A prestigious university has recently implemented a consolidation strategy that will require it to centralize their student records

A prestigious university has recently implemented a consolidation strategy that will require it to centralize their student records. In order to move forward, the local university will need to develop a data model that will retain student records and perform various data extract transform and load (ETL) processes. Imagine that you have been hired as a database consultant to assist in the development of a data design strategy for the student records. 

You met with various university subject matter experts and have determined the following after performing various business analysis processes:

  • Faculty groups are divided by core competencies that the university offers. For example, there are groups such as the Art Faculty, Computer Technology Faculty, Language Faculty, and Science Faculty. Each faculty member has an assigned Dean and is designated to teach at one particular campus and school. They are able to teach as many courses as required.
  • Courses are categorized by course code and title. Certain courses have prerequisites and the university has asked for this to be cataloged as well.
  • There are various schools within each campus. For example, the Los Angeles campus holds the following schools: School of Science, School of Law, and School of Computer Technology. Additionally, each school offers different professional study programs such as Forensic Computer Science, Marine Biology, Business Management, and Civil Engineering to name a few. 
  • The study path for students requires that they be enrolled in a specific professional study program. The professional study program requires the students to complete a specific set of core courses. The university also requires that an online grade book be available. The online grade book should show grades awarded to students for specific courses and the term they completed the course.
  • The university identifies each student by his or her name, date of birth, social, and professional study program.

Using these findings, write a three to four (3-4) page paper in which you:

  1. Analyze the university’s requirements and provide a proposal to organize all the required data elements. The proposal should include the following:
    1. Provide an Entity Relationship Model (ERM) that will describe the data structure that will store all data elements. Note: The graphically depicted solution is not included in the required page length.
    2. Describe any assumptions or limitations for each relationship. For example, professors are able to teach more than one course or students can only be enrolled in one program.
  2. Create the primary key and foreign keys using a UML Class diagram for each table.
  3. Suggest at least four (4) types of business intelligence reports that could help the university in course management, student enrollment, or historical tracking. Support your answer by providing specific business functions that these reports could assist executives of the university.
  4. As an alternative for development of the database, you are considering outsourcing the functions above. Research the Internet and other media sources for vendors who develop registrar and school management database systems.
    1. Suggest three (3) vendors that developed and are employing efficient registrar and school management database systems and support your reasons to choose from one (1) of these three (3) vendors.
    2. Compare and contrast the key aspects that each system offers. Examples of system aspects include but not limited to cloud based, pricing model, open source, etc.
  5. Use at least three (3) quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

  • Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
  • Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
  • Include charts or diagrams created in any chart or drawing tools with which you are familiar. The completed diagrams / charts must be imported into the Word document before the paper is submitted.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

  • Describe the role of databases and database management systems in managing organizational data and information.
  • Recognize the historical development of database management systems and logical data models.
  • Design and implement a database solution to solve a proposed business problem.
  • Use technology and information resources to research issues in the strategic implications and management of database systems.
  • Write clearly and concisely about topics related to the strategic planning for database systems using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.

Assignment 4: Database Modeling and Normalization Due Week 4 and worth 120 points

Imagine that you work for a consulting firm that offers information technology and database services. Part of its core services is to optimize and offer streamline solutions for efficiency. In this scenario, your firm has been awarded a contract to implement a new personnel system for a government agency. This government agency has requested an optimized data repository for its system which will enable the management staff to perform essential human resources (HR) duties along with the capability to produce ad hoc reporting features for various departments. They look forward to holding data that will allow them to perform HR core functions such as hiring, promotions, policy enforcement, benefits management, and training.

