Data Science & Society
Mid-Term Exam
,Week 1
Lecture: Catching up with SQL
● Some definitions
○ Create: Creation of database objects
○ Alter: Modify the structure and/or the characteristics of database objects
○ Drop: Deletion of database objects
○ Truncate: Deletion of data in tables without altering the structure
● The core parts of SQL:
○ Data definition language (DDL): Used to define database structures
■ CREATE TABLE, DROP TABLE
○ Data manipulation language (DML): define, update and request data (queries)
■ INSERT (add row), UPDATE (modify values in existing row/collection of
rows), DELETE (delete a row/collection of rows), SELECT (select rows),
DISTINCT (addition to select, to prevent duplicate rows are shown),
WHERE (addition for criteria records should meet), AND/OR/NOT
(addition for multiple matching criteria), BETWEEN (self-explanatory),
ORDER BY (to sort results), GROUP BY (for subtotals), HAVING (to limit
how much data is shown)
■ Built-in SQL functions
● COUNT: the number of rows that match the criteria
● MIN: minimal value in certain column
● MAX: maximum value in certain column
● SUM: of values in certain column
● AVG: average of values in certain column
■ A query retrieves data from one or more tables and creates a new
(temporary) table
■ Subqueries are queries that are used as input for another query
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,Literature: Fundamentals of Information Systems
(Stair & Reynolds, 2012)
Lot of terminology, not that important I think.
Chapter 1: An Introduction to Information Systems in
Organizations
● Data consists of raw facts (such as alphanumeric data, image data, audio data)
● Information is a collection of facts organized and processed so that they have
additional value beyond the value of the individual facts
● The process of defining relationships among data to create useful information
requires knowledge. Knowledge is the awareness and understanding of a set of
information and the ways that information can be made useful to support a specific
task or reach a decision
● Knowledge workers are people who create, use and disseminate knowledge
● Knowledge management system is an organized collection of people, procedures,
software, databases and devices used to create, store and use the organization’s
knowledge and experience
● To be valuable to managers and decision makers, information should be accessible,
accurate, complete, relatively economical to produce, flexible, relevant, reliable,
secure, simple, timely and verifiable
● An information system (IS) is a set of interrelated components that collect (input),
manipulate (process), store and disseminate (output) data and information and
provide a feedback mechanism to meet an objective -> used by businesses to
increase revenues (forecasting)
○ Input: Activity of gathering and capturing raw data
○ Processing: Converting or transforming data into useful output by means of
calculations, comparing data, storing data etc.
○ Output: Involves producing useful information, usually in the form of
documents and reports
○ Feedback: Output that is used to make changes to input or processing
activities
○ Forecasting: Use output to predict future events and avoid problems
● Computer-based information system (CBIS): A single set of hardware, software,
databases, telecommunications, people and procedures that are configured to
collect, manipulate, store and process data into information
● Technology infrastructure: All the hardware, software, databases,
telecommunications, people and procedures that are configured to collect,
manipulate, store and process data into information
○ Hardware: The physical components of a computer that perform the input,
processing, storage and output activities
○ Software: Consists of the computer programs that govern the operation of the
computer
■ System software: Controls basic computer operations (start-up,
printing etc.)
■ Applications software: Allows you to accomplish specific tasks
○ Database: Organized collection of facts and information
○ Telecommunications: The electronic transmission of signals for
communications; enables organizations to carry out their processes and tasks
through effective computer networks
○ Networks: Computers and equipment that are connected in a building
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, ○ Internet: World’s largest computer network, consisting of thousands of
interconnected networks, all freely exchanging information
○ Intranet: An internal network based on Web technologies that allows people
within an organization to exchange information and work on projects
○ Extranet: A network based on Web technologies that allows selected
outsiders, such as business partners and customers, to access authorized
resources of company’s intranet.
○ People: Information systems personnel include all the people who manage,
run, program and maintain the system, including the CIO, who manages the IS
department
○ Procedures: The strategies, policies, methods and rules for using a CBIS
● Business Information Systems: are often integrated in one product and can be
delivered by the same software package
○ E-commerce: Any business transaction executed electronically between
companies (B2B), companies and consumers (B2C) and consumers and
consumers (C2C), business and public sector, and consumers and public
sector.
■ With mobile commerce (m-commerce) people can use cell phones to
pay for goods and services anywhere, anytime
■ Electronic procurement (e-procurement) involves using information
systems and the internet to acquire parts and supplies
■ Electronic business (e-business) uses information systems and the
internet to perform all business-related tasks and functions
○ Transaction Processing Systems (TPS): An organized collection of people,
procedures, software, databases and devices used to perform and record
business transactions
■ Transaction: Any business-related exchange such as payments to
employees, sales to customers and payments to suppliers
○ Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP): A set of integrated programs capable of
managing a company’s vital business operations for an entire multisite, global
organization
■ The benefits of an effective TPS or ERP include reduced processing
costs and reductions in needed personnel
○ Management Information Systems (MIS): Organized collection of people,
procedures, software, databases and devices that provides routine
information to managers and decision makers -> Focus on operational
efficiency -> Doing things right
○ Decision Support Systems (DSS): Organized collection of people, procedures,
software, databases and devices used to support problem-specific decision
making -> Focus on effective decisions -> Do the right thing
● Specialized Business Information Systems: Specialized systems
○ Knowledge Management System (KMS): Organized collection of people,
procedures, software, databases and devices to create, store, share and use
the organization’s knowledge and experience
○ Artificial Intelligence (AI): A field in which the computer system takes on the
characteristics of human intelligence
○ Expert Systems: A system that gives a computer the ability to make
suggestions and function like an expert in a particular field
■ The collection of data, rules, procedures and relationships that must
be followed to achieve value or the proper outcome is called the
knowledge base
○ Virtual Reality: The simulation of a real or imagined environment that can be
experienced visually in three dimensions.
● Systems development is the activity of creating or modifying information systems
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