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Management, System

This assignment is an effort to present a situation paper about the pros and cons of the database management system (DBMS) for the new a newly set up multi-campus Mpokeleshi University collection in Muchinga province of Zambia. That further offers sufficiently obvious arguments to enable the vice-chancellor make an up to date decision along the way forward. The paper will certainly first establish the major principles under assessment before setting out the pros and cons of any database management system (DBMS) and finally give adequately clear quarrels to enable the vice-chancellor make an informed decision on the way frontward.

MEANINGS OF KEY CONCEPTS

To start with are the explanations of key concepts beneath review and these are pros and cons, and database software management system (DBMS). According to the oxford university book, pros and cons imply advantages and disadvantages or perhaps arguments for and against something. A database management system (DBMS) alternatively can be divided and be understood to be single principles as follows: ‘data’ are the organic facts or figures that are processed to obtain the information. A database can be described as collection of data stored in a standardized format, designed to be processed, shared by diverse users and may even have single or multiple tables arranged in rows and content.

Therefore , a database management program (DBMS) can be explained as ” an application that identifies a databases, stores the information and helps a query terminology, produces reviews, and makes data admittance forms, (Laudon, 2000: 221). Others include defined a database management program as a intricate set of software applications that handles the organization, storage area, management, and retrieval of data in a repository.

ADVANTAGES OF DATABASE SOFTWARE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Database management system (DBMS) is a central system which provides a common interface between the info and the numerous front-end programs in the application. It also supplies a central area for the whole info in the software to reside. Database management system (DBMS) has several advantages and among them involves minimal info redundancy: because the whole info resides in one central repository, the various applications in the app can gain access to data in several data files. Consequently , data present in one data file need not become duplicated within file hence reducing dataredundancy which in turn causes better data consistency (O’brien, 2003).

The other notable advantage of database management system (DBMS) is data integration: seeing that related info is kept in one single data source, enforcing info integrity is much easier. Additionally, the functions of the database management system (DBMS) can be used to impose the ethics rules with minimum programming in the app programs. Info sharing is yet another advantage of a database management program (DBMS): Related data may be shared throughout programs because the data is usually stored in a centralized fashion. Even fresh applications can be developed to operate against the same data seeing that several users can gain access to and utilize same data for different purposes, provided they can be authorized users, as you might be aware that databases are usually protected simply by passwords to avoid unauthorized users from accessing and or manipulating such repository content (Date, 2003: 268-276).

Enforcement of standards and better controls are also attained due to the centralized nature of the system. Standards in the firm and framework of data data is required, and is also also easy in a data program since it can be one single set of programs which can be always getting together with the data files. Another advantage which gives database management program (DBMS) a plus is application development convenience: the application programmer need not build the capabilities for managing issues just like concurrent gain access to, security, info integrity to say but a couple of, the developer instead only needs to implement the application organization rules.

This kind of hence earns application creation ease because addition of more functional modules becomes much easier than in file-based systems. Nijssen, (1976: 158) outlines that data freedom is yet another advantage of database management system (DBMS): He traces that info independence is definitely isolating a great upper level from the changes in the organization or perhaps structure of any lower level. For instance , if modifications in our file firm of a data file tend not to demand for modifications in our functions in the database management system (DBMS) or in the application programs, info independence can be achieved. He further specifies that data as immunity of applications to change in physical portrayal and access techniques.

The provision of data independence is one of the major aims of databases systems because of the architectural nature of a database software management system (DBMS) which can be viewed as a three level system including the internal physical level where the data resides, theconceptual level which the amount of the DBMS functions and last but not the least the external level which is the level of application applications or the end users. Due to the centralized nature of your database management system (DBMS) protection cost is reduced thus accounting for a different advantage of DBMS.

It is generally acceptable it costs a smaller amount to create a system of smaller computers with the comparative power like a single large and high-priced computer. This makes it more cost-effective for corporate divisions and departments to obtain independent and less costly computers. It is also much more cost effective to add workstations to a network than to update a mainframe program. Another sizing of expense reduction is usually taking advantage of financial systems of level. It is generally argued the cost of digesting and maintenance of individual and geographically distant systems could possibly be expensive in contrast to processing and maintaining a centralized program which may be much economical for the reason that technical expertise required for operating such a fancy system may be centralized or perhaps concentrated for one site hence minimizing the cost which may have been received for working separate and geographically distant systems (Conolly, 1997).

