IS 483 Information Systems Management

IS 483Information Systems Management James Nowotarski 17 April 2003

Today’s Objectives • Recap the IT-Human Resources Management function • Build awareness of distributed architectures/infrastructures • Build awareness of network management • Review logistics for Assignments 1, 2, and 3

Today’s agenda Topic Duration • Recap and update IT HRM 20 minutes • Distributed architectures 55 minutes *** Break 15 minutes • Distributed architectures (cont.) 50 minutes • Quiz 25 minutes • Assignments 2,3 15 minutes

Centralized vs. Decentralized organizational models The Federal model results in the optimal balance between centralized and decentralized Federal model Shared vision & leadership Consistent quality Economies of scale Shared standards & infrastructure Critical mass of skills Speed Access to MU content experts Responsive to BU’s needs Redundant functions/costs Proliferation of assets, delivery vehicles, rollouts Variable quality Lack of synergy and integration Unresponsive No BU ownership Doesn’t meet every BU’s needs Lacks content depth Synergy & Integration Mutual trust & commitment Purely decentralized Purely centralized Source: MIT

Situational Factors Work Style Effectiveness People Task Flamholtz Leadership Effectiveness Framework Situation determines the style that will most likely be effective

Factors Affecting Optimal Leadership Style Optimal leadership style depends on degree of job autonomy and task programmability Potential for Job Autonomy Low High High Directive Interactive Task Programmability Interactive Nondirective Low

IT Human Resource Management Components • Hiring • Turnover and Retention • Career Development/Path • Training • Compensation • Performance Appraisal

Role of Advanced Automation in HR • Cross-functional services are possible- such as merging payroll, pension, and benefits information for a single employee • Training and employee self-service can become a part of the Human Resource system • Expert Systems available that answer questions typically answered by Human Resource professionals (e.g., HR policy questions) • Use of Internet for recruiting, benchmarking, and anywhere/anytime access Source: Groe, Gerald M; Pyle, William; Jamrog, Jay J. “Information Technology and HR.” Human Resource Planning. 1996. Vol. 19, number 1. http://facweb.cs.depaul.edu/nsutcliffe/483readings/Groe-IT%20and%20HR-session3.htm

Solution “Stack” Examples Applications and Data Claims, Payroll, CRM, ERP Reusable Technical Architecture Component-Based Architecture for Microsoft (Accenture) Middleware WebSphere, CICS TS Apache J2EE DB2, Oracle, SQL Server Linux, Unix, Windows, z/OS System Software Hardware/Network Dell, HP, Sun, EMC, Cisco AT&T, Sprint, WorldCom Public Internet

IT Architecture and IT Infrastructure Applications and Data Reusable Technical Architecture System Software IT Architecture IT Infrastructure Hardware/Network

IT Architecture vs. IT Infrastructure IT ArchitectureIT Infrastructure Level of Abstraction • Blueprint • Policies, rules Implemented capabilities • IT Architecture • IT roles, organization • IT processes • Tech architecture • System software • Hardware/Network Scope

IT Infrastructure in·fra·struc·ture n. 1. An underlying base or foundation, especially for an organization or a system. 2. The basic facilities, services, and installations needed for the functioning of a community or society, such as transportation and communication systems, water and power lines, and public institutions including schools, post offices, and prisons. Source: IBM

IT Architecture arch·i·tec·ture n. 1. A formal specification for how a computer solution will be organized and how its parts inter-relate 2. An integrated set of technology choices used to guide the organization Sources: Gartner Group, MIT

Benefits of Architecture • Productivity • Consistency • Quality • Rapid delivery • Maintainability • Interoperability • Reduces complexity • Leverages scarce skills

Applications and Data Applications and Data • Presentation logic • Application logic • Data management Reusable Technical Architecture System Software Hardware/Network

What is Distributed Computing? More than 1 interconnected processor operating at the same time

Apps & Data Five Types of Distributed Computing Distributed Presentation Remote Presentation Distributed Function Remote Data Management Distributed Database Data Management Data Management Data Management Data Management Data Management Application Logic Application Logic Application Logic Presentation Network Data Management Application Logic Application Logic Application Logic Presentation Presentation Presentation Presentation Presentation Source: Gartner Group

Thickness of Client Thin Thick Where Does Internet Fit? Distributed Presentation Remote Presentation Distributed Function Remote Data Management Distributed Database Data Management Data Management Data Management Data Management Data Management Application Logic Application Logic Application Logic Presentation Network Data Management Application Logic Application Logic Application Logic Presentation Presentation Presentation Presentation Presentation

Distributed vs. Internet Internet = Distributed + Reach + Content (Netcentric) (Client/Server) • Other differences: • Internet applications are more dynamic, less static (thin vs. thick client) • Internet applications offer more standard user interface

Wide area network (WAN) Workstation Enterprise Server 2-Tier Distributed Architecture “Tiers” are different types or groupings of computers used to perform different functions1 • Application logic • Data management • Presentation • Application logic 1 Above definition focuses on hardware, but tiers may also refer to software

LAN WAN Enterprise Server Workgroup Server Workstation 3-Tier Distributed Architecture • Data management • Presentation • Application logic

Comparison of 3-tier relative to 2-tier • Advantages • Better load balancing on different servers • More scalable • Disadvantages • Potentially greater load on network • More complex to implement • More hardware and network components ($$$)

