A data oriented framework for developing flexible information systems[Datově orientovaný rámec pro tvorbu flexibilních informačních systémů]

As a consequence of a rapidly changing environment, the success of organizations is dependent upon the ongoing and immediate adjustments of their information systems as reactions to these changes. Therefore, flexibility becomes one of the most crucial features in information systems. This paper specifies a data model oriented framework for the development of flexible information systems. The result of such process is a system that is sufficiently general and flexible in relation to solving problems related to changing environment. From general requirements related to data layer of information systems the paper discusses the definition of major elements of logical data model (entities and their hierarchical arrangement, attributes of the entities and their important characteristics, relationships among entities and their characteristics) as well as possibilities of implementation and definition of application logic and data presentation. Proposed framework enables the organization to specify its own database structure, which best matches the situation of the organization and its environment. Because an approach similar to meta-data approaches is applied, methods for information sharing and interchange can be easily specified as well as program logic for manipulation with the data base on the application layer and data presentation.