Client Server Computing
Client/Server computing has become the model
for new information architecture.
This technology will take enterprise
wide computing into the 21st century.
Computing power has rapidly become
distributed and interconnected throughout
many organizations through networks
of all types of computers. Networked
computer systems are taking the form of
client/server computing. With
client/server computing, end users can handle a
broad range of information
processing tasks. This included data entry,
inquiry response, updating
databases, and providing decision support.
How do the client/server systems at Helene Curtis illustrate the
benefits of client/server computing? The
client/server system allows the
sales reps the ability to tap into the database
to retrieve data about
product sales and promotions. The reps cans tap into the
systems with their
palmpads. The palmpad are hand held computers linking the
reps to the
company's database system. With the information retrieved, the reps
can give
store managers fact based advice on products, promotions, and fill
orders.
The immediate feedback informs the reps where and which products are
selling
best and the promotion used to sell. The palmpad is way to maintain
good
relations with retailers, who pass the service to the customers.
"
Client/Server computing allows many users to share common data
resources,
including files and databases as well as computer storage and
printers. Sharing
data and information eliminates the need for personal
management of data and/or
peripheral devices. Finally, client/server
computing allows the integration of
geographically distributed users and
computing resources into a cohesive
computer and communication environment
(Senn, 1995, p. 404)." The palmpads
let the field sales reps visit, on
average, one more store a day. How might this
be a competitive advantage for
Helene Curtis? Retailers require and expect
special services from
manufacturers. The palmpad allows reps to visit the store
and act as
consultants and account managers. The rep's palmpads, enable the reps
to
retrieve sales data, track inventory, and link stores. The information
will
aid the reps in determining manufacture discounts to retailers. Which
enables
the retailers to hold sales and price cut to pull in the price
conscious
consumers. Specific information requested by the reps is made
available.
"The server processes database requests and the client takes the
results
and works with them. Thus, with client/server computing, as much of
the
processing as possible is performed on the server before the requested
data and
information are transmitted to the client. This means specific
information, not
complete files or large sections of databases, are
transmitted to the client (Senn,
1995, p. 404)." Many stock analysts feel
that Helene Curtis is well
positioned for future growth. As evidence, they
cite the company's ongoing
introduction of new, higher-priced brands and its
investment in the information
systems needed to provide good retail service.
What might these predictions mean
for Helene Curtis's competitors? Helene
Curtis competitors need to invest in an
information system. Potential
investors are looking not only for a good product,
but also an information
system that will aid in providing for retail service.
The information
system will allow companies to track of sales data of its
competitors. Also,
the system will increase productivity. Companies will be able
to compete with
new products or price discounts, or whatever else their
competitors are
handing out. The information has to be easily accessible to
employees and
provide quick feedback. "All of this means faster access to
data and
information, better service for customers, quicker responses to changes
in
the business environment, more efficient business power, fewer errors, and
in
general, higher levels of productivity (Senn, 1995, p. 404)."
Client/Server
technology promises many things to many people: to end users,
easier access to
corporate and external data; to managers, dramatically lower
costs for
processing; to programmers, reduced maintenance; to corporate
planners, and
infrastructure that enables business processes to be
reengineered for strategic
benefits. Whether client/server lives up to these
promises will depend in large
part on how carefully it is planned for, and
how intelligently policies are put
forth to manage
it.
Bibliography
Client/Server computing has become the model for
new information architecture.
This technology will take enterprise wide
computing into the 21st century.
Computing power has rapidly become
distributed and interconnected throughout
many organizations through networks
of all types of computers. Networked
computer systems are taking the form of
client/server computing. With
client/server computing, end users can handle a
broad range of information
processing tasks. This included data entry,
inquiry response, updating
databases, and providing decision support. How do
the client/server systems at
Helene Curtis illustrate the benefits of
client/server computing? The
client/server system allows the sales reps the
ability to tap into the database
to retrieve data about product sales and
promotions. The reps cans tap into the
systems with their palmpads. The
palmpad are hand held computers linking the
reps to the company's database
system. With the information retrieved, the reps
can give store managers fact
based advice on products, promotions, and fill
orders. The immediate feedback
informs the reps where and which products are
selling best and the promotion
used to sell. The palmpad is way to maintain good
relations with retailers,
who pass the service to the customers. "
Client/Server computing allows
many users to share common data resources,
including files and databases as
well as computer storage and printers. Sharing
data and information
eliminates the need for personal management of data and/or
peripheral
devices. Finally, client/server computing allows the integration
of
geographically distributed users and computing resources into a
cohesive
computer and communication environment (Senn, 1995, p. 404)." The
palmpads
let the field sales reps visit, on average, one more store a day.
How might this
be a competitive advantage for Helene Curtis? Retailers
require and expect
special services from manufacturers. The palmpad allows
reps to visit the store
and act as consultants and account managers. The
rep's palmpads, enable the reps
to retrieve sales data, track inventory, and
link stores. The information will
aid the reps in determining manufacture
discounts to retailers. Which enables
the retailers to hold sales and price
cut to pull in the price conscious
consumers. Specific information requested
by the reps is made available.
"The server processes database requests and
the client takes the results
and works with them. Thus, with client/server
computing, as much of the
processing as possible is performed on the server
before the requested data and
information are transmitted to the client. This
means specific information, not
complete files or large sections of
databases, are transmitted to the client (Senn,
1995, p. 404)." Many
stock analysts feel that Helene Curtis is well
positioned for future growth.
As evidence, they cite the company's ongoing
introduction of new,
higher-priced brands and its investment in the information
systems needed to
provide good retail service. What might these predictions mean
for Helene
Curtis's competitors? Helene Curtis competitors need to invest in
an
information system. Potential investors are looking not only for a good
product,
but also an information system that will aid in providing for retail
service.
The information system will allow companies to track of sales
data of its
competitors. Also, the system will increase productivity.
Companies will be able
to compete with new products or price discounts, or
whatever else their
competitors are handing out. The information has to be
easily accessible to
employees and provide quick feedback. "All of this means
faster access to
data and information, better service for customers, quicker
responses to changes
in the business environment, more efficient business
power, fewer errors, and in
general, higher levels of productivity (Senn,
1995, p. 404)." Client/Server
technology promises many things to many people:
to end users, easier access to
corporate and external data; to managers,
dramatically lower costs for
processing; to programmers, reduced maintenance;
to corporate planners, and
infrastructure that enables business processes to
be reengineered for strategic
benefits. Whether client/server lives up to
these promises will depend in large
part on how carefully it is planned for,
and how intelligently policies are put
forth to manage it.