Analyzing the Current Database

1. Analyzing the Current Database Chapter 6 Database Design for Mere Mortals

2. Getting to Know the Current Database • To determine where you should go, you need to determine where you are. • What types of data does the organization use? • How does it use that data? • How does it manage and maintain that data? • Analyze current database • Paper-based • Legacy

3. Conducting Analysis • Looking at how data is collected • index cards • hand-written lists • data-entry screens • screen capture • Looking at how information is presented • hand-written documents • computer printouts

4. On-screen presentations • Method of presenting information • Report • most common method of presenting information • hand-written, typed, computer generated • transforms data into information • Presentation • Slide shows • Powerpoint / Harvard Graphics Software

5. Conducting Interviews • Determine how organization uses data • They provide details about the samples you assembled in reviewing how data is collected and how information is presented • They provide information on the way the organization uses its data • They are instrumental in defining preliminary field and table structures • They help to define future information requirements

6. Conducting user interviews • Focus on 4 issues • types of data users are currently using • how users are currently using their data • data-collection, report, on-screen presentation samples • types of information users need in conjunction with their daily work • current information requirements • additional information requirements • future information requirements

7. Conducting Management Interviews • Focus on the following issues • types of information managers currently receive • identify information management routinely receives • determine if those reports in your report samples • types of additional information they need to receive • determine whether they require some supplemental information currently missing from reports they receive

8. types of information they foresee themselves needing • determine what management foresees itself needing in the future • their perception of business’s overall information requirements • what generic class of information does the organization need? • Is there any data that the organization needs to maintain that has not been previously mentioned

9. Compiling a Complete List of Fields • Preliminary field list • review and refine the list of characteristics you have compiled • determine whether there are any characteristics in the data data-collection, report, and on-screen presentation samples that need to be added to the preliminary list

10. Calculated field lists • A calculated field stores the result of a mathematical calculation as its value • possible names • Amount, total, sum, minimum, maximum, count, subtotal, average age, discount amount, customer count • must be removed and placed in a separate list • they are used in a specific manner later in the design process

11. Reviewing both lists with users and management • review preliminary and calculated lists with users and management • determine if any fields have been left out from either list • add any missing fields

12. Case Study • Mike’s Bikes