Technology

Advances in data management have given organizations a reason to smile. This is by invention of Database Management Systems (DBMSs). These are defined as systems that are used to process data and which help to store, report, manipulate, control, and manage data (Database Management, 2005.). The advantages of these DBMSs are that they ensure that the stored data is secure, accurate, and consistent with a high speed of response. They are available in different data modeling language such as network model, relational model, object model, and relational model but the most commonly used model is the relational model (Database Management, 2005). DBMSs that are currently being used in my workplace include Microsoft Access, Oracle SQL, and MySQL and these have made database management more efficient.

Oracle SQL is a system that that uses keywords to analyze data contained in a database as well as to query a database. In writing a query, the keywords that are used are SELECT, FROM, WHERE, GROUP BY, HAVING, and ORDER BY. They are usually written in this order and their function is to filter data so that one is able to obtain the results they are interested in and in the order they want them in. It is used by the payroll department to keep track of the amount payable to the employees each month since the pay varies from month to month depending on the hours one has worked. Oracle Database system is able to keep track of this information by recording the duration an employee has been logged in to the system.

Microsoft Office Access is a type of DBMS where data is organized in tables which consist of columns and records. It is useful especially in managing large data and keeping it accurate by providing a special identifier known as primary key which is used to identify a record. With this system, data is stored in its own unique format and has the ability to import data that is stored in other programs such as outlook, HTML, and Excel. In our workplace, it is used by the human resources department to keep records of employees information such as names, contacts, marital status, and education level. In case of changes in any of this information, the employees are able to access the information using their passwords and update it.

MySQL is a form of database system known as open source and which is available freely. This open source nature enables one to customize the database system by adding the features they require (Ramakrishnan  Gehrke, 1998). It also allows for configuration of the MySQL database server so that it is specifically designed for the particular application for which it is intended thus giving good performance results. It is used by the sales department to keep data of transactions that occur over the internet. Its advantages include ensuring the integrity of the stored data, allowing for quick searching of full texts on the web, and fast updating of data without blocking the readers who are logged in at that time.

It is clear that the DBMSs are indispensable in my workplace and that they will continue to be so especially in this age where safe storage of organizations information is vital. With the increased need for restriction of information access and increased cases of hacking into data systems, our organization will need to make its data systems even more secure if its objectives are to be achieved.