Record management systems: to use an RMS effectively, what must a user or developer understand about the system?

Introduction / Context:
A record management system (RMS) abstracts away physical storage and exposes a logical model of records, fields, keys, and operations (insert, look-up, update, delete). Knowing what a user must understand ensures correct use without unnecessary complexity or risk.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• RMS provides logical access methods and hides device-level details.
• Users interact via forms, APIs, or query languages.
• The goal is effectiveness and correctness, not hardware micromanagement.

Concept / Approach:
The essential knowledge is the logical data model (records, fields, keys, indexes, relationships, and constraints) and the access methods offered. Low-level storage details (blocks, sectors, extents) are intentionally encapsulated by the RMS. Understanding the model ensures that users design keys, choose correct operations, and preserve integrity without delving into disk geometry or file system internals.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Documentation for database and RMS tools emphasizes schema design, key selection, and indexing strategies—rarely disk-sector details—confirming that model-level understanding is what enables effective use.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing logical and physical design; or trying to tune at the wrong layer without first modeling entities, keys, and constraints correctly.

Final Answer:
You need to understand the model the record management system uses.