Background:
I have many tables for ex:

Nominations:
---------------
Type (there are 3 types)

WorkOrders:
----------------
Type (there are 7 types)

I have many typical tables like these. In designing database, I need to know which approach is wiser ie to make a control table for each, or to make a lookup table?

For ex:

NominationTypes:
---------------------
ID Name
-- --------
1 NominationType1
2 NominationType2
3 NominationType3

or using a lookup table

Lookups:
------------
Group Code Value
------- ------- --------
NominationTypes NT1 NominationType1
NominationTypes NT2 NominationType2
NominationTypes NT3 NominationType3
WorkOrderTypes WO1 WorkOrderType1
.
.
.
WorkOrderTypes WO7 WorkOrderType7

........

My consideration on not using a lookup value within the database is this.. User may need to customize (add or delete types) it in the future.

How usually people making their country database? Are they using a seperate table to store data or using a lookup table?

---------------

In my case, I may access these types oftenly, so in query wise, which option is best for me?

thanks for replying