DATABASE DESIGN

Database Design Paper Rosana G. Hicks DBM 380 Donna Rosentrater May 21, 2012 University of Phoenix

DATABASE DESIGN Database Design Paper There are many different types of databases, different implementations of databases, and different database software applications. I have worked with databases for most of my professional career at many different levels, sometimes as the user, entering data, retrieving information, and assembling data. At work, I maintain and support a database system that compiles all of the certificates of analysis (COA) and tables, including the COA number, order number, date issued, purchase order number, description of the product, customer, product ID, and batch number.

My profession, as a Quality Manager, requires me to utilize and maintain a system that is completely database-driven. Microsoft Access also compiles all of our customer complaints and corrective actions. We are now implementing an ERP system (Exact) to streamline the database system that we have. This system will inter-link all of the companys sites. Understanding how this information is structured is very important. I manipulate these data on a daily basis to assure data integrity, so the more I understand the structure, the better quality of task I can perform. Microsoft Access is an application that I have at my disposal but do not utilize. Learning more about Access will help me to organize some of the data. Generating reports and performing some trending will help in communicating this information to department leadership. The information that I take away from this class will be important to my career; the key is to utilize what I learn! Microsoft Access is the world's most popular database software. It has many advantages to its utilization. It is very cost-effective as the one of the least expensive options when choosing a database system. Most database challenges can be solved using Access. Access can evolve as

DATABASE DESIGN needed, and it can grow and change as an organization grows and changes. Access is a very powerful tool and can definitely be considered an "enterprise tool." For larger organizations, Access may not be the ideal solution for the Enterprise DBMS, depending on the size requirements, as Access has a limitation of about 2GB, depending on the version of Access. However, Access can still be considered an enterprise tool for accomplishing smaller tasks within an organization, as well as interfacing with a DBMS that is designed for a large company implementation. Microsoft Access is an excellent product and can be used in conjunction with many different applications; therefore, it should be considered when solving any database needs (Kroenke & Auer, 2010). Database architecture is a term used to describe how the data within the database are organized and how the information is tied together. Data are placed in tables made up of rows and columns; each table has a name, and each column has a title. One or more columns of information exist in one or more other tables, providing the relationships of the information

contained within the tables. The map of how all of the data are organized, structured, and related is the architecture of the database system. Database systems are designed to solve specific needs, such as sharing data, facilitating consistency of information, getting more information from the same amount of data, balancing conflicting requirements, controlling the redundancy of data, improving the integrity of the information, increasing productivity with the ability to retrieve information quickly and accurately, and providing data independence (Hills, 2003). A relational database is a set of tables containing data built into a set of classifications. Each table (which is sometimes called a relation) contains one or more data categories in columns (Rouse, 2006). Our database business

DATABASE DESIGN

order entry includes a table that represents an order, including product, customer, date, unit price, supplier, product code, and purchase order number. Conclusion The Microsoft Access database software is a very widely used system and one that can solve most database needs. I will learn more about Access and how to utilize it to organize and maintain better the information that I use daily. Design is an important part of creating and implementing a database system. Database architecture defines how a database system is put together. It provides a road map to how the data are organized and structured. A relational database is a set of tables that consists of different values of classification that contain data.

DATABASE DESIGN References Hills, B. (2003). Databases. Retrieved from http://www.tcc.edu/lrc/infolit/dbases/when.htm Kroenke, D. M., & Auer, D. J. (2010). Database concepts (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Open Gate Software Microsoft Access. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.opengatesw.net/ms-access-tutorials/What-Is-Microsoft-Access-UsedFor.htm Rouse, M. (2006). Definition of database. Retrieved from http://searchsqlserver.techtarget.com/definition/database