Chapter 14

Chapter 14 - Enterprise Computing


This will be my final blog regarding this Computer Application class. I know i hadn't been doing a great job blogging nor have I been doing anything to improve it, but I hope what's left of my work will be enough. I am truly sorry for my lack of commitment.


Enterprise computing involves the use of computers in networks, such as LAN's and WAN's, or a series of interconnected networks that encompass a variety of different operating systems, protocols, and network architectures. Types of enterprises may include retail, manufacturing, service, wholesale, government, educational, and transportation.

Enterprise information is the information gathered in the ongoing operations of an enterptise-sized organization.

Managers coordinates resources by performing four activities. Which are, planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.

Information System in the Enterprise
A human resources information system manages one or more human resources functions. Employee relationship management systems manage communication between employees and the business.

Computer-aided design uses a computer and special software to aid in engineering, drafting, and design. Computer-aided engineering however, uses computers to text product designs. Computer-aided manufacturing is the use of computers to control production equipment. Computer-integrated manufacturing uses computers to integrate the many different operations of the manufacturing process.

Material Requirements Planning uses software to help monitor and control processes related to production. Manufacturing Resource Planning II is an extension of MRP and also includes software that helps in scheduling.

Sales force automation software equips traveling salespeople with the electronic tools they need to be more productive.

Customer interaction management software manages the day-to-day interactions with customers.

Enterprise-Wide Technologies and Methodologies
A portal is a collection of links, content, and services presented on a Web page that are interesting for a particular job function. A data warehouse is a huge database that stores and manages the data required to analyze historical and current transactions.

Web services allow business to create products and B2B interactions over the Internet.

A workflow is a defined process that identifies the specific set of steps involved in completing a particular project or business process.

A virtual private network provides mobile users, vendors, and customers with a secure connection to the company network server.

Enterprise Hardware
Enterprise hardware allows large organizations to manage and store information and data using devices geared for heavy use, maximum availability, and maximum efficiency. RAID duplicates data and implements duplication in different ways.

Network attached storage is a server that provides storage to users and information system attached to the network. A storage are network that provides storage to other servers to which it is attached. An enterprise storage system is a strategy that focuses on the availability, protection, organization, and backup of storage in a company.

A blade server packs a complete computer server on a single card rather than a system unit. A thin client is a small terminal-like computer that mostly relies on a server for data storage and processing.

High Availability, Scalability, and Interoperability
A high-availability system continues running and performing tasks for at least 99 percent of the time. May include hot-swapping and redundant components. 

Scalability is a measure of how well computer hardware, software, or an information system can grow to meet increasing performance demands. Interoperability is the ability for an information with other information systems within an enterprise.

Backup Procedures
Continuous data protection provides automatic data backup whenever data is changed in an enterprise.

A disaster recovery plan is a written plan describe the steps a company would take to restore computer operations in the event of a disaster.