Data

 set of facts collected from transactions

Information

 interpretation of data that have been processed

Hierarchy of data

  character

 field

  record

  file

 database

Character

 single letter, number, or symbol

Field

column with a specific type of similar trait

Record

entire set of fields for a specific entity

File

 entire set of related records

Database

entire set of files

Sequential access

data are stored in sequential or chronological order

Random access

 any data item on the storage media can be directly accessed without reading in sequence

Batch processing 

when similar transactions are grouped into a batch and that batch is processed as a group

Real-time processing 

transactions are processed as soon as they are entered

Database

 collection of data stored on the computer in a form that allows the data to be easily accessed, retrieved, manipulated, and stored

Data redundancy

occurs when the same data are stored in one or more file

Database management system (DBMS)

software that manages the database and controls the access and use of data by individual users and applications

One-to-one relationship

those where one entity in the data is related to only one other entity

One-to-many relationship

 one entity in the data is related to more than one entity

Many-to-many relationship

 those in which one entity is related to many other entities and the reverse is true

Flat file databases

 earlier databases (1950s-1960s), data are stored in 2D rows and columns

Attributes

characteristics of a related record

Hierarchical databases

define relationships between records by an inverted tree structure. (parent-child, one to many relationship)

Record pointer

column value in the table that points to the next address with the linked attribute

Network database

built on inverted tree structure, but allows more complex relationship linkages by the use of shared branches

Primary key

 unique identifier for each record in each table, used to sort, index, and access records from that table

Structured query language (SQL)

industry standard query language, English-like. Identifies which fields are selected from which tables and how the tables are to be joined. One to many relationship

Data normalization

 process of converting data into tables that meet the definition of a relational database. Eliminate repeating groups, redundant data, and columns not dependant on primary key

Data warehouse

integrated collection of enterprise-wide data that includes five to ten years of nonvolatile data used to support management in decision making and planning

Operational database

data that are continuously updated as transactions are processed. Usually includes data for the current fiscal year and supports day-to-day operations and record keeping for the transactions  processing systems

High-impact processes (HIPs)

critically important processes that must be executed correctly if the organization is to survive and thrive

Data mining

 process of searching for identifiable patterns is data that can be used to predict future behavior

Drill down

successive expansion of data into more detail, going from high level data to successively lower levels of data

Consolidation

 or roll-up, the aggregation of collection of similar data. Opposite of drill down in that consolidation takes detailed data and summarizes it into larger groups

Pivoting

 data examining data from different perspectives

Time series analysis

 identity trends is the comparison of figures such as sales over several successive times periods

Exception reports

present variance from expectations

What-if  simulations

 present potential variations in conditions that are used to understand interactions between different parts of the business

Centralized databases and processing

stored and maintained in a central location

Distributed databases (DDB) and distributed data processing (DDP)

processing and databases are dispersed to different locations of the organization

Client/server system

each computer or process on the network is either a client or a server

Industrial espionage