Knowledge ManagementInformation System

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Table of ContentsIntroduction..............................................................................................................................................2

Task 1: An overview on Cloud computing service models and platforms for supporting enterprise

systems such as ERP, CRM or SCM.......................................................................................................3

Platforms for supporting ERP, CRM and SCM...............................................................................5

Task 2: Opportunities and challenges of Cloud based ERP in meeting business goals..........................8

Task 3: Enterprise 2.0............................................................................................................................11

3.1: Reasons behind employee motivation to use enterprise 2.0.......................................................11

3.2: Barriers to use the tool................................................................................................................12

3.3: Assessment on the effective use of enterprise 2.0.....................................................................13

Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................13

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IntroductionIn this assignment, different critical and practical aspects of cloud computing system and

enterprise 2.0 will be discussed. The technological advancement and increased competition in

modern business operations now require sophistication in the data management in business

sectors. Cloud computing is the model to enable “ubiquitous network access” to some

common configurable computing resources pools. On the other hand, enterprise 2.0, which

will be discussed at task 3 of this work, refers to the use of the platforms of social software

within, between and with organizations or enterprises. Both the terms will be extensively

discussed in the following sections.

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Task 1: An overview on Cloud computing service models and platforms for supporting enterprise systems such as ERP, CRM or SCMThe term cloud computing refers to web based services and development. The features that

define cloud computing service are remotely hosted services and data; ubiquity of the data or

services and utility or commoditized model of computing (Bente, et. al., 2012). Providers of

this computing service offer the services on the basis of three basic models;

1. Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)

The infrastructure services of cloud, known as IaaS, are models for monitoring, managing

and accessing distant data point structures, e.g. virtual or physical computers, networking,

firewalls and other networking services and storage. The advantage is that this allows

minimizing costs by buying IaaS on the basis of consumption, instead of spending more for

hardware.

Users of IaaS are responsible for the management of applications, runtime, data and

middleware. Providers on the other hand, do manage servers, networking, storage,

virtualization and hard drives. They also offer messaging queues, database and other relevant

services (Catlett, 2013).

IaaS Examples: Google Compute Engine (GCE), Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services

(AWS), Joyent.

The common use for IaaS is to extend existing data-center structure to manage temporary

overload of works.

2. Platform as a service (PaaS)

In this model of cloud computing service, the service providers provide a platform of

computing that includes database, web server, operating system and execution environment

for programming language. From the PaaS, the providers gain the framework of customizing

and developing applications (Kling, n.d.). The model makes testing, deployment and

development of applications simple, cost effective and quick. This technology helps the

company operation or the service provider to manage servers, virtualizations, networking,

storage and the PaaS itself. However, it’s the developers that manage and control

applications.

The enterprise or venture PaaS gives line-of-business programming engineers a self-

administration gateway for overseeing figuring base from concentrated IT operations and

platforms introduced on top of the equipment.

Applications that utilize PaaS model receive the multi-tenancy, scalability and high-

availability features of cloud (Marks and Lozano, 2010). The corporations are benefitted from

this model for it automates enterprise policy, help transfer applications to cross model and

decreases the quantity of coding. However, the common use of this model is to increase

utilization rates and developer efficiency and to decrease app’s time-to-market.

PaaS Examples: Apprenda.

3. Software as a service (SaaS)

Software as a Service or simply known as the cloud application service is the representative

of the largest and rapidly growing cloud market. Here the users are given the access to

database and application software. The providers control the platforms and structure that

operate the apps. This software is known as the ‘on-demand software’ for its pay-per-use

nature. SaaS utilizes the internet to convey apps that are overseen by an external or third

party seller and who has got his interface on the customers' side. Because of online delivery

framework, the model is free from any extra requirements of installation or individual

operation (Millard, n.d.). With SaaS, the companies can easily streamline their support and

maintenance because in this system, “the providers install and operate application software

in the cloud and cloud users access the software from cloud clients” (Catlett, 2013).

Cloud applications are not quite the same as different applications in their adaptability—

which can be accomplished by cloning assignments onto various virtual computers at run-

time to manage the change of work demand. The load balancing units allocate the tasks over

the virtual computer sets. This procedure is translucent to the users, who observes just a

single entrance point.

Popular implication areas of SaaS include collaboration and email, healthcare apps and CRM

(customer relationship management). Large companies use SaaS as a tool to achieve

competitive advantage.

SaaS Examples: Salesforce, Google Apps, Concur, Workday, Cisco WebEx.

Platforms for supporting ERP, CRM and SCMCloud computing has brought an immense change in the development and management of

software in companies. This is ultimately altering the operations and functions of business.

