Module 1 (cont)

Scott Morton Decison making Grid

Telecommunication networks
ESS,
OAS,
Networking concepts,
telecommunications networks

Operational
Control

Managerial
Control

Structured

Accts. Recviable
Order Entry

Budget analysis
Short-term
forecasting
Personnel Reports

Semi
Structured

Production
scheduling
Inventory control

Credit evaluation
Plant layout
Project scheduling

Unstructured

Selecting
magazine cover
Buying software,
Approving loans

Technology
support

MIS
Management
science

Strategic
Planning

Investment analysis MIS, Operations

Warehouse location research models,
Transaction
processing systems

Building new plants

Mergers and
acquisitions
New product
planning
Negotiation,
R&D planning
executive recruiting New technology
development
Mgt. Science
DSS
EIS
ES

Technology
support

DSS

DSS
EIS
Machine learning

EIS
ES
Machine learning

Decision Support Framework (Gary and ScottMorton)

2

Network Computing
Commercial internet application evolve through four major
phases: presence, e-commerce, collaboration, and integration

Presence

E-commerce

Collaboration and
interaction

Integration and
Services

Emphasis

Eyeball
(human review)

Revue, expansion

Profit

Capabilities,
services

Type of
transaction

No transaction

B2C,C2C,C2B,G2C
, e-CRM

B2B,B2E,supply
chain, c-commerce
G2B

Portals, e-learning
m-commerce, Icommerce

Nature

Publish information

Process transaction

Collaborate

Integrate, provide
services

Target

Pages

Process transaction

Digital systems

Digital
environments

Concentrate on

Websites

Web-enabled
existing systems,
dot-coms

Business
transformation
consolidation

Internal and
external integration

1993-1994

1995-1999

2000-2001

2001-2005

Internet Application Categories

Discovery. Discovery involves browsing and
information retrieval and provides customers the
ability to view information in databases, download it,
and/or process it.
Communication. The Internet provides fast and
inexpensive communication channels that range from
message posted on online bulletin boards to complex
information exchanges among many organizations.
Collaboration. Due to improved communication,
electronic collaboration between individuals and/or
groups and collaboration between organizations are
increasing rapidly.

The Network Computing Infrastructure:

The Intranet: An intranet is a network designed to serve

the internal informational needs of a company, using
Internet concepts and tools. It provides easy and
inexpensive browsing and search capabilities.
Extranet : An extranet connect the intranets of different
organizations and allows secure communications among
business partners over the Internet .

Discovery
The internet permits users to access information located
in databases all over the world. The discovery capability
can facilitate education, government services,
entertainment and commerce.
Discovery is done by browsing and searching data
sources on the web. The major problem of discovery is
the huge amount of information available. The solution is
to use different types of search and other software
agents.
Software agent : computer programs that carry out a set
of routine computer tasks on behalf of the user and in so
doing employ some sort of knowledge of the users
goals.
6

Two types of search facilities available on the web

Search engine: Computer program that can contact other
network resources on the Internet, search for specific
information by key words, and report the results; e.g.
Google.
Softbots: Software robots that execute routine tasks ( e.g.
maintaining search engines) for the benefit of their users.
Directory: A hierarchically organized collection of links to
web pages, compiled manually; e.g.Yahoo.
Metasearch Engine: A computer program that searches
several engines at once and integrates the finding of the
various search engines to answer queries posted by users.
Intelligent agent: Software agents that exhibit intelligent
behaviour and learning
7

Major type of agents

Web-Browsing- Assisting Agent: Known as tour

guides, work while the user browses.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) Agents: guide
people to the answers to frequently asked questions.
Intelligent Indexing Agents. Can carry out a massive
autonomous search of the web on behalf of a user or,
more commonly, of a search engine.

