Database Systems. IT & Computer Science Assignment

DATABASE SYSTEMS
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DATABASE SYSTEMS
A database refers to an organized way of gathering data, which can be managed, accessed, and updated when the need arises. With the current technological advancement, many businesses and individuals are implementing information systems so that they can collect relevant data. In reality, no system can operate without being connected to a database, which can store the data in an organized way such that it can be retrieved when it is needed. A database system lifecycle entails the steps that are followed when creating a database. Different approaches and techniques can be used to develop and implement a database. The paper focuses on methods and techniques that are used in a database development lifecycle.
The common method used in a database system lifecycle is known as the waterfall model. In particular, it involves gathering requirements, analyzing data, coming up with a conceptual data model, designing database, generating a logical schema, implementation, initial schema, testing, final schema, and database maintenance (Connolly & Begg, 2014). The following diagram shows a waterfall model.


Figure 1: A Waterfall Model for Database Development.
Requirements gathering is a critical step in the database system lifecycle. During this stage, database designers hold interviews with system users so that they can understand what the proposed database is expected to achieve. These individuals record the data they collect, which is known as functional requirements. Moreover, they consult all major stakeholders to ensure that they comprehend and interpret data elements correctly. Data analysis leads to the formation of a conceptual model, which is a detailed description of user requirements. At this point, database designers define entities and their attributes. For instance, if it is a database for a school, these experts consider things, such as student number, course code, and course title. A conceptual database model is the one that generates a logical schema after being designed in a relational, network, or object-oriented methodology. Designers who are conversant with relational databases use the Structured Query Language (SQL) to come up with a system that has all desirable characteristics, namely efficiency, integrity, usability, completeness, and flexibility (Coronel & Morris, 2016). The other stages of a database lifecycle are the implementation, testing, and maintenance. Testing enables designers to debug the database so that it can record the data in an organized way and retrieve the information when the need arises.
Some of the approaches and techniques that can be used to come up with a good database design include the bottom-up, top-down, normalization, and entity relationship diagrams (ERDs). A bottom-up approach is used for designing simple databases where the associations between attributes become grouped into relations. Normalization involves dividing tables into smaller ones and linking them using relationships to reduce dependency and redundancy of data. A top-down approach entails the use of ERDs and identifying relationships and entities th...