Unit 3: Data and Databases
Data is a collection of facts. For example, population estimates for China and the United States are “data.” Information is the presentation of these facts in an organized manner, that is, the presentation of these population counts side-by-side with other facts like per-capita income, for example. Knowledge refers to the use of information to make informed decisions. In this case, you might consider these figures critical knowledge for making policy decisions about China and the United States. Managing data allows the government, corporations, and even individuals to apply this knowledge to their everyday lives. Managing data can be difficult because databases are often filled with more information than you need. In this unit, you will explore the challenges of data management and learn how to take data and turn it into knowledge.
We have used the word “database” a number of times in this course. We will now define and study databases in detail. Entire courses are devoted to this subject – such as Saylor Academy’s CS403: Introduction to Modern Database Systems and CS410: Advanced Databases – as the uses and types of databases are as varied as the businesses that use them. However, you can expect to leave this unit with enough of an understanding of databases to have a conversation with a database administrator about the needs of your team or department. This course focuses on relational databases.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 8.5 hours.
Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- define metadata;
- describe the differences between data, information, and knowledge;
- define the term database and identify the steps to creating one;
- describe the purpose of a database management system;
- describe the characteristics of a data warehouse;
- define data mining and describe its role in an organization; and
- list the components of knowledge management.
3.1: Introduction to Data Management
This chapter covers the concepts of data and databases. Businesses are becoming more and more “data-driven”; understanding how data is collected, stored, and managed is essential for anyone wanting to succeed in business. Pay special attention to the sections on data warehouses and data mining, as they provide examples of how companies use data strategically.
3.1.1: Data vs. Information vs. Knowledge
Watch these two videos and reflect upon the different approaches to defining these terms in the two videos and the reading assignment. Which do you like best? Write a short definition for each of them yourself. (Note: we will reflect upon the knowledge management part of this topic in a later section.)
3.1.2: Utilizing Data to Make Decisions
In this video, Ben Curren explains how he utilized data to make decisions and the importance of using intuition as well. After reviewing the unit materials, please respond to the following questions and post your answer on Saylor’s Discourse discussion forum. Feel free to start your own related posts, and respond to other students’ postings as well.
- Think about decisions you make in your work or personal life. How could having more data help you make better decisions? What kind of data would you need?
- How would you balance your own intuition and data to make better decisions?
- Think about decisions you make in your work or personal life. How could having more data help you make better decisions? What kind of data would you need?
3.1.3: Knowledge Management
Watch this video and reflect upon the role of information technology in knowledge management. What are the components of knowledge management? Can a company claim to be doing “knowledge management” by simply implementing one or more information systems? Refer back to the videos you watched in 3.1.1 as you answer this question. Compose a response to the questions above in two or three paragraphs.
3.2: Databases
3.2.1: What is a database?
A database is a storage location for data. But what does the term database really mean? This exercise is meant to help you come to deeper understanding of the term.
Review the design of the Student Clubs database earlier in this chapter. This database includes four tables: Clubs, Students, Events, and Memberships. Now review the list of data types listed in the chapter. On a spreadsheet or document, do the following:
- Create a listing of all of the fields (columns) in each table and assign a data type to each of the fields.
- Determine what other limits you would put on the data. Would you limit how long the text would be or how high the number should go?
- Create a listing of all of the fields (columns) in each table and assign a data type to each of the fields.
3.2.2: Database Management Systems
This is a somewhat technical video, so be sure you have read Chapter 4 before watching it. What demands will companies put on databases in the future? As data becomes more and more the lifeblood of business, databases will require new methods for processing and managing data. After watching the video, think about why the relational database model may not be the best one to serve the purposes of database management in the future. Compose your answer to the above prompt in a brief three-or four-slide presentation as follows:
- Slide one should define relational databases
- Slide two should define NoSQL databases
- Slide three and four should describe the pros/cons of each
- Slide one should define relational databases
3.2.3: Data Warehouses and Data Mining
This article provides a detailed summary of the role of data warehouses and data mining in organizations and their relationship to organizational databases. As you read, pay special attention to how the data warehouses are being used to improve decision-making in organizations. Keep a summary in your notes of how an organization you are involved with could benefit from a data warehouse and data mining.