부산대학교 도서관

The flexible workplace connotes alternatives for employees in terms of work location, work hours, and work environment. Historically, this term has been used in management and human resource circles for management strategies that allow employees to work at home, share jobs, or alter the ergonomics of their work environment. In addition to the human resources side of a flexible workplace, database producers are seeking a flexible workplace that includes a flexible system--one that incorporates flexible database structures, product development, and workflow. The three components of a flexible system are discussed: a modular system approach, a product independent data structure, and a flexible workflow. A modular system is one in which the system components, both hardware and software, can be interchanged without a major system redesign. A product-independent data structure is a philosophy of database design that transcends relational, hierarchical, or any other 'physical' structure. It is a logical way of viewing the data that results in a more atomized, segmented set of data elements. A flexible workflow allows the various components of a final record to be created in a non-linear fashion. A strategy for a company to undertake to make the transition to a flexible system is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]