Advantages of databases
Estructura de base de datos que permite coherencia, disminución de redundancias y mayor disponibilidad de información para múltiples usuarios.
The application of database methodology can provide a valuable service in achieving a coherent information system that supports decision-making. It offers multiple advantages compared with classical systems:
a) Greater informational value. Since a database reflects the real world, where different elements are interconnected, the informational value of the whole is greater than the sum of the individual elements that compose it. For example, a database containing information on suppliers and products has greater value than separate lists of suppliers and products.
b) Independence between data and processing, and vice versa. The mutual independence of data and processing means that changes in processing do not require restructuring the database; likewise, the inclusion of new information or the disappearance of records should not require program modifications. This independence avoids the significant effort associated with reprogramming applications when data structures change (in some environments, nearly 50% of programming resources are devoted to system maintenance).
c) Coherent results. Because multiple applications access the same data, the results they produce are coherent and comparable. Furthermore, with redundancies reduced or eliminated, the inconsistencies caused by non-simultaneous updates across multiple files also disappear.
d) Improved data availability for all users. Under a database approach, no department “owns” the data. Instead, data is shared among all authorized users, improving overall availability.
e) Better and more standardized documentation. Traditional paper-based documentation created by analysts or programmers is often insufficient or inconsistent. Databases reduce this problem because both the information and its documentation are integrated and standardized within the system.
There is also greater transparency, as all data in the database must be referenced in a catalog that can be widely distributed or even accessed electronically.
f) Greater efficiency in data collection, coding, and entry. With minimal redundancy and single-entry data collection, the efficiency of all processes prior to storage increases.
g) Reduced storage space. Eliminating or reducing redundancy and applying compression techniques generally results in lower use of secondary storage. However, the database management system itself may occupy significant space, so the savings can be more technical than practical.
The application of database methodology provides a powerful tool for building coherent information systems that offer real support for decision-making.
