Architecture is (usually) about buildings, cities and infrastructure (and the like). You can see it all around you and everyone has an opinion about it. You either like the style of that building or you don’t and all the nuances in between.
Between the Style of an organization and the goal it pursues (although not all share this approach of goal-oriented organizations) the systems area is displayed.
Systems are a response to functional needs. A library provides the function of displaying the public word. Accessibility is therefore an additional non-functional requirement.
Once you or your organization know the functional requirements, you can start building Systems that provide the right Build.
This coincidence of function and construction exists in three pairs, like the three pairs of wings on a building:
- The organization (human resources and organizational structure) that responds to the business process.
- The information and functions that fit with the systems.
- And the non-functional requirements that are resolved with infrastructure.
The metaphor of a building is not exactly adequate, because between the different wings and each floor there are many connections…
In this way, the systems that companies use fit into the middle floor and play a central role in the organization. The systems structure exhibits much of the business style and priorities.
This is a list of systems of which one or more might be present in your organization:
- ERP – Enterprise Resource Planning. Systems that manage the internal functioning.
- SCM-Supply Chain Management. Dedicated to the management of information with third parties.
- DMS – Document Management System. Control the flow of documents.
- CMS – Content Management System. Organize content that needs to be shared by everyone.
- HRM – Human Resource Management. Systems that have to manage human resources.
- CMS – Contact Management System (email responders, for example).
- DWH – A corporate customer and product data warehouse.
- TCS – Telecommunications Systems. A wide area of systems that manage telephone traffic.
- …etc.
If you think that this list represents the left or right wing on the second floor, you can imagine that many powers influence this area. All businesses, regardless of size, struggle with area. First because it is prominent and striking; everyone is dealing with it. The management of information systems is like the management of politics; everyone has an opinion about how it should be. The challenge is managing new business and taking these systems with you… on your way…
© 2006 Hans Bool