About the book

The success of many organisations depends upon information stored in database management systems. Given the importance of such systems, it is essential that managers with responsibility for IT understand the underlying database management system (DBMS) principles, are aware of the strengths and weaknesses of existing database technology and of likely future developments in the field. This book explores these areas.

This book supports a preliminary course aimed at learning how to model and implement databases using a number of techniques and approaches. Modelling techniques such as Entity-Relationship modelling and normalization are introduced. Students will also learn how to write SQL code to query data in a database and to write some more sophisticated coding using Oracle’s PLSQL. In addition, the student will be made aware of certain issues and trends connected with database software.

The book covers the areas of:

• Relational, object-oriented and object-relational models

• Entity relationship modelling and normalization

• The standard query language SQL

• Oracle’s procedural language, PL/SQL

• Query optimization

• Transaction management and concurrent access

• Database recovery

• Distributed database systems

• Web database technologies including ASP.NET and XML.