Portals
Portal: A Web-based personalized gateway to
information and knowledge that provides information
from disparate IT systems and the Internet, using
advanced search and indexing techniques.
Commercial (Public) Portal: Web site that offers fairly
routine content for diverse audiences; offers
customization only at the user interface.
Publishing Portal: Web site intended for communities
with specific interests; offers little customization of
content, but provides extensive online search and some
interactive capabilities.
9

Portals
Personal Portal: Web site that targets specific filtered
information for individuals; offers narrow content but is
typically personalized for an audience of one.
Affinity Portal: Web site that offers a single point of entry
to an entire community of affiliated interests.
Mobile Portal. Web site that is accessible from mobile
devices.
Voice Portal. Web site with audio interface, enabling
access by a standard or cell phone; uses both speech
recognition and text- to speech technologies.
Corporate Portal. web site that provides single point of
access to critical business information located inside and
outside of an organization.
10

Communication
Place and time can be used to create a framework for
classifying IT communication and collaboration support
technologies (same time/same place; same
time/different place; different time/same place; Different
time/different place)
Asynchronous Communication. Communication in
which a message sent at a certain time is received
some time later (e.g., e-mail)
Synchronous (real- time) Communication .
Communication in which a message is sent at a
certain time and received almost simultaneously (e.g.,
telephone, instant messaging online)
11

A framework for IT
ommunication

12

Web- based Call Centers (customer care center)

There are at least four categories of capabilities employed by
web- based call centres: e-mail, interactive text chat, call
backs, and simultaneous voice and web sessions.
Electronic chat refers to an arrangement whereby participants
exchange conversational message in real time
Chat room : A virtual meeting place where groups of
regulars come to gab electronically .
Two major types of chat programs exist (a) web- based chat
programs, which allow you to send message to internet users
using a web browser and visiting a web chat site (e.g.,
chat.yahoo.com), and (b) e-mail-based (text only) program
called Internet Relay Chat (IRC). A business can use IRC to
interact with customers, provide online experts answer to
questions, and so on.
13

 Voice communication can be done via the Internet using

a microphone and a sound card.
Internet telephony (voice- over IP). The use of the
Internet as the transmission medium for telephone
calls.
Weblog (blog) is a personal web site, open to the
public, in which the site owner express his or her
feelings or opinions.

14

Collaboration

Collaboration. Mutual efforts by two or more individuals who perform

activities in order to accomplish certain tasks.
Work group. Two or more individuals who act together to perform
some task, on either a permanent or temporary basis.
Virtual group (team). A workgroup whose members are in different
locations and meet electronically
Flash mob: an organized, often big, sometimes loud, frequently fun ,
and peculiar gathering. It is a sudden grouping of people who carry
out some generally odd ritual in unison and then, just as suddenly
as they appeared, disperse.
Smart mobs: a coordinated group of people using technology such
as mobile phones and the Internet to organize and then act
simultaneously.

15

Virtual Collaboration
Virtual collaboration. The use of digital technologies that
enable organization or individuals to collaboratively plan,
design, develop, manage, and research products
services , and innovative IT and EC applications.
Collaborative commerce. Collaboration among business
partners.
Collaboration Networks: Collaboration took place among
supply chain members, frequently those that were close
to each other (e.g., a manufacturer and its distributor, or
a distributor and a retailer)

16

Collaboration- Enabling tools

Workflow management . The automation of workflows, so
that documents, information ,or tasks are passed from one
participant to another through all of the steps in a business
process.
Workflow. The movement of information as it flows through
the sequence of steps that make up an organizations work
procedures.
Workflow Systems: Business process: automation tools
that place system controls in the hands of user
departments.

17

Groupware

Groupware: Software products that support groups of people

who collaborate on common task or goal and that provide a
way for groups to share resources.
Video teleconference: Virtual meeting in which participants in
one location can see and hear participants at other locations
and can share data graphics by electronic means.
Data conferencing: Virtual meeting in which data, graphics,
and computer files are sent electronically; allows
geographically dispersed groups to work on the same project
and to communicate simultaneously.
Web conferencing: video teleconferencing that is conclude
solely on the Internet (not on telephone line).
Screen Sharing Software: Software that enables group
members to work on the same document, which is shown on
the PC screen of each participant.
Groupware Suites: Groupware technologies often integrated
with other computer-based technologies (several products
are integrated into one system).
18

Different approaches and technologies for the

support of groups on the Internet
Virtual meeting. Meeting whose members are in different
locations, often in different countries.
Teleconferencing. The use of electronic communication
that allows two or more people at different location to
have a simultaneous conference.

