DBTech

SUMMARY

This is an introductory course for MA and MBA(IT) students with no prior knowledge in Database Systems.

Business-Oriented Organizations and Non-Profit Making Organizations are accumulating vast volumes of data because of the implementation of the technology that makes it easier and cheaper to collect data. The world’s data is estimated to be doubling every after 20 months, and many large companies now routinely manage tetrabytes (1e12) of data. It is this fast cumulative effect of the vast amount of data that forces organizations to look for efficient and effective ways of managing data. For an efficient and effective system, ad-hoc or spur-of-the-moment reports will be generated on/in time for managerial decisions to be made.

This course introduces the student to the role of data and information management especially database planning, design and management. The database plays a fundamental role in most information systems. The course follows a managerial perspective of data management and concentrates on why organizations design and maintain data management systems or organization memories. Without this managerial perspective, many organizations find themselves failing to connect business requirements with software development and acquisition. This disconnect is especially troublesome for database applications because they are pervasive and critical to the operation of the business.

In this course, the student will be equipped with the knowledge to make important decisions about the planning, design and implementation of this vital component of the organization’s data management system. The course also does touch on advanced practices in database technology (e.g., Parallel/Distributed DBMSs, OODBMs etc.). Next to theoretical issues, the course will also develop practical skills (using MySQL). After the course the student should be able to design/ build and implement databases that provide added value to the business environment.

At the end of the course, students should:

1. Have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the basic concepts in database technology
2. Know how to model using E-R and design simple relational databases using MySQL
3. Be able to design a database in a graphical environment
4. Have a good understanding of the advanced database technology concepts
5. Know when to develop in-house software and when to obtain an off-the -shelf software.

The course consists of two parts: Part I-Theoretical Concepts and Part II-Implementation(Practicals) using MySQL. Part I has the following topics:

• Foundations and Taxonomy of Database Applications
• Architectures and Paradigms in Database Technology
• Design Methods for Database Applications – I
• Design Methods for Database Applications – II
• AdvancedDatabase Technology Concepts
• The Structred Query Language (SQL)
• Entity Relationship (E-R) Modeling
• Mapping an E-R Model to a Relational Model
• Integrity, Security, Concurecny and DB Recovery
• Making or Buying the Database ?

 The details are found in the course outline. Lecture Slides are given in the table below.

Course Text Book: M.R. Blaha, A Manager’s Guide to Database Technology: Building and Purchasing Applications, Prentice-Hall, 2001 (ISBN 0-13-030418-2)

References:

1. Thomas Connolly and Carolyn Begg, Database Systems, A Practical Approach to Design, Implementation and Management, 4th Edition, Addison Wesley, 2004.
2. Richard T. Watson, Data Management: Databases and Organizations, Fourth Edition, John Wiley & Sons, 2004
3. SQL for Web Nerds [here]
4. MySQL Reference Manual [Get it]

 ASSIGNMENTS/TEST, LAB SESSIONS & GROUP DISCUSSIONS