Computers Are Your Future Twelfth Edition Chapter 14: Enterprise Computing Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 1

Computers Are Your Future

Twelfth Edition

Chapter 14: Enterprise Computing

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 1

Enterprise Computing


Objectives

• Contrast enterprise and personal computing.

• Define the term business process and briefly describe the flow of business processes within an organization.

• Differentiate between centralized and distributed technology management.


Objectives • Name the tools that are commonly

used in enterprise computing.• Describe the various enterprise

storage systems.• Explain electronic data interchange

and the features that make it popular.


Objectives

• Discuss how enterprises use teleconferencing.

• Describe telecommuting and workgroup computing.


Enterprise Computing

• Personal computing• Individual’s control and use of computers or

handheld devices

• Enterprise• Business or organization

• Enterprise computing• Information technology on a large scale,

encompassing all aspects of technology and information resources


Business Processes and Activities

• Business processo Uses information systemso Has identifiable outputo Begins with customer’s need and ends with

needs fulfilledo Provides links for information flowo At each link, value is added in the form of:

• Work performed• Useful information generated





• Information systemso Support or streamline business activities o Gives competitive advantage

• Superior position over the competition• Example: Billing process reduces use of paper

o Support internal or external business processes• Internal: accounting, finance, and human

resources • External: customers, suppliers, and business

partners



• BPR (Business process reengineering)o Use of information technology to make major

organizational changes and cost saving• Core of BPR:

o Processes and peopleo Key to changing how people work—leads to improved

employee morale, customer service, and reduced costs

o Designers focus on business processes• Can lead to complete redesign of process from

ground upo Attempts to improve efficiency by restructuring how,

where, and when activities are performed





• BPM (Business process management)• Improves existing processes and optimizes assets

through managing the entire life cycleo Uses cross-functional approach and ITo Examines communications within a process and

among various systemso Often applied to discrete parts of an organization

rather than the wholeo Encourages employees to suggest and implement

changes o Critical factor of success is continuous improvement

of processes and communication.




Enterprise Systems

• Enterprise systems• Integrate organization’s information and

applications• Provide common secure enterprise data

centero Used to store enterprise data

• Personnel can share data and enterprise software designed to solve enterprise-level problems.


Enterprise Systems

• Globalizationo Conducting international

businesso Increased by e-business

• Use of Internet for business activities

o Goods and services are identical in all locations

o Internationalization or Glocalization

• Combination of globalization and localization

• Adapting of a menu, slogan, or logo to match local taste or trends


Enterprise Systems

• Enterprise systemso Provide tools to find innovative ways to:

• Increase accurate and on-time shipments• Minimize costs• Increase customer satisfaction• Maintain profitability


Enterprise Systems

• Enterprise systems (con’t.)o Are information systems and consist of:

• Data• Hardware• Software• People• Procedures


Enterprise Systems

• Enterprise systems (con’t.)o Additional components may include:

• Network servers• Database management systems• Desktop computers• Notebooks• Handheld devices


Enterprise Systems

• Centralized versus distributed structureso Enterprise networking—

technology infrastructure• Managed using one of

two structures:o Centralizedo Distributed


Enterprise Systems

• Centralized structureo Standard technology solutions used by allo IT department responsible for technology management

• Distributed structureo Technology tools are customizedo Individuals manage technology

• Structure depends on:o Costo Applications usedo Security o Objectives


Enterprise Systems

• Applying technologyo Application is an ongoing processo Keeping current

• Implementing improved technology and updated programs may cause lower user comfort level

o Upgrading• Impact on users• Hardware upgrades required• Cost

o Maintenanceo Scalability

• Ability of hardware or software to continue functioning as demands and use increase


Enterprise Systems

• Applying technology (con’t.)o Interoperability

• Ability to connect and exchange data with another computer

o Adding workstations and applications• SPOF (Single point of failure)

o System component that causes entire system to malfunction when it fails

o Adding a network• Zero configuration

o Create networks on the flyo Disaster recovery

• Disaster recovery plan• BCP (Business continuity plan)


Enterprise Systems

• Disaster recoveryo Essentials

• Copy of backup in different physical location• To recover, data must be in a protected location• Recovery process must be completed in time specified• Constant and ongoing evaluation is required

o Additional steps• Test backup system regularly• Update backup software when needed• Protect servers from damage• Check for security breaches• Distribute plan to essential personnel


Enterprise Systems

• Disaster recovery (con’t.)o Backup centers

• Hot site• Cold site

o Can be outsourced

• Insert Figure 14.9


Tools for Enterprise Computing

• ERP (Enterprise resource planning)o Software to manage enterprise tasks

• Provides an individual software module for each task• Integrates modules into one computer system• Modules are linked

o Can integrate financial, human resources, customer, and order information; speed up manufacturing processes; reduce inventory

o Some projects fail because of employee resistance to change

o Implementation is expensive and takes timeo Vendors include: SAP, Oracle, and Sage





• CRM (Customer relationship management)


o Follows interactions between an enterprise and customers

o Assists in efforts to hold onto customers

o Software can be used to match company resources with customer wants and needs

o Vendors include FrontRange Solutions, Oracle, SAP, and Salesforce.com


• SFA (Sales force automation)o Software that automates sales processes

• Processes and tracks orders• Manages customers and other contacts• Monitors and controlling inventory• Analyzes sales forecasts





• XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) o Used to publish and share enterprise financial

information• Examples: net revenue, annual and quarterly

reports, and SEC filings o Works regardless of the computer platform

• SaaS (Software as a Service) o Web-based software o Used by enterprises that outsource a portion of their IT

taskso Can use application service provider (ASP) to host

softwareCopyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 30


• OSS (Operational support systems) o Software suite to assist the network operations of an

enterprise• Create network inventory• Provide network discovery and reconciliation• Tracking network assets and maintenance

• EAI (Enterprise application integration) o Highly complex tool that integrates two or more

enterprise systems o Provides integration by combining processes,

hardware, software, and standards


Enterprise Storage Systems

• RAID (Redundant array of independent disks) o Multiple hard drives hold

same datao Goal to improve storage

speed and protect against data loss

o Service interruption is prevented if any one drive fails

• Fault tolerant



• Jukeboxes and Libraries o Jukebox—

enterprise storage units that use DVD and CD discs

o Library—enterprise storage units that use Blu-ray optical media

• Newest media• Eco-friendlyCopyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 33


• SAN (Storage area network)o Available on LAN or WANo High-capacity network of storage deviceso Keeps enterprise services available for processing

• NAS (Network-attached storage)o Provides data and file sharingo Access provided via a network


Enterprise-Wide Technologies

• Enterprise-wide technologieso Can be used to gain a competitive advantage


o Grid computingo Cloud

computingo Blade serverso Thin clientso Web portalso Electronic data

interchange

o Virtual private networks

o Intranets and extranets

o Computer-based and Web-based training

o Teleconferencingo Telecommutingo Workgroup

computing


• Grid computingo Uses many

computers to solve a problem

o Usually scientific or technical problems



• Cloud computing o Subscription service that provides scalable

resources and IT services over the Interneto Multi-tenancy—application is installed only once

in the cloud but can be shared and customizedo Security aspects should be verified before using

• Blade serverso Energy efficient, low-cost modular computers

• Thin cliento Software program or computer that relies on other

computers to do most of the workCopyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 37


• Web portals o Web sites that supply numerous

online serviceso Examples: AOL, Yahoo!, MSN, and

Googleo Business portals offer centralized

knowledge and content management



• EDI (Electronic data interchange)o Popular method for sharing information and doing

business over networks, including the Interneto Set of standards that dictate how data and

documents are transferred between enterpriseso Can make businesses more efficient

• Business-to-business e-commerce• VAN (Value-added network)

o Public data communication network that an enterprise uses for EDI or other services





• VPNs (Virtual private networks) o Connect distributed LANs over the Interneto Ensure security through the use of encryption

and supplemental security features.



• VPNs (con’t.)



• Intranet o Internal enterprise networko Accessed only by employees or authorized individualso Employee manuals and telephone directories can be

moved to an intranet, creating enormous savings for the enterprise

• Extranet o Network that enables outside users to access an

intranet through the Interneto Data transfer is encrypted



• CBT (Computer-based training) o Convenient, affordable, learning method o Useful when multimedia, animation, and

programmed learning are used

• WBT (Web-based training) o Similar to CBT o Training provided over the Internet or intranet

• Includes instant messaging, discussion forums, chat tools, Web broadcasts with streaming audio or video, and videoconferencing



• Teleconferencing o Enables business to be

conducted by using computer and telecommunications equipment

o Enhances enterprise communication

o Often reduces costs



• Telecommutingo Working from home via computer and

telecommunications equipmento Numbers are increasingo Benefits—productivity gains, lower employee

turnover, and reduced costs for office space• Disadvantage—lack of direct supervision of

employee



• Workgroup computing o Used to communicate and collaborateo Uses specific computer hardware, software, and network

equipmento Groupware (teamware) is software that supports

workgroup information requirements.• Applications include:

o E-mail o Videoconferencing toolso Group-scheduling systems o Customizable electronic forms o Real-time shared applicationso Shared information databases

o Facilitates workflow automationCopyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 47



Summary• Enterprise computing is the use of

technology, information systems, and computers within an organization. Personal computing is the use of these technologies by individuals.

• A business process begins with a customer’s need and ends with the fulfillment of that need.


Summary• The IT department manages in a

centralized technology structure; individuals manage in a distributed structure.

• Frequently used enterprise computing tools include enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management, and sales force automation.


Summary• Other frequently used enterprise

computing tools are Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL), Software as a Service (SaaS), Operational Support Systems (OSS), and Enterprise Application Integration (EAI).


Summary• Types of enterprise storage

systems include RAID (redundant array of independent disks), CD/DVD jukeboxes, Blu-ray optical libraries, storage area networks (SANs), and network-attached storage (NAS).


Summary• Enterprise-wide technologies that provide

a competitive edge include grid computing, cloud computing, blade servers, thin clients, Web portals, EDI, intranets, extranets, VPNs, computer- and Web-based training, teleconferencing, telecommuting, and workgroup computing.

• Electronic data interchange (EDI) is a set of standards that assists companies in exchanging information and conducting business over the Internet and other networks.


Summary• Teleconferencing enables workers

in different locations to communicate and conduct business using computers and telecommunications equipment.

• Telecommuting is an arrangement in which employees work from home but are linked to the office.


Summary• Workgroup computing allows

group members to work together on a task using specific technology and tools that enable them to connect, communicate, and collaborate.


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Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall

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Computers Are Your Future Twelfth Edition Chapter 14: Enterprise Computing Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 1