In case my question in class regarding normalization sounded ambiguous, I wanted to clarify. I asked "do we peform normalization only when we have a really messed up database? is this a service offered by some firms?"
In speaking with Professor Gibson after class and reflection on the topic, I basically realize that this is a very useful concept with the everyday data issues that analysts have to deal with, at least in consulting projects like the one I worked on over the summer. In my case I had to work with a data tool that was made prior to me coming on board. There was a lot of repeat information, and some fields were like the 'child x' example (for instance primary contact and secondary contact, where there wasn't necessarily a #1 and #1 person for the suppliers that I was modifying in the database). With the concepts we've discussed I would not be able to speak with one of my company's data people to better display information so that my use of it would not be stifled with confusion.
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