Database Project Instructions and Grading Rubrics

Background Information:

<Your Group Name> company operates in the UK and US. Due to its success, <Your
Group Name> is expanding throughout the world by taking advantage of cloud architecture.

A distributed database design is necessary that meets the needs of a new cloud-based
application that is globally accessible. Your goal will be to design the IT architecture that
supports the distributed database(s). This includes an example server(s) (e.g. you can use a
VM(s)) with proper optimizations and the supporting services(s) installed. Additionally, you
will design and implement the physical database on this system(s). Once populated, you
will write supporting data reports via SQL and optimize these using explain plans. Finally,
your group will give professional presentations on the solutions to the customer/audience
and respond to feedback for improvement.

<Your Group Name> currently employs 10,000 personnel split between the UK/US who
serve as
accountants, human resource experts, systems analysts, developers, managers, testers,
maintenance engineers, lawyers, and sales representatives. Records for each individual are
essential, from an associated supervisor to departmental roles.

<Your Group Name> has more than 780 clients in the US and UK. Clients are recognized
by various names. Sales refers to clients by typical names while legal uses “legal names.”
An example is Button Hardware Token. <Your Group Name>’s legal team references its
full legal name “Button Hardware Token, Inc.” but the sales, marketing, and consultants
denote it as “BT”. Both common/legal names must be available to all DBMS stakeholders.
All client contact and relevant business information must be stored and recorded in the
DBMS.

Clients have contacts that <Your Group Name> employees must record and access for
business.
<Your Group Name>’s sales representatives must know a client’s billing, sales, and contact
information. Clients can have one or more contracts with <Your Group Name> to provide a
variety of consulting amenities. Some clients have pre-negotiated contracts for which that
are billed, these are often referred to as “fixed price.” Alternatively, hourly contracts exist
that require labor rates/hours to calculate billing details. <Your Group Name> managers
must guarantee that when maximum (cap) contact hours are past what the client agreed to,
that the clients are not billed for such additional hours. Rate per hour must be researched in
the major UK and US cities as estimations for different levels of managers, contractors,
accountants, lawyers, HR, and software developers for example.
<Your Group Name> employees must use time cards for all hours worked. These must
associate with specific companies along with the consulting projects your company is
currently responsible for completing. Personnel can be assigned to many dissimilar
projects. They can also be re-assigned. A general problem with this is maximum hours
worked in a week. Certain countries have maximum hours per week that an employee can
work and therefore this needs to be recorded and monitored by supervisors.

Contracts can consist of multiple projects. If a contract specifies a maximum number of

hours for service implementation, the project managers of each project should agree how to
split up the max cap amounts between the two projects and maintain appropriate reporting
on hours. Hours are important in the database, including contract, project, and personnel
hours. Billing and invoice management systems will also need these hours.

The number of hours worked for the workforce is a daily task. An example time card looks
like this:

Project Deliverables:

• Refer to the project grading rubric for assessment details.

• An APA formatted paper that includes all project deliverables o One APA
formatted paper is necessary that includes the diagrams, screenshots, and
configurations of the final solution.
o Include an introduction, review of related literature that informs the
infrastructure and database design (e.g. include best practices, design
frameworks, and standards), and develop a strong conclusion to the project.
o Place all relevant artifacts including the design diagrams in appendices. o
Include supporting OS/database configurations in the appendices of the
report.
o Include all query results, stored procedures, explain plans, and SQL
adjustment differences per the optimization plans in the appendices of the
report. o Include the presentation/slides in an appendix.
o Have the project manager submit the final Word document to D2L.
• Design the IT infrastructure that supports the distributed database o Use a proper
modeling software such as Microsoft Visio. o Include the proper routing,
switching, server, security, load balancing, and virtualization architecture
necessary to support a global DBMS. o Utilize supporting architectural
frameworks and best practices.
• Design an optimal Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD) for <Your Group Name>’s
global
DBMS
o Use proper database modeling software.
o Use crow’s foot notation, include all details such as attributes, attribute types,
relationships, relationship descriptions, and constraints. o Normalize the
database in 3NF or higher.
• Optimize and implement the designed prototype database server(s) o Describe all
optimizations made, from the hardware to the software to support a global DBMS.
o For example, were kernel, disk, or memory allocation customizations made?
• Optimize and install the designed database(s) on the configured server(s) (use
VMs) o Describe what steps were taken to tune the database(s) to the customer
requirements.
• Populate the tables with at least 20 records each
• Develop and adjust the following SQL reports for optimal performance o Create a
SQL report that allows management to track all benefits, such as holidays, and
whether users have depleted these benefits (e.g. taken all their vacation days). o
Create a SQL report that tracks overtime hours of all employees by country and
identifies if/when overtime occurs given the associated government’s maximum
allowable hours per week (research labor laws to complete). o Create a SQL report
that tracks all contract hours by contract and project for billing.
o Additionally, each team member must generate one individual stored
procedure that helps maintain or optimize the DBMS and present their stored
procedure during the presentation. It must minimally contain three valuable
functions and touch three (3) or more tables during implementation that help
the customers.
• Progress Project Presentation o Refer to the presentation rubric for assessment
details. o An initial and a final presentation will be given, where the initial
presentation will show the team’s progress prior to the final solution. This will
allow an opportunity for feedback and improvement prior to the final project
presentation.
o The initial or progress presentation will present the IT infrastructure and
architectural design diagrams, the final cut entity relationship diagrams, and
 demonstrate the initial server(s) optimizations in preparation for the DBMS
deployment and implementation.
o Each team member must present their project contributions during the
presentation.
o It is necessary to hold a Q/A session that allows discussion with the audience,
including recommendations from peers, on how to progress.
• Final Project Presentation o Refer to the presentation rubric for assessment details.
o Each team member must present their stored procedure and subsequent project
contributions during the final presentation and demonstrate its usefulness to the
audience. o Q/A session that allows discussion with the audience, including
recommendations.
• The grading rubrics are embedded below. The presentation rubric (50 points x 2
presentations) followed by the final project rubric (200 points).

