IMIS Database Development

Theme: Development of Information Systems
Course: Higher Diploma
Module Title: Database Development
Module Code: H34
Resources:

• Software: CASE Tools, Visual Basic (at least V6), and Access
• Students should have a working knowledge of the IMIS
• Code of Ethics and be able to understand and apply the ethical and legal concepts contained therein

Assessment: By a single 3-hour externally set examination paper
CATS Equivalent: 200 Notional Hours:

• 80 Hours Structured,
• 120 Hours Directed Self-Study

SPECIFIC COURSE AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Model business situations to inform the development process using accepted standards.
• Respond to a requirements specification by analysing and designing a contextually relevant solution.
• Examine the social and legal impacts of developing and implementing information systems and the role played by Information Systems professionals in addressing such issues.

MODULE AIMS:

To provide students with:

• An awareness of the need for a database system, its role in an organisation and the standard Database Management System (DBMS) architecture. (A1)
• An insight into the Database Management System (DBMS) functions and how the components interact to produce high-quality data management. (A2)
• Skills to analyse database requirements and design well-structured logical database designs using appropriate methodologies. (A3)
• Skills to produce physical implementations supporting business functions and the management of data integrity using a suitable relational DBMS. (A4)
• Ability to understand the need for a database programming language and using the Structured Query Language (SQL) to define database structures, maintain data integrity and manipulate corporate data. (A5)
• An understanding of physical database design concepts. (A6)
• An appreciation of the techniques available to provide effective user interfaces to database systems. (A7)
• An understanding of the need for distributed processing, distributed databases and client-server architectures in a multi-user environment. (A8)
• An appreciation of internet and web-enabled database technologies. (A9)
• The ability to evaluate the legal, ethical and social issues of storing large amounts of data and various security techniques employed to ensure that it is used appropriately. (A10)

MODULE LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Students should be able to:

A1:

• Review traditional file processing systems and show their limitations. (LO1)
• Explain the benefits of a Database Management System (DBMS) in an organisation. (LO2)
• Understand the purpose and origin of the three-level architecture of a Database Management System (DBMS). (LO3)
• Understand the meaning of logical and physical data independence. (LO4)

A2:

• Review typical functions and services provided by a Database Management System (DBMS) and how these functions support business operations of an organisation. (LO5)
• Appreciate the role of a system catalogue or data dictionary. (LO6)

A3:

• Appreciate the purpose and importance of conceptual modelling using Entity-Relationship Diagrams. (LO7)
• Appreciate the importance of a data model and have an overview of previous generations of database models. (LO8)
• Explain the link between mathematical set theory and the relational data model (LO9)
• Understand the basic properties of the relational data model. (LO10)
• Map the basic Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) into a relational schema. (LO11)
• Understand the concept of functional dependency, attributes groupings and the process of normalisation. (LO12)

A4:

• Implement the physical relational schema with its identified business rules and data constraints using the Structured Query Language (SQL). (LO13)

A5:

• Write simple queries using various data manipulation operators in SQL. (LO14)

A6:

• Understand the different file organisation techniques and the importance of physical database design. (LO15)

A7:

• Understand various techniques for user interface design and be able to apply the appropriate tools available in a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) such as Query By Example (QBE).(LO16)

A8:

• Appreciate the importance of data distribution in modern organisations to meet current applications’ requirements using appropriate distribution techniques and various client-server architectures. (LO17)

A9:

• Realise recent developments in web technologies and their impacts on database applications. (LO18)

A10:

• Review techniques used to ensure protection and correct usage of database data in an organisation and explain different security mechanisms in a database environment. (LO19)
• Understand the role of a database administrator in enforcing an organisation’s policy and appreciate the social impact on individuals in a society. (LO20)

DETAILED MODULE CONTENT:

LO1: Review traditional file processing systems and show their limitations.

• Database terminologies.
• Traditional file system vs. a database approach.

LO2: Explain the benefits of a Database Management System (DBMS) in an organisation.

