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What are the components of IT infrastructure?
Define IT Infrastructure.
IT Infrastructure is the set of physical devices and software required to operate an enterprise, including firm-wide services such as computing platforms, physical facilities management services, and IT management services.
What are the current trends in computer hardware platforms?
Give examples of Linux and open-source software mentioned in the text.
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What is SOA an abbreviation for?
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In governance, a centralized IT department makes decisions.
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Under-investment and over-investment can hamper firm performance. Rent-versus-buy and _______ are factors to consider.
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Match the following software platforms with their primary usage:
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Study Notes
IT Infrastructure and Emerging Technologies
Defining IT Infrastructure
- Set of physical devices and software required to operate an enterprise
- Firm-wide services including computing platforms, physical facilities management, IT management, education, and other services
- "Service platform" perspective: a more accurate view of the value of investments
Evolution of IT Infrastructure
- General-purpose mainframe and minicomputer era: 1959 to present
- Personal computer era: 1981 to present
- Client/server era: 1983 to present
- Enterprise computing era: 1992 to present
- Cloud and mobile computing: 2000 to present
Technology Drivers of Infrastructure Evolution
- Moore's Law and microprocessing power: computing power doubles every 2 years
- Law of Mass Digital Storage: amount of data being stored each year doubles
- Metcalfe's Law and network economics: value or power of a network grows exponentially as a function of the number of network members
Components of IT Infrastructure
- Computer hardware platforms
- Operating system platforms
- Enterprise software applications
- Data management and storage
- Networking/telecommunications platforms
- Internet platforms
- Consulting system integration services
Computer Hardware Platforms
- Client machines: desktop PCs, laptops, mobile devices, and wearable devices
- Servers: mainframes, digital workhorse for banking and telecommunications networks
Operating System Platforms
- Corporate servers: Windows Server, Unix, Linux
- Client level: Microsoft Windows, Android, iOS, Windows 10 (mobile/multitouch), Google's Chrome OS (cloud computing)
Enterprise Software Applications
- In 2018, firms spent $389 billion on software for enterprise applications
- Largest providers: SAP and Oracle
- Middleware providers: IBM, Oracle
Data Management and Storage
- Database software providers: IBM (DB2), Oracle, Microsoft (SQL Server), Sybase (Adaptive Server Enterprise), MySQL, Apache Hadoop
- Physical data storage for large-scale systems: Dell EMC, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (H3C)
Networking/Telecommunications Platforms
- Network operating systems: Windows Server, Linux, Unix
- Network hardware providers: Cisco, Juniper Networks
- Telecommunication services: phone lines, Internet access, AT&T, Verizon
Internet Platforms
- Hardware, software, management services to support company websites, intranets
- Internet hardware server market: IBM, Dell, Oracle, HP
- Web development tools/suites: Microsoft (Visual Studio and .NET), Oracle-Sun (Java), Adobe
Consulting and System Integration Services
- Leading consulting firms: Accenture, IBM Global Services, HP, Infosys, Wipro Technologies
- Software integration: ensuring new infrastructure works with legacy systems
- Legacy systems: older TPS created for mainframes that would be too costly to replace or redesign
Computer Hardware Trends
- Mobile digital platform: smartphones, netbooks, tablet computers, digital e-book readers, wearable devices
- Consumerization of IT and BYOD (bring your own device)
- Quantum computing: uses quantum physics to represent and operate on data
- Virtualization: allows single physical resource to act as multiple resources
- Cloud computing: on-demand computing services obtained over network
- Edge computing: servers at the edge of the Internet, reducing latency and network traffic
- Green computing (Green IT): practices and technologies for manufacturing, using, disposing of computing and networking hardware
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Description
This quiz covers the basics of IT infrastructure and emerging technologies in the context of Management Information Systems (MIS). It is based on Chapter 5 of the 16th edition of the textbook 'Managing the Digital Firm'.
