The 12-month objective at Terra Flora is to accomplish all the business-critical goals and as many as possible of the strategic goals.
Windows NT network services and some third-party services will be implemented to integrate the systems. Windows NT Workstation, Windows NT Server, or Windows 95 will be installed on any new equipment the company purchases, as appropriate to the role that the equipment will play in the Terra Flora network.
The information plan identifies the technical solutions for reaching the business goals as outlined in Table 4.2.
Table 4.2 Solutions for the Terra Flora Business Plan
Goal Priority | Business Goal | Technical Solutions for Information Plan | |
Business critical | Physically connect the three networks | Purchase routers and switches, as necessary to connect the network efficiently. | |
Business critical | Allow users to share files and printers as appropriate | Windows NT file and print (or, FPNW for NetWare clients; PCNFS for UNIX clients; Banyan File & Print for Windows NT for Banyan clients). | |
Business critical | Integrate all existing systems that facilitate business processes | Use SNA server to connect to the ES/9000 and AS/400. More analysis of the custom applications must be done for two reasons: to determine the best features of those products, and to create a plan for implementing the workstation and server applications necessary to effectively operate the business. | |
Business critical | Reduce training requirements | Provide a consistent, easy-to-use user interface for both desktop and server platforms. Allow connectivity to heterogeneous systems through a consistent interface. | |
Business critical | Do business on the Internet | The Terra Flora marketing department wants the corporation to create web pages for the Internet. These pages would feature images of popular floral arrangements. Customers would click an image to order it directly from the nearest retail order desk. Web pages would also list retail store locations and operating hours, the history of the company, product information, appropriate inventory data, and marketing information, such as seasonal specials. Internal departments responsible for maintaining web-page information would be given access to the pages. | |
Business critical | Migrate to the same network protocol | Install and configure TCP/IP on all platforms. | |
Business critical | Recognize security credentials and centrally authenticate network logons | Windows NT Network logon service will be used to authenticate credentials and provide single network log on. | |
Strategic | Centralized user accounts | Use Windows NT Server directory services to provide enterprise-wide user names and passwords. Trust relationships will be set up between domains, creating a single network logon. | |
Strategic | Centralized network administration and backup | Using Windows NT replication service for Enterprise-level databases, WINS, DNS, and DHCP services. For online backup, deploy Octopus for Windows NT. For the backup of data and software master copies, use Seagate Backup Exec for Windows NT. | |
Strategic | Extend the Terra Flora network to all employees | Use the built-in Windows NT RAS to connect mobile users. Use Windows NT Server PPTP to connect remote sites across the Internet, using a secure link. Create a secure communications link between the Seville site and headquarters in Sacramento. | |
Strategic | Create central information stores and applications | Analyze software applications to maintain the best ones, and program what is missing. Automate the manual tasks, as appropriate, such as the production line and distribution centers. | |
Strategic | Allow dynamic IP addressing in the network | Use Windows NT DHCP Server, and enable all capable DHCP clients. | |
Strategic | Give all employees electronic mail | Migrate to Microsoft Exchange. | |
Strategic | Electronically distribute corporate-wide information | Use Internet Information Server and Internet Explorer to distribute corporate-wide information. | |