Information Systems: Week 4

The Digital Firm

Small Businesses and Digital Firms

• Digital firm one nearly all organisation's significant business relationships customers, suppliers + employees digitally enabled + mediated. 
• Core business processes accomplished through digital networks spanning entire organisation/linking multiple organisations.

Small Business Systems: Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing 

• Model computing which computer processes storage, software + other services provided shared pool virtualised resources over network, primarily Internet.
• 'Clouds' computing resources accessed on as-needed basis any connected device + location.

Total cost of ownership cost components

• Hardware Acquisition: Purchase price computer hardware equipment, i.e. computers, terminals.
• Software Acquisition: Purchase/License software each year.
• Installation: Cost install computers + software.
• Training: Cost provide training info systems specialists + end users.
• Support: Cost provide ongoing technical support, help desks etc.

Types of Services

• Infrastrusture as service (IaaS): Customers use processing , storage + networking resources run info systems.
• Software as service (SaaS): Customers use software hosted by vendor vendors cloud infrastructure + delivered service over network.
• Platform as service (PaaS): Customers use infrastructure + programming tools supported cloud service provider develop own applications.