full of tasks and responsibilities. We set an schedule/planner – we keep track of what we have do and check off each one after completion. This is very reminiscent of a database, a track of things that mostly are done on spreadsheets. The spreadsheets are grouped into columns, fields, rows, and finally records. They are recorded on table or file and then sorted out accordingly by specific elements. All of this information compiled makes up a database: Tables or Files, the relationship among rows in tables, and the metadata, data that describes data. For example, a company can maintain a list of all of its employees as well as keep track of their workload, productivity, and efficiency. All of this is to ensure that everything is in order because without a track of things to keep an eye on, there’s no organization.

            Any database is made from a database management system (or abbreviated as DBMS). This program allows people to create, process, and administer databases. The companies and businesses then license DBMS products from vendors from IBM to Microsoft to Oracle. The developers of Databases use DBMS to create tables, relationships, and structures and afterwards, begin to process the database, which requires four processing operations: Red, Insert, Modify, and Deletion. All of the operations require us, the users, to input new database changes whenever need be. Another function to take note of is the administration aspect. Administration requires the setup of many security systems such as accounts, passwords, permissions, and limits for processing the database itself. Much like a computer, there are a lot components that go into the system that require a lot of attention to detail. From its applications to the browsers, computers now have paved way for information to be easily processed. Our SJSU Library Database is a perfect example – it’s open to the students and to the public with the accessibility of acquiring resources pertaining to a large network of information. The Library itself is a structure while its online system could be considered the database for which all the information is based on. 

            However, the database tables alone aren’t sufficient. If it the information presented isn’t accurate, relevant, or even useful to right now, then it isn’t enough to be considered legitimate. This is where a database application comes in – It is a collection of forms, reports, queries, and application programs that serve as an intermediary between users and the data from the database.  The Database administration tasks are split into 4 categories (DBA tasks): Development, Operation, Backup and Recovery, and Adaptation. Each of these 4 has a set of tasks it completed while also having a description that explains their purpose. Developmental tasks include creating and staffing the DBA, form steering committee, specify requirements, validate data models, and evaluate the design of the application. Operational tasks include managing processing rights and responsibilities, manage security, track problems and manage resolutions, monitor the database performances, and managing DBMS. Backup and Recovery’s tasks include monitoring backup procedures, conduct training, and manage recovery. Lastly, Adaptation’s role is to set up a request tracking system and manage configuration changes.

            The applications have 4 elements: Forms, Reports, Queries, and Application Programs. Forms allows user to view data, updating existing data, and delete existing date. Reports are a structured presentation of data using sorting, grouping, filtering, and other operations. Queries allow users to search based on values. Lastly, application programs provided security, data consistency, and with the purpose of special processing. They came into popularity around the 90s and were, at the time, innovative through its technology. Nowadays, the database applications are evolving thanks technology improving each and every year. The database applications that make up the forms, reports, queries, and application programs go through an organizational network that make up the Database Management System (DBMS) and then Tables, relationships, and the metadata.

            Much like a planer/tracker, the list of items/things to complete are neatly organized so that each role serves some sort of purpose. The processes that go into it are integrated and blended together to make up a database. The structure alone is what forms the entire base of operations – the tasks given are a representation of a list of items that are categorized by a specific element to give it detail. Each of these inputs then spread out and given depth in nature. There are entities and relationship that exist to help show how the data/tasks are interconnected and how they entail organization within the database.