School of Informatics

Department of Information Technology

Course: Information System Management
Course Code: (MSIT 7103)
Degree Program: MSc IT Year 2 Sem II

Compiled by: Siraj Sebhatu (PhD)

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 E-mail – siraj.sebhatu@wsu.edu.et

10:27:46 PM 1
DESIGNING CORPORATE IT ARCHITECTURE
• Way back in 1964, Paul Baran at the Rand Corporation wrote a paper
about distributed systems.
• At the time, computing meant mainframes and hardwired terminals;
distributed systems were just theory.
• Driven by sophisticated computing needs of business users,
distributed systems have today become the corporate architecture of
choice, and oftentimes, by necessity, in an increasingly
interconnected world.
Architecture” and “Infrastructure
• the two terms,“architecture” and “infrastructure,” are often used
interchangeably,
• An IT architecture is a blueprint. A blueprint shows how a
system, house, vehicle, or product will look and how the
parts interrelate.
• The more complex an item, the more important its
architecture, so that the interrelationships among the
components are well defined and understood.
IT infrastructure
• An IT infrastructure is the implementation of an architecture. In a city,
the infrastructure includes its streets and street lighting, hospitals and
schools, utilities, police and fire departments, and so on. In a
corporation, the IT infrastructure.
• includes the processors, software, databases, electronic links, and data
centers, as well as the standards that ensure that the components
seamlessly work together; the skills for managing the operation, and
even some of the automatic electronic processes themselves.
Architecture and Infrastructure
• An information system architecture is a formal definition of the
business processes and rules, systems structure, technical framework,
and product technologies for a business or organizational information
system.
• An information system architecture usually consists of four layers:
business process architecture, systems architecture, technical
architecture, and product delivery architecture.
Architecture of an information system
• The architecture of an information system encompasses the hardware
and software used to deliver the solution to the final consumer of
services.
• The architecture is a description of the design and contents of a
computerized system.
• If documented, the architecture may include information such as a
detailed inventory of current hardware, software and networking
capabilities; a description of long-range plans and priorities for future
purchases, and a plan for upgrading and/or replacing dated
equipment and software.
Architecture of an information system
• The architecture should document:
• What data is stored?,
• How does the system function?,
• Where are components located?,
• When do activities and events occur in the system?, and
• Why does the system exist?
Classification of Information System
Architecture (ISA)
• The following is the classification of the information system
architecture :
• 1) Client- Server Architecture :
• The client server model of computing separate tasks between
resource or service providers referred to as servers and service
requesters refers to as clients.
• Client/server architecture is a general model in any software
organisation which can be executed in several ways.
Cont..
2. Web Based Architecture :
• Database architecture can be said to be an extension of the
client/server architecture but there are certain differences.
• The application software is present in the client workstation in
client/server architecture which is used to communicate with the
application server.
• However, in the web based application the client machines have web
browsers which are network to web browser by LAN or WAN.
Cont..
Cont..
3. Cloud Architecture :

• The cloud computing architecture of a cloud solution refers to the

structure of the system which includes on premise and cloud
resources, services, middle ware and software components with their
geo-location, externally visible properties and their inter-
relationships.
Cont…
4. Grid Architecture :
• Grid architecture refers to sharing of resources in a distributed
environment in a particular design of a grid.
• The resource layer lies just about this which comprises computers,
storage system, electronic data catalogues, sensors and telescopes
connected to the network.
• It has various layers where each layer has a particular function which
higher layers being user-centric and lower layers being hardware
centric. Network is the lowest layer which connects the grid
resources.
IT Infrastructure
• IT infrastructure provides the
foundation for serving
customers, working with
vendors, and managing
business processes. It defines
the capabilities of the firm
today and in the near term.