The virtual and dynamically scalable resources are now considered as web based services to

enterprises (Rountree and Castrillo, 2013). Traditional production methods as the ERP

(enterprise resource planning), CRM (customer relation management) and SCM (supply

chain management) are getting developed and stronger with the help of cloud services

(Sosinsky, 2011).

The cloud computing service is changing the system of enterprise business by creating a new

generation of ERP, CRM and SCM.

ERP and the Cloud:

ERP software hosted in an over the web platform is called the Cloud ERP or cloud enterprise

resource planning. Here some cloud platforms for ERP activity support have been listed.

Epicor True SOA: Provides a global and configurable platform for ERP. Also it has an

extensive functionality.

QAD on Demand: SaaS solution providing a supple disposition alternative for related

software.

NetSuite: An inclusive offering of On-demand items including cloud service benefits

(Srinivasan, n.d.).

CRM and Cloud:

The future of customer relationships depends more on context than transactions. And this

trend is accelerating, driven by the integration of social media into customer relationship

management (CRM), rapid gains in usability of CRM and integration applications, and the

global growth of the API economy. Here the cloud platform features for supporting CRM

activities have been listed.

Run code in computing so there are no limitations on creating CRM logic.

Real time workflow and approvals.

Real time mobile deployments.

Lower total cost of ownership.

Leverage an existing ERP investment.

Use analytics dashboards.

Accelerate business results with a scalable solution.

SCM and Cloud:

A contemporary research study by the ‘SCM World’ titled as ‘Supply Chain And The Future

Of Applications’ gives a remarkable view on the effects of cloud computing services and

platforms on the improvement of SCM. The approach is taking into account a blend of

subjective meetings and information investigation to analyse the topic of cloud applications

with an eye to rearranging the subject for leaders of operations. The inspecting frame is the

SCM World individuals all inclusive. Here we have listed the cloud platforms for detailed

SCM or supply chain management activities.

TMS functions

JDA: Weblogic 8.1, weblogic JMS, Oracle 10G.

Forecasting

Manhattan: Websphere 6.1, IBM MQ 6.1, Oracle 9.1.

OMS functions

Sterling DOM: Websphere 6.1, IBM MQ 6.1, DB2

WMS functions

PKMS: JBoss JMS, JBoss AS 4.2.1.

Here in this section, the cloud computing models and the platforms for supporting enterprise

resource planning, supply chain management and customer relation management have been

introduced and discussed through. The advantages the cloud computing services provide to

modern business enterprises are improved computer and data management performances,

reduced computer software and hardware costs, instant updates of software, improved

capability of document formatting, increased data reliability, extreme storage facility,

universal access to documents and the list goes on.

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Task 2: Opportunities and challenges of Cloud based ERP in meeting business goals

ERP helps organizations to develop productivity and efficiency throughout the departments

and corporate functions. Cloud ERP benefits the organization by having it share a single

computerized system that contains up to date and accurate database and by lowering the costs

of IT infrastructure (Sumner, 2005).

The course of cloud ERP starts by outlining the business goals and identifying the progress

sought. ERP provides, mostly, the ways to deduce, or in some case, eliminate the manual

process of data entry and the worksheets that cause inefficiency and erroneous results

(Shanks, et. al., 2003).

Cloud ERP gets the subsidiaries up and runs very quickly without requiring any IT personnel

in distant locations; and thus provide a crucial advantage to organizations. Linking distant

locations to main office ERP system by using cloud generates a strong opportunity for

organizations.

ERP software, by itself, contains data repository and the general best practices. While

implementing, the provider of the service configures the software for meeting the objectives

of the client’s business set up at the beginning. Unlike the other ERP projects, such type of

ERP system needs not to install any additional software or spending on any extra hardware

components; and neither it requires the organizational teams to aim on finding proper fitting

between goals and capabilities of software (Nah, 2002).

Corporate or enterprise services meet some critical errands during ERP lifecycle:

Helping to identify clear business objectives and goals

Configure or build the system in order to meet the objectives

Serve as reliable guide throughout the whole process of implementation.

One of the challenges the ERP systems face in the process of meeting business objectives, is

the implementation of itself. The implementation process is the connection line between a

new ERP software and a go-live zone where it would perform its work. Records show that

lengthy implementation time of ERP projects create frustration among the enterprise

purchasers. Therefore, speed and efficiency considered essential to guarantee an effective

deployment. The following diagram shows the results in brief that why firms select cloud

computing to decrease the time and cost of implementation (Hossain, Patrick and Rashid,

2002).

