Comments on: Why on Earth do Business Schools Teach Microsoft Access? http://thewaronbullshit.com/2008/01/27/microsoft-access/ Take No Prisoners Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:37:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: linzc111 http://thewaronbullshit.com/2008/01/27/microsoft-access/#comment-1036 linzc111 Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:12:50 +0000 http://thewaronbullshit.com/2008/01/27/microsoft-access/#comment-1036 Also :) Tons of HR people in my company use access to manipulate data and run ad hoc reports. Granted, IT would rather build robust reporting soluitions for them like Business Objects, but it is something they can pick up and use to get what they need. Also :) Tons of HR people in my company use access to manipulate data and run ad hoc reports. Granted, IT would rather build robust reporting soluitions for them like Business Objects, but it is something they can pick up and use to get what they need.

]]> By: linzc111 http://thewaronbullshit.com/2008/01/27/microsoft-access/#comment-1035 linzc111 Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:10:51 +0000 http://thewaronbullshit.com/2008/01/27/microsoft-access/#comment-1035 For people who know nothing about databases, Access is a fine place to start. They will learn the concept of normalizing data, relating tables and even if they are not writing the SQL, you can teach how a language is required manipulate the data. People in business school will never be programming on Oracle databases, but understanding the concepts will help them talk to technologists. As a business analyst or technologist, having your users grasp some idea is a blessing! Access does seem somewhat antiquated, but I'm not sure if there is another solution that provides a level of abstraction. For people who know nothing about databases, Access is a fine place to start. They will learn the concept of normalizing data, relating tables and even if they are not writing the SQL, you can teach how a language is required manipulate the data. People in business school will never be programming on Oracle databases, but understanding the concepts will help them talk to technologists. As a business analyst or technologist, having your users grasp some idea is a blessing!

Access does seem somewhat antiquated, but I’m not sure if there is another solution that provides a level of abstraction.

]]> By: H http://thewaronbullshit.com/2008/01/27/microsoft-access/#comment-1034 H Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:39:05 +0000 http://thewaronbullshit.com/2008/01/27/microsoft-access/#comment-1034 MS pays schools to use and teach their software. Simple as that. MS pays schools to use and teach their software. Simple as that.

]]> By: infixum http://thewaronbullshit.com/2008/01/27/microsoft-access/#comment-1031 infixum Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:20:18 +0000 http://thewaronbullshit.com/2008/01/27/microsoft-access/#comment-1031 It's easy - like you pointed out - easy to grade too. An MS Access license is a lot cheaper than a dedicated server and an SQL license although, for educational purposes, Postgresql and MySQL are probably free. I suspect the instructors themselves might not know SQL. Teaching CREATE TABLE and SELECT . . . FROM . . . WHERE . . . even at the most basic level is harder than handing someone Access and saying, "This is essentially what databases are about." Most of the "business people" (MBA's, Six Sigma Black Belts) where I work use MS Access exclusively for their data needs. A handful of the sharper ones actually use MSSQL - and boy, do they have a leg up on their peers! Information Services people and Operations geeks like me do most of the keyboard based SQL, though. You're right, it is BS. To get beyond that you've got to learn SQL on your own - usually in the workplace. It’s easy - like you pointed out - easy to grade too. An MS Access license is a lot cheaper than a dedicated server and an SQL license although, for educational purposes, Postgresql and MySQL are probably free. I suspect the instructors themselves might not know SQL.
Teaching CREATE TABLE and SELECT . . . FROM . . . WHERE . . . even at the most basic level is harder than handing someone Access and saying, “This is essentially what databases are about.”
Most of the “business people” (MBA’s, Six Sigma Black Belts) where I work use MS Access exclusively for their data needs. A handful of the sharper ones actually use MSSQL - and boy, do they have a leg up on their peers!
Information Services people and Operations geeks like me do most of the keyboard based SQL, though.
You’re right, it is BS. To get beyond that you’ve got to learn SQL on your own - usually in the workplace.

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