Skip to ContentGo to accessibility pageKeyboard shortcuts menu
OpenStax Logo
Foundations of Information Systems

Summary

Foundations of Information SystemsSummary

3.1 Data Types, Database Management Systems, and Tools for Managing Data

  • A database management system (DBMS) is a software system that manages, stores, and processes data, ensuring data are organized, accessible, and secure.
  • Data can be categorized into structured, semistructured, and unstructured types, requiring different tools and techniques to collect and analyze. Data come in two main types: line of business data and customer behavior data.
  • Managing data effectively is essential for organizations to ensure data integrity, accessibility, and security. A database system provides a structured environment to store, retrieve, and manipulate data efficiently.
  • Building a database involves two steps—design and implementation—to ensure that a structure can efficiently store and manage data. Types of databases include relational, NoSQL, data warehouses, and data lakes.
  • Understanding the types of data storage, indexing, and data retrieval techniques is fundamental to understanding database concepts.
  • Database design is the process of organizing data according to a database model, developing a design through conceptual, logical, and physical stages. Strong design involves understanding the data needs of an organization and structuring the data to minimize redundancy and maximize performance, and meeting requirements for functional dependencies and normalization.
  • Building a database involves gathering, organizing, curating, and processing data, as well as allowing for security and access controls.
  • Types of database management systems include relational, object-oriented, and NoSQL.

3.2 Practical Applications of Database Design and Management

  • Database design and management are important for businesses because they help store, organize, and retrieve data efficiently.
  • A good database design ensures data are accurate, secure, and easy to access.
  • In e-commerce, databases help manage product inventory, track customer orders, and analyze sales. In healthcare, they manage electronic health records (EHRs).
  • Logical design involves creating a blueprint of the database that outlines the structure without considering how it will be physically implemented.
  • Physical design focuses on how the database will be built on a specific DBMS.
  • A systems design process outlines the steps involved in creating a system, ensuring a systematic approach to design and leading to successful project outcomes.
  • Testing, documentation, and maintenance ensure that the DBMS meets all requirements and performs as expected under various conditions.
  • Applications of DBMSs can be found in various industries, such as health care, finance, education, and manufacturing.

3.3 Mobile Database Development and Cloud Database Management Systems

  • Mobile development and cloud databases are closely linked as more businesses look for scalable and efficient ways to support their apps.
  • Mobile app development is closely tied to database design because apps rely on databases to store, manage, and retrieve data. Whether it’s user profiles, messages, or product details, the database handles this information.
  • In mobile app development, using cloud databases lets developers focus on user experience and app features without worrying about data storage and management.
  • Mobile applications need to handle various forms of data input efficiently and accurately, ensuring that the collected information is stored securely and is easy to retrieve.
  • Cloud applications benefit significantly from the scalability and flexibility of cloud databases.
  • Cloud databases need to handle high data transfer rates efficiently.
  • Cloud providers use techniques such as data replication across multiple geographic locations to protect against data loss and ensure that services remain available even in the event of hardware failure.
PreviousNext
Citation/Attribution

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Attribution information
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a print format, then you must include on every physical page the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/foundations-information-systems/pages/1-introduction
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a digital format, then you must include on every digital page view the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/foundations-information-systems/pages/1-introduction
Citation information

© Feb 17, 2025 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.