What is a characteristic feature of the flat-file approach to data management?

The characteristic feature of the flat-file approach to data management is exclusive data ownership. In a flat-file system, data is typically stored in a single file or table, and each user or department may have their own copy of the data. This leads to a situation where there is little to no sharing of data among different users or systems, resulting in silos of information. Each owner has control over their copy of the data, which can create issues with data consistency and integrity when updates occur.

In contrast, centralized data control, cloud-based storage, and real-time data access are features often associated with more integrated and modern data management systems, such as relational databases or cloud-based solutions that promote shared access and collaborative data use. These options suggest a level of data sharing and accessibility that is not a characteristic of the flat-file approach.