Mainframe Technology

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The current state of the IT function

I would examine the IT function at Accenture.  I will be relying on ideas from:  Laudon (2007) book,  especially Business Knowledge chapter; and Scott Berinato (2003) article titled:” The State of Information Security 2003″, plus  “the Fifth Annual Global State of Information Security”, where he emphasized on the state of Information Security, compared to five years before” (Scott, 2007).

The role and impact of IT

I will examine the role and impact of IT at Accenture, when dealing with consulting to other companies (their clients).

“As we move further into the 21st century, it will become more important for organizations to integrate both their processes and information. It is critically important for manufacturers and customers to work at a higher level of understanding and coordination. In addition to this, the company must be able to effectively work with suppliers” (exforsys.com).

1. Develops a plan to support the organization’s current and emerging needs for information management and dissemination

IT and consulting services at Accenture

“Modular applications that are based on internet technology and can be accessed by consultants via a browser” (Geib, Kolbe and Brenner (2006).  The article continued saying that there are different applications for customer master data management, fact-finding, product-oriented consulting, and contracting and each of them has a slightly different user interface.

Relations between IT Vendors and Accenture IT collaboration and dissemination

2. Chooses and analyzes an IT organizational model and characterizes its suitability for executing its corporate mission

The role of CIO and other decision makers in IT at Accenture

The role of IT in the market-Market share-compare to other business functions

3. Assesses information technology architectures to support the plan

IT innovation at Accenture, when it comes to consulting

Web services and Vendors products design for consulting services at Accenture

4. Evaluates the merits of a proposed IT solution to solve a particular organization’s business challenges

Example of a proposed IT solution to solve Accenture challenge to build a best product to its customers: Venture between Microsoft-Accenture- Avanade

Laudon (2007) said: “In a nutshell, it takes a lot of work to get enterprise applications to work properly.  Everyone in the organization must be involved.  For those companies that have successfully implemented CRM, SCM, and enterprise systems, the results have justified the effort” (p.377).  He continued suggesting using for example” order-to-cash service strategy, as demonstrated on Figure 9-12 (p.379).

5. Findings, Recommendations for improvement

Laudon (2007): “The internet can help companies create and capture profits in new ways by adding extra value to existing products and services or by providing the foundation for new products and services”(p.421)

6. Conclusions

Finally, I would encourage any company to tackle this issue for developing as a global organization, which has ” the knowledge, skills and expertise to address new markets, and overcome any potential hurdles presented by linguistic and cultural differences” (Donna &Jim, 2008).

References

Laudon, K. C., & Laudon, J. P. (2007). Management information systems & multimedia student CD package (10th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. ISBN: 9780132337748.

Hopper, M. (1990). Rattling SABRE: New ways to compete on information. Harvard Business Review, 68(3), 2–9.

SMR Editors (2007). The Future of the Web. MIT Sloan Management Review, 48(3), 49.  Retrieved October 16, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 1250414201)

Donna Edwards, Jim Wolff. (January, 2008). A LOOK AT THE TOP 10 KM CHALLENGES. Knowledge Management Review, 10(6), 24-27.  Retrieved October 30, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 1425853071).

Kanter, J. (2003). Ten hot information technology (IT) issues and what makes them hot. Information Strategy, 19(3), 23–36.

Dennis Kennedy (2008). MASTER YOUR DISASTERS. ABA Journal, 94(9), 34-35.  Retrieved October 17, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 1557161061).

Malte Geib, Lutz M. Kolbe, Walter Brenner. (2006). CRM collaboration in financial services networks: a multi-case analysis. Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 19(6), 591-607.  Retrieved October 17, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 1219806031).

Internet

Berinato, S. (2007). The fifth annual global state of information security. CIO Magazine. Retrieved July 31, 2008, from http://www.cio.com/article/133600/The_Fifth_Annual_Global_State_of_Information_Security?contentId=133600&slug=&

Scott Berinato (2003). The State of Information Security 2003 Retrieved this October 25, 2008 from: http://www.cio.com/article/29841/The_State_of_Information_Security_?page=7

Findlaw.com (2008).  Medicare Advantage Plans Struggle to Comply With New Federal Law.  Retrieved This November 1, 2008 from:  http://news.findlaw.com/prnewswire/20080820/20aug20081527.html

CIO.com (2008). The Incredible shrinking CIO.  Retrieved this October 8, 2008 from: http://www.cio.com/article/29840/The_Incredible_Shrinking_CIO

Orlov, Laurie (2008). Why Specific Tech Experience Shouldn’t Define the CIO Resume.  Retrieved this October 8, 2008 from:  http://www.cio.com/article/446491/Why_Specific_Tech_Experience_Shouldn_t_Define_the_CIO_Resume?page=1

E & J Gallo Winery.  CIO Kent Kushar Interview. Retrieved this October 15, 2008 from: http://www.boardroomconnection.com/

ABC News (2008). Google Assails Microsoft Over Yahoo Deal.  Google Rips Microsoft’s Proposed Takeover of Yahoo, Saying It Would Stifle Internet Innovation.  Retrieved this October 18, 2008 from: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/WireStory?id=4236209&page=1

Deskaway.com (2008).  Retrieved this October 22, 2008 from: http://www.deskaway.com/reasons/index.php

Netsity.com (2008).  Retrieved this October 22, 2008 from: http://www.netsity.com/webbasedapplication.htm

Accenture.com (2008).  Retrieved this November 6, 2008 from: http://www.accenture.com/home/default.htm

Audiovisual Media

Karlgaard, R., Forbes, S., Hosman, B., Cook, S., Ragalski, S., & Philiup, P. (2004). Business Intelligence: Your Window to Corporate Performance. [Video Webcast]. Southboro, MA: Accela Communications.

