MIS Cases: Solving Small Business Scenarios Using Application Software, 2nd Edition

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DEVELOPING A DATABASE APPLICATION

A database application is a software tool to keep track of data used in a business process, such as inventory control and customer relations. Think of a database application as an organized collection of information (tables) about the various entities (such as products, customers, and employees) of a business that allows the users to retrieve, analyze, and display the information to answer questions. Database applications are very important in managing today's organizations, providing professionals an effective way of managing their information resources and supporting their decision-making needs.

You should follow a three-phase approach to create a database application: analysis, design, and implementation.

In the analysis phase, you need to understand as well as you can the intended purpose of the database application, especially the desired output (reports). Importantly, you need to identify the desired attributes, or characteristics, for each of the entities to be stored in the database tables. You need to identify the desired queries to perform to retrieve desired information from the database tables. Also, you need to identify the reports the user desires. Each of the following cases presents the input, processing, and output requirements; in the real world you would determine these requirements through interviews with the intended users ...