Tasks

1. Jesse wants me to recommend a vendor who offers an ERP strategy. I need to review the
SAP and Oracle Web sites, and at least two others that offer ERP solutions, and reply to
her with the results and the reasons for my recommendations.
After conducting the research on different ERP vendors, my vote goes for SAP because
of following reasons:
Reliability
Scalability
More built in practices
Wide range of services offered
Reputation in the market
Although the cost is higher than SAP, SAP still is the first choice of businesses.

2. Visit SCR's data library to review SCR's network configuration and then send Jesse a
recommendation for the TIMS system architecture. She wants me to suggest an overall
client/server design, number of tiers, and network topology. She also asked me to
comment on these issues: legacy data, Web-centricity, scalability, security, and batch
processing that might be needed. Jesse said it was OK to make reasonable assumptions in
my proposal to her.
I suggest two-tier client-server architecture for TIMS as it meets the demands of TIMS.I
think a star topology will justify the network requirements of TIMS with a server, a
switch and connected workstations.
SCR is a new company and does not have much data in its TIMS record so legacy
systems are not required and if there is any old data that needs to be converted or
transferred because of less data in store.
TIMS does require a web centric system to reach bigger audience.
With the changing trends in technology, scalability is vital for TIMS. As the business will
increase so is the need of up gradation and extension.
Because of web centricity TIMS data will need more security from hackers, malwares,
viruses and Trojans etc, as customers information will be on risk.
TIMS might not need batch processing at the moment but will be effective in future.

3. Perform research on the Internet to learn more about TCO, and develop a TCO checklist
that includes the five most important elements of TCO, because of their magnitude or
potential impact on TIMS.
Direct costs:
Hardware and software
Management
Support
Development
Communication fees
Indirect costs might be the costs that will add up because of delay or any problem in
management system.
4. Prepare a design specification as Jesse requested.
* Management summary
* System components
* System environment
* Implementation requirements
* Time and cost estimates
* Additional materials

Chapter 10 Exercise
This chapter begins with an architecture checklist. If you had to rank the items, from
most important to least important, what would your list look like? Explain your answer.
1)
2)

Initial and total cost of ownership (tco)

Enterprise resource planning (erp)

3)

Processing option

4)

Web integration

5)

Security issues

6)

Scalability

7)

Legacy system interface requirements

8)

Corporate organization and culture

9)

Corporate portals
2.Describe client/server architecture, including fat and thin clients, client/server tiers, and
middleware.
Client Server architecture are flexible, fast, object oriented, user friendly, accessible but
are weak at security levels.
Fat Client have higher network traffic as a result slower performance. Because of higher
traffic powerful hardware is required which increases the cost both initial and
maintenance. Easier to develop because all development is done on clients size.
Thin clients have lower traffic, are faster, low initial and maintenance cost but difficult to
develop because developers must optimize the division of processing logic.
Middleware, as the name indicates, connects software and hardware by providing an
interface or a platform. It enables the tiers to communicate back and forth.
10. List the sections of a system design specification, and describe the contents.

Executive Summary Management summary providing brief overview of project

System Components complete design for the new system

System Environment describes the constraints affecting the system

Implementation Requirements specify startup processing, initial data entry, user

training requirements, and software test plans

Time and Cost Estimates provides detailed schedules, cost estimates, and
staffing requirements

Appendices Supplemental material