The breakeven point for using CD-ROM versus online: A case study for database access in a developing country

The introduction of CD-ROM products has offered promise in accelerating the access to computer-based databases in developing countries. CD-ROM has been considered the most appropriate technology to the infrastructure of these countries. This article discusses a case study which seeks answers to two major questions that can impact on the use of CD-ROM by developing countries: (1) the extent to which publicly available CD-ROM databases can satisfy the information needs of a particular information requirement for a particular development situation in a developing country; and (2) the economics of an alternative system of CD-ROM, supplemented by online searching. The relative costs of searching CD-ROM vs. online are investigated, and the breakeven analysis of the costs of CD-ROM vs. online is discussed as a potential approach to a cost-effective system for accessing databases in developing countries. This article discusses the implications of the law of core and scatter on the volume of use of databases and its effects on the economics of searching CD-ROM vs. online. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.