The IT Architecture_Closure
Content
The IT Architecture •
An Information Technology Architecture defines a company's IT infrastructure and includes policies and guidelines that govern the arrangements of IT resources—computers, data, software, and communications facilities.
•
An IT architecture provides a structure to facilitate decision making about technology investment and use.
•
An IT architect architecture ure ensures ensures that technology technology decisions decisions are made strategic strategically ally,, not haphazardly.
•
A clear idea of their business strategy and the related IT reuirements!
•
IT and associated costs make up more than "#$ of new capital e%penditures in many companies already& but while the costs of other resources are increasing, the cost of IT is decreasing #$()#$ per year.
•
*ust *ust as the building building owner cannot cannot simply simply tell tell an archit architect ect to build build a skyscr skyscrape aper r without first articulating what the function and uses of the building will be, business e%ecutives cannot e%pect their IT specialists to design an IT architecture without a clear understanding of the business needs.
An IT architecture has three distinct +layers+ -/ the inventory of IT +building blocks,+ -/ the functional use of the information technology, and -)/ the strategic plans for the use of IT in the business
Inventory • • • •
0omputer hardware 1oftware 2ata 0ommunications links
These building blocks are analogous to the parts and materials -the steel beams, the concrete, the electrical wiring, the glass/ that the skyscraper builder uses to construct a building. Computer hardware Computers are generally classified according to their size and speed into four main categories microcomputers microcomputers or 30s -the smallest/, minicomputers, minicomputers, mainframes, and super(computers super(computers -the largest/.
Software 0omputer hardware is directed by software—sets of instructions generally referred to as programs.
Data 2ata is the record of an observed event. In a computer environment, data are numbers, te%t, graphics, images, and voice stored in a form that can be processed by a computer. +2ata+ becomes +information+ only when it is analyzed and interpreted to provide meaning.
As a building block for an IT architecture, data may be considered a +raw material.+
Communications links 0ommunication infrastructure enables the s haring of data and information among various users within and outside of the organization. 4arious types of data -such as numbers, words, graphics, voice, and video/ may be transmitted digitally across communication links, depending on the bandwidth of the linkage.
Network is used to refer to a system of hardware and software which permits computer(to(computer or computer(to(peripheral device communication. 5iber cables for wide area networks can transmit data at ." billion bits per second -gbps/. 5iber(based local area networks transmit at ## million bits per second -mbps/ 6
Functional Use of the Information Technology
The functional use of the IT tells how these capabilities are employed within the organization. This layer in the IT architecture is analogous to an architect's blueprint for a building. It is at this conceptual level of IT function that the general manager and the IT architect come together. The general manager has certain tasks and functions that she needs the IT to perform in order to support the business. • • •
Applications 2ata 0ommunications
Strategic Plan for the IT 7eneral managers who understood business issues were typically unfamiliar with computers. They attended to strategy and management matters, and delegated IT architecture decisions to the in(house +computer gurus+. These top(down and bottom(up approaches must meet in the +middle,+ so that the most appropriate technology is arranged to support the business goals of the company.
Developing an Architecture 1tep . Articulate the business strategy and implications for the IT architecture 1tep . Baseline the company architecture 1tep ). Determine the key architecture questions 1tep 8. Design a planned architecture blueprint 1tep ". Initiate the architecture plan IT enables information to be managed as a strategic resource. IT, however, is e%tremely fast(changing and comple%. As a result, general managers face a dilemma they can not leave important IT decisions strictly to the technologists, and they can not hope to be technically competent to make the +right+ IT decisions for the firm. This dilemma is resolved by the management construct of IT architecture. An IT architecture is a bridge between strategy and technology.
