A DATABASE MODEL TO AUTOMATE THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT.

Abstract

This research proposes a mechanism to generate database, which is an essentialcomponent of any Information System (IS), automatically from the given set ofbusiness forms. This eliminates all the technical complexities of database design anddevelopment from end users. Further, it will enable developing ISs for Small andMedium Enterprises (SMEs) by themselves. Though there are software productsavailable which can automate the IS development process, all of them request thetechnical details of database model which depends on the domain / application as aninput. Relational database model is the most commonly used database model, but itsdesign and development process is difficult for non-technical users.Thus, this research proposes a new data model called Set Based Data Model(SBDM), which is a generic modcl for any domain, and it is free from intennediatetechnical steps. The theoretical foundation of this model is the relationship betweenfields/attributes of fonns used in IS and the values/data of the business domain usedin the business transactions. Hence, the data requirement of the model is alreadyavailable in forms.There are two types of data storages in this model: one to keep the businessknowledge (data layer) and the other to keep the transaction details (reference layer).These data storages consist with tables and keys as in the relational database model.Separate tables are generated for each distinct field/attributes (excluding the derivedfields/attributes) in all forms to maintain the data layer while separate tables aregenerated for each form with all attributes to maintain the reference layer. The tablesin the data layer maintain a key value for each record while the tables in thereference layer refer the relevant key values at the data layer to maintain records ofeaeh transaction. Tables in these two layers can be implemented using existingrelational database management systems.