ERP, a critical purchase, has a lifespan of multiple years in the organization. During the

period, the company may face various changes in the functions, strategies, expansion, and

regulations. As the changes are inevitable and undeniable, it is important that flexible ERP

system be chosen. Such ability for configuring the software would help organization to build

agility that would successfully respond to the needs of business enterprise (Brady, Monk and

Wagner, 2001). Agility should be considered to be prime concern for the fact that if system

gets difficult to incorporate necessary changes than it will lose usability gradually, and

moreover, it will become costly to operate in times.

Task 3: Enterprise 2.0

Enterprise 2.0 refers to the use of the platforms of social software within, between and with

organizations or enterprises. Enterprise 2.0 is the conception of utilizing services or tools that

occupy Web 2.0 systems e.g. ratings, tagging, RSS, networking and sharing in the

perspective of enterprise.

There are various benefits business organizations enjoy from using Enterprise 2.0 as

knowledge sharing tool:

Improve infrastructures and sharing of information between employees.

Easy and rapid access to business information

More accurate and better quality business information

Cost effectiveness and simplicity (McAfee, 2009).

3.1: Reasons behind employee motivation to use enterprise 2.0

Here three reasons behind employee motivation to use enterprise 2.0 as knowledge sharing

tool has been stated;

Gain Awareness: Enterprise 2.0 provides the employees of an organization to share

knowledge and information and present themselves to the place where management gets to

listen to them and where they can study the chances, ideas, concerns and more.

Converse: Conversation is the key to share knowledge and innovate new ideas. Conversation

gives the ideas new dimensions. Researchers state that sharing in different social networking

sites or devices and the informal conversation of notions that occurs there creates increased

competence among employees in their tasks. Enterprise 2.0 software simplify discussions

among employees for the betterment of the firm.

Engagement & Affinity: Enterprise 2.0 gives the employees the means to share and present

their skills; which by turn increases the sense of motivation in their jobs and encourages those

employees to be creative (Tuten, 2010).

3.2: Barriers to use the tool

1. Time: Time is considered to be the first major barrier in the willingness to use the tool for

knowledge sharing. This is one of the structural barriers of using the tool.

Justification: ‘‘Time is the main factor. And it’s knowing what is out there and knowing what

Discussions are going on. Have I got anything to input into them?’’

2. Lack of Knowledge: Other thing is that the employees may not know about the tool, and

even if they know, the use of the tool may remain unknown to them. This is one of the

application barriers. Lack of incorporation between IT systems and the knowledge sharing

processes obstructs the knowledge sharing. Besides lack in the technical support of combined

IT systems bars the flow of communication.

Justification: ‘‘There is too much information at times where you can actually be misled

because it could come from a non-reliable source. The amount of information and the detail

is far greater but the accuracy has dimensioned over time. Ten years ago we were succinct

and we captured the minimum amount of information but it was right and it was verified and

you knew what was there and you could totally rely on it’’(Tuten, 2010).

3. Unawareness about the value E2.0 can provide: The employees may doubt the

effectiveness of the tool as for knowledge sharing. It is a cultural barrier. Which is that the

tool being unaware of by the company.

Justification: ‘‘I think it is history because there are ways of communicating that we are used

to. It is easier and more comfortable to do it the old way. You’ve got a traditional way of

accessing and gaining information and you know how to do it quickly. It’s almost second

nature. You automatically default into what you’re used to’’ (Bente, et. al., 2012).

3.3: Assessment on the effective use of enterprise 2.0

All evidences focuses to various discriminating achievement figures benefiting from the

application of Enterprise 2.0. These include:

1. Begin with only maybe a couple extends and remain patient in guaranteeing that those

have an effect before progressing ahead with more tasks.

2. There needs to be a reasonable business prerequisite and some measures that can be

utilized to assess the results of test trials.

3. Try not to attempt and change the culture of the firm with innovation or technology;

however, pick territories that are prepared to attempt an alternate methodology.

4. Each test trial needs to have a promoter at a senior enough level to advance on with the

scheme against the unavoidable cynical comments.

5. Announce all the results as broadly possible all over the business.

6. Be ready for any failure to occur and be wise enough to learn from the failures.

7. Be ready for success by having the next set of projects already mapped out.

ConclusionIn this assignment, a different critical and practical aspect of cloud computing system and

enterprise 2.0 has been discussed by gathering the information from different sources. The

technological advancement and increased competition in modern business operations now

require sophistication in the data management in business sectors. The course work discussed

the applications, advantages, models and assessment of mentioned terms in order to enable

the learners understand those software services properly and learn their real life implications.

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Idea Group Pub.

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