TN3270 emulation is a communications standard that allows a remote terminal such as a Windows workstation to communicate with an IBM or IBM-compatible mainframe. Originally, 3270 display terminals, also known as “dumb terminals”, were used to connect to mainframes. TN3270 emulation replaces the use of dumb terminals for accessing mainframe applications.

3270 display terminals used a standard cipher set when interacting with a host system. This collection of codes or escape sequences, were used to perform basic screen display functions such as moving the cursor. Once PC’s became commonplace, it became apparent that users needed to be able to access the data and applications housed on mainframes from their desktop instead of using an additional display terminal. Software developers began developing TN3270 emulation software to fill this need. Using a TN3270 terminal emulator allowed PC’s to emulate display terminals, eliminating the need for an additional machine to access critical business applications and data.

PC’s are capable of processing data whereas display terminals were not. Consequently, TN3270 emulation provided extended capabilities that served to increase productivity. TN3270 emulation made advanced features such as host printing, file transfer and scripting possible.

RFC 1576 from the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), TN3270 Best Practices, outlines the sending, receiving and processing of the 3270 data stream and available 3270 telnet commands. TN3270E incorporates a set of enhancements to the TN3270 specification and is a superset of RFC 1576. TN3270E is referenced in the IETF RFC 2355 TN3270 Enhancements Specification. TN3270E addresses critical issues such as:

IBM? 3287 LU 1 and LU 3 host printing

Specific and associated LU’s

Standardized Attention and System Request keys

With TN3270E emulation, host printing is available through Data Stream Control (LU Type 3) printers and SNA Character String (LU Type 1 SCS) printers. The terminal emulator manages the host printer data streams using response requests and sequence numbering to control the rate and sequence of data transfer between the PC, mainframe and printer.

When a terminal emulator attempts to connect to the mainframe, the connection is assigned an LU or device name that is configured the host side. TN3270 emulation only supports the use of generic LU’s. With generic LU’s, the session established with the TN3270 server comes from an unnamed pool of LU’s. With generic LU pools, it is possible to run out of LUs. Also, it is likely that users will not be connected to the same LU on subsequent connection attempts.

With TN3270E, sessions can be configured to connect to a specific LU. This helps administrators ensure that their users will always be able to connect to LU’s of a particular type such as display LU’s or printer LU’s.

IETF RFC 1576 did not include a standards specification for the attention (ATTN) and system request keys. As a result, telnet handled these keys different than IBM. The ATTN key sends a signal command to the mainframe, and is used as a break key to interrupt the mainframe’s execution of the current program. Some session manager programs also use this key to switch between sessions. The system request key switches host connections from a LU-LU session to a SSCP-LU session. The use of two dissimilar methods for handling these keys resulted in functional inconsistencies. TN3270E addresses this issue by providing a standard method for implementing ATTN and system request keys.

Industry analysts estimate that up to 80% of the world’s data resides on mainframes. Using TN3270 emulation, users can access this data quickly and efficiently from their desktop PC’s.

Over the last few years, accounting information technology has been malformed at a tremendous pace. Earlier the accounting process was controlled by costly mainframe computers. These computers were programmed by specialized information system staff, but today it has now been changed to accessible and incorporated internet-based systems. Today the skills and abilities essential for the accountant include the proper knowledge of application and combination of I.T. into the accounting process. Adding to this, these days many companies are looking for accountants who also have a proper knowledge of managerial and financial accounting principles. In fact, today every organization is looking for accountants who are familiar with today’s systems. This is where career in accounting information systems and technology come into the picture.

The AISs and Technology is a field of almost limitless rewards and challenges. These days it is one of the most preferred career options that are pulling the attentions of many students. It is one of the few career options in the accounting domain that primarily ensures that all financial information within a company flow accurately and timely. Being a graduate in accounting information system and technology, a student has an option to make career as database administrator or even software technician.

In terms of salary, the profession offer opportunities to earn a very good salary. According to recent data annual the median wage for a graduate in accounting information systems and technology ranges from $119,791 to $158,757 per annum. Besides this, an accounting information system specialist can earn $47,500 to $69,000 annually. Though, at times, these salary data may vary depending on location of company or the size of the company. Moreover, in recent times, the requirement of professionals in this related field has increased phenomenally. As per the latest studies, made by the U.S. Department of Labor, the job prospects of for those holding an accounting information system degree is expected to grow at a faster rate than the average employment by the year 2014. Apart from this, many current accountants are approaching retirement age, which in turn clearly indicate the need of more professionals in this field.

So, by now if you are looking forward making a career in this field, earning a degree in AIS can guide you the right way. Today there are many universities in the United Sates offering Accounting Information Systems and Technology courses. The course can provide you a great help to learn and know more about the different business functions starting from financial reporting to managerial or cost accounting. The program may help you in enhancing your skills in enterprise resource planning system and accounting information system. In simple terms, it is a course that can help you learn more about application of information systems generally used in the field of accounting.

Certainly, today the career prospect for a graduate holding a degree in accounting information system and technology are surely very good and in next few years many job openings are expected to boom. Making a career in this field is certainly a good idea, but it can most satisfactory and fulfilling only if you have a proper training. If you are planning to make a career in this field, try to have a proper training and education, as it can help you make a great career and enjoy the rewards in this profession.