Exercise 26:

The final topic is for group reflective study using the wiki tool in CSU Interact and a way for you to add a final reflective comment on systems integration and make your closing remarks to your Developer’s blog.

1. Choose ONE of the four ways to manage and develop integrated systems as listed below
I choose the 3. Federated databases
These are multi-tiered systems for load balancing and improving performance across a set of cooperative database servers by horizontally partitioning tables. Member servers can be at separate business sites and are configured to cooperate in processing database SQL requests, similar to clustered systems. Most large database vendors all have database products for implementing a federated system. Consider a comparison of federated vs fault tolerant clustered architectures as used by MySQL database products.

2. Summarise your understanding and describe its relevance (250 words max) in either your study at university or in your work environment
The utility goals of develop integrated system are greater efficiency, effectiveness and competitiveness in organizations. But the term of integration in another way means complex construct in technical, systems, organizations and strategic aspects. Most systems fail due to the lack of complex organizational factors. Most of the planning and resource focus on technical and strategic aspects of the information systems (IS). Today we implement an integrated system more balanced between technical, strategic and organizational analysis.

Taken from Below (1987) and adapted by Thomas (1991):

Before start of multi-tiered systems project, we need to collect and analysis:
• Historical documents – any related project, pass experience
• Organization culture – project handling, resource, budgeting

Project start:
• Define objectives and scopes
• Select suitable solution and database vendors
• Grant approval from top management
• Budget
• Schedule
• Resource arrangement
• Detail project plan

Implementation:
• Monitor project progress
• Review the performance and budget regularly
• Testing and evaluation
• Continue operation plan

MySQL Database cluster allows us to set up a database shared between a number of machines in federated and fault tolerant models. The federated cluster in distributed architecture allows for load balancing, provides benefit in scalability. The cluster servers spread the load in almost linear fashion. The system can handle more transactions and faster response time. The fault tolerant clustered servers provide high availability. The redundant copies of data allow the system stay up, if one or some of machines go down.

3. Edit TWO similar versions (include bibliography) of that summary to CSU Interact:
a. post version A as a wiki page contribution
The first post:


b. add version B as a final entry to close your developer’s blog.
The final entry:


Reference

1. Below, L. J. (1987). The meaning of integration. In proceedings of the third european conference on automated manufacturing. UK: IFS publications.
2. Thomas, P. S. (1991). Implementing computer integrated manufacturing technology - an integrative framework. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Northumbria, Unpublished.