Question 1

Explain why businesses have shown a growing interest in data warehousing in recent years.

Accepted Answer

Since the 1970s, organizations have mostly focused their investment in new computer systems that automate business processes. In this way, the businesses gained competitive advantage through systems that offered more efficient and cost-effective services to the customer. Throughout this period, businesses accumulated growing amounts of data stored in their operational databases. However, in recent times, where such systems are common place, businesses are focusing on ways to use operational data to support decision-making, as a means of gaining competitive advantage. 
 
 The successful implementation of a data warehouse can bring major benefits to an organization including:
 
Potential high returns on investment
Competitive advantage
Increased productivity of corporate decision-makers

Question 2

State the underlying type of the following expressions:
(a) "hello"
(b) 36
(c) 36.00
(d) 3.6e1
(e) 36 + 69
(f) 36.00 + 69.00
(g) 3.6e1 + 6.9e1
(h) 36 + 69.00
(i) 3.6e1 + 69
(j) 36.00 + 6.9e1
(k) "abc" + "def"
(l) "36" + 69.00
(m) "abc" < "def"
(n) 1 < 2
(o) 1 < 2.0
(p) "abc" < 2

Accepted Answer

(a) xs:string
(b) xs:integer
(c) xs:decimal
(d) xs:double
(e) xs:integer
(f) xs:decimal
(g) xs:double
(h) xs:decimal
(i) xs:double
(j) xs:double
(k) this is a static type error
(l) this is a static type error
(m) xs:boolean
(n) xs:boolean
(o) xs:boolean
(p) this is a static type error

Question 3

'A data warehouse is a subject-oriented, integrated, time-variant and non-volatile collection of data in support of management's decision-making process' (W.H. Inmon, 1993). Describe the major characteristics of the data held in a data warehouse.

Accepted Answer

See Section 31.1.2.

Question 4

Explain why businesses have shown a growing interest in technologies that support their decision makers.

Accepted Answer

Since the 1970s, organizations have most

Question 5

State the underlying type of the following expressions:
(a) let $a := 1 + 2 return $a + $a
(b) let $a := 1e0 + 1.0 return $a + $a
(c) let $a as xs:integer := 1 + 2 return $a + $a
(d) let $a as xs:decimal := 1 + 2 return $a + $a
(e) let $a as xs:double := 1 + 2 return $a + $a
(f) let $a := xs:double(1 + 2) return $a + $a
(g) let $a as xs:double := xs:double (1 + 2) return $a + $a
(h) let $a as xs:decimal := 1, $b as xs:integer := $a + $a return $b + $b
(i) if ($a < $b) then 3 else 4 (assume $a and $b are xs:integer)
(j) if ($a < $b) then "abc" else 4.00 (assume $a and $b are xs:integer)
(k) if ($a < $b) then 3.6e1 else 4 (assume $a and $b are xs:integer)
(l) (if ($a < $b) then 3.6e1 else 4) + 0.5 (assume $a and $b are xs:integer)

Accepted Answer

(a) xs:integer (1 + 2 has type xs:intege

Question 6

The World Wide Web is a distributed information system based on hypertext. Discuss how the two-tier client-server architecture may not be entirely suitable for this environment and propose an alternative architecture.

Accepted Answer

Discussion of traditional Two-

Question 7

Discuss the major problems associated with the design, development, and management of a data warehouse.

Accepted Answer

See Sections 31.1.5 and for a

Question 8

The main characteristics for describing Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) systems and data warehousing systems are listed below. 
- Main purpose
- Data age
- Data latency
- Data granularity
- Data processing
- Reporting 
- Users

Accepted Answer

Using each characteristic compare and co

Question 9

Discuss the relationship between online transaction processing (OLTP) and data warehousing and identify the major differences between these systems.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the relationship between online transaction processing...

Question 10

'Data warehouse and the underlying support for informational processing will emerge as a growing trend in the 1990s. With the advent of the data warehouse, some basic ideas about data management will change' (Inmon, W.H., 1993). Briefly discuss why the emergence of the data warehouse phenomenon is causing such interest in the business world.