Using this scenario, write a three to four (3-4) page paper in which you:

  1. Determine the steps in the development of an effective Entity Relationship Model (ERM) Diagram and determine the possible iterative steps / factors that one must consider in this process with consideration of the HR core functions and responsibilities of the client.
  2. Analyze the risks that can occur if any of the developmental or iterative steps of creating an ERM Diagram are not performed.
  3. Select and rank at least five (5) entities that would be required for the development of the data repositories. 
  4. Specify the components that would be required to hold time-variant data for policy enforcement and training management. 
  5. Diagram a possible 1:M solution that will hold salary history data, job history, and training history for each employee through the use of graphical tools. Note: The graphically depicted solution is not included in the required page length.
  6. Plan each step of the normalization process to ensure the 3NF level of normalization using the selected five (5) entities of the personnel database solution. Document each step of the process and justify your assumptions in the process.
  7. Diagram at least five (5) possible entities that will be required to sustain a personnel solution. The diagram should include the following:
    1. Dependency diagrams
    2. Multivalued dependencies

Note: The graphically depicted solution is not included in the required page length.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

  • Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
  • Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
  • Include charts or diagrams created in a drawing tool with which you are familiar. The completed diagrams / charts must be imported into the Word document before the paper is submitted.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

  • Recognize the historical development of database management systems and logical data models.
  • Explain the fundamentals of how data is physically stored and accessed.
  • Compose conceptual data modeling techniques that capture information requirements.
  • Use technology and information resources to research issues in the strategic implications and management of database systems.
  • Write clearly and concisely about topics related to the strategic planning for database systems using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.

Assignment 5: Tour Operator Agency Database Due Week 6 and worth 90 points

The Strayer Oracle Server may be used to test and compile the SQL Queries developed for this assignment. Your instructor will provide you with login credentials to a Strayer University maintained Oracle server.

A multinational tour operator agency has gained new business growth in the North American market through the use of social media. Its operation has expanded by 50% within six months and the agency requires an enhanced data management strategy to sustain their business operations. Their existing data repository for its reservation processing system is limited in business intelligence and reporting functionalities. The tour operator seeks a database management specialist to assist them in leveraging their data sources to enable them to forecast and project tour sales appropriately.

Imagine that you have been hired to fulfill their need of enhancing the data repository for their current reservation processing system. Upon reviewing the system, you find that the data structure holds redundant data and that this structure lacks normalization. The database has the following characteristics:

  • A table that stores all the salespersons. The table holds their employee id, first name, last name and “Tours sold” field. The “Tours sold” field is updated manually.
  • A table that stores tour customer data and tours sold. The table holds customer name, address, city, state, zip code, tour(s) selected, number of persons in tour, and total amount paid. The current structure will show the customer more than once, if the customer books multiple tours.
  • A tour table that is used as a tour rate sheet which holds the tours offered and the cost per person. Tour rates vary every three (3) months depending on the tourist season.

Write a three to four (3-4) page paper in which you propose an enhanced database management strategy. Your proposal should include the following:

  1. Design a data model that will conform to the following criteria:
    1. Propose an efficient data structure that may hold the tour operator’s data using a normalization process. Describe each step of the process that will enable you to have a 2nd Normal Form data structure.
    2. Create naming conventions for each entity and attributes.
    3. Conclude your data model design with an Entity Relationship Model (ERM) that will visually represent the relationships between the tables. You may make use of graphical tools with which you are familiar. Note: The graphically depicted solution is not included in the required page length.
  2. Construct a query that can be used on a report for determining how many days the customer’s invoice will require payment if total amount due is within 45 days. Provide a copy of your working code as part of the paper.
  3. Using the salesperson table described in the summary above, complete the following:
    1. Construct a trigger that will increase the field that holds the total number of tours sold per salesperson by an increment of one (1).
    2. Create a query that can produce results that show the quantity of customers each salesperson has sold tours to. 
  4. Support the reasoning behind using stored procedures within the database as an optimization process for the database transactions.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

  • Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
  • Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
  • Include charts or diagrams created in any chart or drawing tool with which you are familiar. The completed diagrams / charts must be imported into the Word document before the paper is submitted.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

  • Explain the fundamentals of how data is physically stored and accessed.
  • Compose conceptual data modeling techniques that capture information requirements.
  • Design a relational database so that it is at least in 3NF.
  • Prepare database design documents using the data definition, data manipulation, and data control language components of the SQL language.
  • Use technology and information resources to research issues in the strategic implications and management of database systems.
  • Write clearly and concisely about topics related to the strategic planning for database systems using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.