DOWN SIDES OF DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Inspite of the various benefits of database management devices (DBMS), it is worth pointing out that it has its own shortcomings or perhaps disadvantages to be more exact challenges, and several of them include confidentiality, personal privacy and reliability: It is really worth noting that after information can be centralized and it is accessed by a huge number of users remotely, the possibility of abuse are usually more, as opposed to a conventional info processing system, thereby reducing the levels of confidentiality, privateness and protection. Therefore , to lower the chance of unauthorized users from accessing and mistreating sensitive information, it is necessary to consider technical, management, and possibly legal measures to curb this sort of abuse if the database management program (DBMS) is usually to continue to serve its planned purpose of educating, entertaining and indeed educating the masses (Laudon, 2004: 223).

Similarly, considering that the database is accessible to many users remotely, sufficient controls happen to be needed to control unauthorized users from modernizing data on the database in the event that data top quality and data integrity need to be maintained. In addition , with the increased number of users accessing info directly, there are greateropportunities pertaining to the users to damage the database until there are suitable controls set up to ensure data accessibility and quality is not jeopardized. Enterprise vulnerability is yet another obstacle of a database management system (DBMS). It is well worth noting that centralizing every one of the data of the enterprise in a single database might mean that this sort of a databases becomes an essential and a trusted resource.

Therefore , the success of the enterprise may rely upon reliable details being on its database all the time. In case the risk of conceivable damage is usually left unchecked by overlooking adequate maintenance and upgrading, the whole enterprise therefore becomes prone to higher effect of inability. According to (Conolly, 97: 689), complexness and price account for one more demerit of any database management system (DBMS). Really knowledge that a fancy conceptual style process demands multiple external well certified staff together with the necessary technical expertise, who also are in most instances scarce and maybe expensive to hire.

The fact which a complex system requires added and or fresh hardware and software for maintenance as well as upgrading which are expensive actually worsens the prohibitive expense of running a highly effective database management system (DBMS) to get small enterprises as they normally struggle with cost justification for making such large investments in the infrastructure, or perhaps backup and recovery in cases of damage as well as failure of the system.

APPROVAL FOR A DATABASE SOFTWARE SYSTEM FOR ANY MULTI-CAMPUS UNIVERSITY OR COLLEGE LIBRARY

Inspite of the above outlined disadvantages of database management devices (DBMS), it can be worth observing that the advantages of DBMS outweigh the disadvantages and some in the weaknesses should be viewed as simply challenges of database management systems (DBMS) as opposed to being cons because they can be mitigated. For example , the difficulties of expense of running a complicated database management program can be mitigated by cutting the family member cost of info transmission across the network by introducing regional access.

It can be much more inexpensive to zone the application and perform the processing regionally at each site or rather each and every at each campus library of the multi-campus university or college. Furthermore, the process of prohibitive cost of kick starting and or running a complicated database management system (DBMS) can even be minimized by application of the system known as the “Grosh’s law of economics which states that: computing power is calculated according to the square of thecost of the equipment: three times the cost can provide 9 times of electrical power, which is why this costs a smaller amount to create a approach to small computer systems with the equal power of an individual large computer system.

This makes it cheaper for corporate and business divisions and departments to get small separate computers, which this case could be equated to running a small and cost-effective collection networks at each site from the multi-campus university or college (Conolly, 1997: 688). This individual goes on to argue that a allocated database management program (DDBMS) could possibly be ideal for a multi-campus university or college library rather than a central database management system (CDBMS) because of improved supply and superior reliability.

On the other hand, improved availability is increased in the sense that unlike within a centralized database management system (CDBMS) where a laptop failure can easily terminate the operations of the database management program (DBMS), more over, a failure for one web page of a distributed database management program (DDBMS) or maybe a failure of a communication hyperlink making same sites unavailable does not give the entire system inoperable. It is however impressive to make note of that with this type of a method, if a solitary node fails, the system might be able to reroute the failed node’s request to a new site hence improving availableness to various users of a multi-campus university catalogue.

On the other hand, improved reliability is likewise achieved because data may be replicated in order that it exists in more than a single site, likewise, the failing of a client or a communication link does not necessarily associated with data unavailable to various users of a multi-campus university catalogue. Last but not the least, in a multi-campus collection setup, info can physically reside nearby to wherever it is frequently accessed, hence providing users with local control of your data that they interact with. This ends in local autonomy of the info allowing users to put in force locally the policies with regards to access to and or manipulation with their database management program (DBMS).

REALIZATION

In conclusion, database software systems (DBMS) have continuing to make data arrangement, storage space, access and retrieval less difficult than it used to be in the olden days. With all the emergency from the relational model of database management devices (which is actually a software which is used to create and use a relational database-which consequently is a databases that conforms to the relational model, and refers to a database’s data and schema), much of thebig challenge connected with handling significant and intricate databases have been reduced. While using continued and advances in research, it truly is highly expecting that more and advanced database software management products will be availed on the market to improve within the existing kinds hence further more minimizing the challenges of running a complex database management system.