Why is it more complex? The Fundamental Counting Principle First event may occur in n1different ways, the second event may occur in n2 different ways and so on, the total number of ways the compound event may occur is n1• n2• n3• . . . . • nk

n-Tier Example DB Server Web Server App Server Bank Customers Internet Legacy Mainframe Internet Firewall Application Firewall

Comparison of n-tier relative to 3-tier • Advantages • Better load balancing on different servers • More scalable • Disadvantages • Potentially greater load on network • More complex to implement • More hardware and network components ($$$)

overlap Solution “Stack” Examples Applications and Data Claims, Payroll, CRM, ERP Reusable Technical Architecture Component-Based Architecture for Microsoft (Accenture) Middleware WebSphere, CICS TS Apache J2EE DB2, Oracle, SQL Server Linux, Unix, Windows, z/OS System Software Hardware/Network Dell, HP, Sun, EMC, Cisco AT&T, Sprint, WorldCom Public Internet

Middleware Middleware is a layer of software between applications/technical architecture and systems software/network • Functions • Typically provides high-level application programming interfaces (APIs) to shields programmers from complex protocols • Enables disparate components to communicate

Middleware, providing: • logging • security • recovery/restart • 2-phase commit Middleware Example 1 Application CICS TS z/OS

Client Object Server Object Middleware Example 2 PlatformA PlatformB Object Request Broker (ORB) • Client uses ORB to transparently invoke a function on a server object • ORB provides interoperability • ORB isolates client from location, programming language, and operating system of server object

Middleware • Types of Middleware • Network middleware • Procedure calls over a network • Example: Remote Procedure Calls (RPCs), ORBs • Conversational middleware • Transparent conversion of text, graphics, data • Example: Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) • Transaction Processing • Transaction management services to support processing of high volumes of transactions • Example: CICS TS

Middleware • Types of Middleware (cont.) • SQL and Database Middleware • Applications can connect to several different databases using one programming interface • Example: Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) • GUI Middleware • Applications can support multiple GUIs across a network • Example: X Windows • Messaging Middleware • Distributing data and control through synchronous or asynchronous messages • Example: IBM MQSeries

IT Management Issues Associated with Distributed Architectures • Migrating from legacy (mainframe) to distributed architecture: • 3 major business issues • 5 typical alternatives • Support and maintenance issues

Business Issues to Consider When migrating a legacy application to a distributed architecture, consider cost, resources, and risk • Cost • Generally lower costs after migration • hardware • software • depreciation (2-3 years vs. 5-7 years for mainframes) • development cycle times are shorter

Business Issues to Consider When migrating a legacy application to a distributed architecture, consider cost, resources, and risk • Resources • Qualifications of individuals assigned • Time that these individuals spend • Level of system management software available • Tried and true tested software exists for mainframes but is spotty for a multi-platform environment where some aspects are centralized and others are distributed

Business Issues to Consider When migrating a legacy application to a distributed architecture, consider cost, resources, and risk • Risk • Risks in terms of reliability, availability, serviceability, and security are managed when the migration is done in 3 phases: • Baseline inventory established -- all application elements are inventoried including source code, data files, test data, and test results • Migration process can now begin • Final system test, parallel runs, and production cutover phase

Migration Alternatives • Re-platforming • “Screen scraping” • Replace legacy with package that is built on distributed architecture • change management issues • Migrate from scratch • #4 + Business process reengineering

Support/Maintenance Issues • Training and standards in more sophisticated design techniques, testing, system operation, etc. • Robust, fault tolerant components may not be available, may need to prepare to operate in a degraded mode • Service level monitoring and troubleshooting are more complex and difficult with distributed architectures

Trends in IT Architecture and Infrastructure • Globalization • Real-time enterprise • Mobility • Open Source • Application integration and web services • Intra-enterprise • Inter-enterprise

Trends in IT Architecture and Infrastructure Competition is fierce • “[Larry] Ellison [CEO of Oracle] cited the success of the Apache Web server over Microsoft's Internet Information Services (IIS) technology as an example, declaring that the Redmond software giant has been ‘slaughtered, wiped out, taken from market dominance to irrelevance’ by the open-source product. ” (Application Development Trends, 4/14/03)

Business Drivers • Global competition • Profit pressure • Market differentiation • Responsiveness • Link to increased business value • Delicate balance between stable, yet agile infrastructure

Today’s agenda Topic Duration • Recap and update IT HRM 20 minutes • Quiz 25 minutes • Distributed architectures 30 minutes *** Break 15 minutes • Distributed architectures (cont.) 75 minutes • Assignments 2,3 15 minutes

Topics for April 24 • Network Management • See web site for reading • Quiz on Network Management • Operations Management (start)

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Network Management • Definition • The set of activities required to plan, install, monitor and maintain all network components in order to achieve specified service levels reliably, at an acceptable and agreed cost

Importance of business focus in network solutions • Organizations need to view the network as critical to the lifeline of the business and ensure the network is serving the needs of their business • A complete solution involves managing the network and all its components which includes the business processes and user’s needs • The solution should also provide a method that shows the business processes, the business units, and who will be impacted by the problem • Administrators will need to proactively manage the network through policy based procedures instead of reacting to user’s complaints

Network management architecture Source: Cisco

IS 483 Information Systems Management