19

Real Time Collaboration Tools

Real- time collaboration (RTC). tools help companies
bridge time and space to make decision and to
collaborate on projects. RTC tools support synchronous
communication of graphical and text-based information.
support, and sales applications.
Whiteboard (electronic). An area on a computer display
screen on which multiple users can write or draw;
multiple users can use a single document pasted onto
the screen.

20

Intranet and Extranet

Intranet
An internal corporate network built using Internet
and World Wide Web standards and products that
allows employees of an organization to gain
access to corporate information
Extranet
A network based on Web technologies that links
selected resources of the intranet of a company
with its customers, suppliers, or other business
partners

21

Intranet
A network based on TCP/IP protocols (an internet)
belonging to an organization, usually a corporation,
accessible only by the organization's members,
employees, or others with authorization.
An intranet's Web sites look and act just like any
other Web sites, but the firewall surrounding an
intranet fends off unauthorized access.
Like the Internet itself, intranets are used to share
information.
Secure intranets are now the fastest-growing segment of
the Internet because they are much less expensive to
build and manage than private networks based on
proprietary protocols.
22

Extranet
A new buzzword that refers to an intranet that is
partially accessible to authorized outsiders.
Whereas an intranet resides behind a firewall and
is accessible only to people who are members of
the same company or organization, an extranet
provides various levels of accessibility to outsiders.
You can access an extranet only if you have a valid
username and password, and your identity
determines which parts of the extranet you can view.
Extranets are becoming a very popular means for
business partners to exchange information.
23

Firewall
A device that sits between your internal network and the outside
Internet and limits access into and out of your network based on
your organizations access policy
A system designed to prevent unauthorized access to or from a
private network.
Firewalls can be implemented in both hardware and
software, or a combination of both.
Firewalls are frequently used to prevent unauthorized Internet
users from accessing private networks connected to the Internet,
especially intranets.
All messages entering or leaving the intranet pass through the
firewall, which examines each message and blocks those that do
not meet the specified security criteria.
24

Types of filters
There are several types of firewall techniques:

Packet filter: Looks at each packet entering or

leaving the network and accepts or rejects it based on
user-defined rules. Packet filtering is fairly effective
and transparent to users, but it is difficult to configure.
In addition, it is susceptible to IP spoofing.
Application gateway: Applies security mechanisms
to specific applications, such as FTP and Telnet servers.
This is very effective, but can impose a performance
degradation.
Circuit-level gateway: Applies security mechanisms
when a TCP or UDP connection is established. Once the
connection has been made, packets can flow between
the hosts without further checking.
Proxy server: Intercepts all messages entering and
leaving the network. The proxy server effectively hides
the true network addresses.
25

What is an Extranet?
An extranet is a private network that uses Internet
protocols and the public telecommunication system to
securely share part of a business's information or
operations with suppliers, vendors, partners,
customers, or other businesses.
An extranet can be viewed as part of a company's
Intranet that is extended to users outside the
company.
The same benefits that Web technologies have
brought to corporate Intranets are now starting to
accelerate business between businesses.
26

More on Extranets
Extranets can be used to exchange large volumes of
data, share product catalogues, share news with
trading partners, collaborate with other companies on
joint development efforts, jointly develop and share
training programs with other companies, provide or
access applications between companies, and much
more.
It may sound like a technology for geeks only. But
many people use extranets every day without realizing
it--to track packaged goods, order products from their
suppliers or access customer assistance from other
companies.

27

More on Extranets
An extranet is a mechanism based
on Internet and Web technology for
communicating both privately and
selectively with your customers and
business partners.

28

Differences between an Extranet,

an Intranet and the Internet?
First there was the Internet, which is available
for everyone to use. Then businesses got
smart and started developing their own
intranets that used the same friendly Web
interface but put up firewalls so that only
employees could see the information on the
site. Finally, the extranet was created.
It finds itself somewhere in betweenthere's
still a firewall, but you allow only selected
outsiders, such as business partners and
customers, inside.
29

Why would you use Extranets?

