Instructor: Ram Ramesh
Office: 325H Jacobs
Hours: 2:00 - 4:00 PM Friday
E- mail:mgtrames@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu
Text:
Client/Server Unleashed, Sams Publishing Company (1996)
Case study packet, Center for Information Systems Research, MIT, Massachusetts (1995).
I. Course Objectives
Client/server technology represents a major shift from the traditional computing paradigm of mainframe based processing. The substantial increase in the local processing power of desktop platforms that is capable of virtually reproducing all the capabilities of a mainframe and the considerable growth in the networking anc communication technologies are the primary reasons for this shift. A wide range of companies, be they small, medium or large - are fast migrating to this technology to improve their organizational productivity as well as to gain a competitive advantage.
The focus of this course is on the client/server technology. While the internet and related technologies have been garnering publicity and widespread interest, client/server technology is a relatively quiet revolution in the corporate world. Client/server systems are maturing into private internet domains, and by adopting the internet technology, have also come to be known as intranets. This technology is literally transforming the way information is handled, processed and used in the corporate world today.
It is needless to emphasize the importance of this field, the knowledge of the emerging client/server technology, to business students - especially the MIS major. A sound knowledge of all aspects of this technology, starting from strategic infrastructure planning and system architecture to elemental levels of system development such as GUI (graphical user interfaces) design and communication interfaces is becoming highly relevant to contemporary MBA education, a fast provider of covetable jobs and preparing the MIS specialists of the 21st Century who know and understand what this technology is all about, what can it deliver to the corporate world, what are its problems and solutions, and where it is leading to in the future.
While obviously we cannot address everything about this technology in a single course (it will perhaps require several of them), we will address ourselves to the key issues. We will primarily concentrate on:
II. Course Outline
The following topics will be covered in this course.
1. Introduction to Client/Server Technology
- What it is
- What are the professed and
real benefits
- Structure of clients and servers
2. Planning for Client/Server Systems
- Business Planning
- Technical Planning
- Business Process Reengineering
3. Client/Server Technology overview
- Clients and Servers
- Networks and Transport Services
- Middleware
4. Migrating to Client/Server Architecture
- Planning and Managing the move
- Certain Key Decisions
-Data Management
- Networking
- Systems and Network Management
- Middleware: Standards and Designs
- Communication
5. Developing Client/Server Systems
- Techniques and Tools
- Quality Assurance
- Application Development
6. Upgrading to Client/Server Technology
7. Supporting Client/Server Architectures
8. Securing Client/Server Architectures
9. Organizational Considerations
10. Introduction to Intranets: Design Elements
The above topics span Chapters 1 - 27 of the text. While the size of the book is clearly daunting, it contains volumes of invaluable practical information. This is not an academic textbook like the many you are used to reading. This book is from the practitioner community, the real world, where this technology is working. We will concentrate on the key elements of the topics provided above, and provide a clear and comprehensive view of the technology that best serves our course objectives.
III. Course Organization
The course will be based on a series of lecture material the instructor has prepared for the specialized executive education classes conducted in the past and currently on for CIOs and senior executives from the Samsung Corporation, Korea. The classes will be organized into lectures by the instructor and group presentations by the students in the latter half of the course.
IV. Workload
As part of our evaluations, the cases included in your case packet will be used. These cases serve to illustrate the application of the knowledge you will gain from the instruction in real-world strategic planning scenarios. In addition, we will also have group projects and homework as part of the evaluation scheme. There will be no midterm, but a final multiple-choice exam is included.
V. Grading Policy
Homework: 20%
Cases:
-reports 20%
-Presentation 10%
-Project work: 25%
Final exam: 25%
VI. Notes on Homework
As you can clearly see, our text is intended for practical use. Hence, there are no problems and solutions accompanying the text. However, since I intend to use this book over the years, I plan to create a substantial database of multiple-choice questions. Your homework is designed with this purpose in mind. There will be 4 homework assignments, each covering a set of topics to be announced in the class. You are expected to design 15 multiple choice questions on the topics assigned to each homework. You are also expected to organize them into three categories: easy questions (5), moderately hard questions (5) questions that require a solid understanding of the material(5). Each answer must be supplied with a justification on why it is correct. I would strongly discourage: (i) nit-picking questions, (ii) trivial questions (iii) vague and/or misleading questions, and (iv) questions that no average individual could answer properly. Grading of your homework will be based on my personal assessment of the number of truly valuable questions that you can add to our database. Remember, not all your questions may merit this!
VII. Notes on cases
We will organize the class into groups of not more than five (5) individuals per group. Each group is collectively responsible for the cases. Each group should work as a team, and prepare an analysis of each case. A consolidated report containing the case analyses should be submitted. The submission deadline will be announced in class. In the latter half of the semester, we will set aside classes when the groups will present their analyses. From the case packet, each group will be assigned a specific case for group presentation. All groups are strongly urged to put on a very professional performance in their class-time case presentations. Professionalism, focus, analytical strengths, clarity and persuasive communication will be the determinants of the score earned in each team's case presentation. Each presentation is expected to last about 30 minutes, but there is no specific time limit on this. If a group takes a little longer, it is alright, but excessive and rambling discussions will be penalized. This exercise not only intended to stimulate your analytical thinking in the client/server area, but also to sharpen your focus, presentation and communication skills. Here is a brief guideline for presentation:
(1) Present the scenario clearly and briefly
(2) Identify the issues - critical, major and minor
(3) Present your analyses of the issues clearly and sharply
(4) Develop your solutions to the problems
(5) Summarize your conclusions and recommendations
(6) Justify why your solutions are the best
VIII. Notes on Projects
The projects will also be done in groups - of not more than five (5) members each. While it is advantageous for the same group to work on both the cases and projects, it is not a necessity. The group structures for the cases and projects can be different. We will develop the themes for the projects as we go along. Here are some nice ideas for project work:
(1) Hands-on projects on installing web servers or chat servers on your PC with a demo of your system
(2) Case studies on client/server at the local companies that you may have access to
(3) Research paper on client/server technology. The sources of information can be found on the web, companies you have access to, trade/professional journals, and other sources you may think of. Some of the important areas worth considering for research are: use/implications of intranets security and administration, suitability of companies in adopting this technology, infrastructure planning and modeling, distributed systems configuration, integration of internet and client/server technologies, current approaches of industry leaders such as Microsoft, Netscape, etc. their competitive trends and analyses, market reactions to product positioning of various companies, economic analyses, forecasts of the future technology, standards and their impact on the industry, and many many more. The topics are virtually endless.
A professionally prepared report on the projects is due from each group by the semester end. Handwritten material will not be accepted for both case reports and project reports.
IX. Questions?
Ask them. We will do our best to respond to your questions and concerns.
X. A statement on Academic Integrity and Honesty
As clearly stated in the student handbooks
(undergraduate, MBA, and Ph.D.), AFaculty,
students, and staff all have an obligation to each other to maintain high
personal standards of integrity and to expect high standards of integrity
from each other, for the reputation of the School of Management is derived
from the performance of all its members,@
and AFaculty,
students, and staff all have an obligation to be aware of their own and
one another=s
rights and responsibilities with respect to matters involving academic
integrity and to insist on the observance of these rights and responsibilities,@
we must insist upon making every effort to maintain the standards of academic
integrity and honesty. (Please refer to your student handbooks for details.)