Data Storage and Information Management

Media : From paper to solid state media

Format : From text-based storage to multimedia formats
The need for compression utilities
Access methods and speeds

Advantages and reasons for using electronic storage instead of paper storage

Secondary storage
vs paper
comparisons

Types of Files

master files
transaction files
report files
output files
history files
reference files
backup files
log files

File Organisation (and file access) Techniques

serial organisation
sequential organisation
random/direct organisation
indexed sequential organisation

When an application has its data stored in individual files we say that we are using a flat file system.
Disadvantages/Weaknesses of flat files

high levels of data redundancy

data isolation
data inconsistency
poor data security

Advantages of the DB approach to data management (Reasons for using a DB instead of a traditional flat file)

increased speed
improved efficiency
lower cost
better data quality
completeness is improved
validity is more guaranteed
consistency is improved
timeliness is more assured
accuracy is much better
improved data handling
improved data processing

Types of Databases

personal
workgroup
department
enterprise

Database Organisation or Database Models

hierarchical - data is conceived of as having a tree-like structure with parent and child nodes where each
child can have only one parent
networked - data is conceived of as having a mesh-like structure in which there are parent and child
nodes but each child can have more than one parent
relational - data is held in a collection of linked and normalized tables
object-oriented - data is seen as sets of objects with characteristics and fuctnions
dimensional
object relational

Uses of files and databases in organizations

store, organize, search, retrieve

eliminate redundancies
data mining, data marts, data warehouses

Effects of the absence of data quality, accuracy and timeliness on organizations

loss of revenue
loss of sales
loss of competitive advantage
loss of customers
poor decision making
missed opportunities

Database Management
Normalization

webopedia definiton >> "Normalization usually involves dividing a database into two or more tables

and defining relationships between the tables... (it is) the process of organizing data to minimize
redundancy."

introductory slideshow >> http://www.slideshare.net/jagaarj/database-design-normalization

definition and overview >> http://www.tomjewett.com/dbdesign/dbdesign.php?page=normalize.php