organized collection of logically related data

stored representations of meaningful objects and events

Example of Structured:

Example of Unstructured:

data processed to increase knowledge in the person using the data

data that describes the properties and context of user data

turn data into useful information that managers can use for decision making and interpretation.

Disadvantages of File Processing: All programs maintain metadata for each file they use

Disadvantages of File Processing: Different systems/programs have separate copies of the same data

Disadvantages of File Processing: No centralized control of data

Disadvantages of File Processing: Programmers must design their own file formats

Disadvantages of File Processing: 80% of information systems budget

Elements of the Database Approach: Graphical system capturing nature and relationship of data

Data Models: high-level entities and relationships for the organization

Data Model: more detailed view, matching data structure in database or data warehouse

Elements of the Database Approach: Database technology involving table representing entities and primary/foreign keys representing relationships

Elements of the Database Approach: Networks and telecommunications, distributed databases, client-server, and 3-tier architectures

Elements of the Database Approach: Application programs used to perform database activities (create, read, update, and delete) for database users

Components of the Database Environment: computer-aided software engineering

Components of the Database Environment: centralized storehouse of metadata

Components of the Database Environment: software for managing the database

Components of the Database Environment: storehouse of data

Components of the Database Environment: software using the data

Components of the Database Environment: text and graphical displays to users

Components of the Database Environment: personnel responsible for maintaining the database

Components of the Database Environment: personnel responsible for designing databases and software

Components of the Database Environment: people who use the applications and databases

Range of database environment

Enterprise Database Applications: Integrate all enterprise functions (manufacturing, finance, sales, marketing, inventory, accounting, human resources

Enterprise Database Applications: Integrated decision support system derived from various operational databases

Enterprise Database Applications: requiring databases Customer relationship management (CRM) • Business-to-consumer (B2C) • Electronic data interchange (EDI) • Private intranets • XML-defined Web services