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Mgt 20600: IT Management & Applications Software (cont.) Telecommunications. Tuesday February 28, 2006. Reminders. Reading Fundamentals text, Chapter Four, Telecommunications and Networks Next week Exam One
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Mgt 20600: IT Management & ApplicationsSoftware (cont.)Telecommunications Tuesday February 28, 2006
Reminders • Reading • Fundamentals text, Chapter Four, Telecommunications and Networks • Next week • Exam One • Covers chapters 1 and 2, homeworks 1 and 2, all lectures on MIS overview, strategy, hardware, software • 75 points • 38 questions – 2 points each • Multiple choice, True/False, Modified True/False, Sentence Completion, Short Answer • Most questions will be multiple choice or true/false – approx. 14 or 15 of each • Exam review session • Monday, March 6th, 7-8pm, DBRT 116 • Homework Three • Telecommunications and Networks, Due March 24th at 5pm • Friday after Spring Break
Enterprise Application Software • Software that benefits an entire organization • Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software • Programs that manage a company’s vital business operations for an entire multisite, global organization • Oracle and SAP are the two major vendors of ERP suites • Oracle E-Business Suite
Enterprise Software Applications In an ERP suite, all of these applications would be software modules that you could buy separately or in combination
Software Development • Proprietary software • Unique program for a specific application, usually developed and owned by a single company • Off-the-shelf software • Purchased software • Customized package • Application Service Provider (ASP)
Software Development • Do not develop proprietary application software unless doing so will meet a compelling business need that can provide a competitive advantage. • BUILD VS. BUYThe basic arguments in the buy-vs.-build debate remain unchanged. WHY BUILD? Avoid painful vendor licensing terms Gain competitive advantage Adapt to new technology, such as grid computing • WHY BUY? Leverage vendors’ economies of scale Gain broader integration capabilities Ensure that code knowledge won’t be lost
Software Development Example • Hyundai Information Service North America LLC • IT arm of Hyundai Motor America • Builds own software offshore • Why? • More customization • Small, unique applications • No licensing annoyances • Example: switch from concurrent users to name seat licensing would have raised cost by $3,300 per user for a purchased application
Application Service Providers • Software service providers • Salesforce.com • Rearden Commerce • JRG Systems • Will host • Customer relationship management (CRM) systems • Travel planning systems • Supply chain management systems • Many more • Advantages • Quick • Easy • Relatively inexpensive • Disadvantage • Won’t get 100% of the features you want or would get with a customized software package • Salesforce.com pioneering software as service
Software Development:Programming Languages • Sets of keywords, symbols, and a system of rules for constructing statements • Allow humans to communicate instructions to be executed by a computer • Syntax: a set of rules associated with a programming language • Different languages have characteristics that make them appropriate for particular types of applications
Software Development • Choose a programming language whose functional characteristics are appropriate for the task at hand, taking into consideration the skills and experience of the programming staff.
Software DevelopmentRules to Live By • Prepare three separate time and cost estimates based on past experience, software functionality and a formal estimating technique, and compare actual results with predictions • Adopt a standard notation scheme and methodology for design and coding • Automate control of the development process and link it to a project-management tool • Use joint application design for requirements analysis • Practice iterative development • Institute a formal change-request process to prevent scope creep • Establish centres of excellence-encourage the development of specialists in each development procedure • Measure productivity and defect removal • Employ component-based development • Institute version control • Design and test for usability • Practice code inspections and walk-throughs
Networking and Telecommunications • Effective communications are essential to organizational success • Why? • Business processes are supported by software that runs over networks • Must choose right software to support business, then design the right network to support the operation of the software • Processing model will help determine what kind of network you need
Basic Processing Strategies • Centralized processing: all processing occurs in a single location or facility • Decentralized processing: processing devices are placed at various remote locations • Distributed processing: computers are placed at remote locations but connected to each other via a network
Distributed Processing Options • Terminal-to-host: the application and database reside on one host computer, and the user interacts with the application and data using a “dumb” terminal
Distributed Processing Options File or Application Server: the application or database reside on the one host computer, called the file server
Distributed Processing Options Client/Server Client: End-user’s computer PC, mobile device, thin client Server: Mid-range computer Dedicated to special function such as database server, print server, web server, application server Client and server share in processing task Example, the World Wide Web
Telecommuncations • Telecommunications: the electronic transmission of signals for communications • Telecommunications medium: anything that carries an electronic signal and interfaces between a sending device and a receiving device
Telecommunications and Networks Elements of a Telecommunications System
Transmission Media Wired Transmission Media Types
Wireless Transmission Media Types • Radio Waves • Bluetooth • Short distances only • Relatively slow transmission speed • Developed for inter-device communications • Wi-Fi • Standard supports up to 54Mbps • Supports longer distances than bluetooth • Infrared • Signals sent as light waves • Short distance • Unobstructed line of sight • Microwave • High frequency radio signal • Capable of high-speed transmission • Unobstructed line of sight • Susceptible to interference • Cellular