H/615/1622 Unit 4: Database Design and Development
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Higher Nationals in Computing (Network Engineering)
Unit 4: Database Design and Development
UNIT GUIDE
Title: Unit 4 Database Design and Development
Unit code: H/615/1622
Credit value: 15
Level: 4
Unit Leader: Mohammad Rahman
Contents: Introduction ………………………………………………3
Learning outcomes ……………………………………..4
Essential Content………………………………………..4
Reading List & Useful Websites………………………5
Assessment Criteria……………………………………. 6
Assignment Briefs and Guidelines…………………..7
Proposed Outline of Programme………………………9
INTRODUCTION
Organisations depend on their databases to provide information essential for their
day-to-day operations and to help them take advantage of today’s rapidly growing
and maturing e-commerce opportunities. An understanding of database tools and
technologies is an essential skill for designing and developing systems to support
them.
Database systems continue to demand more complex data structures and interfaces,
as applications get increasingly sophisticated. Most organisations collect and store
large volumes of data, either on their own systems or in the cloud, and this data is
used not just for the operational running of their business but also mined for other
more intelligent and complex applications. Databases stand as the back-end of most
systems used by organisations for their operations.
Database design and development is a fundamental and highly beneficial skill for
computing students to master, regardless of their specialism.
The aim of this unit is to give students opportunities to develop an understanding of
the concepts and issues relating to database design and development, as well as to
provide the practical skills to translate that understanding into the design and
creation of complex databases.
Topics included in this unit are: examination of different design tools and techniques;
examination of different development software options; considering the development
features of a fully functional robust solution covering data integrity, data validation,
data consistency, data security and advanced database querying facilities across
multiple tables; appropriate user interfaces for databases and for other externally
linked systems; creating complex reports/dashboards, testing the system against the
user and system requirements; and elements of complete system documentation.
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to use appropriate tools to
design and develop a relational database system for a substantial problem. They will
be able to test the system to ensure it meets user and system requirements and fully
document the system by providing technical and user documentation. For practical
purposes, this unit covers relational databases and related tools and techniques. A
brief overview of object-oriented databases will also be covered.
Students will develop skills such as communication literacy, critical thinking, analysis,
reasoning and interpretation, which are crucial for gaining employment and
developing academic competence.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this Unit, students will be able to:
LO1 Analyse the information requirements of organisations.
LO2 Discuss the types of information systems that are used within all levels of an organisation.
LO3 Demonstrate the use of an information system to produce management information.
LO4 Evaluate the effectiveness of strategic information systems.
ESSENTIAL CONTENT
LO1 Use an appropriate design tool to design a relational database system for a
substantial problem
The role of database systems e.g. as back-end systems, in e-commerce, for data mining applications etc.
Determining user and system requirements.
Design tools and techniques for a relational database system.
Logical design for relational databases e.g. tables, data elements, data types, indexes, primary/foreign keys, entity relationship modelling, referential integrity, data normalisation to third normal form.
Designs for data integrity, data validations, data security and data controls. User interface design.
Output designs for user requirements.
Overview of object-oriented databases and their design tools.
LO2 Develop a fully functional relational database system, based on an existing
system design
Consideration of database and platform options for system development.
Examination of different software development options for developing the relational database system.
Implementation of the physical data model based on the logical model.
Data stores, internal storage and external storage (e.g. the cloud).
Implementation of security elements in databases.
Relational databases with controls like data validation using; input masks, drop down lists, option buttons.
User interface for requirements, functionality, reliability, consistency and
performance.
Consideration of interface links with other systems e.g. internet-based
applications.
Data manipulation using appropriate query tools, including complex queries to query across multiple tables, and using functions and formulae.
Database maintenance and data manipulation: inserts, updates, amendments,
deletions, data backup and recovery.
System reports using report writing tools and report generators, dashboards.
LO3 Test the system against user and system requirements
Identify elements of the system that need to be tested.
Consider data that should be used to fully test the system.
Match tests against user and system requirements.
Test procedures to be used: test plans, test models e.g. white box, black box; testing documentation.
Functional and system testing and testing the robustness of the system, including help menus, pop-ups, hot-spots, data validation checks.
LO4 Produce technical and user documentation
Technical and user documentation and their contents.
The documentation can include diagrams showing movement of data through the system, and flowcharts describing how the system works. Documentation could also extend to user guides and any initial design and implementation plans.
Recommended Resources
Textbooks
Churcher, C. (2012) Beginning Database Design: From Novice to Professional.
2nd Ed. A press.
Connolly, T. and Begg, C. (2014) Database Systems: A Practical Approach to Design,
Implementation and Management. 6th Ed. Global Edition. Pearson.
Kroemke, D. and Auer, D. (2012) Database Concepts: International Edition. 6th Ed.
Pearson.
Paulraj, P (2008). Database Design and Development: An Essential Guide for IT
Professional. Wiley.
Stephens, R. (2008) Beginning Database Design Solutions. Wrox.
