This document discusses database design and the systems development life cycle (SDLC). It explains that the SDLC traces the history of an information system through planning, analysis, design, implementation, and maintenance phases. Within the information system, the database life cycle (DBLC) describes the history of the database through initial study, design, implementation, testing, operation, and maintenance/evolution phases. The chapter also covers conceptual database design strategies like top-down vs. bottom-up and centralized vs. decentralized design.