IM 101_Fundamentals of Database Systems_Unit 1
IM 101_Fundamentals of Database Systems_Unit 1
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Unit One - Information Management Concepts and Fundamentals and Understanding Database
Management Systems and its History
This unit introduces the terms and concepts in information management and how to relate to the history
and use of database management systems.
Essential Questions
How is a Database Management System defined?
How did the Database Management System evolve?
What are the advantages of using a Database Management System?
What components comprising a database and how do they function?
Lessons Input
computer science equivalent of a Nobel Prize) for work in the database area; he received the award in
1973.
In the late 1960s, IBM developed the Information Management System (IMS) DBMS, used even today
in many major installations. IMS formed the basis for an alternative data representation framework
called the hierarchical data model. The SABRE system for making airline reservations was jointly
developed by American Airlines and IBM around the same time, and it allowed several people to access
the same data through a computer network.
In 1970, Edgar Codd, at IBM's San Jose Research Laboratory, proposed a new data representation
framework called the relational data model. This proved to be a watershed in the development of
database systems: It sparked the rapid development of several DBMSs based on the relational model,
along with a rich body of theoretical results that placed the field on a firm foundation. Codd won the
1981 Turing Award for his seminal work.
In the 1980s, the relational model consolidated its position as the dominant DBMS paradigm, and
database systems continued to gain widespread use.
Advantages of DBMS
1. Data Independence: Application programs should not, ideally, be exposed to details of data
representation and storage, The DBMS provides an abstract view of the data that hides such
details.
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2. Efficient Data Access: A DBMS utilizes a variety of sophisticated techniques to store and
retrieve data efficiently. This feature is especially important if the data is stored on external
storage devices.
3. Data Integrity and Security: If data is always accessed through the DBMS, the DBMS can
enforce integrity constraints, it can enforce access controls that govern what data is visible to
different classes of users.
4. Data Administration: When several users share the data, centralizing the administration of data
can offer significant improvements.
5. Concurrent Access and Crash Recovery: A DBMS schedules concurrent accesses to the data
in such a manner that users can think of the data as being accessed by only one user at a time.
Further, the DBMS protects users from the effects of system failures.
6. Reduced Application Development Time: Clearly, the DBMS supports important functions
that are common to many applications accessing data in the DBMS.
Databases are specialized structures that allow computer-based systems to store, manage, and
retrieve data very quickly.
Data are raw facts. The word raw indicates that the facts have not yet been processed to reveal their
meaning.
Information is the result of processing raw data to reveal its meaning. Data processing can be as
simple as organizing data to reveal patterns or as complex as making forecasts or drawing inferences
using statistical modeling.
In this “information age,” the production of accurate, relevant, and timely information is the key to
good decision making. In turn, good decision making is the key to business survival in a global
market. We are now said to be entering the “knowledge age.”Data are the foundation of information,
which is the bedrock of knowledge—that is, the body of information and facts about a specific
subject. Knowledge implies familiarity, awareness, and understanding of information as it applies to
an environment. A key characteristic of knowledge is that “new” knowledge can be derived from
“old” knowledge.
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Figure 4. Data, Information and Knowledge concept (Chaffey and Wood, 2005)
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Data management is a discipline that focuses on the proper generation, storage, and retrieval of
data. Given the crucial role that data play, it should not surprise you that data management is a core
activity for any business, government agency, service organization, or charity.
A database is a shared, integrated computer structure that stores a collection of end-user data and
metadata.
End-user data are raw facts of interest to the end-user.
Metadata, or data about data, through which the end-user data are integrated and managed.
A database management system (DBMS) is a collection of programs that manages the database
structure and controls access to the data stored in the database.
1. (First paragraph) - why is there a need for database system to constantly evolve or change ?
Why did they not just adopt a single standard ?
2. (Second paragraph) - if you are to choose only 1 advantage of using a database management
system what will it be and why?
3. (Third paragraph) - in your own words, differentiate data, information and knowledge and
why we should treat them separately.
References
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Garcia-Molina, H.,Ullman, J.,Widom, J. (2008). Database Systems: The Complete Book (2nd ed., pp 2-
14). Pearson
What is a database management system? - Definition from WhatIs.com. (2019, May 21).
SearchSQLServer. https://searchsqlserver.techtarget.com/definition/database-management-system