Database Reference
In-Depth Information
development of data analysis services. To get the whole picture of a database development process,
let us take a brief look at each database development phase.
he irst task is to investigate the requirements for the database to be developed. he require-
ment analysis is based on a thorough understanding of a business process. Always keep this in
mind: a well-designed database is based on a good understanding of the business process. To
understand the business process, database designers should answer questions such as: What will
a business do with the future database? What are the business rules and limitations related to the
future database? What information does the business want to keep track of? What improvement
should be made by the future database? Several methods can help the database designers to collect
the needed information. he database designers can conduct interviews with key players of the
business process. hey can also examine the company's documents to see how data are used in
the business process. Tracking the data low in the business process is a way to igure out how the
future database will be used to support the ongoing business.
Once the irst task is accomplished, it is to time to sort out the collected information, inter-
pret the collected information in technical terms, and igure out the relationships among the
things to keep track of. To represent the things to keep track of and the relationships among
them, the database designers will develop a data model that serves as the blueprint for the future
database. Once the data model is created, it can be used to verify if the future database will meet
the database requirements. It may take several rounds of modiications before the design goals
can be achieved logically. Both the database designers and the company they serve should be
satisied with the data model before they can physically implement the database. he database
designers may need to prepare a contract with the company they are serving and draft a timeline
to fulill the contract.
During the database development phase, the database designers need to select a proper DBMS
and create database objects according to the design. he choice of a DBMS will depend on the
requirements of the future database. he chosen DBMS should be able to create a database system
that meets all the database management, data analysis, and data storage requirements. By using
the DBMS, the database designers can transfer their data model to a relational database. he
business data will be stored in the well-deined database and be organized according to the speci-
ications made in the data model. he programming units will be created to implement the con-
straints and to retrieve data from the database. To allow the users to access the database remotely,
the database should be hosted by a database server. he network infrastructure should be so built
that the users can securely access the database through the Internet. Or, instead of developing the
network infrastructure, we can deploy the database to a cloud environment. For the database to
handle intense data volume change and support database applications across the world, a cloud
computing environment should be considered.
Once the database is constructed, before the newly developed database can be used in the
business process, it needs to be tested to see if the database is able to meet all the requirements.
he database administrators (DBAs) and users should be involved in the testing process. Based
on the testing results, the database will be modiied again by the database designers to meet the
users' needs. Successful deployment of the database requires training and technical support. First,
there should be some operation instructions written for the users. he users should be trained on
how to use the database. he technical support team should be organized to help the users with
troubleshooting.
Once the database is implemented, it is necessary to create some database applications that
are used to help front-end users interact with the database. he database applications may include
forms, reports, web pages, as well as apps for mobile devices. To support front-end users' interaction
