6. Applications vs. Infrastructures Flashcards
Information (software) systems that support specific business functions
Applications
Information (software) systems that provide general-purpose functionality that can be used across business functions -usually to support applications
Infrastructures
Applications vs. Infrastructure
Specific vs. general-purpose functionality
General-purpose functionality
Is not specific to business functions and can hence be used by multiple application systems
A platform for a specific layer is
The functionality offered by the layers beneath that specific layer
4-tier architectures
1) Presentation logic (user interface)
2) Process logic (process flow)
3) Business logic (business functions)
4) Data logic (basic operations)
The 4-tier architecture belongs
In the application layer
Establish the modularization
To establish which functional elements to distinguish
Porter’s framework
1) Primary functions
2) Secondary functions
Porter’s framework: Primary functions
Are directly geared towards the main business goal of the organization. Add value
Porter’s framework: Secondary functions
Support the primary functions by providing a necessary context to execute the primary functions
To identify the main functional elements of the application layer
Business function classification (Porter’s classification)
To define the infrastructure layer elements
General support functionality classification (Support system classification)
Support system classification
1) Business data management (DBMS)
2) Business process management (BPMS)
3) System interoperability support (Middleware)
Different lifecycles of the Application and Infrastructure layers
1) Application: typically changed when business functions of an organization change (requirements pull)
2) Infrastructure: change when new infrastructure systems with different structures become available (technology push)
