Week 1

1.6 Advantages of the Database Approach

Advantage	Explanation
Controlled Data Redundancy	Data is stored once; redundancy is minimised and controlled
Data Consistency	Single source of truth eliminates conflicting values
Data Sharing	Multiple users and applications access the same data simultaneously
Improved Data Security	DBMS enforces access control — users see only what they are authorised to see
Data Integrity	Rules (constraints) are enforced automatically by the DBMS
Data Independence	Applications are insulated from changes in data storage structure
Concurrent Access	DBMS manages multiple simultaneous users safely
Backup and Recovery	DBMS provides mechanisms to recover data after failures
Reduced Application Development Time	Developers use DBMS services rather than writing data management code

Reading List / References

Ramakrishnan, R. & Gehrke, J. (2003). Database Management Systems, Chapter 1. McGraw-Hill.

Silberschatz, A., Korth, H. F., & Sudarshan, S. (2020). Database System Concepts, Chapter 1. McGraw-Hill.

Connolly, T. & Begg, C. (2015). Database Systems, Chapter 1: Introduction. Pearson.

Activities

Self-Assessment Quiz: 1. Define data, information, and knowledge. Give your own Nigerian example of each. 2. List FOUR problems with file-based data storage systems. 3. What is a DBMS? Name THREE commercial and TWO open-source DBMS products. 4. Why is 'data sharing' an important advantage of the database approach?

Group Activity: In groups of 3-4, identify ONE Nigerian organisation (government, private, or NGO). Research and discuss: (a) What types of data does this organisation manage? (b) What would happen if their database system failed for 24 hours? (c) What DBMS do you think they might use and why? Present a 3-minute summary.