The European e-Business Report 2004 - Berlecon Research GmbH

The European E-Business Report 2004ERPExtranetICTInformation securityInternetInteroperabilityIntranetISDNLANLeased lineM-commerceMicro enterpriseModemMRO goodsProcessesEnterprise Resource Planning. A software system that helps to integrate and cover allmajor business activities within a company, including product planning, parts purchasing,inventory management, order tracking, human resources, projects management, andfinance.A network using Internet protocols that allows external organisations (for examplecustomers or suppliers) access to selected internal data. Essentially it is an Intranet whichgives external users restricted access (often password protected) to information throughthe firewall.Information and communication technology. ICT includes networks, computers, other dataprocessing and transmitting equipment, and software. The application of ICT in businessprocesses leads to e-business, if non-proprietary networks are used.Measures taken to protect information systems against unauthorised use and attacksThe world's largest computer communication system, with an estimated 700 million usersworldwide. 104 The Internet is a loose confederation of principally academic and researchcomputer networks. It is not a network but rather the interconnection of thousands ofseparate networks using a common language.The technical features of a group of interconnected systems (includes equipment ownedand operated by the customer which is attached to the public telecommunication network)which ensure end-to-end provision of a given service in a consistent and predictable way.An internal Internet, that is an internal network running using TCP/IP, which makesinformation available within the company. Most Intranets are connected to the Internet,and use firewalls to prevent unauthorised access.Integrated Services Digital Network. An international telecommunications standard fortransmission of voice and data over dial-up lines running at 64 Kbit/s (kilobits per second).It allows sharing of multiple devices on a single line (for example, phone, computer, fax).Local Area Network. The most common way of connecting computers in a small area(typically inside a building or organisation) for sharing databases and communicationfacilities. The two most common versions are Ethernet and Token Ring. Implementation isbased on coaxial cables or plain wires. Speed achieved ranges from 10 Mbps to 100Mbps.A private communication channel leased from the common carrier. It is usually adedicated fixed-route link (e.g. point-to-point frame relay).Mobile commerce. E-commerce that takes place using mobile connection devices andthrough data transmission via technical standards for mobile communication.A company with less than 10 employees.Modulator/Demodulator. A device that modulates outgoing digital signals from a computeror other digital device to analogue signals suitable to be transmitted through aconventional telephone line (copper twisted pair telephone). The reverse procedure takesplace for incoming signals.Maintenance, repair and operating goods. Supplies which companies need to maintaintheir operations, for example office supplies, in contrast to "direct production goods"which are components of the goods and services the company produces.Business processes are operations that transform the state of an object or a person. Thiscan, for example, be an order placed via the Internet. Ordering an object or a servicecreates a liability for the supplier to deliver, and initiates the transfer of property rightsfrom one entity to another. The electronic handling of processes is likely to speed them upand to introduce new processes in the realisation of the same transaction.104 Cf. Global Internet Statistics by Global Reach, www.glreach.com228