Confessions of a Data Base Heretic

The relational database model is the generally accepted way of detailing the nature of a business enterprise. However, it is argued that the relational database is not rich enough to correctly achieve this function. According to management information systems (MIS) literature, relational databases are poor performers, lacking referential integrity and several key capabilities in Structured Query Language, the de facto standard. Yet, the true problems lie much deeper, at the heart of the relational database model. This model does not recognize differences in the nature of the relationships among entities. It is suggested that there really is no difference between the relational model with structural referential integrity and the network-hierarchical model. Unless the relational architecture structurally enforces referential integrity based on the nature of the relationships, it is significantly lacking in its ability to model the different relationships that support the business. At best, the relational model is equivalent to the network-hierarchical model.