Question

Consider that a Human Resources system must keep track of employees. If we are only including atomic attributes, what attributes would you include for the employee’s name. Some possibilities are first name, last name, middle name, fullname.

Short answer

The selected atomic attributes for an employee's name in the Human Resources system would be 'first name' and 'last name'.

Step-by-step solution

Identification of possible atomic attributes

Before selecting the atomic attributes for an employee's name, consider the possible options: first name, last name, middle name and fullname. These are the individual components of a person's name that could be used as independent fields in a database.

Analysis of attribute necessity and applicability

Next, think about whether all these attributes are necessary and applicable to all potential employees in a global context. Not everyone has a middle name and storing the fullname, while it might be useful in some contexts, can be redundant as it can be constructed from the first, middle and last names.

Selection of atomic attributes

Based on the logic and considerations in Step 2, select the atomic attributes to be included. In this case, deciding to include the first name and last name attributes would be the most universally applicable and efficient choice.

Key concepts

Relational Databases

A relational database is a means to store and retrieve data organized in a format of tables, rows, and columns. Imagine it as a spreadsheet where each table, akin to a sheet, holds data for a particular subject, such as employees, products, or sales. Each row, or record, represents a single item within that table and each column holds a specific piece of information, called an attribute.

In our employee database scenario, an employee table might contain columns for attributes like 'Employee ID', 'First Name', and 'Last Name'. Each row would be a record related to one specific employee. Ensuring that each attribute is atomic, meaning indivisible, helps to maintain data accuracy and simplicity. For example, separating 'First Name' and 'Last Name' into different columns makes it easy to sort and organize data for efficient retrieval.

Database Normalization

Database normalization is the process of structuring a relational database to minimize data redundancy and improve data integrity. This process involves organizing the attributes of the database to ensure that they adhere to certain rules, or normal forms. The primary goal is to reduce redundant data (having the same data stored in multiple places) and to ensure that data dependencies make sense.

Normalization typically involves dividing a database into two or more tables and defining relationships between the tables. For instance, rather than storing an employee's full name in one column, we break it down into smaller, atomic pieces like 'First Name' and 'Last Name'. This not only reduces storage space by eliminating redundancy but also provides greater flexibility, allowing us to create, update, or delete one piece of information without affecting others.

Employee Database Design

Designing an employee database involves determining what information to store and how to organize it efficiently. Atomic attributes play a critical role in this process. For example, employee names are better stored as 'First Name' and 'Last Name' rather than as a 'Fullname'. This separation allows for more flexible use of the data; you can easily sort employees by last name, or generate a list of initials, without the need for complex manipulations.

Good database design follows the principles of normalization to eliminate redundancy and ensure data integrity. With careful consideration to details like international naming conventions, it might be useful to include 'Middle Name', or even additional fields like 'Title' or 'Suffix', depending on the breadth of the database application. Remember, well-designed databases cater to efficient data handling and support various queries with minimal restructuring.