4.1 Business-Focused Client/Server Architecture

4.2 Client/Server Business Application Architectures

4.3 Business Drivers

4.4 Business Benefits

4.5 What does business expect from IT?

4.6 What is Business Process Reengineering?

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Subject: Part 4:  Client/Server Business Issues


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Subject: 4.1 Business-Focused Client/Server Architecture
From: Bernard Robertson-Dunn 

When analysing a business there are three views of the organisation:

- A functional model, which reflects organisational responsibilities
and the way in which the people who use the system view their work.

- A process model, which details the business functions of the
organisation (eg accept orders, make goods, deliver goods, bill
customers, receive money).  The functional structure and process model
rarely, if ever, agree.

- An information model, which details the information that the
organisation needs to function.


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Subject: 4.2. Client/Server Business Application Architectures
From: Bernard Robertson-Dunn 

Traditional applications architectures have been based on function.
Today, to meet the needs of the business an application architecture
should reflect the complete range of business requirements.

Therefore, client/server computing demands a three layer view of the
organisation.  (This is the mysterious three tiered client/server
model)

1 The user interface layer, which implements the functional model

2 The business function layer, which implements the process model

3 The data layer, which implements the information model

It should be noted that this application architecture does not demand
multiple hardware platforms, although such technology can be utilised,
if the environment is robust and reliable enough and the business is
prepared to pay the additional costs associated with workstation and
LAN technology.


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Subject: 4.3  Business Drivers
From: Bernard Robertson-Dunn 

Client/server computing has arisen because of a change in business
needs.  Businesses today need integrated, flexible, responsive and
comprehensive applications to support the complete range of business
processes.

Problems with existing systems include:
- applications were developed to model vertical applications
- applications were built in isolation
- applications were implemented as monolithic systems
- applications were complex
- the supporting technology was based on a centralised control model

Information technology, which is an enabling factor in systems
building, has almost reached the stage where these systems can be
designed and created. Unfortunately, most businesses have existing
systems based on older technology, which must be incorporated into the
new, integrated environment.

The development and implementation of client/server computing is more
complex, more difficult and more expensive than traditional, single
process applications. The only answer to the question "why build
client/server applications?" is "because the business demands the
increased benefits.


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Subject: 4.4  Business Benefits
From: Bernard Robertson-Dunn 

- There is a perceived need for vendor independence. This includes
  application development methodologies, programming paradigms, products
  and architectures.

- Organisation have changed from steep hierarchies to flattened
  hierarchies

- Network management is replacing vertical management

- There is a change to team based management

- The customer should have a single point of contact for all business
  with the organisation

- The customer should deal with the same person over multiple contacts.

- The user will perform as much processing as possible during customer
  contact time

- The time required to complete the work will be minimised

- There is a need for empowerment of staff and audit trail of actions

- Multi-skilled and multi-function teams need access to multiple
  applications


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Subject: 4.5 What does business expect from IT?
From: Bernard Robertson-Dunn 

- New applications should be aligned with both the user's view and the
  business process view.  Existing functionally aligned systems are not
  appropriate

- Applications need to provide a consistent user interface

- Application complexity needs to be hidden

- The user interaction must be flexible

- Consistent information across all applications

- A variety of user interface styles to reflect the needs of the work

- Users should be able to modify business rules without reference to IT
  staff

- IT systems will support all activity performed by the user, not just
  a part

- An ability to evolve IT systems to reflect changing business
  requirements

- It is essential that there be integrity of transactional processes


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Subject: 4.6 What is Business Process Reengineering?
From: Ravi Kalakota 

Reengineering is the organizational process required to align people,
processes and technology with strategies to achieve business integration. It
can also be thought of as taking a business in its current state and forming
an organizational and operational blueprint to redirect skills, policies,
information (data), cultural values, organizational structures, processing
and incentives towards targeted improvements.