CASE STUDY:Lego: Embracing Change by Combining BI with a Flexible Information System


1.Explain the role of the database in sap three-tier system


There was a need for a flexible and robust IT infrastructure with business excellence and capabilities that could help management better forecast and plan. Lego implemented a SAP’s business suite which is based on a flexible three-tier client-server. Three Tier System:

THE FIRST TIER (Presentation Layer)
This is the software component with a client interface browser type graphic user interface (GUI). The graphic user interface is between an SAP system and the user. It gets the user input, sends it to application server for processing receives data, formats and output it. The presentation layer resides on a user’s PC, desktop or mobile device.

THE SECOND TIER (Application Layer)
This is where SAP software runs; it consists of at least one or more application server (one computer system) which offers the services to users and a message server responsible for communication between the application servers. In the system, it receives and process client’s requests. In turn these application servers send the processed requests to the database system. The application layer is Scalable as the organization grows larger and more users are added.

THE THIRD TIER (Database Layer)
This consists of a central database system which consists of the database and DBMS (Data Base Management System), it receives the processed client’s request from the second server to the database system which consists of one or more relational database, these rational database contain the tablets that store data on LEGO’s products, daily operations, the supply chain and thousands of employees. The information is then stored and retrieved from the data base system and sent back. A few database systems which you may find with SAP in different implementations are Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, IBM etc.



2.Explain why distributed architectures are flexible.



A distributed architecture system consists of multiple autonomous computers that communicate through a computer network. The computers interact with each other in order to achieve a common goal. Basically, this group of computers would each hold a specific software subset of the global aggregate operating system. Distributed computing is a field of computer science that studies distributed systems. Distributed programming typically falls into one of several basic architectures or categories: client–server, 3-tier architecture, n-tier architecture, distributed objects, loose coupling, or tight coupling.



3.Identify some of the business intelligence features included in SAP’s business software suite.


Distributed architecture enables authorized personnel to have direct access to the database system from the company’s various locations, including those in Europe and Asia. Distributed architectures such as SAP’s business suites supports databases from different vendors including those offered by Oracle, Microsoft, MySQL and others. They are optimal for medium to high performance business environments. Complex application rules can be easily implemented on the application server by authorized personnel. Separating the application into multiple layers makes it easier to implement re-usable components. A single component in the business layer, for example, may be accessed by multiple components in the presentation layer, or even by several different presentation layers (such as desktop and the web) at the same time.



4.What are the main advantages and disadvantages of having multiple databases in a distributed architecture? Explain.


Advantages
1. Fault tolerance
A fault tolerance is a setup or configuration that prevents a computer or network device from failing in the event of an unexpected problem or error such as, power failure, power surge, data loss, system overload, virus etc. By LEGO having multiple databases data can still be obtained from other servers during interruption from one of the data base. This enables the business to save time, retrieve loss data and their daily operations will not be drastically affected.Improved Scalability
Ability of a business to expand to meet its business needs. Unlike a single-database system, in which the amount of data that can be stored depends on the limitations of one host and database, a distributed-database system is easily scalable and, therefore, supports growth in LEGO. SAP supports an unlimited number of users as well as data base, application servers and a variety of hardware configurations. It enables an organization to start small and add additional databases or applications or hardware. This would allow to organization to effectively and efficiently add to the network when its needs to expand.
2. Distribution of workload
Enables administrators to distribute the load on various servers, a business function such as logistics can be can be routed to a particular server for load balancing ( division of its activities and processes between computer networks so that it doesn't get overwhelmed). Open system: from SAP encourages plug and play with hardware from different vendors e.g. Microsoft oracle, used which leads to more competition and lowers cost. This means that the system can connect with other vendor therefore it is flexible.

Disadvantages
1. Security issues
It is more vulnerable to external attacks than single databases and the possibilities of abuse is more possible in multiple databases than a single database as single databases have more control of information. To reduce the chances of unauthorized users accessing sensitive information, Lego would need a control system e.g. Not all information should be available to all level of the organization.
2. Data quality and  integrity
Since the database is accessible to users remotely, adequate controls are needed to control users updating data and to control data quality especially as the organization grows. With increased number of users accessing data directly, there are enormous opportunities for users to damage the data. Unless there are suitable controls, the data quality may be compromised. The integrity of the information is also relevant since a large number of users could be using the database simultaneously, technical safeguards are necessary to ensure that the data remains correct during operations and business decisions. The main threat to data integrity comes from several different users attempting to update the same data at the same time. The database therefore needs to be protected against inadvertent changes by the users.
3. Cost of maintaining multiple databases in a distributed architecture



Single databases are usually designed to run a number of well-defined, preplanned processes because they are often adjusted to run efficiently for the processes that they were designed for. Multiple data bases are costly to maintain as each server requires a separate operating system. The cost of protecting and securing the servers, upgrades, back ups will be expensive and Lego would have to weigh the benefits of using multiple database over the costs of implementations , restructuring the organization , the as well as maintenance costs.

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