Introduction to information systems T. Cornford, M. Shaikh is1 060 2013
Download 0.65 Mb. Pdf ko'rish
|
T. Cornford, M. Shaikh-13
- Bu sahifa navigatsiya:
- 4.6 Communications technologies and distributed systems Reading activity
Activity
Draw up a table showing the advantages and disadvantages for a medium-sized business of: 1. Writing their own software for managing their financial accounts. 2. Purchasing and configuring a package for this task to run on their own computers. 3. Customising a package by adding extensive changes and extensions. 4. Outsourcing the whole information processing task to another company or contractor. For each option, try to give an illustrative example of a type of information system need and/or circumstance that might make each choice appropriate. Do some research online to allow you to explain the difference between configuration and customisation of a software package. 4.6 Communications technologies and distributed systems Reading activity Read Chapter 7 Laudon and Laudon (2013) and Chapters 4 and 5 of Curtis and Cobham (2008). Modern information systems rely on the technology of communications as much as on the traditional technology of computers and data handling. It is common for the information systems of organisations to need multiple elements in many geographical locations – distributed systems. For example, an oil company with sites on five continents would expect to be able to share information and build common systems to help run the business. This would all be based on a set of interlocking networks in buildings, on oil rigs, in refineries and across oceans. The benefits of being able to develop such systems might be more efficient operations, more sharing of information and the use of standard procedures. The use of a distributed approach extends beyond one organisation, and networks become a part of the way organisations do business with each other. For example, through a B2B e-commerce application an oil company might take orders for chemicals from its main customers or reserve wharf space for its tankers in various ports. The internet – the network of networks that we all have access to and through which we can all share information – has provided an even stronger impetus for using communications in information systems. (For information on the history of the internet try www.internetsociety.org/ internet/what-internet/history-internet/) Today this communications medium – ‘the net’ – is seen by many as both the principal new challenge and the most exciting opportunity for building and using information systems. In the case above, the oil company may well use the internet as the basis for their distributed business systems, but they will almost certainly be concerned that the internet is too open and vulnerable IS1060 Introduction to information systems 60 to serve as a basis for their business. One means to provide secure communications across the internet is to use the technology of virtual private networks (VPN). Download 0.65 Mb. Do'stlaringiz bilan baham: |
Ma'lumotlar bazasi mualliflik huquqi bilan himoyalangan ©fayllar.org 2024
ma'muriyatiga murojaat qiling
ma'muriyatiga murojaat qiling