Are Wireless Networks Becoming More Common?

Wireless networks are more general than they used to be, they can be found in offices, schools and even expressway service stations. The equipment is inexpensive and a simple setup. You wouldn't be stunned at what you can carry out with this type of setup. You are not restricted to just one PC to finish the chores in hand. Almost anyone can do it as it's a very simple process.

Many educational institutions use wireless electronic networks so that their students can continue their work in the student residences as well as in their schoolrooms. Many commercial enterprises have separate departments and each section has assorted uses for their Mac's. Within a business it is important that data is shared with various departments and to carry out this their communication system needs to be on-line.

A person may desire wireless electronic networks in their home as well. Every member of the family can have and use a computer at the same time. There liots of benefits to using a wireless network.

It is really easy for anyone to set up a link in their house. This is marvelous for individuals that do not want wires strung all over the home to hook each Mac up to the Internet. In an business office situation, the company banks on quick communicating and links to each department. Almost anyone can set up a wireless electronic network but if you are using it for your company then you would be advised to call in an professional.

It is primary that pupils are able to connect to the Net not just in the schoolroom but also in their dorm room, there is usually more research done after school time therefore connection is required 24/7. This is really easy to do and will benefit pupils with their course research. Using a wireless electronic network almost every Mac within each range would be able to use the Internet. A person will be able to send links, files and computer programs to other members on the network without much effort. You can even set up the system so that you could link with your main computer from your laptop in a different room.

Wireless networks are a wonder method in using a computer and Internet to its broadest potential. It is a simple process to setup and the usage could not be more easy and straightforward. It doesn't matter what other people are doing on their Mac as you are working independently and can work on different projects at the same time. You can find wireless electronic network equipment for under $90, so making it affordable for most families.

P Abbey owns and operates http://www.wirelesslannetwork123.com/wirelessnetworkantennabooster.html
Wireless Network Antenna Booster

Data Arteries - Enabling Business Strategy Through Information Technology

Regardless of size and industry, every enterprise is dependent upon information technology, and must have a strategy for how to employ it, especially as the internet becomes more pervasive. Information technology strategy is an enabler of business strategy. Not only must an enterprise manage relationships with its constituencies, but it must be able to connect with them electronically through data arteries - information supply, value, and demand chains. The information supply and demand chains are external; the information value chains are internal.

An information technology strategy is a special case functional strategy because every function in the enterprise requires electronic information delivery capabilities, and many require electronic process control also. In very large enterprises, strategy may be formulated at both the enterprise and organizational unit levels.

As websites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, Plaxo, and Twitter become more pervasive in business, linkages between application systems and databases and social networking websites will be more important to enable constituencies to communicate both collaboratively and cooperatively. Just as email has become a primary method of communication between enterprises and their constituencies, so will social networking sites especially for advertising and ecommerce.

Business intelligence information can be used to identify opportunities for competitive advantage. However, information technology itself can be an enabler of competitive advantage, especially when there are opportunities to digitize products or deliver information products electronically. In such cases, business strategy is inseparable from information technology strategy.

Information technology comprises the analytical and operational application systems, databases, and technical infrastructure (hardware and networks) of an enterprise. Not all computer technologies are information based. Computer technology is used for process control applications in special purpose equipment. However, connectivity is essential as applications become more integrated. As digital construction and manufacturing practices develop through such technologies as computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM), the processes, the control of processes, and the products and/or services delivered by processes all rely upon information technology for connectivity.

For example, in the manufacturing industry, not only can design and manufacturing work be conducted through integrated CAD/CAM processes with electronic linkages to carriers, such as FedEx and UPS, but the entire project and process management activities can be monitored electronically from ideation to product delivery.

Through technologies such as electronic data interchange and electronic funds transfer, data and both digital and information products flow through information supply and demand chains in parallel to material supply and product and/or service demand chains. Within the enterprise, data flows through information value chains from supply chains and to demand chains.