FIGURE 4-1 CONNECTION BETWEEN THE FIRM, IT INFRASTRUCTURE,

AND BUSINESS CAPABILITIES
IT Infrastructure
• The services a firm is capable of providing to its customers, suppliers,
and employees are a direct function of its IT infrastructure.
• Ideally, this infrastructure should support the firm’s business and
information systems strategy.
• New information technologies have a powerful impact on business
and IT strategies, as well as the services that can be provided to
customers.
IT Infrastructure
• IT infrastructure can be seen as technology or as service clusters.
• The service-based definition focuses on the services provided by the
hardware and software, such as computing platforms,
telecommunications, physical facilities management, application
software, data management, IT management, IT standards, IT
educations, and IT research and development.
• The service platform perspective highlights the business value
provided by IT infrastructure.
Five stages in the evolution of
IT infrastructure can be
identified:

Enterprise Internet (1992-

present): The Internet
networking technology
Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol
(TCP/IP) suite enables
enterprises to link disparate
devices and local area networks
(LANs) into single enterprise-
wide networks.

Integrated computing
environments allows for much
faster and seamless gathering
and distribution of data.
Reading Assignment
• There are five important features or characteristics of information
technology today that act as drivers toward the expansion and further
development of technology. These include:
• 1. Moore's Law and Microprocessing Power
• 2. The Law of Mass Digital Storage
• 3. Metcalf's Law and Network Economics
• 4. Declining Communications Costs and the Internet
• 4. Standards and Network Effects
 Structure of the IT Infrastructure
• IT infrastructure – “shared and reliable services that provide the
foundation for enterprise IT portfolio.”
• IT infrastructure is an enabler for business performance benefits.
• Weill and Broadbent propose a four-layer IT infrastructure.
 Structure of the IT Infrastructure
• IT components – foundation
of an enterprise’s IT
infrastructure.
• Consists of computers,
printers, OSs et al.
• Human IT infrastructure –
handled by humans,
translates IT component into
business terms.
• Consists of experts’
knowledge, skills,
experience and
standards.
 Structure of the IT Infrastructure
• IT components – foundation of an enterprise’s IT
infrastructure.
• Consists of computers, printers, OSs et al.
• Human IT infrastructure – handled by humans, translates IT
component into business terms.
• Consists of experts’ knowledge, skills, experience and
standards.
 Structure of the IT Infrastructure
• Shared IT services – business view of the IT
infrastructure.
• Treats infrastructure as a set of services
• Consist of web sites, wireless apps, firewalls, data
processing facilities.
• Shared and standard IT apps – less dynamic compared
to local applications.
• Consists of accounting, HR and budgeting apps.
Management Issues
Creating and managing a coherent IT infrastructure raises multiple challenges:
• Dealing with scalability and infrastructure change: How can a firm remain
flexible when most of the investments in IT infrastructure are fixed cost purchases
and licenses? How well does the infrastructure scale?
• Scalability refers to the ability of a computer, product, or system to expand to
serve a large number of users without breaking down.

• Management and governance: Who will control and manage the firm's IT
infrastructure and information systems groups?

• Making wise infrastructure investments: IT infrastructure is a major investment

for the firm, and spending too little, or too much, on purchased and rented
components and software can have strong consequences for a firm.
Management of IS Infrastructure Issues
• Although each firm will have unique needs and solutions for investing
in IT infrastructure, several guidelines can be used in determining
whether a firm's investment in IT infrastructure is adequate.
Management of IS Infrastructure Issues
• In the competitive forces model for IT infrastructure, six factors to evaluate
include: Market demand for (and satisfaction with) the firm's services to
customers, suppliers, and employees

• The firm's business strategy

• The firm's IT strategy, infrastructure, and cost

• Assessment of the firm's current information technology

• Services of competitor firms

• Competitor firm IT infrastructure investments and returns on investments

There are six factors you can use to answer the question, “How much should our firm
spend on IT infrastructure?”

• The total cost of ownership

(TCO) model can be used to
analyze direct and indirect costs
of implementing specific
technology.
• Costs include hardware and
software acquisition, installation
and training, support and
maintenance, infrastructure,
downtime, and costs of space
and energy.

FIGURE 4- COMPETITIVE FORCES MODEL FOR IT INFRASTRUCTURE

Defining the IT Architecture
Structure of the IT Infrastructure
• Reading Assignment
• Zachman’s architectural framework
• TOGAF
• 1. The Open Group Architecture Framework. The Open Group
Architecture Framework, or TOGAF (2), is one of the most common
framework structures in business today. TOGAF accounts for over 80
percent of the entire business framework structure.
Thank You