MIS 150Part 3 Review Questions and Exercises

Chapter 10 Database System Development Lifecycle Review Questions 10.1 Describe the major components of an information system. Database, database software, application software, computer hardware including storage media, and people using and developing the system. 10.2 Discuss the relationship between the information systems lifecycle and the database system development lifecycle. See Sections 10.1 and 10.2. 10.3 Describe the main purpose(s) and activities associated with each stage of the database system development lifecycle. See Table 10.1 in Section 10.2. 10.4 Discuss what a user view represents in the context of a database system. User view: defines what is required of a database system from the perspective of a particular job role (such as Manager or Supervisor) or enterprise application area (such as marketing, personnel, or stock control) (See Section 10.4.1). 10.5 Discuss the main approaches for managing the design of a database system that has multiple user views. Three main approaches: centralized, view integration, and combination of both approaches (see Section 10.5). 10.6 Compare and contrast the three phases of database design. Three phases are conceptual database design, logical database design, and physical database design. Conceptual database design constructs a model of the information used in an enterprise, independent of all physical considerations. Logical database design is based on a specific data model, but independent of all other physical considerations. Physical database design constructs a description of the implementation of the database on secondary storage (see Section 10.6.3). 10.7 What are the main purposes of data modeling and identify the criteria for an optimal data model. 3Database Systems: Instructor’s Guide - Part III The two main purposes of data modeling are to assist in the understanding of the meaning (semantics) of the data and to facilitate communication about the information requirements (see Section 10.6.2). 10.8 Identify the stage(s) where it is appropriate to select a DBMS and describe an approach to selecting the ‘best’ DBMS. Physical database design is tailored to a specific DBMS; therefore it is essential the DBMS is determined before the physical design phase can begin. Physical database design is described in Section 10.6.3. 10.9 Application design involves transaction design and user interface design. Describe the purpose and main activities associated with each. See Section 10.8. 10.10 Discuss why testing cannot show the absence of faults, only that software faults are present. See Section 10.12. 10.11 Describe the main advantages of using the prototyping approach when building a database system. Should be relatively inexpensive to develop and quick to build (see Section 10.9). . Exercises 10.12 Assume that you are responsible for selecting a new DBMS product for a group of users in your organization. To undertake this exercise, you must first establish a set of requirements for the group and then identify a set of features that a DBMS product must provide to fulfil the requirements. Describe the process of evaluating and selecting the best DBMS product. The student should follow the approach to DBMS selection described in Section 10.7 and produce a report that identifies a suitable DBMS product that meets the requirements of the organization. The selection should be fully justified and any assumptions made should be highlighted.