Developing an information technology strategy document is essential for describing the requirements and for educating users because:

• The impact is enterprise or organizational unit wide and other elements of strategy cannot be implemented without it
• Administrative activities, such as legal, finance, and human resources, and operational activities, such as research and development, procurement, manufacturing or equivalent, distribution, marketing, sales, and service depend on information technology - analytical and operational systems support both administrative and operational functions
• The time frames, expenditures, risks, and magnitude of efforts are usually larger and more complicated than other initiatives and must be clearly understood; information technology projects have a tendency to go out of control and under deliver - therefore, contingency plans are always necessary
• The subject matter can be complicated if not well explained

Information technology strategy is usually packaged as a separate but related document to the strategic plan. It is deployed and executed through specific programs and projects that develop new or enhance or maintain existing application systems, databases, and technical infrastructure.

Large information technology development projects are usually cross-functional, and may be part of a broader initiative sponsored by multiple functions collectively. Broader initiatives that have information technology components include:

• Market research and development
• Product research and development
• Infrastructure research and development for processes and information delivery

For example - for the development of a:

• Digital manufacturing system integrating both research and development and sales and production activities (sponsors: Manufacturing and Sales functions - impact is on Research and Development, Procurement, Manufacturing, Distribution, Sales, and Service functions)
• Financial, managerial, and regulatory accounting and reporting system (sponsor: Finance function - impact is enterprise wide)
• Human resource management system (sponsor: Human Resources function - impact is enterprise wide)
• Sales tracking system (sponsor: Sales function - impact is on all salespeople enterprise wide)

Some projects can be solely for the Information Technology function, in which case it is a customer of itself.

Steering committees should be established for major programs and projects representing the various impacted functions in order to resolve cross-functional barriers. Major programs should come under the review of a planning and policy committee at the enterprise level.

Information technology strategy formulation is a project in its own right at the enterprise or organizational unit level. Very large projects are grouped as a program of inter-related components under a program manager. Projects can be stand alone also. A single project can deliver one or more application systems and related databases and technical infrastructure, or multiple projects may be required depending upon complexity.

For example, when launching a new product, it may be necessary to conduct marketing, product, and infrastructure development projects that include the delivery of new systems, and upgrades to existing systems. However, if an addition to the product line is launched at a later time, a new project or set of projects may be required to enhance or maintain the current systems, or even develop new ones.

The work breakdown structure for downstream development, enhancement, and maintenance projects decomposes into planning, analysis, design, construction, implementation, and performance measurement phases. The performance measurement phase can be conducted in parallel with the other phases, and each must end with a performance review. A feedback loop to future planning activities must be established so that lessons learned from the past can be reflected in future initiatives.

Meeting the cost and schedule requirements is always a major consideration. Hence, "meeting the date" is a frequent requirement for project success. However, after implementation, the scope of what was delivered and its quality is usually remembered more than when. In anticipation of the need to make changes after implementation, an adaption project may be necessary to tune, standardize, and integrate the deliverables.

The planning phase is conducted at the enterprise, organizational unit, or program levels for one or more projects depending upon size and complexity. However, each application system and related databases and technical infrastructure is delivered through a project with distinct analysis, design, construction, and implementation phases. Each phase always begins with a detailed planning activity to ensure that resources are allocated appropriately. The work breakdown structure does not preclude the use of iterative methodologies within each phase for rapid application development and prototyping. Development, enhancement, and maintenance of websites can be very rapid, and heavily interactive with user involvement, when the appropriate tools are used.

Key questions and deliverables by information technology strategy project and downstream phases include:

Strategy project (enterprise and organizational unit levels):

Key questions:

• How does information technology enable business strategy?
• What are the investment priorities?

Deliverables include:

• Information technology architecture (applications, data and databases, and technical infrastructure)
• High level project phasing and plans

Planning phase (enterprise, organizational unit, and program levels):

Key questions:

• What are the administrative functions' systems and information needs?
• What are the operational functions' systems and information needs?
• What are the priorities for the candidate analytical systems?
• What are the priorities for the candidate operational systems?

Deliverables include:

• Process models
• Function models
• Data models
• Information models
• Economic evaluation
• Scope of analysis projects and schedules

Analysis phase (project level):

Key questions:

• How do processes, functions, and systems fit together?
• How do systems processes and functions relate to enterprise processes and functions?
• How do systems processes and functions and enterprise processes and functions fit together?