Generations of Information Architecture
Ge ne r a t i on Focus Dr i venBy Cont ent
1st Generation Systems as Increasing functionality Explanation of the need for 197s and 19!s standalone and sophistication of an architectural approach"
applications #ithin standalone applications$ Analogies #ith %uilding
individual
architecture"
organi&ations$
Simple 'D diagrams or
frame#or(s providing
overvie#s of the architecture$
'nd Generation
Gro#th in system Extension and adaptation of
Systems as
199s integrated sets of complexity and diagrams from
components interdependence" architectures"
#ithin individual Demand for soft#are )opulation of frame#or(s
organi&ations$ reuse$ #ith industry reference
models$
*rd Generation Information as Emergence of the Internet+ Explicit definition of principles late 199s corporate e,commerce+ and an and %ac(ground theory and 's resource #ith increase in %usiness,to, Development of multi,
supporting IT tools %usiness applications" dimensional architectures"
and techni-ues$ Gro#ing interdependence .ustomi&ation of information
among organi&ations" frame#or(s to the needs of
Adoption of (no#ledge individual organi&ations"
management+ systems Generic information patterns
thin(ing+ and a more and maps$
holistic vie# of information
as a resource$
Case : framework for information systems architecture by
J. A.
Zachman
The technology itself did not provide for either breadth in scope or depth in complexity in information systems. Decentralization without structure is chaos. Information systems architecture is related to strategy both information strategy and business strategy the paper deliberately limits itself to architecture and should not be construed as presenting a strategic planning methodology
Architectural deliverables in constructing a building ! "ubble charts Architect#s drawings Architect#s plans $ontractor#s plans %hop plans The building &ow when we loo' at military airframe manufacturing ! $oncepts (or' brea'down structure )ngineering design *anufacturing engineering bill+of+material Assembly and fabrication drawings Information %ystems ! %cope, -bectives *odel of the business *odel of the Information %ystem Technology *odel
Detailed Description *achine /anguage Description Information %ystem Three di0erent types of descriptions of the same product 1 *aterial 2(hat are the things made of34 1 Data *odel 2)ntity+ relationship+entity4 5unction 26ow the things wor's34 1 7rocess *odel 2Input+process+ output4 /ocation 2(here the 8ows exist34 1 &etwor' *odel 2&ode+line+node4
An Information Technology Architecture defines a company's IT infrastructure and includes policies and guidelines that govern the arrangements of IT resources—computers, data, software, and communications facilities.
•
An IT architecture provides a structure to facilitate decision making about technology investment and use.
•
An IT architect architecture ure ensures ensures that technology technology decisions decisions are made strategic strategically ally,, not haphazardly.
•
A clear idea of their business strategy and the related IT reuirements!
•
IT and associated costs make up more than "#$ of new capital e%penditures in many companies already& but while the costs of other resources are increasing, the cost of IT is decreasing #$()#$ per year.
•
*ust *ust as the building building owner cannot cannot simply simply tell tell an archit architect ect to build build a skyscr skyscrape aper r without first articulating what the function and uses of the building will be, business e%ecutives cannot e%pect their IT specialists to design an IT architecture without a clear understanding of the business needs.
An IT architecture has three distinct +layers+ -/ the inventory of IT +building blocks,+ -/ the functional use of the information technology, and -)/ the strategic plans for the use of IT in the business
Inventory • • • •
0omputer hardware 1oftware 2ata 0ommunications links
These building blocks are analogous to the parts and materials -the steel beams, the concrete, the electrical wiring, the glass/ that the skyscraper builder uses to construct a building. Computer hardware Computers are generally classified according to their size and speed into four main categories microcomputers microcomputers or 30s -the smallest/, minicomputers, minicomputers, mainframes, and super(computers super(computers -the largest/.
Software 0omputer hardware is directed by software—sets of instructions generally referred to as programs.
Data 2ata is the record of an observed event. In a computer environment, data are numbers, te%t, graphics, images, and voice stored in a form that can be processed by a computer. +2ata+ becomes +information+ only when it is analyzed and interpreted to provide meaning.
As a building block for an IT architecture, data may be considered a +raw material.+
Communications links 0ommunication infrastructure enables the s haring of data and information among various users within and outside of the organization. 4arious types of data -such as numbers, words, graphics, voice, and video/ may be transmitted digitally across communication links, depending on the bandwidth of the linkage.