Novice Competent Proficient Earned

Organization 0–7 points 8–13 points 14–15 points 15


Professional dress does not exist
and/or ideas are not consistently
organized and/or supported to
meet the objectives of the
presentation and/or the
introduction, main purpose, and
conclusion are not clearly
present and/or the audience may
not understand the material in a
comprehensive form.
0–5 points
Several presenters do not obtain
the audience's attention through
the introduction and/or is unable
Audience
to sustain their attention through
the conclusion of the
presentation and/or verbal and
nonverbal strategies are used
inadequately.
0–13 points
Less than 60% of the
presentation indicates a clear
and comprehensive
understanding of the subject
presented and/or includes
industry best practices and/or
less than two scholarly
references for the architecture
Content and database designs exist
and/or and it was less than
fifteen (15) minutes in length
excluding the question and
answer session and/or questions
are encouraged and answered
accurately 60% of the time or
less. Proper citations are
introduced where appropriate.
Total
Content 70% Advanced 90-100%
10 points
The introduction includes the
All presenters are professionally All presenters are professionally
dressed and ideas are mostly dressed. Ideas are well
organized and supported to meet organized and supported to meet
the objectives of the the objectives of the
presentation. An introduction, presentation. A clear
main purpose, and conclusion introduction, main purpose, and
are present. Somewhat relevant conclusion are present.
visual material is present that Captivating and relevant visual
helps the audience understand material is present that helps the
the lesson in a mostly audience understand the lesson
comprehensive form. in a comprehensive form.
6–8 points 9–10 points
The presenters obtain the All presenters effectively obtain
audience's attention through the the audience's attention through
introduction and partially the introduction and sustains
sustains their attention through their attention through the
10
the conclusion of the conclusion of the presentation.
presentation and/or verbal and Verbal and nonverbal strategies
nonverbal strategies are used are used effectively including
adequately including spanning spanning the audience and eye
the audience and eye contact. contact.
14–21 points 22–25 points
Less than 90% of the
The presentation indicates a
presentation indicates a clear and
clear and comprehensive
comprehensive understanding of
understanding of the subject
the subject presented and/or
presented. It includes
includes industry best practices
supporting industry best
and/or two scholarly references
practices, over two scholarly
for the architecture and database 25
references for the database and
designs exist and/or and is at
system designs, and is at least
least fifteen (15) minutes in
fifteen (15) minutes in length
length excluding the question
excluding the question and
and answer session and/or
answer session. Questions are
questions are encouraged and
encouraged and answered
answered accurately 90% of the
accurately. Proper citations are
time or less. Proper citations are
introduced where appropriate.
introduced where appropriate.
Total Points Earned 50
Proficient 70-89% Developing 1-69% Earned
8 to 9 points 1 to 7 points
 Introduction and project’s primary objectives and
conclusion outcomes. The introduction
constructs the purpose of the
system. A compelling and
justifiable conclusion is
developed that supports the key
outcomes.
More than 4 scholarly sources and
400 words combined.
45 to 50 points
The introduction includes less The introduction includes less 10
than than
90% of the project’s primary 70% of the project’s primary
objectives and outcomes and/or a objectives and outcomes and/or
justifiable conclusion is the conclusion is not well
developed that supports the key supported
outcomes. and/or less than 4 scholarly
More than 4 scholarly sources and sources and/or less than 400
400 words combined. words combined.
35 to 44 points 1 to 34 points

