Similarly, a business process shouldn't be expected to wait for a computer process that is supposed to support it. Computers supply shared information by reading and updating databases. A responsive computer system should keep several copies of the most useful information in different locations, so that there is a copy handy whenever a user needs one. In such cases, every component on the path from client to remote server should be designed and monitored to ensure that it supports the workload, and all interference from lower priority work should be eliminated. For most business purposes, however, information supplied to users does not always have to be current.
Some information can be seconds, minutes, or hours out of date.
Other information can be delivered as dated summaries. Users need to know only how current such information is and should be given information appropriate for the business task. They should not have to wait for information that is more current than they need. The computer system must keep all information consistent. Users don't care how, when, or where that happens.