When done correctly, extranets provide a safe way to
allow transactional business-to-business activities and
can save your company some serious time and money.
The automotive industry uses extranets to cut down on
its redundant ordering processes and keep suppliers up
to date on parts and design changes, allowing quicker
response times to suppliers' problems and questions.
Suppliers can receive proposals, submit bids, provide
documents, even collect payments through an extranet
site.
An extranet has restricted (password-protected)
access, so it may be connected directly to each party's
internal systems.
30

Disadvantages of Extranets
The benefits of extranets, such as reduced time to
market and cost of doing business, and faster access to
partner information, may be outweighed by the costs
security, Web servers and development, legacy systems
integration, ongoing support and maintenance.
Extranets require a large amount of IS time and energy,
much more than what it takes to get an intranet or Web
site up and running, which may place it at the bottom of
the IS group's to-do list.

31

The Telecommunications system

Telecommunications system: Combination of hardware
and software that transmits information (text, data,
graphics, and voice) from one location to another.
Compatible hardware and software used to communicate
information from one place to another
Will include voice, text, graphics, documents and video
Analog signal: Continuous waves that transmit information
by altering the amplitude and frequency of the waves.
Digital signal: A discrete pulse, either on or off, that
conveys information in a binary form.

32

The major components of a telecommunications

system:
Hardware
Communications media
Communications networks
Communications software
Data communications providers
Communications protocols
Communication applications

33

Communications processors
Hardware devices that support data transmission and reception
across a telecommunications system.
Modem: :Device that converts signals from analog to digital and vice
versa.
Multiplexer: Electronic device that allows a single communications
channel to carry data transmission simultaneously from many sources.
Front-end processor: A small secondary computer, dedicated solely
to communication, that manages all routing communications with
peripheral devices.
[Bandwidth. The range of frequencies available in a communications
channel stated in bits per second.]
Transmission speed
A mediums capacity is determined by the range of bits per second
at which it can operate.
Baud
Repeater
34

Communication media and channels

Communication channel: Pathway for communicating
data form one location to another.
Cable media: Communications channels that use
physical wires or cables to transmit data and
information.
Broadcast ( wireless) media: Communication channels
that use electromagnetic media (the airwaves) to
transmit data.

35

Guided Media
Twisted-pairs wire:
Copper wire twisted together in pairs used for most
business telephone wiring .
Telephone line made of a pair of copper wires twisted to
reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI)
Coaxial cable.
Insulated copper wire;
used to carry high-speed data traffic and television
signals.
More expensive than twisted pair.
Greater transmission rate than twisted pair
Much less susceptible to EMI

36

Guided Media
Fibre- optic cable.
Thousand of very thin filaments of glass fibers,
surround by cladding, that transmit information
via light pulses generated by lasers.
Fiber-optic technology uses light instead of
electricity to transmit data.

37

Unguided Media
Microwave transmission:
Communication channel that uses towers to send
wireless signals;
used for high-volume,
long-distance,
point-to-point communication.
High-frequency,
short radio-frequency (RF) waves
Terrestrial microwave
Satellite microwave

38

Unguided Media
Radio transmission: Communications channel that uses
radio wave frequencies to send data directly between
transmitters and receivers over short distances.
Satellite radio (digital radio): Form of radio transmission that
offers uninterrupted, near CD-quality music beamed to your
radio from space.
Cellular radio technology. Use of radio transmission
between cells in geographic service areas and a mobile
telephone switching office, enabling wireless phone service.
Personal communication services (PCS) technology.
Wireless communication technology that uses lower-power,
higher-frequency radio waves than cellular radio technology,
making PCS devices effective in places where cellular
devices are not.
Infrared. Red light not commonly visible to human eyes; can
be modulated or pulsed for conveying information.
39

Network services
Computer network. A system connecting
communications media, hardware, and software
needed of two or more computer systems and/ or
devices.
Switched lines. Telephone lines through which data
transmissions can be routed or switched to their
destination.
Dedicated lines (leased lines). telephone line that
provide a constant connection between two devices
and require no switching or dialing.