Journals
International Journal of Database Management Systems
Journal of Database Management
The Computer Journal
Journal of Systems Analysis and Software Engineering
Journal of Emerging Trends in Computing and Information Sciences
Websites
www.lynda.com Database Training (Tutorials)
mva.microsoft.com Microsoft Virtual Academy “Database
Development” (Training)
mva.microsoft.com/ebooks Microsoft Virtual Academy
“Microsoft Press” (E-Books)
Links
This unit links to the following related units:
Unit 7: Strategic Information Systems
Unit 38: Database Management Systems
Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria
| Assessment Criteria | ||
| Pass | Merit | Distinction |
| LO1: Use an appropriate design tool to design a relational database system for a substantial problem | D1 Evaluate the effectiveness of the design in relation to user and system requirements. LO2 & 3 D2 Evaluate the effectiveness of the database solution in relation to user and system requirements, and suggest improvements. | |
| P1 Design a relational database system using appropriate design tools and techniques, containing at least four interrelated tables, with clear statements of user and system requirements. | M1 Produce a comprehensive design for a fully functional system which includes interface and output designs, data validations and data normalisation. | |
| LO2: Develop a fully functional relational database system, based on an existing system design | ||
| P2 Develop the database system with evidence of user interface, output and data validations, and querying across multiple tables. P3 Implement a query language into the relational database system. | M2 Implement a fully functional database system which includes system security and database maintenance. M3 Assess whether meaningful data has been extracted through the use of query tools to produce appropriate management information. | |
| LO3: Test the system against user and system requirements | ||
| P4 Test the system against user and system requirements. | M4 Assess the effectiveness of the testing, including an explanation of the choice of test data used. | |
| LO4: Produce technical and user documentation | D3 Evaluate the database in terms of improvements needed to ensure the continued effectiveness of the system. | |
| P5 Produce technical and user documentation. | M5 Produce technical and user documentation for a fully functional system, including diagrams showing movement of data through the system, and flowcharts describing how the system works. |
ASSIGNMENT BRIEF AND GUIDANCE
| Unit Number and Title | Unit 4 Database Design and Development |
| Academic Year | 2021/2022 |
| Unit Tutor | Mohammad Rahman |
| Assignment Title | Design a relational database system for an organisation |
| Assignment Number | Assignment 1 of 1 |
| Issue Date | 3rd May 2022 |
| Submission Date | 28th July 2022 |
| IV Name & Date | Victor 28/04/2022 |
| Submission Format | |
| Scenario Your submission will include one assessment to be submitted on Moodle/Turnitin as a word-processed document. The assessment will be in the form of an academic report, which will have a clear title page indicating the unit number, assignment title, the relevant activity being addressed, your name and student number. You are expected to use external sources, and clearly reference these in your work. References should be added to the text (next to the quote or paraphrase), and also placed at the end in a references list, using Harvard Referencing style. The recommended word count for each activity is 2000 to 2500 words, but you will not be penalised for exceeding this. | |
| Assignment 1 – to be completed and submitted on 8th April 2022 Unit Learning Outcomes | |
| LO1 Analyse the information requirements of organisations. LO2 Discuss the types of information systems that are used within all levels of an organisation. LO3 Demonstrate the use of an information system to produce management information. LO4 Evaluate the effectiveness of strategic information systems. | |
| Assignment Brief and Guidance | |
| Assessment: An academic report (2000-2500) words Database design and development is an essential day-to-day requirement used by many organisations to ensure the follow of information is kept up to speed in order to meet the rapid growing e-commerce prospects. Educate is a multi-national organisation who intends to compete with other leading Colleges within the online recruitment business. The e-commerce industry is growing rapidly and Educate wants to expand its business in that sector. The issue is the current database has minimum capacity to manage online applications and registration, and therefore needs further developing. As a junior database design and developer, your line manager has tasked you to design a database that will ensure robustness and security for Educate. You need to first Design a database that is interrelated to at least four areas of Educate including student profile, partner college profile, academic resources. You will then produce and evaluate fully functional system that meets the user requirement system. Once the database has been designed, you will develop the system with security and maintenance solution in place and evaluate the effectiveness of the interrelationship between different functions of the business. Furthermore, you will test and assess the system against the user requirements and recommend improvements. Finally, you will produce a fully functional technical user document demonstrating data, flowcharts and evaluate the entire database to ensure the system is effective, fit for purpose and implement continued maintenance support. |
PROPOSED OUTLINE OF PROGRAMME (subject to change)
Week 1 – Introduction to the Unit content and the Unit assessment,followed by anintroduction to database design and development.
Week 2 – Design and produce a comprehensive database system that is interrelated with at least four business units.
Week 3 – Access software will be utilised to design and develop database system showing querying across multiple tables.
Week 4 – Implement database system security and maintenance to meet user requirement.
Week 5 – Reading week
Week 6 – Assess query tools into relational database to manage information appropriately.
Week 7 – Evaluate the design of database in relation to the requirement and user interface.
Week 8 – Carryout test to ensure the database system is effective to meet user requirements.
Week 9 – Produce technical user document showing diagrams, data flow and flowcharts explaining how the database works.
Week 10 – Evaluate the database system to identify level of improvements needed for continued maintenance support.
Week 11 – Assignment workshop.
Assignment submission deadline: 28th July 2022
