Data Resource Management

Data Resource Management

• Data resource management processes and technologies provide business value by supporting the operations and management of a business

Logical Data Elements

• A character is a single alphabetic, numeric, or other symbol
• A field or data item represents an attribute (characteristic or quality) of an entity (object, person, place, event)
  • Example: salary, job title
• A record is a grouping of all the fields used to describe the attributes of an entity
  • Example: payroll record with name, SSN, pay rate
• A file or table is a group of related records
• A database is an integrated collection of logically related data elements

Database Structures

• Hierarchical structure:
  • Early DBMS structure
  • Records arranged in a tree-like structure
  • Relationships are one-to-many
• Network structure:
  • Used in some mainframe DBMS packages
  • Many-to-many relationships
• Relational structure:
  • Most widely used structure
  • Data elements are stored in tables
  • Row represents a record; column is a field
  • Can relate data in one file with data in another, if both files share a common data element
• Object-oriented structure:
  • An object consists of data values and operations
  • Encapsulation combines data and operations
  • Inheritance allows new objects to be created by replicating some or all of the characteristics of parent objects
• Multidimensional structure:
  • A multidimensional database is created from multiple relational databases
  • Uses multidimensional structures to organize data
  • Data elements are viewed as being in cubes
  • Popular for analytical databases that support Online Analytical Processing (OLAP)

Relational Operations

• Select: creates a subset of records that meet a stated criterion
  • Example: employees earning more than $30,000
• Join: combines two or more tables temporarily
  • Looks like one big table
• Project: creates a subset of columns in a table

Foundations of Information Systems

• Understanding the concept of a system and its relation to information systems
• Importance of information systems knowledge for business professionals, including:
  • Five areas of information systems knowledge they need

What is a System?

• A system is a set of interrelated components with a clearly defined boundary, working together to achieve a common set of objectives
• Three basic functions of a system:
  • Input: capturing and assembling elements to be processed
  • Processing: transforming input into output
  • Output: transferring produced elements to their destination
• Cybernetic system: a self-monitoring, self-regulating system with feedback and control

System Variables and Parameters

• System variable: an item controlled by a decision-maker
• System parameter: a value that cannot be controlled

Modeling a System

• A model is an abstraction used to represent reality
• Three major types of models:
  • Physical model: tangible
  • Schematic model: graphic representation (graphs and charts)
  • Mathematical model: arithmetic representation

Data vs. Information

• Data: raw facts about physical phenomena or business transactions
• Information: data that has been converted into a meaningful and useful context for end users
• Example: sales data vs. sales information

The Characteristics of Valuable Information

• Data vs. information
• Types of data
• Characteristics of valuable information

What is an Information System?

• An information system (IS) is a set of interrelated elements that collect, manipulate, store, disseminate, and provide feedback to meet an objective
• Components of an IS:
  • People, hardware, software, communications networks, data resources, and policies and procedures

Information System (IS) vs. Information Technology (IT)

• IS: all components and resources necessary to deliver information and functions to an organization
• IT: hardware, software, networking, and data management

Components of an IS

• People Resources:
  • End users
  • IS specialists
• Hardware Resources:
  • Physical devices used in information processing
• Software Resources:
  • Information processing instructions
• Data Resources:
  • Facts about business transactions
  • Processed and organized information
• Network Resources:
  • Communications media
  • Network infrastructure

IS Activities

• Input of data resources
• Processing of data into information
• Output of information products
• Storage of data resources
• Control of system performance

Recognizing IS

• Identifying people, hardware, software, data, and network resources
• Identifying the type of information products produced
• Understanding how IS performs input, processing, output, storage, and control activities

Types of IS

• Operations Support Systems:
  • Transaction Processing Systems
  • Process Control Systems
  • Enterprise Collaboration Systems
• Management Support Systems:
  • Management Information Systems (MIS)
  • Decision Support Systems (DSS)
  • Executive Information Systems (EIS)

Challenges and Opportunities of IT

• Developing IS solutions
• Ethical challenges of IT applications
• IS knowledge framework for business professionals
• Fundamental roles of IS in business