40

 Integrated services digital network (ISDN). A highspeed technology that allows users to transfer voice,
video, image, and data simultaneously, over existing
telephone lines.
Digital subscriber line (DSL). A high-speed, digital
data-transmission technology using existing analog
telephone lines.

41

Telecommunications in Business
Telecommunications
Any form of long distance communication,
including telephone, television and radio
Telecommunications has improved business in three
main ways:
Better communication
Higher efficiency
Better distribution of data

42

What is Data Communications

Data Communications
Any transfer of data within a computer, between a
computer and another device, or between two
computers
Integration
Business are increasingly integrated in their use of
computers, telephony, video and data networks

43

Communication Direction
Three Modes of Communication Between Devices
Simplex
One direction only
Half-Duplex
Both directions, but only one at a time
Full-Duplex
Simultaneous in both directions

44

Communication Direction
Asynchronous Communication
In asynchronous transmission, the devices are not
synchronized by any timing aids.
Advantage
Does not need sophisticated and expensive timing
hardware
Disadvantage
Overhead, time spent transmitting bits that are not
a part of the primary data
45

Communication Modes
Synchronous Communication
In synchronous communication, data are transmitted
using timing devices.
Messages are transmitted in packets.
Advantage of synchronous communication
Overhead in synchronous communication is
significantly smaller than in asynchronous
communication.

46

Protocols
Definition
Rules and procedures governing transmission across
a network
Line access
Collision avoidance
TCP/IP
Standard protocol of the Internet and intranets
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
Designed for sending large files across unreliable
networks
Utilizes packets of information
47

OSI Standard
Seven Layer Model
Governs peer-to-peer communication between
software at each layer
From physical layer (how bits are transmitted over a
channel)
To application layer (file transfer, security, etc)

48

Open Systems Interconnect Model

The seven layers of the OSI model

49

50

51

Networks
LANs (Local Area Networks)
Networks within a building, or within a group of
adjacent buildings
WANs (Wide Area Networks)
Networks across significant distances, either within a
single organization or spanning multiple organizations
Value-added networks (VANs)
Wireless communication

52

Network Topology

Network topologies
53

Networks Devices
Bridge
Connects two networks at the data link layer

Router
Connects two networks at network layer
Provides intelligent routing, some network
management functions and security

Gateways
Connect networks using different protocols

Switches
Incorporate features of bridges and gateways
54

Client/Server Computing
Enabled by proliferation of powerful desktop
computers and decentralized servers
Principle
Processing functions divided between to
separate, distinct computers
One requests services of a server (the client)
One delivers a service upon request (the server)

55

Example of Client/Server Computing

Email
Email client (Outlook) sends request to
POP server for messages
POP Server receives and validates
request to download email
Client processes data received (formats,
displays, stores messages)

56

Benefits of Client/Server Computing

Potential to reduce cost
By offloading computing cycles to
cheaper and underutilized desktop PC
Improved performance
Has enabled high-performing graphical
user interfaces

57

 Cable modem. A modem that operates over coaxial

cable and offers high-speed access to the Internet
or corporate intranets.
Packet switching. Data transmission technology that
breaks up blocks of text into small, fixed bundles of
data (packets) that are sent independently through
the network.
Frame relay. A data transmission technology that is
faster and less expensive than packet switching.

58

 Asynchronous transfer mode (ATM). Data

transmission technology that uses packet switching
and allows for almost unlimited bandwidth on
demand.
Fiber distributed data inference (FDDI). Data
transmission standard based on high-speed, highcapacity capabilities of fiber optics.

59

Network protocols
Protocol. The set of rules and procedures governing
transmission across a network
Ethernet. The most common network protocol.
Gigabit Ethernet. The most common network protocol
in large corporations, which provides data
transmission speeds of one billion bits per second.
Transmission control protocol / internet protocol
(TCP/IP). A file transfer protocol that can send large
files of information across sometimes- unreliable
networks with assurance that the data will arrive
uncorrupted.

