Database Systems and Administration

Learning Outcomes:

1. Evaluate the role of conceptual modeling in the development of database systems and apply the entity-relationship modeling approach to a realistic scenario

2. Apply the essential concepts of relational databases, (including keys, normalization and referential integrity) to sample data sets and demonstrate best practice in the development of an appropriate and effective database system

3. Select and apply appropriate techniques involved in database administration

4. Critically evaluate security issues relating to database management systems and propose appropriate strategies to address security problems

Part A

Scenario:

Muscat General Insurance Company (MGIC) was established in 1989. Company markets nonlife, life and health insurance products. The total workforce numbers over 275 and the company is committed to the country's growth by contributing in economic and social sectors. The Company has Ninteen locations at its head office in Al Khuwair, and branches in Salalah, Al Khoudh, Sohar, Nizwa, Buraimi, Suwaiq, Ibra, Ibri, Sinaw, Barka, Duqm, Samail, Mabela, Amerat, Al Khuwai, Sur, Jalan Bu Ali and Central Business District. New locations are being added to the current network. The Direct Marketing team is able to give sound advice to the customers and also remain competitive. Our main focus is not to be the biggest in terms of market share but to improve quality at all times, and to be 'the best' in Oman. Company has various Insurance products. The company has many departments, products and thousands of customers. For the company it is essential to keep all the data secure and timely available.

The company has very good infrastructure and would like to be competent in having good IT infrastructure for the management and communication. To have a good IT infrastructure you required to plan for the system implementation for the company.

Propose a conceptual model, database management system and related security measures inline with system data management, after an in-depth research on Muscat General Life Insurance Company operations and processes. In order to come up with an appropriate design/solution, you must study the requirements, issues and best practices in this problem context. You can make relevant assumptions required to formulate business rules, security, and administration.

Based on the above information execute Task 2, 3, 4 and Task 5. You may have to make additional assumptions to execute the above tasks.

Task 1:

Submit a work proposal for this assignment which must include:

- Understanding of deliverables - a detailed description of deliverables.

- General overview of the given tasks - (Part A and Part-B) - initial understanding of solution to all tasks with timeline to complete them and identification of literature resources. (For more clarity, please refer to criteria of evaluating the work proposal given on the last page of this assignment).

Task 2:
Design an Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD) to model the above scenario. Identify the different entities and attributes of each entity. Suggest and justify the choice of relationship and cardinality of the relationship. State the assumptions (if any) made by you to develop the ERD based on your research. Provide detailed analysis and justification for the selection of entities and attributes based on your research.

Task 3:
Assume that you are responsible to set up a datacenter for the above mentioned organization. You are required to hire different types of IT professionals to manage your data center which include IT technician, network administrators, system administrators and database administrator. You are required to research the roles and responsibilities of database administrator for the datacenter. Critically analyze the roles and responsibilities based on your research to hire a database administrator.

Task 4: As a database administrator evaluate different Database Management system Software for the above scenario. You are required to prepare a technical and financial feasibility report. You are required to critically analyse each aspects and suggest the best suitable database management system software for the above scenario with appropriate justifications.

Task 5: As a database administrator identification of specific roles for application users, authentication policy, storage management and database recovery are critical. The efficiency and complexity of database administration depends on the identified strategy and tools. Propose and critically review user management, backup/recovery strategy, storage management/techniques formulated for the system discussed in Task 2-4.

Task 6: Prepare a report comprising an executive summary including self-reflections on the industry guest speaker talk.

Part B

Write a research article in IEEE Format on "best practice in the development of an appropriate and effective database system". The research article can be approximately 2500 words.

Present the research article using a poster presentation covering the following aspects of research:

- Problem specification, importance of research and research questions
- Theoretical framework
- Rigor of literature review
- Methods or empirical analysis techniques;
- Key findings and conclusions;

As a Post Graduate student, you are required to spend time in research and study. Apply the research skills (such as ability to formulate research questions; technical and analytical skills to solve those questions, ability to communicate results) to prepare your article. It is expected that a Post Graduate student demonstrates the research abilities to expand his/her knowledge on latest database technology. Importantly, to achieve the above goal, you are expected to learn with much greater independence and need to do a significant background reading on the chosen topic. The template (Microsoft word file) for the article will be made available on the Moodle soon.

The date, venue and specifications of the poster presentation will be communicated to you. No marks will be awarded if poster presentation is not done.

Guidelines

Follow the guidelines mentioned below for your assignment.

i. Students are expected to do a critical analysis of the tasks and present their analysis by drawing on relevant theoretical concepts. Marks will be awarded based on the ability of students to undertake the task in a logical manner by drawing on appropriate concepts and theoretical frameworks/literatures.

ii. Report should have a Title Page. Title Page should contain the following information.

a. Assignment Name

b. Student name

c. Student ID

iii. It should have Table of Contents.

iv. Use page numbers.

v. Assignment should be typed in your own words using Times New Roman font.

vi. Use Diagrams to explain in detail.

vii. Use suitable notations in your diagrams.

viii. Use appropriate SQL syntax wherever applicable.

ix. Copy paste from the Internet is strictly not acceptable.

x. References should be included in the last page and literature under pinning is needed at the point of explaining the concept.

xi. Attach the evidences (if any).

The purpose of assignment is to do some research work so you can consult books in Library or use internet or computer magazines or any other source. We are obliged to establish assessment criteria and then mark you upon how well (or otherwise) you meet those criteria. In turn, our assessment of you will be scrutinized by the external examiners, so we must be able to defend the marks we award.