Instructor's Resource
Manual
Modern Database Management
Thirteenth Edition
Jeffrey Hoffer
University of Dayton
Ramesh Venkataraman
Indiana University
Heikki Topi
Bentley University
ISBN-10: 0134792238
ISBN-13: 9780134792231
Copyright © 2022, 2019, 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.
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Chapter 1 The Database
Environment and
Development Process
Chapter Overview
The purpose of this chapter is to introduce students to the world of data management as a whole, and
specifically to the database approach to information systems development, the important concepts and
principles of the database approach, and the database development process within the broader context
of information systems development. This is an important chapter because it conveys a sense of the
central importance of databases and data management in today‘s information systems environment and
in all modern enterprises. The idea of an organizational database is intuitively appealing to most
students. However, many students will have little or no background or experience with the technical
implementation of databases. Others will have had some experience with database management
systems intended for personal or workgroup use (such as Microsoft Access). Consequently, they will
have a limited perspective concerning an organizational approach to databases.
In this chapter, we introduce the basic concepts and definitions of databases and data management,
starting with an organizing framework that is new to this chapter. We contrast data with information, and
introduce the notion of metadata and its importance. We also contrast the database approach with older
file processing systems, and introduce the Pine Valley Furniture Company case to illustrate these
concepts. We describe the range of database applications, from databases with a personal or workgroup
scope to enterprise databases, and identify key decisions that must be made for each type of database.
We describe both the potential benefits and typical costs of using the database approach. We also trace
the historical evolution of database systems, in order to provide a context for understanding the
database approach for data storage and retrieval. The chapter outlines the differences between
transactional and informational approaches and highlights the way new, analytics-focused technologies
are transforming data management.
The chapter also presents an expanded description of the systems development life cycle (including an
introduction to rapid application development methods of prototyping and agile software development)
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and the role of database development within it. The chapter provides an updated description of the well-
known three-schema architecture and uses it to summarize the various deliverables of database
development. It concludes with an example of database development situated in the context the Pine
Valley Furniture Company case.
Chapter Objectives
Specific student learning objectives are included at the beginning of each chapter. From an instructor’s
point of view, the objectives of this chapter are to:
1. Create a sense of excitement concerning the data and database management field and the types of
job opportunities that are available.
2. Acquaint students with the broad spectrum of database applications and how organizations are using
database applications for competitive advantage.
3. Introduce the data management framework that organizes the book and the conceptual space of
data management, highlighting how relational technologies and non-relational technologies can be
seen as part of the same space.
4. Introduce the key terms and definitions that describe the database environment.
5. Describe data models and how they are used to capture the nature and relationships among data.
6. Describe the major components of the database environment and how these components interact
with each other.
7. Provide a review of systems development methodologies, particularly the systems development life
cycle, prototyping, and agile software development; build an understanding of how database
development is aligned with these methodologies.
8. Develop an understanding of the different roles within in a database development team.
9. Make students aware of the three-schema architecture and its benefits for database development
and design.
10. Introduce the Pine Valley Furniture Company case, which is used throughout the text to illustrate
important concepts.
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11. Introduce the Mountain View Community Hospital case, which is included at the end of each chapter
as a source for student projects.
Key Terms
Agile software development Database Metadata
Conceptual schema Database application Physical schema
Constraint Database management system (D B Project
MS)
Data Enterprise data modeling Prototyping
Data independence Enterprise resource planning (E RP) Relational database
Data model Entity Repository
Data modeling and design Information Systems development life cycle (S
tools DLC)
Data warehouse Logical schema User view
Classroom Ideas
1. Start with a discussion of how students interact with systems built on databases on a daily basis
(credit card transactions, shopping cards, telephone calls, cell phone contact lists, downloadable
music, etc.). If you teach in a classroom with computers, ask students to find examples of Web sites
that appear to be accessing databases.
2. Contrast the terms ―data‖ and ―information.‖ Using Figure 1-1 as a starting point, have the students
provide some good examples of data and information from their own experiences. This may well lead
to some differences of opinion, and the conclusion that one person‘s data may be another person‘s
information.
3. Introduce the concept of metadata using Table 1-1. Ask the students to suggest other metadata that
might be appropriate for this example.
4. Discuss file processing systems and their limitations, using Figure 1-2 and Table 1-2. Emphasize that
many of these systems are still in use today.
5. Introduce data models using Figure 1-3. Discuss the differences between an enterprise data model
Copyright © 2022, 2019, 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.