IS 410 Exam 1 Questions with Correct Answers
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 (name, type, length, description, source) and context of user
data. Stored in structured or unstructured data. For example, Class Roster: Name
(Type/Length/Min/Max/Description/Source), ID
(Type/Length/Min/Max/Description/Source), Major
(Type/Length/Min/Max/Description/Source), GPA.
Entities (E-R)/Relationships/Relational Databases
Entities: Noun form describing a person, place, object, event, or concept (Ex. UMBC:
Student, courses, teachers, classes). Composed of attributes.
Should be an object that has many instances and multiple attributes.
Relationships: Between entities; Usually one-to-many (1:M) or many-to-many (M:N)
Relational Databases: Database technology involving tables (relations) representing entities
and primary/foreign keys representing relationships.
, *Data Driven vs. Process Driven Design
Data Driven is much more flexible, adaptable and less expensive to maintain.
Business Rules
Are statements that define or constrain some aspect of the business
Are derived from policies, procedures, events, functions
Assert business structure
Control/influence business behavior
Are expressed in terms familiar to end users
Are automated through DBMS software
A Good Business Rule is:
Declarative-what, not how
Precise-clear, agreed-upon meaning
Atomic-one statement
Consistent-internally and externally
Expressible-structured, natural language
Distinct-non-redundant
Business-oriented-understood by business people
A Good Data Name is
Related to business, not technical, characteristics
Meaningful and self-documenting
Unique
Readable
Composed of words from an approved list
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 (name, type, length, description, source) and context of user
data. Stored in structured or unstructured data. For example, Class Roster: Name
(Type/Length/Min/Max/Description/Source), ID
(Type/Length/Min/Max/Description/Source), Major
(Type/Length/Min/Max/Description/Source), GPA.
Entities (E-R)/Relationships/Relational Databases
Entities: Noun form describing a person, place, object, event, or concept (Ex. UMBC:
Student, courses, teachers, classes). Composed of attributes.
Should be an object that has many instances and multiple attributes.
Relationships: Between entities; Usually one-to-many (1:M) or many-to-many (M:N)
Relational Databases: Database technology involving tables (relations) representing entities
and primary/foreign keys representing relationships.
, *Data Driven vs. Process Driven Design
Data Driven is much more flexible, adaptable and less expensive to maintain.
Business Rules
Are statements that define or constrain some aspect of the business
Are derived from policies, procedures, events, functions
Assert business structure
Control/influence business behavior
Are expressed in terms familiar to end users
Are automated through DBMS software
A Good Business Rule is:
Declarative-what, not how
Precise-clear, agreed-upon meaning
Atomic-one statement
Consistent-internally and externally
Expressible-structured, natural language
Distinct-non-redundant
Business-oriented-understood by business people
A Good Data Name is
Related to business, not technical, characteristics
Meaningful and self-documenting
Unique
Readable
Composed of words from an approved list
