Full Description

An organization's ability to respond to external pressures is conditioned by its information system infrastructure. There are two categories of information systems: centralized "mission critical" systems, such as billing, and distributed local systems that enable users to extract the centrally held "corporate" data for analysis. The role of the information systems department is to provide the integrated systems infrastructure, i.e., hardware, software, communications, and data management to provide the right information at the right place at the right time. Key components of a modern information systems infrastructure are customer service management, performance monitoring, and asset management; these correspond with external pressures. Integration ranges from real-time linking of applications to batch update of data. A sound integrated system, with particular systems added as the business case determines the needs, will provide the most appropriate vehicle for "evolving integration". Over the past five years three technology trends have enabled companies to implement such integrated strategies: availability of high-speed digital communication services; distributed processing and the capabilities of pc/work stations; and standards that allow organizations to define interfaces to databases and between applications. The current trends of increased regulation will continue through this decade. At Essex Water, United Kingdom, emphasis on integrated information systems will focus on customer, performance, and asset management.

Product Details

Published: 01/01/1991 ISBN(s): 0898675812 Number of Pages: 6File Size: 1 file , 280 KB