It is the belief of most of the consultants employed on this project that for all regions participating, a common methodology must be adopted for data entry, data storage and reporting. Simply, this means that all people use the same terminology and infer the same meanings from that terminology.
This commonality can be achieved by two means. The first is by storing data at one site only. In this way, all the data must be entered in the same format and stored in the same format. They can then be retrieved in one of many acceptable formats depending on the nature of the information to be extracted. The second is to have several regional data banks but to force each region to adopt the same approach in data entry and storage. This need not necessarily imply use of the same software, but it would certainly be advisable. This second method would need to ensure transportability of data between the regions and to avoid duplication of data.
Advantages
- Avoids duplication of hardware and computer personnel.
- Guarantees a common approach to data storage and to what information is stored.
Disadvantages
- A central site storing all data may require a much larger computer and/or discs then would be required if the data were decentralized. Thus the final hardware cost may in fact be greater than it would be for a regional approach. May also need more people to maintain it if new duties cannot be assigned to existing staff.
- The site would have to be remote to at least one of the third world regions. This may cause unnnecessary delays in getting information to and from the region and so lead to a reduction in the use of the facility.
- It may promote feelings of impersonality. The regions may not feel part of the project and so lose incentive to participate.
- In the event of a major catastrophe, all information could be lost in one blow.
Advantages
- Only need hardware to service the needs of each region. This may mean the difference between an expensive mini and a cheap micro. It may also mean not having to buy any hardware, assuming each of the regions had existing hardware that could run the same software (for this application that is).
- A feeling of active participation is more likely to be achieved among the regions if each has its own computing facilities.
- More immediate access to data is available.
- A major catastrophe in any region would not risk data pertaining to the other regions.
Disadvantages
- Duplication of hardware among the regions may increase the overall cost of the project. This would depend very much on the storage requirements of each of the regions. Duplication of software is generally not of such importance - repeats of software are usually cheaper than repeats of hardware.
- Unless the same software is forced on each of the regions, there is a danger of losing commonality in the content of information stored and the way it is stored. This could inhibit transfer of data between regions, apart from moving away from one of the original aims of the project.
- There is the risk of duplication of data.
- Each site requires personnel who understand the intricacies of the data being entered and the software system through which the data are entered and retrieved. This can be a large overhead if the person(s) is (are) dedicated to this job. Where there are existing personnel taking on extra duties at no extra cost, obviously this is not a problem.