Assignment 6: SQL Concepts and Database Design Due Week 7 and worth 120 points

The Strayer Oracle Server may be used to test and compile the SQL Queries developed for this assignment. Your instructor will provide you with login credentials to a Strayer University maintained Oracle server.

Imagine that you work for a finance industry-based organization. Your organization is looking to submit its database design documentation to an evaluation team in order to meet Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance. You have been assigned to assist in preparing the documentation of the organization’s sales database. You are asked to propose a data dictionary that can be used to document the following:

  • Employee (EmpNumber, EmpFirstName, EmpLastName, CommissionRate, YrlySalary, DepartmentID, JobID)
  • Invoice (InvNumber, InvDate, EmpNumber,  InvAmount, CustomerID)
  • InvoiceLine (InvLineNumber, InvNumber,  ProductNumber, Quantity)
  • Product (ProductNumber, ProductDescription, ProductCost)
  • Department (DepartmentID, DepartmentDescription)
  • Job (JobID, JobDescription)
  • Customer (CustomerID, CustomerName, CustomerAddress, CustomerPhone)

Write a three to four (3-4) page paper in which you:

  1. Create a data dictionary that includes the following:
    1. A description of the content for each field
    2. The data type of each field
    3. The format the data will be stored as in the field
    4. The range of value for the field
    5. A label, as required, if the attribute is a primary key or foreign key

Note: An example is shown in Table 7.3 in chapter 7 of the textbook.

  1. Imagine that you are asked to identify the number of days that exist between the first invoice and last invoice for each month and complete the following:
    1. Construct a query that will show the number of days that exist between the first invoice and last invoice, for each month, for each employee, using the DATEDIFF function. Be sure to provide the SQL script that will carry out this function.
    2. Construct a query to show the expected payment date if invoices are due within 30 days of transaction.  
    3. Construct a query that will show distinct area codes of the customers.
  2. Create a plan of the necessary activities that would be required to implement a valid database design process by including the following:
    1. Steps in the conceptual design stage
    2. Steps in DBMS selection stage
    3. Steps in logical design stage
    4. Steps in physical design stage
    5. Task details of each activity within each stage

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

  • Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
  • Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

  • Design a relational database so that it is at least in 3NF.
  • Prepare database design documents using the data definition, data manipulation, and data control language components of the SQL language.
  • Explain the key principles of data security and identify data security risk and violations in data management system design.
  • Use technology and information resources to research issues in the strategic implications and management of database systems.
  • Write clearly and concisely about topics related to the strategic planning for database systems using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.

Case Study: Database Development 

Due Week 8 and worth 50 points

Read the following articles available in the ACM Digital Library:

Note: The ACM Digital Library is a Strayer Library database located in iCampus > Campus & Library > Learning Resource Center > Databases. Go to https://research.strayer.edu to access A-Z Databases > ACM Digital Library or use the direct link to the database: https://libdatab.strayer.edu/login?url=http://dl.acm.org.

  • Dual Assessment of Data Quality in Customer Databases, Journal of Data and Information Quality (JDIQ), Volume 1 Issue 3, December 2009, Adir Even, G. Shankaranarayanan.
  • Process-centered review of object oriented software development methodologies, ACM Computing Surveys (CSUR), Volume 40 Issue 1, February 2008, Raman Ramsin, and Richard F. Paige.

Write a two to three (2-3) page paper in which you:

  1. Recommend at least three (3) specific tasks that could be performed to improve the quality of datasets, using the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) methodology. Include a thorough description of each activity per each phase.
  2. Recommend the actions that should be performed in order to optimize record selections and to improve database performance from a quantitative data quality assessment.
  3. Suggest three (3) maintenance plans and three (3) activities that could be performed in order to improve data quality.
  4. From the software development methodologies described in the article titled, “Process-centered Review of Object Oriented Software Development Methodologies,” complete the following.
    1. Evaluate which method would be efficient for planning proactive concurrency control methods and lock granularities. Assess how your selected method can be used to minimize the database security risks that may occur within a multiuser environment. 
    2. Analyze how the method can be used to plan out the system effectively and ensure that the number of transactions does not produce record-level locking while the database is in operation.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