Deliverables include:

• Functional requirements
• Economic evaluation
• Scope of design projects and schedules

Design phase (project level):

Key questions (by system):

• What are the system's functional requirements?
• What are the system's technical requirements?
• What is the total cost of ownership and benefits (tangible and intangible)?

Deliverables include (by system):

• Application system specifications
• Data and database specifications
• Technical infrastructure specifications
• Scope of construction project and schedule
• Total cost of ownership/benefit analysis

Construction phase (project level):

Key questions (by system):

• Is the system being constructed according to design?
• If not, what change orders are required, and why?

Deliverables include (by system):

• Tested application system and interfaces, databases, and technical infrastructure
• Trained users

Implementation phase (project level):

Key questions (by system):

• What are the costs and schedule relative to plan?
• What is the scope relative to plan?
• What is the quality relative to plan
• When will the benefits be realized relative to plan?
• What adjustments for tuning, standardization, and integration are required relative to plan?
• What are the current anticipated enhancement requests?
• What are the current anticipated maintenance requests?
• What are the lessons learned for the future?

Deliverables include (by system):

• Working application system and interfaces, databases, and technical infrastructure
• List of enhancement requests
• List of maintenance requests
• Performance measurement report

As enterprises become more dependent upon the internet for connectivity with constituencies, it is essential to develop, enhance, and maintain the information technology strategy on an ongoing basis. The strategy must emphasize connectivity through the data arteries as digital and information products become more pervasive.

Formulating information technology strategy is an enterpriship (entrepreneurship, leadership, and management) competency.

...and to assess your enterpriship competencies in thirty minutes or less, claim your opportunity for instant access when you go to http://www.fromvisiontovalue.com

From Nigel A.L. Brooks - Management Consultant and Motivational Speaker http://www.nigelalbrooks.com

A Quick Reference to a Wireless Router Setup

Where wireless routers and speeds are concerned, price is not always the best controlling factor. There's a wide variety of wireless routers available in the market and one is not always as good as the other. Basic, low-range types gives you speeds of only about 56 mbps. Pick one with ultra-range capabilities or a dual-band router for best performance and fastest speeds.

Setting up your wireless routers is not as difficult as it seems. When you have a wireless router at hand, you only have to substitute your DSL or cable connection with it. For techie people who would like to learn, here's a quick guide to doing it yourself.

First, remove cable or DS modem from your power supply and also the ethernet cable from the computer. Leave the phone cord on the modem.

Connect the end of the ethernet cable you removed from your computer to the internet port at the back of your router. This port is normally marked clearly. Plug your modem back to the power source.

Plug one end of your router's ethernet cable into the ethernet connector on the network card of your computer. The other end goes into one of the ethernet network ports on the router itself.

Hook up the router to a power supply and check the indicator lights. Five indicator lights should be on: the power light, the internet light, the security light, the wireless light, and the light for one of your ethernet network connections.

All indicator lights should be stable. Otherwise, you'll need to check if you had plugged cables securely or if the router is working properly.

Install the software that came with your wireless router. Run it as instructed and test your system. Products made by different manufacturers, although intended for the same purposes, would invariably be slightly different from one another. Some routers could be a bit more complicated to setup or install. If you followed the above steps and it didn't work like it should, refer to your router's user manual for guidance. This is usually included in the kit that you purchased. If it's not, log on to your manufacturer's website for questions.

When you have accurately installed your router into your system, configure the device. Key-in your internet access pass (username and password) into the router's setup screen. Also, for security reasons, change your router's username and password immediately to prevent unauthorized access into your wireless connection.

Although sharing internet connection and file sharing between network computers may be done via alternative methods, having a router simplifies these tasks immensely. It's what makes routers such popular alternatives.

Although routers do not generally support dial-up modems, there are a few units with built-in serial ports that work with serial cables to accommodate dial-up connectivity.

Get better access to your home network and get the most out of your internet connection. Hook everything up to a network with a wireless router. It saves you time, effort, and money. Plus, it makes your computers better-able to interact with your mobile phones and other devices.

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