Accepted Answer

See introductory paragraphs to

Question 11

"A subject-oriented, integrated, time-variant, and non-volatile collection of data in support of management's decision-making process." (Inmon, 1993). Discuss what this statement is saying about the data in a data warehouse and contrast the purpose of such systems with OLTP systems.

Accepted Answer

Subject-oriented Data 
The warehouse is

Question 12

Discuss what you consider to be the four most important advantages and the four most important disadvantages of the World Wide Web as a distributed information system. Justify your selection in each case.

Accepted Answer

See Section 29.2.7, but lookin

Question 13

Discuss the current issues associated with the development and management of a data warehouse.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the current issues associated with the...

Question 14

Provide XQuery expressions for the following queries based on the sample XML file (books.xml) below.
   
(a) List the title of the first book.
(b) List the titles of all the books along with a count of the number of books.
(c) List the title and price of each book published in the year 2003.
(d) List the title and numbers of authors of each book.
(e) List the titles of books whose price is less than $60.
(f) List the titles of books in alphabetical order.
(g) List the authors, sorted in reverse order of surname, then first name.
(h) List the authors as a single string, sorted in reverse order of surname, then first name.
(I) List the titles of books that have at least one author called Thomas Connolly.
(j) List the titles of books that have every author called Thomas Connolly.
(k) List books by author.
(l) Test whether the most expensive book is also the book with the largest number of authors/editors.
(m) List the books where Begg is an author but is not listed as the first author.
(n) List the titles of books that are more expensive than the average book price.

Accepted Answer

(a) doc("books.xml")/book[1]/title
This

Question 15

Describe the architecture and major components of a data warehouse.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the architecture and major components of...

Question 16

Despite the excitement surrounding XML, it is important to note that most operational business data, even for new Web-based applications, continues to be stored in relational DBMSs. This is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future because of their reliability, scalability, tools, and performance. Consequently, if XML is to fulfil its potential, some mechanism is required to publish relational data in the form of XML documents. The SQL:2003 standard has defined extensions to SQL to enable the publication of XML, commonly referred to as SQL/XML. Discuss in detail these extensions.

Accepted Answer

SQL/XML contains:
• a new native XML dat

Question 17

Describe how data marts differ from a data warehouse and identify the major issues associated with the development and management of data marts.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe how data marts differ from a...

Question 18

Discuss the reasons why an organisation may have one or more Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) system but only a single data warehouse.

Accepted Answer

An organisation may have several OLTPs d

Explain why businesses have shown a growing interest in data warehousing in recent years.

State the underlying type of the following expressions: (a) "hello" (b) 36 (c) 36.00 (d) 3.6e1 (e) 36 + 69 (f) 36.00 + 69.00 (g) 3.6e1 + 6.9e1 (h) 36 + 69.00 (i) 3.6e1 + 69 (j) 36.00 + 6.9e1 (k) "abc" + "def" (l) "36" + 69.00 (m) "abc" < "def" (n) 1 < 2 (o) 1 < 2.0 (p) "abc" < 2

'A data warehouse is a subject-oriented, integrated, time-variant and non-volatile collection of data in support of management's decision-making process' (W.H. Inmon, 1993). Describe the major characteristics of the data held in a data warehouse.

Explain why businesses have shown a growing interest in technologies that support their decision makers.

The World Wide Web is a distributed information system based on hypertext. Discuss how the two-tier client-server architecture may not be entirely suitable for this environment and propose an alternative architecture.

Discuss the major problems associated with the design, development, and management of a data warehouse.

The main characteristics for describing Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) systems and data warehousing systems are listed below. - Main purpose - Data age - Data latency - Data granularity - Data processing - Reporting - Users

Discuss the relationship between online transaction processing (OLTP) and data warehousing and identify the major differences between these systems.

