Before looking at the alternative architectures available, we first need to look at the current architecture that is implemented within the company. Current Architecture Previous is a high street clothes shop

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Previous Clothes shop Report

Produced by Susan Beevers

21st August 2004

Index

Section Page

. Current Architecture and information systems 3

2. Alternative architectures and information systems 3

3. Implementation 4

4. Security implications and System security 6

5. Information requirements 8

6. Other information 9

7. Summary 10

Section 1 Current architecture and information systems

Before looking at the alternative architectures available, we first need to look at the current architecture that is implemented within the company.

Current Architecture

Previous is a high street clothes shop, with medium size outlets in 20 major cities and towns around the country. The current IS architecture consists of:

* Large mainframe with 50 terminals around the head office

* 25 PCs are also used as stand alone tools for word-processing and spreadsheet work. The managers' secretaries and the accounts department mainly use these. A LAN connects the PCs in the accounts department (20 of the 25 stated above)

* The following systems are currently in use on the mainframe:

* accounts

* payroll

* stock control

* order processing

* Each store is managed either by manual systems or by use of PC software as the local management wishes. Currently 5 of the shops have a PC

* Orders from the previous day are phoned from the branches to the head office each morning and delivered on the next delivery day for that branch (i.e. each store has two delivery days per week e.g. Leeds is Monday and Thursday)

Section 2 Alternative architectures and information systems

The following are a number of suggestions that can be implemented to improve the performance of the company and update the current technical awareness.

* Upgrade the mainframe in the head office and the 50 terminals

* Connect the mainframe to the World Wide Web using a firewall for security

* Connect the 25 machines in the accounts department to the mainframe so that all the PCs are networked

* Update the software packages held on the mainframe and all PCs to the latest Microsoft release (e.g. Windows XP and Office 2003)

* Buy 15/20 new machines - these can either be used in the stores without machines or given to the accounts department and the old machines go to the shops

* Buy 20 modems to connect all the shops to the Internet through the current phone lines

* Create a web based database that connects to the order processing department that can be accessed by all the shops to place orders

* Develop a web page for customers to view the products available

* Host the web based database on the mainframe or buy a separate web server to host the database

Section 3 Implementation

The easiest way to implement the suggestions to improve the company's performance and technical awareness is to work in stages and perform a small test pilot.

The project can be split into six stages which can be implemented over a set time period, such as a year or even two, to compensate for the fact that the company cannot afford a large investment upfront.

Stage 1

* Upgrade the mainframe in the head office and the 50 terminals

* Connect the mainframe to the World Wide Web using a firewall for security

* Connect the 25 machines in the accounts department to the mainframe so that all the PCs are networked
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By upgrading the mainframe first it ensures that the backbone of the system will be current and can manage the entire system. New equipment can be purchased or the old equipment simply upgraded to meet the current industry specifications.

New equipment can be purchased and added to the current mainframe to keep all machines running at the top specifications.

The 25 machines that are currently used as standalone machines need to be connected into the mainframe. The accounts department can be joined as a private LAN to the mainframe to ensure that only they can ...

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