What is a Database and Why do PMs need it?

Database seems to be quite a self explanatory word - is it a large collection of data, that is organized in some manner to allow for ease of finding specific information. Libraries used to have filing cabinets filled with cards with names of books, their authors and where that book was located in the library - that was a database of all the books, magazines, journals etc in that library. Today’s databases are digital - they organize a lot of information in a way that is easy to access, manage and update.

Why is it relevant?

In today’s digital world, there is a sea of information - whether it is a sales transaction, product information, customer details, financials or even health records. Keeping all this data up to date and organized enables businesses to analyze trends, personalize experiences, enhance security, and streamline operations, driving progress and competitiveness.

Types of Databases

Databases can have different types of organization of information like hierarchical, relational, network, object-oriented or non-relational. Depending on where the information is stored, databases can also be cloud-based, personal or centralized.

Relational Databases (RDB) are considered to be the most mature of all the types and are most frequently used today. Every row of data in the database is linked with another row using a primary key. Similarly, every table is linked with another table using a foreign key. The primary advantage of this type of organization is it’s flexibility - it’s easy to add, update, or delete tables, relationships, and make other changes to data as needed without changing the overall database structure or impacting existing applications.

What is SQL?

Structured Query Language is a programming language used to interact i.e. organize, manage or retrieve data from a relational database. SQL commands are specific keywords that are used to work with the data. Simple commands like SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, can be used to filter data and create new, relevant tables. Programs such as Beekeeper Studio have a simple, intuitive, spreadsheet-like user interface to edit, manage and navigate data. It also includes no-code filters and easy customization to remove additional columns.

Using AI tools like ChatGPT can make the process even more easy - you can frame your query in simple English to ChatGPT and ask it to provide the SQL syntax specific to the program that you are using to get started with your SQL journey.

Database for Tinny Minny

A relational database was created for Tinny Minny as the information was added from different sources. The serial number of each childcare provider was used as the primary key to link different tables. The advantage of the RDB is that individual fields can be changed as and when needed and additional providers can be added into the original groups of providers without making changes to the entire database.

As a product manager, using SQL as a tool to discover problems and possible solutions faster, can be pivotal to their role in the team. Understanding databases and how to gather relevant information from them is critical to validate hypotheses, analyze user data, identify trends and prioritize features - essentially allowing them to make informed decisions and communicate them effectively.