Clustered Central Computing System

To Workstation Connections

To Workstation Connections

Distributed Computing System

LAN/WAN Connectivity

Wide AreaNetwork

File Server vs. Client Server

File Server ApproachDistributed Application

Client/Server ApproachDistributed Data

Server

Entire file

Data orApplication

Request

Onlyrequested

data

Data orApplication

Request

ServerWorkstation Workstation

Location Connectivity Diagram

SingaporeDistributionWarehouse

SingaporeDistributionWarehouse

OmahaDistributionWarehouse

OmahaDistributionWarehouse

LondonDistributionWarehouse

LondonDistributionWarehouse

InventoryControl

InventoryControl

PayablesManagement

PayablesManagement

Buying AgentsBuying Agents

GlobalPurchase

MaterialSuppliers

PayablesProcess

Bus Network Topology

Picture of original drawing by Robert Metcalfe of the conceptualization of

Ethernet

Ethernet

Token Ring Topology

Token Ring

Star Network Topology

Wearable Computers

ERP

Typical Nonintegrated Organizational IS Organizational ERP System

Marketing, Resource Planning, Accounting,

Finance, Manufacturing, Human Resources, Sales,

Suppliers, Customers,

MarketingDatabase

Human ResourcesDatabase

MaterialsDatabase

AccountingDatabase

HR Applications Manufacturing Applications

Financial Applications

Marketing and Sales

Applications

HR Applications Manufacturing Applications

Financial Applications

Marketing and Sales Applications

Distributed Computing

Advantages Disadvantages

• Increased adaptability and responsiveness to local needs

• Increased availability of resources due to redundant systems

• Closer alignment with organizational structure

• Improved incremental growth and local scalability

• Increased end user empowerment• Location independence support

development of virtual teams• Independence from single vendor

solutions 

• Increased difficulties in controlling information resources

• Potential for massive data redundancy• Increased complexity and cost• Increased network management

resources• Increased difficulty in testing and detecting

failures

The 7 Deadly Sins

 

• “If you build it, they will come.”• Omission of a data warehouse architectural framework• Underestimating the importance of documenting all assumptions and potential

conflicts• Abuse of methodology and tools• Abuse of the data warehouse life cycle• Ignorance concerning the resolution of data conflicts• Failure to document the mistakes made during the first DW project