– Part III
Chapter 10 Database System Development Lifecycle
Review Questions
10.1 Describe the major components of an information system.
10.2 Discuss the relationship between the information systems lifecycle and the database system
development lifecycle.
10.3 Describe the main purpose(s) and activities associated with each stage of the database system
development lifecycle.
10.4 Discuss what a user view represents in the context of a database system.
10.5 Discuss the main approaches for managing the design of a database system that has multiple
user views.
10.6 Compare and contrast the three phases of database design.
Three phases are conceptual database design, logical database design, and physical database
10.7 What are the main purposes of data modeling and identify the criteria for an optimal data
model.
– Part III
10.8 Identify the stage(s) where it is appropriate to select a DBMS and describe an approach to
10.9 Application design involves transaction design and user interface design. Describe the
purpose and main activities associated with each.
See Section 10.8.
10.10 Discuss why testing cannot show the absence of faults, only that software faults are present.
10.11 Describe the main advantages of using the prototyping approach when building a database
system.
.
Exercises
10.12 Assume that you are responsible for selecting a new DBMS product for a group of users in
your organization. To undertake this exercise, you must first establish a set of requirements
for the group and then identify a set of features that a DBMS product must provide to fulfil the
requirements. Describe the process of evaluating and selecting the best DBMS product.
10.13 Describe the process of evaluating and selecting a DBMS product for each of the case studies
described in Appendix B.
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10.14 Assume that you are an employee of a consultancy company that specializes in the analysis,
design, and implementation of database systems. A client has recently approached your
company with a view to implementing a database system but they are not familiar with the
development process. You have been assigned the task to present an overview of the Database
System Development Lifecycle (DSDL) to them, identifying the main stages of this lifecycle.
With this task in mind, create a slide presentation and/or short report for the client. (The
client for this exercise can be any one of the fictitious case studies given in Appendix or some
real company identified by you or your professor).
10.15 This exercise requires you to first gain permission to interview one or more people
responsible for the development and/or administration of a real database system. During the
interview(s), find out the following information:
(a) The approach taken to develop the database system.