Principles of Data Management

Dedication

There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.

—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527)

The beginning of wisdom is the definition of terms.

—Socrates (470–399 BC)

Data analysis is a very useful tool for efficient database design. It is much less useful as a means of identifying information requirements (especially where these are ‘fuzzy’ and unstructured), or in allowing different viewpoints to be taken into consideration. Too often based on an analysis of current situations, data analysis – in the extreme case – is a great way of encapsulating organisational ineffectiveness in the resultant database!

—Professor ...