OVERVIEW OF MAJOR COMPONENTS - Database Design and Development: An Essential Guide for IT Professionals - page 51

ment with thousands of users needing information, fault detection and recovery
assumes crucial importance. The operating system relies on hardware agents to
detect errors. Once the software monitors of the operating system detect errors, the
errors are localized and resolved.
Database Software
By now, you are fully aware that everything in the database environment hangs
together by the specialized set of software components known as the database
management system (DBMS). Database software enables you to create, maintain,
and manage the database environment. As we have noted, DBMS is an integrated
collection of software modules with each component designated for special pur-
poses. In the last section of this chapter, we will delve into a DBMS and examine
each component in detail.
Users
Who are the users in a database environment? It is clear that the database in an
organization exists solely to serve the needs of the users at various levels, in differ-
ent locations, and performing distinct functions. We can classify the users into a few
groups on the basis of their data requirements, levels of their computer skills, and
the frequency of their data access.
Casual Users. This group uses the database occasionally from time to time. The
types and content of the needed data differ each time. Usually, middle- and upper-
level executives fall into this group. Casual users, being somewhat naïve of database
features, need special considerations for providing data access. This group of users
is comfortable with predefined queries and reports where they can enter simple
parameters to make the data requests. You have to provide these users with simple
menu-driven applications.
Regular Users. The database in a production environment serves as the informa-
tion repository for the regular users to perform their day-to-day functions. This
group of users—whether from the accounting department entering customer orders,
from the marketing department setting monthly quotas for the salespersons, or from
the inventory control department reconciling physical inventory—constantly
retrieve data and update the database. These users are familiar with what data are
available and how to make use of the data. They work with programs that retrieve
data, manipulate data in many ways, and change data to current values. You have
to provide these users with customary menu-driven online applications and
standard reports on a daily basis.
Power Users. These users do not require well-structured menu-driven applica-
tions to access the database. They can write their own queries and format their
reports. For the power users, you have to provide general guidance about the
query and reporting tools and let them have a road map of the database contents.
Some power users may even construct their own menu-driven specialized
applications.