E-Business and IS Solutions

Featured is an overview of the essentials of e-business, IT architecture, and the relationship between architectural solution building and object-oriented design methods. Buffam explores the trade-offs and considerations of project scope for both large-scale and smaller projects. After reviewing fundamental architectural principles, the author then details the seven-stage process: business modeling, IS modeling, current IS analysis, IS architecture planning, implementation planning, deployment, and review. He provides vital information on team roles and dynamics, incorporating legacy systems, cost-benefit and risk analyses, transition strategy, and project management.

Specific topics covered include:

• The effects of e-business on architectural IS solution building
• Object-oriented methods and architectural solution building
• Critical success factors for large-scale and narrow-scope projects
• Aligning the IS solution with business objectives
• Use-case and ideal-object models
• Guidelines for business-driven and technology-driven IS strategy
• Assessing existing hardware platforms, operating systems, and network capabilities
• Defining architecture models and supporting IT infrastructure
• Establishing transition strategy and sequence
• Deployment activities and project management
• Review and maintenance

You will also find an entire chapter devoted to practical issues you are likely to encounter. This chapter includes such issues as dealing with consultants, putting a methodology into practice, allocating resources, integrating multiple projects, and working with software reuse.

You will come away from this book with an enhanced understanding of the challenge facing you and a clearer idea of the direction to take.

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1 Characteristics of e-business

1.1 What do we mean by "e-business"?

1.2 What are the effects of e-business on architectural IS solution building?

CHAPTER 2 The Essence of "Architecture"

2.1 The evolution of information systems

2.2 "Architecture" and the original architects

2.3 Why do we need architecture in information systems?

2.4 "Architecture" in information systems--what is it?

2.5 Summary of the "architectural way"

Chapter 3 Object-Oriented Methods and Architectural Solution Building

3.1 What is object orientation all about?

3.2 Object orientation and the "architectural way"

3.3 Benefits of an object-oriented approach

3.4 Objects and components

3.5 Pitfalls of an object-oriented approach

3.6 benefits without OO tools

3.7 Where to find more information

Chapter 4 Project Scope Considerations

4.1 Large-scale projects

4.2 Narrow-scope projects

4.3 Trade-offs in project scope

4.4 Impact of varying scope on architecture stages

4.5 Where to find more information

Chapter 5 Introduction

5.1 Overview of the architectural solution-building process

5.2 Architectural solution-building team

5.3Global architectural principles

Chapter 6 Business Modeling

6.1 Business modeling in the context of the total process

6.2 Information sources for the business modeling stage

6.3 Business strategy

6.4 The business model

6.5 Applying the business model

6.6 Where was the "architecture"?

Chapter 7 IS Modeling

7.1 IS modeling in the context of the total process

7.2 IS Strategy

7.3 Developing the IS Strategy

7.4 The IS Model

7.5 The IS real-object model

7.6 Where was the "architecture"?

Chapter 8 Current IS Analysis

8.1 Overview

8.2 Current IS analysis in the context of the total process 8.2.1 Relation to other stages 8.2.2 Participants

8.3 Introducing the architectural framework

8.4 Conducting the current IS inventory

8.5 Inventory of IS components

8.6 Assessment of current IS environment

8.7 Where was the "architecture"?

Chapter 9 IS Architecture Planning

9.1 IS architecture planning in the context of the total process

9.2 Architectural principles

9.4 Defining supporting IT infrastructure

9.5 IT infrastructure for e-business

9.6 Where was the "architecture"?

9.7 Where to find more information

Chapter 10 Implementation planning

10.1 Implementation planning in the context of the total process

10.2 Identifying implementation options

10.3 Preliminary analysis of implementation options

10.4 Analyzing the implementation options

10.5 Establishing a transition strategy

10.6 Where was the "architecture"?

10.7 Where to find more information

Chapter 11 Deployment

11.1 Deployment in the context of the total process

11.2 Deployment activities

11.3 Project management

11.4 Where was the "architecture"?

Chapter 12 Review

12.1 The review stage in the context of the total process

12.2 Reviewing projects

12.3 Maintaining the information systems architecture

Chapter 13 Enlisting outside help: the role of consultants

13.1 Consultants for cross-enterprise leverage

13.2 Consultants for technology expertise

13.3 Consultants as project managers

13.4 The bottom line on consultants

Chapter 14 Methodologies: patterns for solution building

14.1 What's in a methodology?

14.2 Developing or acquiring a methodology

14.3 Using a methodology in practice

Chapter 15 Practical considerations in conducting solution building

15.1 Feedback loops and whirlpools

15.2 Duration of solution building

15.3 Architectural solution building and ongoing projects

Chater 16 Issues Concerning Reuse

16.1 Benefits of reuse

16.2 Reuse domains

16.3 Impediments to reuse

16.4 Essential enablers of reuse

16.5 Environmental drivers of reuse

16.6 Sources of reusable artifacts

Epilogue: Take-Home Thoughts

Bibliography and references

Index