Chapter 5

Database Processing
- Case & Exercise
Jason C. H. Chen, Ph.D.
Professor of MIS
School of Business
Gonzaga University
Spokane, WA 99258 USA
chen@gonzaga.edu

Dr. Chen, Management Information Systems 1

 Part I

Dr. Chen, Management Information Systems 2

 In-class exercise
UYK (p.195)

UYK#5(5-1, 5-2, 5-3); p.195

Dr. Chen, Management Information Systems 3

 5-1.Draw an entity-relationship diagram that shows
the relationships among a database, database
applications, and users.
mandatory many mandatory one

Database
User Database
Application

(e.g., GU (e.g., ZagWeb, (e.g., GU

students, Blackboard, database)
faculty, staff Bookstore,
etc.) Library, etc.)

Dr. Chen, Management Information Systems 4

 5-2.Consider the relationship between Adviser and Student in Figure 5-
19. Explain what it means if the maximum cardinality of this relationship
is (A:S – Advisor:Student)

• a. N:1
– An advisor is assigned one student; a student is assigned many advisors.
• b. 1:1
– An advisor is assigned one student; a student is assigned one advisor
• c. 5:1
– An advisor is assigned one student; a student is assigned no more than
five advisors
• d. 1:5
– An advisor is assigned no more than five students; a student is assigned
one advisor
Dr. Chen, Management Information Systems 5
 3. Identify two entities in the data entry form in Figure 5-
28. What attributes are shown for each? What do you
think are the identifiers?

Fig 5-28
Dr. Chen, Management Information Systems 6
 5-3. Identify two entities in the data entry form in Figure 5-28.
What attributes are shown for each? What do you think are the
identifiers?
• Entities (or Tables/Files):
– Employee; Class
• Employee attributes:
– Employee Number, First Name, Last
Name, Email
• Class attributes:
– Course Name, Course Date, Instructor,
Remarks
• Employee identifier (key):
– Employee Number
• Class identifier (key):
– Course Name & Course Date
– Why two fields? And what is it called?
– Composite Key
Dr. Chen, Management Information Systems 7
 SO WHAT? (p.171)

Not What the Data Says . . .

• IN-CLASS GROUP EXERCISE
• #1,2,3

Dr. Chen, Management Information Systems 8

 So What? Not What the Data Says
...
• Subjective:
• Small, nonrandom sample.
• Called four different sales reps who can’t get any
prospects to bite.
• Objective:
• Same month historical data, seasonal data
comparisons.
• How to recognize and minimize bias?
• Use non-routine cognitive skills.

Dr. Chen, Management Information Systems 9

 1. Do you want to be Jeremey or Neil? Justify your
answer.

• Neil. He has made a very positive impression on

his boss Sarah and Jeremey looks a little foolish.
Neil was able to provide answers to important
questions that are based on solid data, not just
anecdotes.
• Neil’s abilities will get noticed at the executive
meeting and I expect doors will open for him.

Dr. Chen, Management Information Systems 10

 2. What skills and abilities will you need to be Neil?

• Neil anticipated the questions that needed to be

asked to evaluate the promotional campaign,
understood the approach needed to answer those
questions, and then embarked on the analysis
needed to produce the answers he sought.
• This required critical thinking and analytical skills
along with an understanding of databases and
database queries.

Dr. Chen, Management Information Systems 11

 3. List specific sales data you need to provide
answers as Neil does.
• September sales for current year
• September sales in prior years
• Current September sales from new customers
(new customer record added to database in
September).
• September sales that used coupon (from the
promotional campaign). Probably identified in
sales record as a discount or coupon field.

Dr. Chen, Management Information Systems 12