Week 1 - 2 - Overview of Systems Integration Challenges And Drivers PDF

Chapter 1 – Introduction SYSTEM INTEGRATION AND ARCHITECTURE CTSYSINL At the end of the session, the students shall be able to: Understand the challenges and drivers in Systems Integration Overview of Systems Integration: Challenges And Drivers Review of Key Concept Informat...

Chapter 1 – Introduction SYSTEM INTEGRATION AND ARCHITECTURE CTSYSINL At the end of the session, the students shall be able to: Understand the challenges and drivers in Systems Integration Overview of Systems Integration: Challenges And Drivers Review of Key Concept Information - a complex concept that encompasses various aspects of knowledge, meaning, organization, and relevance Examples: A doctor's notes on a patient's medical history A customer's order history in an e-commerce system A weather forecast for a specific region System System - set of interconnected components, elements, or parts that work together to achieve a common goal or function. In other words, a system is a whole that is composed of multiple parts or subsystems that interact with each other and with their environment. Example: A car engine with multiple components (e.g., pistons, cylinders, spark plugs) A manufacturing production line with various machines and processes A social network platform with users, data, and algorithms Computer-based information systems take as raw material, process it and produce information as output System is a functional unit, which involves set procedures/functions to produce certain outputs by processing data/information given as input. Characteristics of a Useful System -A system is a whole. -Components of a system interact. -Systems are goal seeking. -Systems have input and output. -Systems must be controlled. -Systems forms a hierarchy. -Systems exhibit differentiation. Information System An information system (IS) is a set of interconnected components and processes that collect, store, process, and disseminate information to support an organization's operations, management, and decision-making. An IS is a vital tool for organizations to manage their operations, improve efficiency, and gain a competitive advantage. Components of an Information System Hardware: computers, networks, peripherals Software: operating systems, applications, utilities Data: types, formats, storage, and retrieval People: users, developers, administrators Procedures: business process, workflow Information Systems (IS) Types Transaction Processing Systems (TPS) - Handle routine transactions, such as sales, inventory management, and payroll processing. Management Information Systems (MIS) - Provide managers with relevant information to support decision-making. Decision Support Systems (DSS) - Assist decision-makers in making informed decisions by analyzing data and providing recommendations. Knowledge Management Systems (KMS) - Manage and share knowledge within an organization. Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP) - Integrate various business functions, such as finance, human resources, and supply chain management. Customer Relationship Management Systems (CRM) - Manage customer interactions and relationships. Supply Chain Management Systems (SCM) - Manage the flow of goods, services, and information from raw materials to end customers. Other Systems related to IT Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) - These systems manage HR-related data, such as employee records, benefits, and payroll. Financial Management Systems - These systems manage financial transactions, including accounting, budgeting, and forecasting. Inventory Management Systems - These systems manage inventory levels, tracking and controlling the movement of goods and materials. Network Management Systems - These systems monitor and manage network infrastructure, ensuring reliable and secure connectivity. Database Management Systems (DBMS) - These systems manage and organize data in a database, allowing for efficient retrieval and manipulation. Cloud Computing Systems - These systems provide on-demand access to a shared pool of computing resources, such as servers, storage, and applications. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Systems - These systems use machine learning algorithms to analyze data and make decisions autonomously. Other Systems related to IT Internet of Things (IoT) Systems - These systems connect devices and sensors to collect data and automate processes. Telephony Systems - These systems manage phone calls, voice messages, and other communication protocols. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) - These systems provide secure and private access to networks over the internet. Content Management Systems (CMS) - These systems manage content creation, editing, and publishing for websites and other digital platforms. Geographic Information System (GIS) -These systems capture, analyze, and display geospatial data. Business Intelligence Systems -These systems analyze data to gain insights and make informed business decisions. What is System Integration? IT integration, or systems integration, is the connection of data, applications, APIs, and devices across your IT organization to be more efficient, productive, and agile. System Integration refers to the process by which multiple individual subsystems or sub-components are combined into one all-encompassing larger system thereby allowing the subsystems to function together. In other words, the symbiosis created through system integration allows the main system to achieve the overarching functionality required by the organization. In most organizations that use system integration, there is a need to improve efficiency and thereby productivity and quality of their operations. The objective is usually to get the company’s various IT systems to communicate with each other in the background so as to avoid the time and effort spent manually sharing information with other departments/components of the organization including upper management System Architecture A system architecture is the conceptual model that defines the structure, behavior, and more views of a system. A system architecture can consist of system components and the sub-systems developed, that will work together to implement the overall system. Types of system integration Internal integrations: a company connects its internal systems to streamline specific workflows Customer-facing integrations: a company connects its product with customers’ applications to help clients get more value from their solution Business-to-business (B2B) integration: a company connects its ERP system with business partners’ to streamline transactions Enterprise service bus (i.e., horizontal integration): systems connect to a “bus”, or a bus-like infrastructure, that facilitates communication between the various systems Category of System Integration Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) - EAI is the process of integrating different applications within a single enterprise. This can include applications such as financial systems, CRM systems, and ERP systems. Data Integration (DI) - the process of integrating different data sources into a single system. This can include data from databases, spreadsheets, and text files. Application Integration - connects different software applications to enable them to interact and share information. Business Process Integration - aligns and optimizes business processes across different systems and departments. Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) Focuses on connecting core business applications like ERP, CRM, SCM, and HR systems. Employs middleware to facilitate communication and data transformation. Improves data consistency and reduces manual data entry. Example: Integrating an ERP system with a CRM system to share customer data and automate order processing. Data Integration Involves extracting, transforming, and loading (ETL) data from various systems. Creates data warehouses or data marts for analysis and reporting. Ensures data consistency and accuracy. Example: Combining sales data from different regions into a central repository for analysis. Application Integration Focuses on integrating both internal and external applications. Can involve APIs, web services, or messaging protocols. Enables data exchange, process automation, and application composition. Example: Integrating a customer-facing mobile app with a backend database to provide real-time information. Business Process Integration Focuses on streamlining workflows and improving efficiency. Involves identifying and modeling business processes. Requires close collaboration between IT and business departments. Example: Integrating order processing, inventory management, and shipping processes to reduce lead times. Benefits of Systems Integration Improved communication and data flow between systems Enhanced process efficiency and productivity Streamlined decision-making and access to real-time information Challenges of Systems Integration Technical complexity and compatibility issues Data quality and consistency Integration project management and resource allocation Organizational resistance and change management Common Integration Challenges Legacy system modernization Data migration and validation Application and platform integration API management and connectivity Strategies to Overcome Challenges Thorough planning and requirements analysis Effective project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Scrum) Collaboration and communication across teams and stakeholders Proper testing and quality assurance Continuous monitoring and post-integration support Drivers of Systems Integration Increasing need for information sharing and real-time data Business process optimization and automation Digital transformation efforts Customer-centricity and personalized experiences Reduced operational costs and improved efficiency Best Practices for Successful Systems Establishing clear goals and objectives Conducting a thorough system analysis and mapping Prioritizing data quality and governance Ensuring system scalability and future-proof solutions Engaging with experienced integration partners System integration examples Automate user provisioning Say you want to make it easier for clients to add, modify, and remove users in your product. To help them, you can integrate with clients’ human resource information systems (HRISs) and let clients sync employees from their respective systems with your platform. More specifically, if an employee gets deactivated on the HRIS, they’re removed as a user in your product; if the employee is added to the HRIS, they’re added as a user, along with the appropriate role based on their background; and if they’re modified in the HRIS, their modified accordingly in your product. System integration examples Streamline ticket creation Now imagine that you offer a product that identifies security vulnerabilities in a client’s code base. To help a client identify any issue your product pinpoints, you can connect your product with their ticketing system and build a sync where once you uncover an issue, a ticket gets created in the affected client’s system. The ticket can include details on the issue to help your team understand and resolve it quickly System integration examples Deliver actionable client notifications To help your customer success managers (CSMs) stay on top of their accounts more easily and effectively, you can integrate your data warehouse (e.g., Snowflake) with your business communications platform (e.g., Slack) and build a flow where once a client crosses a certain level of product usage, the assigned rep receives a notification in your business communications platform. Within the message, the customer success manager can learn more about the client and usage threshold they reached, allowing the CSM to follow-up with the client in a more personalized, thoughtful way. System integration examples Easily store key employee documents Your employees are likely to sign a wide range of documents over time, from offer letters to non- disclosure agreements. To help you store, access, and review documents in a way that’s convenient and secure for your team, you can connect your HRIS with your file storage system and build a sync where once an employee document is added or modified in your HRIS, the same set of actions take place in the employee’s folder within your file storage system. Exercise 1-a Company: A large healthcare provider with multiple hospitals and clinics. Goal: Integrate electronic health records (EHR) systems, patient management systems, and billing systems to improve patient care, reduce administrative costs, and ensure compliance with healthcare regulations. Exercise 1-b Company: A large retail chain with multiple stores and a growing online presence. Goal: Integrate point-of-sale (POS) systems, inventory management systems, and e-commerce platforms to improve customer experience and operational efficiency. Exercise 1-c Company: Online Fashion Retailer Goal: Integrate order management, inventory management, and customer relationship management (CRM) systems to improve order fulfillment, enhance customer experience, and optimize inventory levels. Exercise 1-d Company: Manufacturing Company Goal: A manufacturing company decided to implement an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to streamline its operations. The existing accounting software needed to be integrated with the new ERP system to ensure seamless financial reporting and operations. Answer the following questions: What are the challenges that the system integrators might face in this project? What are the drivers behind the need for system integration in this project? How would you approach this project as a system integrator? Thank you!!