Chapter 5: Applying Information Technology - Organizational Systems

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Chapter 5 Applying
Information Technology - Organizational Systems
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Types of Organizational Systems

• Transaction Processing Systems
• Enterprise Resource Planning Systems
• Data Warehousing
• Office Automation
• Groupware
• Intranets
• Factory Automation

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Batch vs. On-Line Processing

• Batch processing -- accumulate a suitable batch
  of transactions, then process entire batch at a
  time
• On-line processing -- process transactions as
  they occur, updating all files almost immediately

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Distributed Systems andClient/Server Systems

• The distribution of processing power to multiple
  sites
• Telecommunications and networking becomes critical

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Client/Server Systems

• Processing power distributed between a central
  server, such as a minicomputer or powerful
  workstation, and a number of client computers,
  usually desktop microcomputers
• Split in responsibilities between server and
  client varies from application to application

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Client/Server Systems (cont.)

• Building blocks of a client/server system
• 1. Client
• 2. Server
• 3. Middleware, a rather vague term that covers
  all of the software needed to support interaction
  between clients and servers

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Middleware

• 1. Network operating systems, such as Novell
  NetWare and Microsofts NT Server, which create a
  single-system image for all services on the
  network
• 2. Transport software to allow communication
  using certain protocols, such as TCP/IP
• 3. Service-specific software to carry out
  functions such as e-mail or HTTP

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Alternative Client/Server Models

• Two-tier fat client or thin server model -- most
  work done on client
• Two-tier thin client or fat server model -- most
  work done on server
• Three-tier model -- separate application and
  database servers -- user interface is on client
  (tier 1), processing is on application server
  (tier 2), and data is on database server (tier 3)
  -- tier 3 is often mainframe

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Transaction Processing Systems

• Processing of sales payments made and received
  inventory shipped and received hiring, firing,
  and paying employees paying dividends

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Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems

• Special type of transaction processing system
• A set of integrated business applications that an
  organization purchases from a software vendor
• Usually include modules to carry out common
  business functions, such as inventory control,
  A/P, A/R, and MRP

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Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems
(continued)

• Distinguishing features from earlier TPS
  modules are integrated, through common
  definitions and common database, and modules
  reflect a particular set of business processes
• Leading vendors SAP (German), Baan, Oracle, and
  PeopleSoft

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Data Warehousing

• Establishment and maintenance of a large data
  storage facility containing data on all (or at
  least many) aspects of the enterprise
• Data are pulled from operational systems and
  placed in a separate data warehouse so that
  users may analyze the data without endangering
  operational systems

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Data Warehousing (continued)

• Three types of software are needed
• Warehouse construction software, including
  database management systems such as Oracle and
  IBMs DB2
• Warehouse operation software, offered by H-P,
  IBM, Information Builders, and others
• Warehouse access and analysis software, such as
  catalog and reporting tools

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Office Automation

• The use of information technology to automate
  various aspects of office operations

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Office Automation Functions

• Electronic mail
• Word processing
• Photocopying
• Document preparation
• Voice mail
• Desktop publishing
• Personal databases
• Electronic calendaring

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Groupware

• A made-up word referring to software designed to
  support groups by facilitating collaboration,
  communication, and coordination
• Possible groupware functions electronic mail,
  bulletin boards, computer conferencing,
  calendaring, groups scheduling, sharing documents

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Groupware

• More functions electronic whiteboards, meeting
  support systems, workflow routing, electronic
  forms, desktop videoconferencing
• Major players and strengths Lotus Notes (sharing
  documents), Novell GroupWise (calendaring/group
  scheduling), Microsoft Exchange

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Intranets

• A network operating within an organization that
  employs the TCP/IP protocol
• Uses same Web browser, Web crawler, Web server
  software as on the Internet
• Intranets deliver much of the functionality of
  groupware at a lower cost
• Groupware vendors are moving to embrace the
  Internet -- they have to!

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Factory Automation

• The use of information technology to automate
  various aspects of factory operations
• Robotics
• Computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM)

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Computer-Integrated Manufacturing

• Broad term which encompasses many uses of the
  computer to help top manufacturers operate more
  efficiently and effectively
• Includes engineering systems (CAD, CAPP),
  manufacturing administration systems (MRP, MRP
  II), and factory operations systems (CAM, SFC)