MI703: Computer Information Systems

1
MI703 Computer Information Systems

• Goals
• Logistics
• Technical Topic Analyzing Application
  Development
• Case Study Analysis Strategy

2
Goals

• 1) Management understanding of key technical
  principles, ideas and products (via technical
  briefs, online chapters)
• 2) Strategic Management Issues (via text
  chapters)
• 3) Experiences in implementing IS projects and
  dealing with IS issues (via case studies)
• 4) Research and presentation experience (via term
  project)

3
Logistics

• Online Resources (text, cases)
• Web Page
• Assessment
• 11 classes gt take home midterm
• Office Hours
• Project Teams and Topics
• Case Discussions
• Computer Center Tour?

4
Application Development Aspects

• Service Layers (Vertical)
• Application Tiers (Horizontal)
• System Development Life Cycle
• Phases of Technology Assimilation

5
Application Service Layers
Presentation Input Output
Application Business Logic
Common Business Logic
Subsystems / Services Functions
Servers Operating Systems
Network

(Each layer defines the environment and standards
for the next higher layer)
6
Tiers
Presentation
Logic
Storage
Network
Client
Server
7
4-Tier Model
Web Server
Client (Browser)
html
DBMS Storage
Application Server
SQL
8
Application Development Life Cycle
Monitor
Analysis
Build/Buy
Design
Implement
9
Methods for Applying SDLC

• Classic Waterfall Model
• Static environment
• Minimal unknowns
• Rapid Application Design
• Iterative
• Delivery in stages
• Insufficient knowledge for accurate design
• Prototyping
• Focus on presentation, not process
• Customer-based apps

10
Analysis Basics

• Focus on business need, not technology
• Entity-relationship Diagrams for data
• Dataflow diagrams for logic
• Define Scope
• Define Success

11
Design Basics

• Focus on the solution, blueprint
• Considers environmental factors
• Enterprise standards
• Staff talents, availability
• Data-centric Normalization
• Process-centric Flowchart / Pseudo-code
• Combining the two Objects

12
Build / Buy Issues

• Current move to buy and integrate
• Build only where control, differentiation are key
• All applications must coordinate upwards and to
  peer applications
• Trade off of ability to maintain versus control
  over maintenance
• Exception handling is 80 of work
• Workflow is often the major issue
• Testing and QA Implications

13
Implementation Issues

• Process Changes
• Training, reward mechanism
• Business process change must accompany technology
  change
• Data lifespan includes creation, operational use,
  analytical use, archiving

14
Monitor / Measurement

• Baseline Statistics
• Aggregate good news, detail bad news
• Compare to Analysis goals
• Basis for upgrade, acceptance

15
Phases of Technology Assimilation

• Identify
• What technical abilities are required?
• Learn
• How do they work?
• Control
• How will we use them?
• Distribute
• Commit to the new technology!

16
Case Analysis Strategy

• Scope
• Data vs Process
• Strategy and Tactics
• Consistency at each level
• Efficiency vs Flexibility
• Parallels investment strategies
• Excellence vs Satisficing
• Elasticity of return
• Adherence to phases of technology assimilation
• Is IT incorporated into business practices?

17
Scope Discussion

• What are the weaknesses of providing technical
  solutions
• Overly centralized ?
• Overly distributed ?
• Provide an example to match each observation.

18
For Next Week

• Technical Brief Networking Concepts
• Nestle Case study (see web page)
• Online Text Chapter
• Understanding Software A Primer for Managers