Data and Databases
Completion requirements
Data is a valuable resource. Therefore, data management has become an important administrative function. An effective data management plan should govern how to acquire, store, and secure organizational data. Remember, reliable data management plans depend on your ability to identify the value added to operational and strategic planning.
Read this chapter. Focus on the differences between data, information, and knowledge; why database technology for data resource management is important; and the role of database management systems. Answer the study questions at the end of the chapter. Why is data management valuable to the success of an organization? What are some common weaknesses in data resource management? How can they be mitigated?
Exercises
- Review the design of the School database earlier in this chapter. Reviewing the lists of data types given, what data types would you assign to each of the fields in each of the tables. What lengths would you assign to the text fields?
- Download Apache OpenOffice.org and use the database tool to open the "Student Clubs.odb" file available here. Take some time to learn how to modify the database structure and then see if you can add the required items to support the tracking of faculty advisors, as described at the end of the Normalization section in the chapter. Here is a link to the Getting Started documentation.
- Using Microsoft Access, download the database file of comprehensive baseball statistics from the website SeanLahman.com. (If you don't have Microsoft Access, you can download an abridged version of the file here that is compatible with Apache Open Office). Review the structure of the tables included in the database. Come up with three different data-mining experiments you would like to try, and explain which fields in which tables would have to be analyzed.
- Do some original research and find two examples of data mining. Summarize each example and then write about what the two examples have in common.
- Conduct some independent research on the process of business intelligence. Using at least two scholarly or practitioner sources, write a two-page paper giving examples of how business intelligence is being used.
- Conduct some independent research on the latest technologies being used for knowledge management. Using at least two scholarly or practitioner sources, write a two-page paper giving examples of software applications or new technologies being used in this field.