Operational choice: When is batch processing most appropriate in transaction processing—considering volume, timing, and immediacy requirements?

Introduction / Context:
Organizations must decide between batch processing and online/real-time processing for different workloads. Batch is not about the size of the computer; it is about the workload’s characteristics—volume, latency tolerance, and cost efficiency. Choosing correctly improves throughput, reduces costs, and meets service-level expectations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• You can postpone processing without harming business outcomes.
• Transactions are homogeneous and numerous (e.g., payroll, billing).
• System can schedule jobs in off-peak windows to maximize resource utilization.

Concept / Approach:
Batch processing groups many similar transactions and executes them without user interaction, often overnight. It excels when immediacy is unnecessary but efficiency and throughput matter. Real-time processing, in contrast, is chosen when each event requires immediate validation, persistence, and feedback (e.g., ATM withdrawals, inventory reservations during checkout). The computer’s size does not determine suitability; workload characteristics do.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Common IT operations place payroll and invoicing in scheduled nightly batches; interactive sales authorization remains online—illustrating the principle.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• (b) and (c): Few or interactive/instant-response workloads are suited to real-time, not batch.
• (d) and (e): Hardware size is not the criterion; workload profile is.

Common Pitfalls:
Equating batch with “older” or “small-systems” thinking; batch remains optimal for high-volume, non-urgent tasks regardless of hardware scale.

Final Answer:
When large volumes of similar transactions can be processed together during off-peak hours