Notes for CHAPTER 4

Networks and Collaboration as Business Solutions

Network devices are devices that communicate with a network. It allows information to be rapidly
collected, processed, shared and acted upon. Eg: laptops, PDAs, cell and smart phones, etc. Advances in
networks, devices and wireless sensor networks are changing enterprise information infrastructures and
business environment dramatically. IP based Network Technology forms the backbone that is driving
the merger of voice, data, video and radio waves by digitizing content into packets; that can be sent via
any digital network.
An enterprises network capability depends on proper planning, maintenance, management, upgrades and
bandwidth of the network to insure that it has sufficient capacity and connectivity to link people,
locations and data. Traditionally, various information services were transmitted using different protocols
and carried on either packet switched or circuit switched networks. Internet Protocol Suite (standard
used with almost any network service) and IP/TCP Architecture
Benefits of the Internet Protocol

Cost saving
Better operations
Enables new applications

Converged network is a powerful architecture that enables enterprise wide integration of voice, data,
video and other information services. Benefits- improved collaboration along the supply chain,
companies can improve their B2B, B2C and mobile commerce processes, technical barriers to
collaborative work are eliminated.
The Internet (transport mechanism) and the Web (WWW) is a system with universally accepted
standards or protocols for storing, retrieving, formatting and displaying information via client/server
architecture. The internet supports application in the following categories:

Discovery- querying, downloading and processing information from databases

Communication- development in internet based and wireless communication
Collaboration- collaboration between individuals, groups and organizations in common

In addition to the Internet and the web, there are a few other major infrastructures of network computing
such as Intranet (network used to serve the internal informational needs of a company), Extranet
(company owned network that uses IP technology to securely share part of a business information).
Information Portals- A portal is a web based gateway to files, information and knowledge on a network.
Types of information portals:
1. Corporate portals (private gateways to corporate)
2. Commercial portals (gateways to general information on the internet)
3. Publishing portals (intended for commodities with specific interests)
4. Vertical portals (target specific markets)

Mobile or Wireless Infrastructures consists of the integration of technology, software, support, security
measures and devices for the management and delivery of wireless communication. Wi-Fi is a
technology that allows computers to share a network or internet connection wirelessly without the need to
connect to a commercial network.
There are general types of mobile networks: WAN (Wide Area Network), WiMax (Worldwide
Interoperability for Microwave Access), LAN (Local Area Network). Key components of mobile and
wireless infrastructures are wireless local area networks (uses high frequency radio waves rather than
wires to communicate between computers or devices), WiMax (enables the delivery of last mile wireless
broadband access as an alternative to cable and DSL) and VoIP (unifying platform for business
applications that require flexible or intelligent voice communications).
A Mobile Enterprise is one that has the ability to connect and control suppliers, partners, employees,
products and customers from any location.
Trying to describe information on the Internet is like trying to describe the universe. The sheer
endlessness of the information available through the internet which seems like its major strength is also
its greatest weakness. Search engines, directories, enterprise search engines and wikis help bring order to
the chaotic internet universe.
TECHNOLOGIES

Podcasting is a way to distribute or receive audio and video files called pods or podcasts over the
internet.
RSS (Radio Simple Syndication) automates the delivery of internet content. They are an easy
way to receive newly released information customized to a persons interests or needs.
XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is a meta language for describing markup language for
documents containing structured information.
XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting language) is a version of XML for capturing financial
information throughout a businesss information processes.

Collaboration is a key driver of overall performance in companies worldwide. Messaging and

collaboration tools include older communication media such as e-mail, videoconferencing, and fax.
Leading businesses are moving quickly to realize the benefits of e-collaboration (Virtual
Collaboration). Some benefits of e-collaboration are as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Retailer-supplier collaboration
Lower transportation and inventory costs
Reduced stock outs
Reduction of product development time

Despite the long history and benefits of collaborative work, groups are not always successful. A key
reason is that collaborative work processes can be characterized not only by benefits but also by
dysfunctions.