Midterm

Question 1

What is normalization?

Answer 1

Process that assigns attributes (fields) to tables such that data redundancies are eliminated or reduced.

Question 2

What is metadata?

Answer 2

Data that describe the properties or characteristics of end-user data and the context of that data

Question 3

What is a database management system (DBMS)?

Answer 3

A software system that is used to create, maintain, and provide controlled access to user databases.

Question 4

What are the disadvantages of file processing systems?

Answer 4

1) program-data dependence
2) duplication of data
3) limited data sharing
4) lengthy development times
5) excessive program maintenance

Question 5

What are advantages of database approach?

Answer 5

1) Program-data independence
2) minimal data redundancy
3) improved data consistency
4) improved data sharing
5) increased productivity of application development
6) enforcement of standards
7) improved data quality
8) improved data accessibility and responsiveness
9) reduced program maintenance
10) improved decision support

Question 6

Why were DBMS developed?

Answer 6

To overcome the limitations of file processing systems

Question 7

What is prototyping?

Answer 7

Building an experimental system rapidly and inexpensively for end users to evaluate

Question 8

What reasons do integrity problems occur?

Answer 8

1) incorrect data entry
2) data redundancy
3) poor database design

Question 9

What are 5 stages of SDLC?

Answer 9

1) Analysis
2) design
3) implementation
4) conversion
5) production & maintenance

Question 10

What are the problems with protyping?

Answer 10

1) scope creep
2) may not work under realistic conditions
3) can lead to sloppy systems

Question 11

What is crowd sourcing?

Answer 11

A distributed problem solving and production model. Problems are broadcast to an unknown group of solvers in the form of an open call for solutions.

Question 12

What are the main functions of DBMS?

Answer 12

Data definition
Data manipulation
Data control
Application development

Question 13

What are four rules of thumbs for principles of database design?

Answer 13

1) single themes
2) field uniqueness
3) primary keys
4) field independence

Question 14

What is concurrency control?

Answer 14

Management of concurrent transaction execution

Question 15

What is a lock?

Answer 15

Guarantees exclusive use of a data item to a current transaction

Question 16

What is a data warehouse?

Answer 16

Stores data that have been extracted from the various operation, external, and other databases of an organization

Question 17

What is enterprise resource planning (ERP)?

Answer 17

A cross-functional enterprise system driven by an integrated suite of software modules that supports the basic internal processes of a company.

Question 18

Why do systems fail?

Answer 18

• A majority of projects cost more to develop than anticipated.
• Take too long to develop.
• many systems underutilized

Question 19

What are advantages of prototyping?

Answer 19

• encourage active end-user
• can lead to speedier implementation
• gives end-user feel for final system
• helps determine technical feasibility
• helps sell the idea of a proposed system

Question 20

What are advantages of SDLC?

Answer 20

• uses structured step by step approach
• problems addressed early on in analysis stage
• requires key deliverables before proceeding to next step
• rigorous methods for analysis, design, and testing of system

Question 21

What are disadvantages of SDLC?

Answer 21

• time consuming
• smaller projects suffer from structured approach
• IT specialists and end users speak diff languages, creating communication gap
• doesn’t acct for evolving requirements during project

Question 22

What are varieties of crowd sourcing?

Answer 22

• simple tasks
• r&d
• user generated
• new idea generation
• open source design