"A subject-oriented, integrated, time-variant, and non-volatile collection of data in support of management's decision-making process." (Inmon, 1993). Discuss what this statement is saying about the data in a data warehouse and contrast the purpose of such systems with OLTP systems.

Discuss what you consider to be the four most important advantages and the four most important disadvantages of the World Wide Web as a distributed information system. Justify your selection in each case.

Discuss the current issues associated with the development and management of a data warehouse.

Describe the architecture and major components of a data warehouse.

Describe how data marts differ from a data warehouse and identify the major issues associated with the development and management of data marts.

Discuss the reasons why an organisation may have one or more Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) system but only a single data warehouse.

Introduction to Databases and Database Environment

The Relational Model, Relational Algebra and Relational Calculus

SQL: Data Manipulation and Advanced SQL

Object-Relational DBMSs, Database Planning, Design, and Administration

Entity-Relationship Modeling and Normalization

Methodology-Conceptual Database Design and Methodology-Physical Database Design for Relational Databases

Security, Administration and Transaction Management

Query Processing

Distributed DBMSs Concepts and Design

Distributed DBMSs-Advanced Concepts and Object-Oriented DBMSs-Concepts and Design

Object-Oriented DBMSs-Standards and Systems

Data Warehousing Design

OLAP and Data Mining

Filters

Exam 12: Web Technology and DBMSs, Semistructured Data and XML and Data Warehousing Concepts

Explain why businesses have shown a growing interest in data warehousing in recent years.

State the underlying type of the following expressions: (a) "hello" (b) 36 (c) 36.00 (d) 3.6e1 (e) 36 + 69 (f) 36.00 + 69.00 (g) 3.6e1 + 6.9e1 (h) 36 + 69.00 (i) 3.6e1 + 69 (j) 36.00 + 6.9e1 (k) "abc" + "def" (l) "36" + 69.00 (m) "abc" < "def" (n) 1 < 2 (o) 1 < 2.0 (p) "abc" < 2

'A data warehouse is a subject-oriented, integrated, time-variant and non-volatile collection of data in support of management's decision-making process' (W.H. Inmon, 1993). Describe the major characteristics of the data held in a data warehouse.

Explain why businesses have shown a growing interest in technologies that support their decision makers.

The World Wide Web is a distributed information system based on hypertext. Discuss how the two-tier client-server architecture may not be entirely suitable for this environment and propose an alternative architecture.

Discuss the major problems associated with the design, development, and management of a data warehouse.

The main characteristics for describing Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) systems and data warehousing systems are listed below. - Main purpose - Data age - Data latency - Data granularity - Data processing - Reporting - Users

Discuss the relationship between online transaction processing (OLTP) and data warehousing and identify the major differences between these systems.

"A subject-oriented, integrated, time-variant, and non-volatile collection of data in support of management's decision-making process." (Inmon, 1993). Discuss what this statement is saying about the data in a data warehouse and contrast the purpose of such systems with OLTP systems.

Discuss what you consider to be the four most important advantages and the four most important disadvantages of the World Wide Web as a distributed information system. Justify your selection in each case.

Discuss the current issues associated with the development and management of a data warehouse.

Describe the architecture and major components of a data warehouse.

Describe how data marts differ from a data warehouse and identify the major issues associated with the development and management of data marts.

Discuss the reasons why an organisation may have one or more Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) system but only a single data warehouse.

Introduction to Databases and Database Environment

The Relational Model, Relational Algebra and Relational Calculus

SQL: Data Manipulation and Advanced SQL

Object-Relational DBMSs, Database Planning, Design, and Administration

Entity-Relationship Modeling and Normalization

Methodology-Conceptual Database Design and Methodology-Physical Database Design for Relational Databases

Security, Administration and Transaction Management

Query Processing

Distributed DBMSs Concepts and Design

Distributed DBMSs-Advanced Concepts and Object-Oriented DBMSs-Concepts and Design

Object-Oriented DBMSs-Standards and Systems

Data Warehousing Design

OLAP and Data Mining

Filters