Data
Data
It Consists of raw facts, and figures from which some
conclusions can be drawn.
Information
The processed form of data is called information. It is
the raw data that has been verified to be accurate and
timely, specific and organized for a purpose, is
presented within a context that gives it meaning and
relevance
ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations
Introduction
Database
An organized collection of logically related data
organized to meet users’ needs
It is a central repository of shared data
stored in a standardized, convenient form
Database management system (DBMS)
A group of programs that manipulate the database and
provide an interface between the database and the user
of the database or other application programs
ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations
Data Entities, Attributes, and
Keys
Entity
• An entity is a thing or object of importance about which data
must be captured. E.g., Customer, Employee
Attribute
• A characteristic of an entity; something the entity is identified by
• Information about an entity is captured in the form of attributes
and/or relationships.
• Each entity has zero or more attributes that describe it, and each
attribute describes exactly one entity.
• Each entity instance (row in the table) has exactly one value,
possibly NULL, for each of its attributes.
• An attribute value can be numeric, a character string, date, time,
or some other basic data value. E.g., Customer name, Employee
name
ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations
Keys
• A field or set of fields in a record that is used to identify the
record
• E.g, A field or set of fields that uniquely identifies the record
ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations
Terminology
Database
• A collection of integrated and related files
File
• A collection of related records
Record
• A collection of related fields
Field
• A group of characters
Character
• Basic building block of information, represented by a byte
ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations
Hierarchy of data Example
Personel file
Database
Database Department file (Project database)
Payroll file
005-10-6321 Johns Francine 10-7-65
(Personnel file)
Files
Files 549-77-1001 Buckley Bill 2-17-79
098-40-1370 Fiske Steven 1-5-85
(Record containing
Records
Records 098-40-1370 Fiske Steven 1-5-85 598
SSN, last name,
first name, date of
hire)
Fields
Fields Fiske (Last name field)
Characters
Characters 1000100 (Letter ‘F’ in ASCII)
(bytes)
(bytes)
ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations
Advantages
Improved strategic use of corporate data
Reduced data redundancy
Improved data integrity
Easier modification and updating
Data and program independence
Better access to data and information
Standardization of data access
A framework for program development
Better overall protection of the data
Shared data and information resources
ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations
Disadvantages
Relatively high cost of purchasing and
operating a DBMS in a mainframe operating
environment
Increased cost of specialized staff
Increased vulnerability
ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations
Data vs. Information:
What is data? What is information?
Data can be defined in many Information is data that have
ways. Information science been organized and
defines data as unprocessed communicated in a coherent
information. and meaningful manner.
Data is converted into
information, and information
is converted into knowledge.
Knowledge; information
evaluated and organized so
that it can be used
purposefully.
ITEC 1010 Information and Organizations
