Modern data organization General information
26 U929-J-Z125-9-76
How and by whom data is used at the different levels in an organization company, is shown
in the figure 1 in form of an information pyramid.
Figure 1: Flow of data and information in an organization
The basis for physical data storage and logical data organization within a company is the
database, which is the focus of the company’s informational processes.
Reasons for using databases
Often, people who are considering using a database sy stem are motivated to do so
because they find that is no longer possible to process extensive quantities of data and an
increasing number of applications with conventional files.
Mutually isolated, frequently overlapping (redundant) data resources that are divided into
different files are awkward to handle and can be kept up to date only with considerable effort
and expense.
This is where the functionality offered by database systems can he lp. These systems
provide a stable, non-overlapping and expandable data organization, as well as incorpo-
rating convenient, efficient functions for retrieving and manipulating data.
Combining the different sets of data and administering them together in a database system
also ensures consistency. At any given time, all the data has the same update status - even
when a large number of applications access the data at the same time.
Database systems also protect their data against unauthor ized access. They make it
possible to have data resources constantly available and to reconstruct data that has been
corrupted or destroyed.
Database systems are also capable of satisfying demandin g performance requirements
through the use of suitable techniques, for example for optimal operation of the data
processing system’s input and output devices.
Strategic data
Planning data
Operational data
Top management
(objectives, strategy)
Middle management
(planning, control, supervision)
Staff
(routine work)