Technology Background and Review

Daniel E. OLeary University of Southern California c - 2000

Daniel E. OLeary copyright 2000

Technology Review
In the analysis of ERP systems there are a number of technologies that we will see including
A. Client Server Systems B. Networks C. Relational Databases and Data Warehouses D. Software E. Software Choice F. Reengineering and Best Practices

Daniel E. OLeary copyright 2000

A. Client Server
1. What is Client Server? 2. What is the basic notion behind C-S? 3. What is Three tiered Architecture? 4. Why concern with C-S?
ERP generally are built for CS

Daniel E. OLeary copyright 2000

1. What is Client Server?

Client Server is a computing model in which the application processing load is distributed between a client computer and a server computer, which share information over a network. Typically the client is a PC running front end software that knows how to communicate with the server (often a db server) Typically the server is a PC or workstation, but it can be a mainframe
Daniel E. OLeary copyright 2000

2. What is the basic notion behind Client Server?

Processing can be improved because client and server share processing loads.
Client - server computing says that the client has computing power that is not being used Fundamental idea is to break apart an application into components that can run on different platforms.

Thin vs. Fat Clients

A thin client has most of the functionality with server A fat client has most of the functionality with the client.
Daniel E. OLeary copyright 2000

3. What is a Three Tiered Architecture?

Three Tiered Architecture is an information model with distinct pieces -- client, applications services and data sources -that can be distributed across a network Client Tier -- The user component displays information, processes, graphics, communications, keyboard input and local applications
Daniel E. OLeary copyright 2000

4. What is Three Tiered Architecture?

Applications Service Tier -- A set of sharable multitasking components that interact with clients and the data tier. It provides the controlled view of the underlying data sources. Data Source Tier -- One or more sources of data such as mainframes, servers, databases, data warehouses, legacy applications etc.
Daniel E. OLeary copyright 2000

Client/Server Configurations
Distributed Presentation
Data Management

Remote Presentation
Data Management

Distributed Function
Data Management

Remote Data Management

Data Management

Distributed Database
Data Management

Application Function

Application Function

Application Function

Data Management

Presentation

ork etw N Application

Function

Application Function

Application Function

Presentation

Presentation

Presentation

Presentation

Presentation

Daniel E. OLeary copyright 2000

Source: Gartner Group

B. Networks
LANs, WANs, Intranets, Extranets Bandwidth
Network Transmission Capability

Standards
TCP/IP

Security
E.g., Encryption
Daniel E. OLeary copyright 2000

C. Databases and Data Warehouses

Databases -- Numerous approaches including relational databases Relational DB is a set of related files that reference each other ERP are built on relational DBs and data source in three tier is typically relational Data warehouse is a DB for decision making, not transaction processing
Daniel E. OLeary copyright 2000

Salesperson #

Name

Address

...

Daniel E. OLeary copyright 2000

Customer # Customer Lastname 0001 OLeary

...

Salesperson #

Lastname Jones

...

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Sales Order # 0001

Customer # Salesperson # 0001 0001

...

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Sales Order # 0001 0001 0002 0003

Inventory # 0001 0002 0002 ...

Amount ... 20 30 50

Inventory # 0001 0002

Name Roter Top

Description ... .... ....

Daniel E. OLeary copyright 2000

D. Software
ERP have been developed for different operating systems
UNIX, Windows NT

Legacy Software
Informally software that has been in the company for a while. Generally, developed in house
Daniel E. OLeary copyright 2000

Package Software
In the same sense that personal computing software has moved toward a standard set of package options, corporate enterprise computing has also moved toward packages Package software is changing the nature of accounting, finance and IT departments
No longer a matter of programming from scratch, instead need to understand processes
Daniel E. OLeary copyright 2000

E. Software Choice
Typically, use some form of cost benefit analysis
Benefits fuzzy Costs easily seen

As Is vs. To Be

Daniel E. OLeary copyright 2000

F. Reengineering
1. What is it? 2. What are the primary approaches? 3. What is the role of reengineering in ERP?

Daniel E. OLeary copyright 2000

1. What is Reengineering?
Process involves the redesign of business processes to achieve dramatic improvements in cost, quality, service or speed.
Typically involves transaction processing Tries to find inefficient rules of thumb built into processes and break away from them Design business processes to exploit IT rather than replicate old manual processes
Daniel E. OLeary copyright 2000

2. What are Primary Approaches?

Two primary approaches: Start from scratch and Best Practices Start from scratch and redesign processes
Most expensive ... But considers unique aspects of specific firm, processes, resources & people

Using existing best practices generated by others (e.g., consultants or competitors)

Processes that have been proved in other firms
Daniel E. OLeary copyright 2000

3. What is the role of reengineering in ERP?

ERP have many best practices built into them to choose from
E.g., SAP now has over 1000 best practices available to choose from

Firms often use ERP as a way of reengineering processes

Daniel E. OLeary copyright 2000