Gillenson M. L. Fundamentals of database management systems.
Wiley – 2012, 416 pages.
ISBN: 9780470624708.
A course in database management has become well established as a required course in both undergraduate and graduate management information systems degree programs. This is as it should be, considering the central position of the database field in the information systems environment. Indeed, a solid understanding of the fundamentals of database management is crucial for success in the information systems field. An IS professional should be able to talk to the users in a business setting, ask the right questions about the nature of their entities, their attributes, and the relationships among them, and quickly decide whether their existing data and database designs are properly structured or not. An IS professional should be able to design new databases with confidence that they will serve their owners and users well. An IS professional should be able to guide a company in the best use of the various database-related technologies.
Over the years, at the same time that database management has increased in importance, it has also increased tremendously in breadth. In addition to such fundamental topics as data modeling, relational database concepts, logical and physical database design, and SQL, a basic set of database topics today includes object-oriented databases, data administration, data security, distributed databases, data warehousing, and Web databases, among others. The dilemma faced by database instructors and by database books is to cover as much of this material as is reasonably possible so that students will come away with a solid background in the fundamentals without being overwhelmed by the tremendous breadth and depth of the field. Exposure to too much material in too short a time at the expense of developing a sound foundation is of no value to anyone. We believe that a one-semester course in database management should provide a firm grounding in the fundamentals of databases and provide a solid survey of the major database subfields, while deliberately not being encyclopedic in its coverage. With these goals in mind, this book:
? Is designed to be a carefully and clearly written, friendly, narrative introduction to the subject of database management that can reasonably be completed in a one-semester course.
? Provides a clear exposition of the fundamentals of database management while at the same time presentng a broad survey of all of the major topics of the field. It is an applied book of important basic concepts and practical material that can be used immediately in business.
? Makes extensive use of examples. Four major examples are used throughout the text where appropriate, plus two minicases that are included among the chapter exercises at the end of every chapter. Having multiple examples solidifies the material and helps the student not miss the point because of the peculiarities of a particular example.
? Starts with the basics of data and file structures and then builds up in a progressive, step-by-step way through the distinguishing characteristics of database.
? Has a story and accompanying photograph of a real company’s real use of database management at the beginning of every chapter. This is both for motivational purposes and to give the book a more practical, real-world feel.
? Includes a chapter on SQL that concentrates on the data-retrieval aspect and applies to essentially every relational database product on the market.
Wiley – 2012, 416 pages.
ISBN: 9780470624708.
A course in database management has become well established as a required course in both undergraduate and graduate management information systems degree programs. This is as it should be, considering the central position of the database field in the information systems environment. Indeed, a solid understanding of the fundamentals of database management is crucial for success in the information systems field. An IS professional should be able to talk to the users in a business setting, ask the right questions about the nature of their entities, their attributes, and the relationships among them, and quickly decide whether their existing data and database designs are properly structured or not. An IS professional should be able to design new databases with confidence that they will serve their owners and users well. An IS professional should be able to guide a company in the best use of the various database-related technologies.
Over the years, at the same time that database management has increased in importance, it has also increased tremendously in breadth. In addition to such fundamental topics as data modeling, relational database concepts, logical and physical database design, and SQL, a basic set of database topics today includes object-oriented databases, data administration, data security, distributed databases, data warehousing, and Web databases, among others. The dilemma faced by database instructors and by database books is to cover as much of this material as is reasonably possible so that students will come away with a solid background in the fundamentals without being overwhelmed by the tremendous breadth and depth of the field. Exposure to too much material in too short a time at the expense of developing a sound foundation is of no value to anyone. We believe that a one-semester course in database management should provide a firm grounding in the fundamentals of databases and provide a solid survey of the major database subfields, while deliberately not being encyclopedic in its coverage. With these goals in mind, this book:
? Is designed to be a carefully and clearly written, friendly, narrative introduction to the subject of database management that can reasonably be completed in a one-semester course.
? Provides a clear exposition of the fundamentals of database management while at the same time presentng a broad survey of all of the major topics of the field. It is an applied book of important basic concepts and practical material that can be used immediately in business.
? Makes extensive use of examples. Four major examples are used throughout the text where appropriate, plus two minicases that are included among the chapter exercises at the end of every chapter. Having multiple examples solidifies the material and helps the student not miss the point because of the peculiarities of a particular example.
? Starts with the basics of data and file structures and then builds up in a progressive, step-by-step way through the distinguishing characteristics of database.
? Has a story and accompanying photograph of a real company’s real use of database management at the beginning of every chapter. This is both for motivational purposes and to give the book a more practical, real-world feel.
? Includes a chapter on SQL that concentrates on the data-retrieval aspect and applies to essentially every relational database product on the market.