The range of database application is as follows:
(1) Personal Computer Database:
Personal computer databases are specially designed for single user. The user may be using stand-alone desktop computer or laptop. The representatives of a medical company may use laptop computers when working in the market. This computer may use a simple database application in which the records of customers are stored. Some important decisions about the development of personal computer database applications are as follows:
• It should he purchased or developed within the organization?
• It should be developed by end user or a professional in information system?
• Required data and the design of database
• Selection of DBMS for database application
• Synchronization of personal computer database with other databases
• Accuracy of data in personal computer database
Personal computer databases are widely used. A problem with this database application is that it is difficult to share quickly. For example, if the head of medical company wants to get complete information of his customers, it cannot be done quickly as it is stored on the laptop computers of different representatives.
(2) Workgroup Database:
A workgroup is a team of people who work on the same project collectively. A workgroup normally consists of less than 25 people. A type of database that is specially designed to support workgroups is known as workgroup database.
The people in the workgroup are connected with one another through local area network (LAN). The database is stored on a central computer called server. All members of the workgroup can share this database.
Workgroup databases provide many facilities but arise some problems also. The main problems are of security and integrity of data when the data is updated concurrently. Some important decisions about workgroups databases are as follows:
• Database optimization to satisfy the requirements of different members of workgroup
• Concurrency control -
• Decision about where different operation should take place i.e. on server computer or workstation computer.
(3) Department Database:
A functional unit in an organization is known as department. For example an organization may have marketing, production and accounting departments. A department normally consists of 25 to 100 people. Department databases are specially designed to support the functions of a department.
Some important decisions about department databases are as follows:
• Database design for efficient performance to handle a large number of users and transactions
• Proper security to protect data against unauthorized access
• Database tools for complex environment
• Ensuring data redundancy and consistency if same data is used in different departments
• The need for distributed database if users are geographically away from one another.
(4) Enterprise Database:
A type of database that is specially designed to support the functions of whole organization or mans’ departments of an organization is known as enterprise database. The most important enterprise database is known as data warehouse. The contents of a data warehouse are derived from many operational database like personal computer, workgroup and department databases.
Suppose a university has many departments like Computer Science, Biology, Agriculture, Chemistry etc. Each department is using a department database to maintain the functions of in the department. The Vice Chancellor, however, needs to get the information of different departments frequently. In order to satisfy this requirement, a data warehouse can be developed for the whole university in VC office. The data warehouse will extract the databases of different departments periodically.
Some important decisions about department databases are as follows:
• Distribution of data among various locations in the corporate structure
• Maintenance of standards for data names, definitions, and formats
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