Canterbury Institute of Management (CIM)
MBIS403 Data Modelling and Database Development
Tutorial Questions – Week 2
General Questions
1. List four significant differences between a file-processing system and a Database
Management System (DBMS).
2. Classify database users.
3. What are the main functions of a database administrator (DBA)?
4. List out the advantages and disadvantages of a DBMS.
5. Discuss the main characteristics of a DBMS.
6. What are the different types of databases?
7. Describe the following figure.
Case Study
1. A small retail business relies on a file-based system to store and manage its inventory data.
However, as the business grows, the volume of data increases significantly, leading to issues
such as data redundancy, inconsistency, and difficulty in data retrieval. What solution will
you recommend overcoming the problems of the file-based system?
2. In a university setting, various stakeholders interact with the database system. What roles
do each of these users play in the university database?
Database Administrator (DBA):
Database Designer:
Faculty and Staff:
Students:
3. A DBMS was recently installed at XYZ Hospital to improve patient care and streamline
operations. A variety of data types are stored in the DBMS, such as patient records, medical
histories, treatment plans, and inventory data. One of the key features of the DBMS is its
ability to support multiple views of data, catering to the needs of different stakeholders
within the hospital.
Describe how the DBMS at XYZ Hospital supports multiple views of data.
Provide examples of different views that might be available to various
stakeholders such as doctors, nurses, administrators, and patients.
Multiple Choice Questions
I) What is one of the main challenges faced by the retail business due to its
reliance on a file-based system for inventory management?
a) Lack of centralized control
b) High initial investment
c) Difficulty in accessing data remotely
d) Limited storage capacity
II) Which of the following is NOT an advantage of implementing a DBMS over a
file-based system?
a) Improved data integrity
b) Enhanced security features
c) Increased redundancy of data
d) Faster data retrieval
III) What is the role of a Database Administrator (DBA) within an organization?
a) Designing database structures
b) Developing application software
c) Managing database security and access
d) Writing SQL queries for data retrieval
IV) What characteristic of database systems allows for the support of multiple
views of data?
a) Insulation between programs and data
b) Self-describing nature
c) Sharing of data
d) Multiuser transaction processing
V) Which of the following is NOT a disadvantage of implementing and
maintaining a database system?
a) Complexity
b) Cost
c) Improved data integrity
d) Security risks
