Architecting Portal Solutions: Applications Development

Describes a proven solution to a recurring design problem, placing particular emphasis on the context and forces surrounding the problem, and the consequences and impact of the solution.

The increasingly popular use of intelligent, easily accessible, sometimes invisible computing devices that simplify personal and business transactions. Designed to bring open standards-based applications to everyday life, these devices are most often mobile in nature, or embedded in the environment. Pervasive computing provides easy access to data stored on powerful networks, increases work efficiencies and removes much of the complexity inherent in these new technologies.

Product Lifecycle Management allows companies to share common business processes and a common knowledge of a product by integrating all stages of its lifecycle, from concept to retirement, across the entire industry. Businesses can thus improve their infrastructure, collaborate across the value chain and significantly reduce product development time and cost.

A Web site or online service that provides a broad range of services (e.g., Internet searches or e-commerce) to a large audience.

A term used in a Service Level Agreement (SLA) denoting a guaranteed level of performance (e.g., response times of less than one second).

One of the five focus areas of Grid computing. Companies can use grids to accelerate and enhance the R&D process by enabling the sharing of data and computing power seamlessly for research-intensive applications.

One of the four characteristics of an on demand business. This business will manage changes and threats-from computer viruses, to earthquakes, to spikes in usage-with consistent availability, security and privacy.

One of the four characteristics of an on demand business. This business will seem almost intuitive in its ability to sense and respond to dynamic, unpredictable changes in demand, supply, pricing, labor, competitors' moves, capital markets and the needs of all its constituencies-customers, partners, suppliers and employees.

The income that an investment provides in a fixed amount of time. Also, the speed at which a capital outlay pays for itself. When companies make investments in Web technology, this measure is referred to as Return on Web Investment (ROWI). ROWI helps build a sound business case for e-commerce initiatives, applying a framework for analyzing and measuring the ROI of an e-business project at any point in the implementation.

Pertaining to the capability of a system to adapt readily to a greater or lesser intensity of use, volume or demand. For example, a scalable system can efficiently adapt to work with larger or smaller networks, performing tasks of varying complexity.

One of the characteristics of autonomic computing. Self-configuring systems can adapt to dynamically changing environments with minimal human involvement.

One of the characteristics of autonomic computing. Self-healing systems can discover, diagnose and act to prevent disruptions, all with minimal human involvement.

One of the characteristics of autonomic computing. Self-managing systems can perform routine maintenance tasks with minimal human involvement.

One of the characteristics of autonomic computing. Self-optimizing systems can fine-tune resources and balance workloads to maximize use of IT resources, all with minimal human involvement.

One of the characteristics of autonomic computing. Self-protecting systems can anticipate, detect, identify and protect against attacks, all with minimal human involvement.

One of the characteristics of on demand business is the ability to sense changes in the environment-fluctuations in customer demand, issues within the supply chain, variations in pricing structures-and respond quickly to meet those challenges.

The three stages of adoption-access, integration, and e-business on demand-together make up the e-business adoption cycle.

The adoption of open standards allows for the integration of processes, applications and devices across the enterprise. Thus, standards-based computing is one of the cornerstones of the on demand environment.

Hard disks and other systems designed for information storage and retrieval. In the on demand environment, these need to be both scalable and highly reliable.

Highly powerful, extraordinarily fast computers, typically used for research and other applications that require massive mathematical calculations. Grid computing gives e-businesses supercomputer-level power using their existing systems.

An electronic alternative to the traditional paper chain, providing companies with a smarter, faster, more effective way to get the right product to the right customer at the right time and price. Combines the power of the Internet with the latest technology, enabling participating suppliers to access up-to-date company information and enabling companies to better manage and track supply and demand.