  • Be typed, double-spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
  • Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

  • Prepare database design documents using the data definition, data manipulation, and data control language components of the SQL language.
  • Describe the basic mechanisms for accessing relational databases from various types of application development environments.
  • Explain the key principles of data security and identify data security risk and violations in data management system design.
  • Use technology and information resources to research issues in the strategic implications and management of database systems.
  • Write clearly and concisely about topics related to the strategic planning for database systems using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.

technical Paper: Database Administrator for Department StoreDue Week 10 and worth 200 points

The Strayer Oracle Server may be used to test and compile the SQL Queries developed for this assignment. Your instructor will provide you with login credentials to a Strayer University maintained Oracle server.

Imagine that you have been hired as the database administrator for a local department store. The department store has recently expanded by opening five (5) stores within your local region. They have also launched a series of marketing campaigns to attract new customers and increase sales. For your hired role, you will be responsible for creating and maintaining an enterprise-wide database system that will hold the sales and inventory data for the organization. The designed database will help operations in supporting its new business marketing strategy. Using the concepts presented throughout the course, you will develop a plan to create this database and establish a design that aligns with the product sales initiatives of the organization.

Write a twelve to fifteen (12-15) page paper in which you:

  1. Identify the potential sales and department store transactions that can be stored within the database.
  2. Design a database solution and the potential business rules that could be used to house the sales transactions of the department store. 
  3. Evaluate all relationships of each entity within your database solution using the Crow’s Foot notation. Include all data elements, entities, relationships (such as 1:M, 1:1, M:N), and cardinalities for the department store database in your diagram. Note: The graphically depicted solution is not included in the required page length.
  4. Research the Internet for best practices of how retail stores use databases for retaining customers and increasing sales and complete the following:
    1. Justify how Big Data tools could be used for forecasting sales and inventory of the department store.
    2. Propose two (2) SQL Stored Procedures that use SQL functions to help sales associates perform explanatory or predictive analytics.
    3. Give your opinion on which of the two (2) ways you proposed in Question four (4) b provide greater value to expanding their business within the region.
    4. Provide a copy of your working SQL code as part of the paper.
  5. Research the Internet for database vendors that provide cloud computing services and complete the following:
    1. Estimate the types of costs involved or the pricing structure required when implementing a cloud-hosted solution for a database. 
    2. Analyze security considerations and pricing of the different cloud implementation types.
    3. Rank the cloud services options of Software as a Service, Platform as a Service and Infrastructure as a Service in terms of functionality, mobility, and ability to provide distributed transaction concurrency. Compare how these cloud-based services fit within an environment where users are mobile. Determine the technical provisions that would be required to ensure data integrity.
  6. Evaluate whether the use of a distributed DBMS structure is appropriate and identify the optimization techniques that should be factored in to enhance the operations of the database in your design.
  7. Provide at least two (2) examples of how lost updates and uncommitted data may occur, keeping in mind that five (5) stores will be generating transactions.
  8. Determine the concurrency control factors that can be used to ensure valid execution of transactions within the current multiuser environment.
  9. Research the Internet for backup and restoration recovery solutions and database security threats that could be applicable to the department store. Upon your research, complete the following:
    1. Suggest at least two (2) options that could be made available to provide disaster management functions for the database system within the retail environment.
    2. Assess the types of security threats that may exist when managing the department store database and suggest measure(s) that can be performed to minimize these threats that are particular to retail.
  10. Use at least six (6) quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

  • Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
  • Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
  • Include charts or diagrams created in any chart or drawing tool with which you are familiar. The completed diagrams / charts must be imported into the Word document before the paper is submitted.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

  • Compose conceptual data modeling techniques that capture information requirements.
  • Prepare database design documents using the data definition, data manipulation, and data control language components of the SQL language.
  • Describe the basic mechanisms for accessing relational databases from various types of application development environments.
  • Use technology and information resources to research issues in the strategic implications and management of database systems.
  • Write clearly and concisely about topics related to the strategic planning for database systems using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.
 
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