60

The International Standards Organization open

systems interconnection protocol (ISO-OSI)
The ISO-OSI model defines how software on different
system communicates at different layers. The model
has seven layers, each having its own well-defined
function.
Layer 1: physical layer: define the mechanism for
communicating with the transmission media and
interface hardware.
Layer 2: data link layer: validates the integrity of the
flow of data.
Layer 3. network layer: defines the protocols for data
routing to ensure that information arrives at the correct
destination

61

(ISO-OSI)
Layer 4: transport layer: defines the protocols for
structuring messages.
Layer 5: session layer : coordinates communications
and maintains the session for as long as needed
including security and log-on functions.
Layer 6: presentation layer; defines the way data is
formatted, converted and encoded
Layer7: application layer. Defines the way that
applications programs such as e-mail interact with
the network

62

Network processing strategies

Distributed processing. Network architecture that
divides processing work between two or more
computers, linked together in a network.
Client/ server computing. Form of distributed
processing in which some machines (servers)
perform computing functions for end user PCs
(clients).
Peer- topeer processing. A type of client/ server
distributed processing that allows two or more
computers to pool their resources, making each
computer both a client and a server

63

Types of computer networks

Local area network (LAN). Network that connects
communications devices in a limited geographical
region (e.g., a building ), so that every user device on
the network can communicate with every other
device.
Topology. The physical layout and connectivity of a
network

64

LAN technology
File server. A repository of various software and data files
for the network, which determines who gets access to
what and in what sequence
Network interface card. Hardware that specifics the data
transmission rate, the size of message units, the
addressing information attached to each message and
network topology.
Gateway. A communications processor that connects
dissimilar networks by translating from one set of
protocols to another
Bridge. A communications processor that connects two
networks of the same type.
Router. A communications processor that routes message
through several connected LANs or to a wide area
network.
65

LAN
Personal computer LANs
Low cost
Limited data rate
Back end networks
Interconnecting large systems (mainframes and large
storage devices)
High data rate
High speed interface
Distributed access
Limited distance
Limited number of devices
66

LAN Applications

Storage Area Networks

Separate network handling storage needs
Detaches storage tasks from specific servers
Shared storage facility across high-speed network
Hard disks, tape libraries, CD arrays
Improved client-server storage access
Direct storage to storage communication for backup
High speed office networks
Desktop image processing
High capacity local storage
Backbone LANs
Interconnect low speed local LANs
Reliability
Capacity
Cost
67

LAN Architecture

Topologies
Transmission medium
Layout
Medium access control

68

Topologies

Bus
Mesh
Star
Ring
Hybrid

69

Topologies

70

Choice of Topology

Reliability
Expandability
Performance
Needs considering in context of:
Medium
Wiring layout
Access control

71

Wireless local area networks (WLANs)

WLANs: Technologies (e.g., Bluetooth and wifi) that
provide LAN connectivity over short distance,
typically limited to less than 150 meters.
Bluetooth. A wireless technology that enables
temporary, short-range connection between wireless
devices and enables these devices to communicate
with each other via low-power radio frequencies.
Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity). A wireless technology that
can transmit information at a range up to 300 feet;
another name for the 802.11b standard on which
most WLANs run.
Private branch exchange (PBX). a type of LAN that
controls telephone switching at a company site.
72

OAS
OAS are configurations of networked computer hardware
and software.
Applied to business and communication functions that
used to be performed manually or in multiple locations of
a company
Functions integrated Include : e-publishing, ecommunication, e-collaboration, image processing, office
management

OAS
Electronic Publishing
Include word processing and desktop publishing.
Word processing software allows users to create, edit,
revise, store and print documents(letters, memos,
reports and manuscripts)
DTP software(eg Adobe pagemaker, Corel Ventura, MS
Publisher) enables users to integrate text, graphics,
images to produce high quality printable output.Used to
create professional looking publications

