Management: Regardless of Numerous Efforts to Define

¶ … Management:

Regardless of numerous efforts to define data, knowledge, and information, there are still some uncertainties and lack of clarity regarding what these three things are and the relationships that exist between them. While many descriptions of the three are relevant, most of these definitions are far from providing the clear picture of what the three really are. However, there are considerable differences between data, knowledge, and information though they have some relationships between them. The main relationship is that data is described in relation to information, information defined on the basis of data and knowledge, and knowledge explained in terms of information.

The differences between data, knowledge, and information can be explained in terms of their basic definitions, purposes, and how each is formed. Under definitions, data can be described as basic, unprocessed, and unfiltered information whereas information is described as more developed data that has evolved to a useful form for some analysis (Liew, 2007). In contrast, knowledge is considered as the application of human insight and experience to data and information. In some cases, data is defined as elements of analysis while information is contextualized data and knowledge is meaningful information.

In relation to their purposes, data is used in efforts to capture the real events, the actual picture, and document activities or situations. Therefore, the main function of data can be considered as for the historical recording or illustration purposes. On the contrary, information is used in decision-making process or provision of solutions to problems since it's derived from existing and historical data. Knowledge is basically used for the purpose of improving people's lives, for creating value, and for the creation and enhancement of value for enterprise and its entire stakeholders.

Reasons and Advantages for Using of Database:

A database is used to store very amounts of records efficiently within a limited space and through easy measures. In most cases, people and organizations tend to use databases to arrange and store data such as names, figures, and sales items. A database is largely considered as an efficient mechanism of arranging data in a way that can be easily sorted and manipulated to view necessary facts. There are various reasons for the use of databases including the following

Storage of Information:

One of the major reasons for the use of databases is that they support storage of huge amounts of information within a small or limited space (Benner, n.d.). As previously mentioned, a database enables people and organizations to store information in various formats such as figures, names, and sales items.

Retrieval of Information:

A database should be used because of its ability to facilitate the easy retrieval of information in more efficient, creative, and flexible means. One of the most beneficial features of a database is that it provides ways for retrieval of information than the initially predicted ones.

Manipulation and Printing of Information:

The other distinctive feature of a database is that it not only enables an individual to manipulate information but it can also alter the information it contains. Moreover, a database enables the individual to print the information on labels, reports, envelopes, and letters.

Some of the major advantages of using a database includes its reduction of data redundancy and updating errors, promotes enhanced consistency, enhanced data security, and supports the development of new application programs. The other advantages of using databases are enhanced data access and lessened costs of data entry, storage, and retrieval.

Relational vs. Object Oriented Databases:

As the name suggests, there are some differences between a relational database and an objected-oriented database. A relational database is developed and maintained to follow some well-established logical and algebraic rules. These types of databases tend to show the relationship or link between two sets of data and how relations can be developed in some cases. On the contrary, object-oriented databases utilize less strict parameters that enable support design-based transformation to suit any type of data environment. As the name suggests, these databases are developed and maintained through object oriented programming.

Database Management Systems:

A database management system can be described as computer packages that consist of programs that manage the development, maintenance, and use of a particular database, which is an incorporated collection of data, files, records, and other objects. Database management systems usually come in different sizes and shapes including hierarchical and network DBMSs. The hierarchical database management systems have been in existence for a long period of time and are mainly used on mainframe computers ("Lesson 5," n.d.). The hierarchical DBMS support the easy access and manipulation of information since they have tree-like structures and already defined relationships. On the contrary network DBMS look like cobwebs since they have an interconnected network of records though they have hierarchical structures. While they are used on mainframes, these database management systems require definition of relationships.