The Five characteristics of high quality information include accuracy, completeness, consistency, uniqueness and timeliness. It is important that the information entered into the database of a firm is accurate and precise, because if data is incorrectly entered into a firms system, problems can result. For example, if an employee incorrectly enters the address of a customer, the product they ordered may not be delivered to the correct address and hence go missing. Information must also be complete, which means that if an employee enters information into a database, all of the information must be entered into the system. If they do not complete the data entry it will cause some crisis’s for a business. For example, if an employee does not write the suburb of a customer’s address, the a product will not be able to be sent. To have consistent information makes sure that data is reliable. For example, it would be unacceptable for an employee to type a different street number for a customers address because this would create confusion and waste time in finding delivering. The information of a firm should be unique. Hence data should not be replicated in another system which contains different information. For example the address and number of a customer should be unique and there should only be one address for that customer. If it does however appear different in another system of the firms, the data is not unique. Information should also be timeless hence of high quality. Thiseq indicates that information should be current and up to date. For example, businesses need to makes sure that they are updated with the changing addresses and telephone numbers of their clients for invoices and shipping/delivering reasons.
2. Define the relationship between a database and a database management system?
-Example of a Database managment system Gheara, A, pc district, 2010, www.pcdistrict.com/event-logs-sitesearch.html
- Data base 
3. Describe the advantages a business can gain from using a database?
The advantages a business can gain from using a database include an increased in flexibility, increased scalability and performance, reduced information redundancy, increased information integrity and increased information security. Using a database will create increased flexibility. This is because data contained on a database is readily accessible by a wide range of employees. Databases also provide increased scalability and performance as they are able to adapt to increased demands. It is also able to quickly perform certain tasks/processes. Databases are also beneficial as they reduce information redundancy which is the replication of data over various systems. Information integrity is also an advantage related with the use of databases within a firm - as the quality of data which is ensured through the use of databases. Information security an advantage associated with the use of databases. A database offer many features including passwords, access levels and access controls. Passwords provide authentication of the users who is gaining access to the system. Access levels determine who has access to the different types of information and access controls determine what type of access they have to the information. For example, customer service representatives need read-only access to customer order information so they can answer customer order inquires. Hence the advantage of using databases includes; increased personal security as well as information security.
-Explains the advantages in a business using a database.
4. Define fundamental concepts of the relational database model?
A relational database model is a database that stores information into logical two dimensional tables consisting of rows and columns. There are four key fundamental concepts associated with relational database models which include entities and attributes as well as keys and relationships. An entity in the relational database model is a person, place, thing, transaction or event for which information is stored. Attributes are also included in database models and consist of fields or columns that are characteristics or properties of an entity or class of information. Keys are used in databases to manage information. A primary key is a field that identifies a given entity in a table e.g. customer ID number. A foreign key in the relational database model is a primary key of one table that appears as an attribute in another table and acts to provide a logical relationship between the two tables.
T.Consultants, 2008, Relation Database, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2kbsG8zsLM
- An Introduction to Relational Databases model
5. Describe the benefits of a data-driven website?
A data warehouse refers to a logical collection of information which is gathered from many different operational databases, that supports business analysis activities and decision-making tasks. They main role of data warehouses is to aggregate information into a single repository or location to enable management and employees with decision-making processes. Data marts are contained within data warehouses and are multi-dimensional cubes that contain layers of columns and rows of information. The purpose of data marts is to enable employees to easily view the components of different information/inputs within a database.
Infomation Business Technology, 2009, Data Warehouse, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiRhRxPuEU8
- Data warehouses basics
A data-driven website is an interactive website that is constantly updated and relevant to include information specific gained from the firm’s database for its customers. Data-driven websites are useful when the site offers a great deal of information, products or services. The advantage of a data-driven website includes development, content management, future expandability, minimizing human error, cutting production and update cost, more efficient and improved stability. The enabling of constant develop allows the website owner to make changes to the content of the website at any time. Content management is another benefit of a data-driven website as this allows a programmer to make updates whenever needed. Future expandability is another advantage of data-driven websites as the website enables the site to grow faster than it would be possible with a static website hence this is done through the constant changing of the websites layout. Data-driven websites are also beneficial as they minimise human error. A well-designed data-driven website will have ‘error-trapping’ mechanisms to ensure that required information is filled out correctly and that content is entered and displayed in its correct format. Data-driven websites are also beneficial as it improves the stability of a firm. For example a website enables firms to keep track of all their files and information in an easy to view format. If a programmer leaves unexpectedly, it could involve recreating existing work if those sources files cannot be found. A database management system is used to access information from a database. It is software through which users and application programs interact with a database. There are two ways that users can interact with a DBMS; indirectly and directly. As shown in the picture below is an example of the interacting directly and indirectly with a database through a DBMS. A database however is a structured collection of related data where through database management system the user can access that data. This hence indicates that data bases and database management systems are linked and are interdependent to one another.
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