Case Study 7 1&2

CHAPTER SEVEN

CLOSING CASE STUDY ONE
INTERNATIONAL TRUCK MAKES A HUGE BET ON A SERVICE-ORIENTED ARCHITECURE

1. With respect to its customers (dealers in this case), how is international Truck using a service-oriented architecture to meet their needs? How does using an SoA further help International Truck erect an entry barrier (from Chapter 1)?

2. With respect to information needs, what advantages and efficiencies is international Truck hoping to gain by using a service-oriented architecture? Why are these advantages and efficiencies not possible with its current legacy systems?


3. Recalling our discussion of software development methodologies in Chapter 6 that focus on component-based development (i.e., RAD, XP, and agile), how is international Truck able to integrate new software modules with existing ones?

4. What key infrastructure-centric metrics could International Truck use to justify its movement toward a service-oriented architecture? For each that you identify, provide a short description of why the metric is important.


5. How important is it for International Truck to have a good business continuity plan is place? What key IT systems and other IT resources do you believe would be at the top of the list for quick recovery? Why?


CHAPTER SEVEN

CLOSING CASE STUDY TWO
ROGER WILLIAMS MEDICAL CENTER BOOSTS ITS IT INFRASTRACTURE

1. In this chapter, we noted that many effectiveness metrics depend on the application under security, such as supply chain management and customer relationship management. What sort of effectiveness metrics would the health care industry likely use to evaluate the success of IT systems? Where possible, highlight the use of these effectiveness metrics by roger Williams.

2. In the final part of this case study, Roger Williams was making plans to create a business continuity plan for its information. Why do you think the hospital had not already developed such plan in the event of a disaster? How is HP’s new IT infrastructure going to help Roger Williams build a robust business continuity plan?
3. According to the network infrastructures we discussed in this chapter, how would you characterize Roger Williams’ new IT infrastructure? Justify your answer.

4. As a part of a business continuity plan. Many businesses identify cold sites or hot sites to which they can move carry on their business activities. What about a hospital like Roger Williams? What if it suffered a disaster such as a flood or hurricane? Where could it move to provide quality patient care?

5. What infrastructure-centric metrics can you find in this case study? Why are they so important to Roger Williams? What other infrastructure-centric metrics might be important to the hospital?