Network is used to refer to a system of hardware and software which permits computer(to(computer or computer(to(peripheral device communication. 5iber cables for wide area networks can transmit data at ." billion bits per second -gbps/. 5iber(based local area networks transmit at ## million bits per second -mbps/ 6
Functional Use of the Information Technology
The functional use of the IT tells how these capabilities are employed within the organization. This layer in the IT architecture is analogous to an architect's blueprint for a building. It is at this conceptual level of IT function that the general manager and the IT architect come together. The general manager has certain tasks and functions that she needs the IT to perform in order to support the business. • • •
Applications 2ata 0ommunications
Strategic Plan for the IT 7eneral managers who understood business issues were typically unfamiliar with computers. They attended to strategy and management matters, and delegated IT architecture decisions to the in(house +computer gurus+. These top(down and bottom(up approaches must meet in the +middle,+ so that the most appropriate technology is arranged to support the business goals of the company.
Developing an Architecture 1tep . Articulate the business strategy and implications for the IT architecture 1tep . Baseline the company architecture 1tep ). Determine the key architecture questions 1tep 8. Design a planned architecture blueprint 1tep ". Initiate the architecture plan IT enables information to be managed as a strategic resource. IT, however, is e%tremely fast(changing and comple%. As a result, general managers face a dilemma they can not leave important IT decisions strictly to the technologists, and they can not hope to be technically competent to make the +right+ IT decisions for the firm. This dilemma is resolved by the management construct of IT architecture. An IT architecture is a bridge between strategy and technology.
Generations of Information Architecture
Ge ne r a t i on Focus Dr i venBy Cont ent
1st Generation Systems as Increasing functionality Explanation of the need for 197s and 19!s standalone and sophistication of an architectural approach"
applications #ithin standalone applications$ Analogies #ith %uilding
individual
architecture"
organi&ations$
Simple 'D diagrams or
frame#or(s providing
overvie#s of the architecture$
'nd Generation
Gro#th in system Extension and adaptation of
Systems as
199s integrated sets of complexity and diagrams from
components interdependence" architectures"
#ithin individual Demand for soft#are )opulation of frame#or(s
organi&ations$ reuse$ #ith industry reference
models$
*rd Generation Information as Emergence of the Internet+ Explicit definition of principles late 199s corporate e,commerce+ and an and %ac(ground theory and 's resource #ith increase in %usiness,to, Development of multi,
supporting IT tools %usiness applications" dimensional architectures"
and techni-ues$ Gro#ing interdependence .ustomi&ation of information
among organi&ations" frame#or(s to the needs of
Adoption of (no#ledge individual organi&ations"
management+ systems Generic information patterns
thin(ing+ and a more and maps$
holistic vie# of information
as a resource$
Case : framework for information systems architecture by
J. A.
Zachman
The technology itself did not provide for either breadth in scope or depth in complexity in information systems. Decentralization without structure is chaos. Information systems architecture is related to strategy both information strategy and business strategy the paper deliberately limits itself to architecture and should not be construed as presenting a strategic planning methodology
Architectural deliverables in constructing a building ! "ubble charts Architect#s drawings Architect#s plans $ontractor#s plans %hop plans The building &ow when we loo' at military airframe manufacturing ! $oncepts (or' brea'down structure )ngineering design *anufacturing engineering bill+of+material Assembly and fabrication drawings Information %ystems ! %cope, -bectives *odel of the business *odel of the Information %ystem Technology *odel
Detailed Description *achine /anguage Description Information %ystem Three di0erent types of descriptions of the same product 1 *aterial 2(hat are the things made of34 1 Data *odel 2)ntity+ relationship+entity4 5unction 26ow the things wor's34 1 7rocess *odel 2Input+process+ output4 /ocation 2(here the 8ows exist34 1 &etwor' *odel 2&ode+line+node4