Less than 70% of the database and

Less than 90% of the database and
supporting IT infrastructure is
Database and supporting IT supporting IT infrastructure is
well researched and/or addresses
infrastructure is well researched well researched and/or addresses
superior capabilities, high-
and addresses superior superior capabilities, high-
availability, scalability, and
capabilities, high-availability, availability, scalability, and
security
scalability, and security
using a relevant review of
security using a relevant review of using a relevant review of
scholarly literature, graphs,
scholarly literature, graphs, scholarly literature, graphs,
tables, and
tables, and figures. The tables, and
figures and/or the design is
design is figures and/or the design is
informed only by some relevant
informed by relevant and informed by mostly relevant and
and modern computing
modern modern computing frameworks
Review of literature frameworks and/or uses the
and results report computing frameworks and uses and uses the appropriate
appropriate standards as
the appropriate standards as standards as 50
comparative
comparative benchmarks within comparative benchmarks within
benchmarks within the design
the the design and/or a minimum of
and/or less than 1,500 words
design. Over 1,500 words and 1,500
exist
8 unique scholarly journal words exist and 8 unique
and/or less than 8 unique
articles from the literature scholarly journal articles from
scholarly journal articles from the
review that the literature
literature
justify the designs exist. Project review that justify the designs
review that justify the designs
report explains the design and exist and/or less than 90% of the
exist and/or less than 70% of the
implementation decisions project report explains the design
project report explains the design
thoroughly, accurately, and and implementation decisions
and implementation decisions
indicates excellent comprehension thoroughly, accurately, and
thoroughly, accurately, and
of the final solutions. indicates excellent comprehension
indicates excellent comprehension
of the final solutions.
of the final solutions.
74 to 80 points 67 to 73 points 1 to 66 points
Infrastructure/Syste IT infrastructure design, IT infrastructure design,
IT infrastructure design,
ms/DBMS analysis, supporting architecture diagrams, supporting architecture diagrams,
supporting architecture diagrams,
design, and and and
and
Implementation database ERD diagrams mostly database ERD diagrams mostly
database ERD diagrams follow
follow appropriate and advanced follow appropriate and advanced
appropriate and advanced syntax
syntax standards and/or meet most syntax standards and/or meet most
standards and meet comparative
comparative industry best comparative industry best
industry best practices.
practices practices
Diagrams show an extensive
and/or diagrams show appropriate and/or diagrams show appropriate
knowledge of the system being
knowledge of the system being knowledge of the system being
designed. The
designed and/or less than 90% of designed and/or less than 90% of
ERD data model diagrams meet
the ERD data model diagrams the ERD data model diagrams
3NF, have at least 12 tables each,
meet 3NF, have at least 12 tables meet 3NF, have at least 12 tables 80
have accurate primary and
each, have accurate primary and each, have accurate primary and
foreign keys, accurate field
foreign keys, accurate field foreign keys, accurate field
types, and
types, types,
proper cardinality. Architecture
and/or proper cardinality and/or and/or proper cardinality and/or
diagrams include accurate
architecture diagrams include architecture diagrams include
supporting hardware necessary for
supporting hardware necessary for supporting hardware necessary for
the distributed database(s) such as
the distributed database(s) such as the distributed database(s) such as
routing/switching, security,
routing/switching, security, routing/switching, security,
server,
server, server,
SAN, middleware, and
SAN, middleware, and SAN, middleware, and
other appropriate systems
other appropriate systems other appropriate systems
per the requirements.
per the requirements. per the requirements.

45 to 50 points 35 to 44 points 1 to 34 points

An enterprise distributed database

An enterprise distributed database is mostly installed, optimized,
A database is partially installed,
is chosen, properly installed, secured, and scaled to meet the
optimized, secured, and scaled to
optimized, secured, and scaled to customer's requirements and/or
meet the customer's requirements
meet the customer's requirements. mostly meets 3NF design and/or
and/or less than 70% meets 3NF
Implemented A 3NF design is properly is
design and/or is implemented,
DBMS, SQL implemented, follows integrity implemented, follows integrity
reports, and follows integrity rules, uses
rules, uses effective constraints, rules, uses effective constraints,
procedures effective constraints, and/or the 50
and each table is populated with 20 and/or
tables are not populated with 20 or
or more each table is populated with 20
more rows of realistic and varying
rows of realistic and varying or
data and/or less than 70% of the
data. more rows of realistic and varying
SQL queries are optimally
Each SQL query is optimally data and/or less than 90% of the
written and/or follows an
written and follows an explain or SQL queries are optimally
explain or optimization plan.
optimization plan. written and/or follows an
explain or optimization plan.
10 points 8 to 9 points 1 to 7 points

Properly formatted APA paper

Properly formatted APA paper with table of contents and
Lack of table of contents and/or an
with table of contents and references pages and/or mostly
APA formatted paper and/or
references pages. Correct spelling correct spelling and grammar
contains more than 10 errors in 10
APA, Grammar, and grammar used. Contains used. Contains more than 5 errors APA, grammar or spelling that are
and Spelling fewer than 5 errors in APA, in
distracting to the reader.
grammar or spelling. APA, grammar or spelling but not
overly distracting errors.
200 Total Points 200
Total Points