Databases

**Introduction to Data Management**
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 << prev next >>

Topic overview:
Data lies at the core of most information systems. The software, hardware, and processes of an information system generally exist to capture, store, analyze, evaluate, and report data. Over the next six classes we will look at common tools and techniques for managing and taking advantage of the enormous amount of data stored in modern information systems.

In class today we will introduce some fundamental concepts of data management, databases, and their use in modern corporate information systems.

By the end of today's class you should:
 * Be able to explain why data is considered a core and valuable asset to many organizations
 * Be able to explain the difference between //data// and //information//
 * Be able to explain the difference between //transactional information// and //analytic information//
 * Understand the importance to an organization of maintaining high data-quality

**Preparation for class:** Prior to class you should read chapters 6 and 7 from the book:
 * [HBP09] Stephen Haag, Paige Baltzan, and Amy Phillips, Business Driven Technology 3rd Edition, McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2009, ISBN 978007337645.

These chapters are available through digital reserve on Blackboard in the Course Documents section.

As you are reading these chapters think about the different kinds of data that are stored in the databases of Facebook, or another of your favorite web sites. How might the company that runs your selected web site address the issues raised in the reading? How might they use the techniques and approaches discussed? Come to class prepared to discuss your findings.

**Reference materials:**
Slides:

Pre-class exercise:
Select a smartphone application or website that you visit or use frequently. Name the application or website, then identify two examples of transactional information, and two examples of analytic information, that the application, website, or business behind them, collects and uses. To keep things interesting, you should choose an application, website, and/or business that has not already been identified by another student.

[Bob Monroe]
 * Website**: Ebay.com -- online auction website
 * Transactional information**:
 * Bids submitted for each item up for auction (bidder, date, time, bid amount, item bid upon, etc.)
 * Details of items put up for auction on the site (item name, description, reserve price, opening bid price, pictures, etc.)
 * Analytic information**:
 * Bidding history for each eBay customer (customer id, auctions bid in, all bids submitted, winning bids submitted, losing bids submitted, etc.)
 * Average final auction price for items in each product category (mean, median, trends over time for each category)

[Mughees Ahmed]
 * Blackberry Messenger:** An instant messaging application.
 * Transactional information:**
 * Inviting, accepting or declining a new contact request on the messenger service (sender, receiver, date/time of the request.)
 * Contact and Group lists on every handset. (Including their name, display names, status, display picture.)
 * Analytic information:**
 * Providing every handset a unique PIN (Blackberry PIN)
 * The quantity and quality of applications available on the App World ranged from rankings to prices. (Ratings done through feedback, time of release)