Distributed database systems make it possible to store fragments of a single dat
ID: 3558235 • Letter: D
Question
Distributed database systems make it possible to store fragments of a single database on different computers that might be situated miles apart from one another. What are some of the major advantages to having a distributed database system? What are some of the disadvantages? Considering both the advantages and disadvantages of a DDBMS, what are some of the major factors that would make you decide whether or not to go with a DDBMS over another system? Explain your response using specific examples and hypothetical situations.Explanation / Answer
DDBMS Advantages
1)Data located near site with greatest demand
2)Faster data access
3)Faster data processing
4)Growth facilitation
5)Improved communications
6)Reduced operating costs
7)User-friendly interface
8)Less danger of single-point failure
9)Processor independence
DDBMS Disadvantages
1)Complexity of management and control
2)Security
3)Lack of standards
4)Increased storage requirements
5)Greater difficulty in managing data environment
6)Increased training costs
question 2)
major factors that would decide whether or not to go with DDMS are
1)Application/end user interface
2)Validation to analyze data requests
3)Transformation to determine request components
4)Query optimization to find the best access strategy
5)Mapping to determine the data location
6)I/O interface to read or write data
7)Formatting to prepare the data for presentation
8)Security to provide data privacy
9)Backup and recovery
10)DB Administration
11)Concurrency Control
12)Transaction Management
A distributed database management system (DDBMS) offers an organization the ability to centralize or decentralize its management of data. The likelihood of DDBMS adoption is affected by four organizational factors, : (1) centralization - decentralization of management decision making; (2) centralization - decentralization of the information systems function; (3) attitudes of top management toward technology; and (4) forces behind information technology selection. We surveyed the chief information officers of 500 companies selected from the top Fortune industrials and the top Fortune service firms. Our results demonstrate that the decentralization of decision making, the decentralization of the information systems structure, and the attitudes of top management toward technology explain the propensity to adopt DDBMS; the locus of responsibility for driving the selection of information technology does not significantly explain DDBMS adoption in the way we hypothesized. Understanding an organization in terms of these factors is important in assessing the organization's readiness to adopt DDBMS technology and ability to use DDBMS successfully upon adoption.