• Advantages and disadvantages of DBMS.
• When is it not necessary to use a DBMS?

LO3: Understand the purpose and origin of the three-level architecture of a Database Management System (DBMS).

• Three level ANSI-SPARC architecture.
• The contents of the external, conceptual and internal levels.
• The purpose of the external/conceptual and the conceptual/internal mappings.

LO4: Understand the meaning of logical and physical data independence.

• Concept of data independence.
• Logical data independence.
• Physical data independence.
• Mapping between external/conceptual and the conceptual/internal schemas.

LO5: Review typical functions and services provided by a DBMS and how these functions support business operations of an organisation.

• Functions of a DBMS.
• Components of a DBMS.
• Multi-user DBMS Architecture.

LO6: Appreciate the role of a system catalogue or data dictionary.

• Integrated system catalogue.
• Metadata and its importance in a database environment.

LO7: Appreciate the purpose and importance of conceptual modelling using Entity-Relationship Diagrams.

• Lifecycle of database system development.
• Understand business functions in an organisation through various data analysis techniques: Fact finding techniques.
• Importance of conceptual modelling.
• Tools for conceptual modelling: Basic constructs in Entity- Relationship Diagram (ERD).
• Specify data and user requirements in terms of business rules of an organisation.
• Translating business rules into ERD constructs.

LO8: Appreciate the importance of a data model and have an overview of previous generations of database models.

• The role of a data model.
• Hierarchical model.
• Network model.
• Object-oriented data model.

LO9: Explain the link between mathematical set theory and the relational model.

• Mathematical set theory.
• Relational operators.

LO10:Understand the basic properties of the relational data model.

• Basic concepts of a relation.
• Properties of a relation.
• Primary and foreign keys.
• Relational constraints (entity integrity, referential integrity and business constraints).

LO11:Map the basic Entity-Relationship Diagram into a relational schema.

• Steps of translating an ERD into a relational schema.

LO12:Understand the concept of functional dependency, attribute groupings and the process of normalisation.

• Concepts of functional dependencies.
• Partial and full functional dependency.
• Anomalies in unstructured relations.
• First, Second and Third Normal Forms.

LO13: Implement the physical relational schema with its identified business rules and data constraints using the Structured Query Language (SQL).

• Basic SQL definition statements.
• Data Definition Language.

LO14:Write simple queries using various data manipulation operators in SQL.

• Data Manipulation Language.
• Data Manipulation Operators.

LO15:Understand the different file organisation techniques and the importance of physical database design.

• Storage structures and blocking.
• Unordered files.
• Sequential files.
• Indexing.

LO16:Understand various techniques for user interface design and be able to apply the appropriate tools available in a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) such as Query By Example (QBE).

• Basic features of QBE interface.
• Advantages and limitations of QBE.
• Graphical User Interface (GUI) design criteria.
• Criteria for designing forms and reports.
• Primary data validation on forms.

LO17:Appreciate the importance for data distribution in modern organisations to meet current applications’ requirements using appropriate distribution techniques and various client-server architectures.

• Need for distributing data in an organisation.
• Approaches to data distribution.
• Business and technological imperatives.
• Client-server architectures.
• The role of Middleware in a client-server architecture.

LO18:Realise recent developments in web technologies and their impacts on database applications.

• The importance of integrating internet technologies into the economic infrastructure of the business.
• Advantages and disadvantages of the web-enabled database approach.
• The web as a database application platform for business.

LO19:Review techniques used to ensure protection and correct usage of database data in an organisation and explain different security mechanisms in a database environment.

• Concepts of database integrity.
• Explain the properties of a transaction and locking mechanisms:
• concept of a transaction
• properties of a transaction
• locking mechanisms.
• Importance of security in an organisation.
• The database environment and security levels.

LO20:Understand the role of a database administrator in enforcing an organisation’s policy and appreciate the social impact on individuals in a society.

• Compliance with Data Protection Acts.
• Corporate policies and code of conduct.
• Implications of Data Protection Act for database design.
• Legal impact on individuals.
• Social impact on society.