OAS
Electronic Communication includes e-mail, voice mail,
Fax, desktop vide conferencing
E-mail : Users can create, send and receive messages,
files from anywhere.
Voice mail
Fax(facsimile): Scans a document containing both text
and graphics and sends it as electronic signals over
ordinary telephone lines
Desktop videoconferencing: Requires a desktop
computer and a special application software(CUseeME)
as well as small camera installed on top of the monitor.
Images are captured and sent across the network

OAS
Electronic collaboration
E meeting and collaborative work systems allows teams
to use network of micro computers to share information,
update schedules and plans and cooperate on projects
regardless of the geographical distance
Special software called groupware is needed to allow
two or more people to edit

OAS

Telecommuting and collaborative systems

Telecommuters perform some or all of their work at
home instead of travelling to work place daily
Micro computers, modem, software
High Tech meeting rooms help companies make
effective presentation

OAS
Image Processing
Include electronic document management, presentation
graphics and multi media systems
Convert text, drawings and photographs into digital form
that can be stored in a computer system
This digital form can be manipulated, stored, printed or
sent via a modem to another computer.
Use scanners, digital cameras, video capture cards or
advanced graphic computers

OAS
Presentation graphics uses graphics and data from
other software tools to create and display information,.
Includes charts, bullet lists, text, sound, photos,
animation and video clips.
Multi media systems integrate media like graphic,
sound, voice, video
Office Management : Include electronic office
accessories, electronic scheduling, and task
management. Help organise people, project and data
Business dates, appointments, notes and client contact
information can be created, edited, stored and retrieved

Executive Support System

Because top-level executives often require specialized
support when making strategic decisions, many
companies have developed system to assist executive
decisions making.
This type of system called an executive support system
is a specialized decision support system that includes
all hardware, software, data, procedures and people used
to assist senior level execution within the organization.
In some levels executive support system is also known
as EIS.

Executive Support System

An executive support system can also be used by
individuals further down in the organizational
structure.
Once targeted at the top-level executive decision
makers. Executive support systems are now
marketed for & used by employees at other levels in
the organization.
In the traditional view, executive support system
gives top executives a means of tracking critical
success factors.

Executive Support System

An executive support system is a special type of decision
support system, and like a decision support system, an
executive support system is designed to support higherlevel decision making in the organization.
The decision support system provides a variety of
modeling and analysis tools to enable user to thoroughly
analyzed problems.
Executive support system prevents structured information
about aspects of the organization that executives consider
important.
It is for asking right question and decision support system
is to answer questions.

Characteristics of ESS

Ease to Use : The top-level executives most critical

resource can be his or her time. Thus, an executive
support system must be easy to learn & use and not
overly complex.
Have Drill Down Abilities : The executive support system
allows executive to drilldown into the company to
determine how certain data was produced. The drilldown
allows an executive to get more detailed information if
needed.
Can Help With Situations that Have a High Degree of
Uncertainty

Characteristics of ESS
Support the need for External Data
The data need to make effective top-level decisions
is often external information from competitors.
An effective ESS is able to extract data useful to
decision maker from wide variety of resources.
Have a future Orientation
Executive decisions are future oriented, meaning that
decisions will have a broad impact for years or decades.
The information sources to support future oriented
decision making are usually informal.

Characteristics of ESS
Are Linked with value added Business Process:

Like other information system, executive

support
systems are linked with executive
decision system can
be used by different
firms.
By detecting which firms generate enough business
to be worth a certain discount can be
done through
executive support system.

Capabilities of ESS
Support for Strategic Planning : This involves determining
long term objectives by analyzing the strengths and
weakness of the organization, predicting future trends and
projective the development of new product lines.
Support for Strategic Control : Another type of executive
decision relates to strategic control, which involves
monitoring & managing overall operation of the organization.
Goal seeking can be done for each major area to determine
what performance these areas need to achieve to reach
corporate exceptions.

Capabilities of ESS
Support for Crisis Management

Even with careful strategic planning, a crisis can occur

major disasters including hurricanes, tornadoes; floods
etc. can totally shutdown the part of organization.
Handling these emergencies is another responsibility for
top-level executives.
In many cases, strategic emergency plans can be put
into place with the help of an executive support system.
This helps the organization to recover quickly if an
emergency or crisis occurs.