Preface
The pedagogical advantages of this text
This is not your traditional database textbook. It differs in three fundamental ways.
First, it is deeper than most database books in its coverage of data modeling and SQL. The market seeks graduates who have these fundamental skills. Students who have completed my data management class have repeatedly told me how these skills have been invaluable in their first and subsequent jobs. The book places great emphasis on the core skills of data management. Consequently, there is a better match between the skills you develop and those the market needs. You will find this text highly relevant.
Second, learning data modeling and SQL are intertwined because my database teaching experience indicates that students more readily understand the purpose of data modeling when they grasp the long-term goal—querying a well-designed relational database. A unique pedagogical feature is a double helix, upward, intertwined, spiraling of data modeling and SQL. Classroom testing indicates it is a superior teaching method compared to handling data modeling and SQL separately. You will quickly understand the reason for data modeling and appreciate why it is a valuable skill. Also, rapid exposure to SQL means you gain hands-on experience more quickly.
Third, the book is broader than most database books. Databases are one component of an expansive organizational memory. You need to develop a broad perspective of data management to comprehend fully the organizational role of information systems.
This book is deeper where it matters—data modeling and SQL—and broader to give you a managerial outlook and an understanding of the latest technological advancements. Information is a vital resource for modern organizations. It is a critical input to managerial tasks. Because managers need high-quality information to manage change in a turbulent, global environment, nearly every organizations has established systems for storing and retrieving data, the raw material of information. These storage and retrieval systems are an organization’s memory. The organization relies on them, just as individuals rely on their personal memory, to continue as a going concern.
Overview of the text
The central concern of information systems management is to design, build, and maintain information delivery systems. Information systems managers must discover their organization’s information requirements in order to design systems to serve these demands. It must merge a system’s design and information technology to build applications that provide the organization and its customers with timely data in appropriate formats via multiple devices. Furthermore, they must manage applications, so they evolve to meet changing needs, continue to operate under adverse conditions, and are protected from unauthorized access.
An information delivery system has two components: data and processes. This book concentrates on data, which is customarily considered a database. I deliberately set out to extend this horizon by including all forms of organizational data stores because you need to understand the broad role of data management. Data management is the design and maintenance of computer-based organizational memory. Thus, you will find chapters on XML and organizational intelligence technologies.
The decision to start the book with a managerial perspective arises from the observation that successful information systems practice is based on matching managerial needs, social system constraints, and technical opportunities in an ecologically sound way. I want you to appreciate the big picture before you become immersed in the intricacies of data modeling and SQL.
The book’s second section provides in-depth coverage of data modeling and SQL. Data modeling is the foundation of database quality. A solid grounding in data modeling principles and extensive practice are necessary for successful database design. In addition, this section exposes you to the full power of SQL.
This book is a long-term investment. There are helpful reference sections for data modeling and SQL. The data modeling section details the standard structures and their relational mappings. The online SQL section1 contains an extensive list of queries that are a basis for developing other SQL queries. The purpose of these sections is to facilitate pattern matching. For example, if you have a similar SQL query to a previous problem, you can rapidly search the SQL
reference section to find the closest match. You can then use the model answer to formulate the SQL query for the problem at hand. These reference sections are another unique teaching feature that will serve you well during the course and your career.
The third section, Data Science & Advanced Data Management, has chapters on R, a statistics and graphics package, which provides the foundation for the chapters on data visualization, text mining, cluster computing, and dashboards. These chapters provide the skills needed in topical areas such as data analytics. This section’s advanced data management portion covers spatial and temporal data, XML, and graph databases.
The fourth and final section examines the management of organizational data stores. It covers data structures and storage, data processing architectures, SQL and Java, data integrity, and data administration.
Benefits of studying this text
As a result of completing this text, you will
have a broad managerial perspective of an organization’s need for a memory;
be able to design and create a relational database;
be able to formulate complex SQL queries;
be able to use R to create data visualizations, mine text data, write an R script for big data problems and create dashboards;
understand the purpose of XML and be able to design an XML schema, prepare an XML document, and write an XML stylesheet;
be able to use Cypher to query a graph database
have a sound understanding of database architectures and their managerial implications;
be familiar with the full range of technologies available for organizational memory;
be able to write a Java program to create a table from a CSV file and process a transaction;
understand the fundamentals of data administration;
My goal is to give you a data management text that is innovative, relevant, and lively. You will enjoy learning about managing data and data analytics in today’s organization.
Supplements
Accompanying this book are an instructor’s manual and an extensive Web
site2 that provides
- over 80 SQL exercises for the ClassicModels database3 that gradually increase in difficulty and demonstrate helpful business applications, such as a basket-of-goods analysis;
- slides in PowerPoint format;
- all relational tables in the book as a set of insert statements;
- code for examples in the book;
- the answers to every second exercise;
- answers to the skill builder exercises found in each chapter
- additional exercises at the end of each chapter.
Acknowledgments
I thank my wife, Clare, and son, Ned, for help with prior editions of the book. I appreciate the efforts of Christopher Gauthier in converting the prior edition to Bookdown format.
Richard T. Watson
Melbourne, Australia