Interoperability for Enterprise Information Systems

CTR's 202-page report examines enterprise interoperability in today's dynamic information systems (IS) environment from both a technical and managerial perspective. The report also explains the role of information technology (IT) in business objectives, including the Internet and intranets, global telecommunications, videoconferencing, and software reuse.

Interoperability Defined

Interoperability is more than an integration of technologies; it is the installation of methodology and procedures to enhance the viability of technologies' usage in the enterprise. Ultimately, technology will become as ubiquitous in the workplace as the pencil and pen once the organizational and structural aspects of technology are put into place. A solid foundation of correctly implemented technology provides today's dynamic enterprise with an additional tool for surpassing the competition.

Interoperability for Enterprise Information Systems describes the benefits provided by interoperability, discusses some of the standards that organizations such as the Open Software Foundation (OSF) have imposed to assist the interoperability cause, and summarizes the management and organizational issues, as well as the technical challenges, that make interoperability an ambitious goal for many enterprises.

Managing Interoperability

The management of interoperability involves the combining of business and technological objectives to create added value to the organization.

Interoperability for Enterprise Information Systems explains how one manages the increasing level of complexity that interoperability requires, focusing on the technological and managerial issues affecting the success of interoperability in the enterprise.

The report provides a discussion on the basic compatibility level many organizations try to achieve. It examines the available choices for managing hardware: In-house expertise, outsourcing, or turning to the hardware vendors for support. The report also evaluates operating system (OS) compatibility and how the mind set of industry has turned away from the operating system and platform and toward the application and its development.

The Network Examined

To compete effectively, organizations are reengineering their businesses and using many technologies to enhance productivity.

Interoperability for Enterprise Information Systems provides the framework for arguably the most discussed part of interoperability -- the network. Network communications, inside and outside the enterprise, is an area where standards are constantly evolving as technology progresses.

The report examines the choices of integrated services digital network (ISDN), asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), frame relay (FR), Fast Ethernet, and situations where their uses are most appropriate. It also explores the application areas of groupware, messaging, and videoconferencing to see how industry standards are assisting the efforts of these collaborative approaches.

Finally, the report reviews the integration efforts between connectivity and communication throughout the enterprise domain via local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and global telecommunications.

Internet and Intranet Interoperability

Today's great hope for interoperability is the Internet and intranets. The Internet appears to have become a viable environment for corporate applications and has already significantly influenced enterprise networking.

The report addresses this phenomena, focusing on usage and content management from both an internal and external aspect. Planning a successful Internet strategy for the enterprise involves clearly outlining business goals and defining areas of concern such as bandwidth availability and security. The report also discusses hardware and software choices, implementation, and Web site and intranet maintenance.

Information Systems Management Strategies

Effective information systems (IS) management is a prime enabler in meeting the growing number of new business challenges.

Interoperability for Enterprise Information Systems analyzes in detail the crucial role of IS management in the enterprise. IS management has become strategic to the business enterprise as technology advances increase its competitive positioning. The report looks at the relationship between business strategies and the investment in information technology. The report focuses on the use of data management strategies such as data warehousing and data drills and the sharing and reuse of information within the organization via print management, storage management, and commonalties across the company.

Using Information Technology Efficiently

The report assesses the most efficient use of information technology (IT) and IT staff resources within a company. It focuses on the management of outsourcing, asset management for controlling IT equipment costs, the costs and benefits of migration and customization, and the management of IT personnel in a time when resources are stretched and budgets are slim.

The Future of Interoperability

With all of the dynamic changes in today's IT environment, what does the future hold for the interoperable IT operation?

The report examines three particular areas of interest for the future of interoperable organizations: The Internet, the desktop, and the use of IT as a competitive advantage for business. As IT becomes more mainstream in business, its usage and the backbones of infrastructure that support it demonstrate that technology is just another business tool that needs proper implementation to be used effectively.

Alea Fairchild is Director and Managing Partner of Greiner International, Inc., a pan-European market consultancy, and a founding member of the European Consultancy Network, a team of information consultants and market analysts. Her special area of interest is the development and use of intelligence and IT in product planning and business strategy. Her technical expertise lies in open systems and software. Mrs. Fairchild has ten years experience in global IT market analysis, and has worked for Dataquest, IDC, Romtec, and many other major market research agencies as a consultant. She has also performed as a consultant for the European Commission, as well as major multinational IT companies throughout Europe. As an IT market expert, Mrs. Fairchild has been a contributor to the Wall Street Journal Europe, European Computer Sources, O1 Informatique, Automatisering Gids and CM Corporate. She is a member of both the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals (SCIP) and The Strategic Planning Society (SPS).

Mrs. Fairchild has a Masters degree in International Management from Boston University/Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium, and a Bachelors degree in Business Management and Marketing from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.