Databases and Data Warehouses - Week seven Questions

1.     List, describe, and provide an example of each of the five characteristics of high quality information.

Accuracy – Are all the values correct? For example, is the name spelled correctly? Is the dollar amount recorded properly?

Completeness – Are any of these values missing? For example, is the address complete including street, city, state and postcode?

Consistency – Is aggregate or summary information in agreement with detailed information? For example, do all total fields equal the true total of the individual fields?

Uniqueness – Is each transaction, entity and event represented only once in the information? For Example, are there any duplicate customers?

Timeliness? – Is the information current with respect to the business requirements? For example, is information updated weekly, daily, or hourly?

2.     Define the relationship between a database and a database management system.

A database maintains information about various types of objects (inventory), events (transactions), people

(employees) and places (warehouses).Typically, a given database has a structural description of the type of

facts held in that database: this description is known as a schema. In contrast to a database management

system (DBMS) which is a computer program used to manage and query a database. The properties and

design of database systems are included in the study of information science.

3.     Describe the advantages an organisation can gain by using a database.

A good database can handle changes quickly and easily, just as any good business needs to be able to

handle changes quickly and easily.

The advantages and organisation can gain by using a database are as follows:

-  Increased flexibility;

-  Increased scalability and performance;

-   Reduced information redundancy;

 - Increased information integrity (quality);

-   Increased information security;

4. Describe the benefits of a data-driven website.

- Development: Allows the website owner to make changes any time – all without having to rely on a developer or

 knowing HTML programming. A well-structured, data-driven website enables updating with little or no training.

- Content management: A static website requires a programmer to make updates. This adds an unnecessary

layer between the business and its web content, which can lead to misunderstandings and slow turnarounds for

desired changes.

- Future expandability: Having a data-driven website enables the site to grow faster than would be possible with a

 static site. Changing the layout, displays and functionality of the site (adding more features and sections) is

easier with a data-driven solution.