CHAPTER 1
PROJECT BACKGROUND
1.1 Introduction The simple approach Open Data File for Input soon became fraught with all kinds of problems that needed to be addressed. Computer system vendors needed to be able to support the critical needs of a growing and evolving market place that supported the data processing needs of organizations in all fields of human endeavor1. So an innovation comes up – database and DBMS - as a remedy to these huge crises. A database is a collection of related files that are usually integrated, linked or cross-referenced to one another. The advantage of a database is that data and records contained in different files can be easily organized and retrieved using specialized database management software called a database management system (DBMS) or database manager. A database management system is a set of software programs that allows users to create, edit and update data in database files, and store and retrieve data from those database files all using a DBMS2. It consists of a combination of pre-written software programs controlling the following functions of a database: Storage; Organization; Management; Update; and Retrieval of data. A DBMS is categorized according to the data types and structures in use. It accepts and processes data requests from an application program, and responds by instructing the operating system to access and transfer the relevant data. With a DBMS in use, it is easier for an organization to make alterations to their information system as requirements undergo changes, as additional data categories can be integrated into the database without any disruption to the running of the existing system. Organizations often use one type of DBMS for their daily transactions, while the detail is then moved onto another computer using a DBMS better adapted to deal with analysis and random inquiries. The overall design