system integration and Architectural design

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1. PRINCIPLES OF SYSTEM INTEGRATION, CHALLENGES AND DRIVER

2. Lesson Objective: At the end of the module, the learners will be able to: 1. Develop a comprehensive grasp of the principles underpinning system integration, the common challenges encountered, and the driving factors behind successful integration

3. Introduction According to Motiwalla & Thompson (2012), today, perhaps more than ever before, it is essential that companies be efficient and effective with their products and services. There are many drivers in organizations for needing integrated systems. The ability to respond quickly to market conditions is a key part of protecting your customer base against the incursions of a global set of hungry competitors. It is also the key to growing or retaining that customer base.

4. Logical Vs. Physical System Integration

5. Logical System Integration at the logical or human level, systems integration means developing information systems that allow organizations to share data with all of its stakeholders based on their need and authorization. It also means, however, allowing access to a shared data resource by people from different functional areas of the organization. In order to achieve the logical integration and fit a company business model, organizational structures, processes, and employee roles and responsibilities need change Some applications are old legacy systems that may need to work with the newer Web based architectures

6. Physical System Integration According to Motiwalla & Thompson (2012) On the other hand, at the physical or technical level, systems integration means providing seamless connectivity between heterogeneous application systems. Most organizations today have accumulated a wide variety of applications that come from a variety of vendors and run on different operating systems and work with many databases.

7. Steps in Integrating Systems In conjunction with systems integration, management has to work with the information technology group to come up with an approach for the seamless integration of data and services to support the new organizational structure and business processes As mentioned before, organizations tend to add functionality to meet organizational demands. At times, application systems are added to the environment These applications, while not encouraged, are developed on different platforms. Information system organizations often have to be able to support a variety of systems with multiple platforms and vendors

8. Steps in Integrating Systems this could mean supporting multiple operating systems, databases, or development environments. Most IT organizations today support a Windows and flavor of UNIX. A database can be Oracle or MS SQL and even MySQL Most important is the support of a development environment. This area continues to grow. At one point in time, C or C++ with SQL was the key development tool. That has somewhat given way to Java and SOAP with SQL. Integrating and supporting multiple platforms requires planning

9. Benefits of System Integration Increased Revenue and Growth - In general, one of the biggest benefits is reduction in inventory and personnel costs due to integrated systems. For example, Uvex Sports, Inc., a sports gear company, saw sales grow from $1.2 million to $5.2 million without additional costs and with the addition of only two extra employee Leveling the Competitive Environment - Systems integration can make a small company behave like a big player because, with the help of integrated business-to-business (B2B)software, many of them can now compete with big companies to get orders from giant retailers like Walmart, Target, and others because they can provide the same level of service with enterprise systems

10. Benefits of System Integration 3. Enhanced Information Visibility – The increased availability of information enables managers and employees to make informed decisions in a timely manner. For example, customer service representatives of American Express can now make credit approval decisions on the spot while talking with their customers due to better access to customer credit profiles. 4. Increased Standardization - A side benefit of integration is that it forces organizations to standardize on their hardware,software , and IT policy. This may initially costsome money, but in the long run companies easily recoup those costs( Motiwalla & Thompson, 2012,p. 48)

11. Limitation of System Integration High Initial Setup Costs - The initial implementation of integrated systems is high in terms of both hardware and software costs and human costs due to the re-engineering of business processes Power and Interdepartmental Conflicts - Systems integration often involves sharing of information across department and interdepartmental teams.

12. PRINCIPLES OF SYSTEM INTEGRATION The importance of System Integration in Modern Industries In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, the importance of system integration in modern industries cannot be overstated. System integration serves as the linchpin that connects and optimizes an organization's various components, enabling seamless operations, data flow, and decision-making. Secondly, system integration plays a central role in enhancing the customer experience, a cornerstone of modern industries. By providing a unified view of customer data, integrated systems enable organizations to offer personalized services, respond promptly to inquiries, and ultimately elevate overall customer satisfaction. Lastly, system integration drives innovation and adaptability, factors crucial for modern industries to thrive. It allows organizations to quickly adopt and incorporate new technologies, staying at the forefront of innovation.

13. The Historical Development of System Integration Early Computing (1940s-1950s): Mainframe computers operate as standalone entities, performing specific tasks in isolation. Emergence of Networking (1960s): Networking technologies like LANs and WANs enable standalone computers to communicate with each other, laying the foundation for data sharing Client-Server Architecture (1980s): The client-server model revolutionizes system interaction, allowing for distributed computing. This model becomes a standard for many organizations. Middleware and ESBs (1990s): Middleware technologies and Enterprise Service Buses (ESBs) bridge different systems and simplify integration processes, making it easier to connect disparate applications.

14. The Historical Development of System Integration Internet and Web Services (Late 1990s-2000s): The widespread adoption of the internet and the emergence of web services as a standard for interoperability enable more efficient data exchange between systems. This development significantly enhances system integration capabilities Cloud Computing and API Integration (2010s): The rise of cloud computing and the importance of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) further expand the possibilities for system integration, allowing organizations to connect cloud-based and on-premises systems seamlessly. Current Trends (2020s and Beyond): Modern system integration continues to evolve, incorporating trends like microservices architecture, serverless computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT), offering new possibilities for connectivity and data sharing.

15. Fundamental aspects of system integration Data exchange and interoperability are fundamental aspects of system integration. Data exchange refers to the seamless sharing of information between different systems, applications, or components within an organization's IT infrastructure. Communication Protocols and Standards: play a vital role in enabling system integration. Communication protocols are sets of rules and conventions that govern how data is transmitted and received between systems. Hardware and Software Integration: n is at the core of system integration. Hardware integration involves connecting various physical components, such as servers, sensors, actuators, and devices, to work harmoniously within an IT ecosystem.