TopThe Classic Enterprise Information Infrastructure (C-EII) is illustrated in Figure 1. It contains seven specialized layers, where the sixth and seventh layers are the most visible to the end-users. A set of applications is evolving along with the development of IT concepts and business needs. In the 2000s it is based upon work from the office via in-building, local, metropolitan, and national networks/infrastructures (LAN, LII, MII, NII) and from home via a home network/infrastructure (HII) for tele-work. The intelligence layer (layer 7) is also an application layer, which specializes in managing the whole enterprise with the support of a knowledge management system, composed of an enterprise datawarehouse, data mining, a knowledge database, and a management dashboard (also known as business intelligence).
Figure 1. The classic enterprise information infrastructure architecture
TopThe Global Enterprise Information Infrastructure (G-EII) is the extension of the C-EII through the Global networks/infrastructure, as illustrated in Figure 2. The user-visible layer 6 has more complex applications than those of a classic enterprise because they have to cover that enterprise’s geographic presence around the globe and must comply with a given set of nations’ legal rules. This requirement is particularly important in human resources applications, which must comply with each country’s rules. In the G-EII, new applications are in demand, such as e-Collaboration and e-CAD/CAM. E-Collaboration allows for a team or teams to work simultaneously in a virtual space, including virtual reality, saving on the costs of traveling to be in meetings. E-CAD/CAM is particularly applicable in offshore outsourcing of manufacturing processes. E-Library is also a convenient application, particularly for remotely located users who have limited access to good libraries.
Figure 2. The global information infrastructure architecture
Layer 7, the intelligence layer contains two intelligence-oriented systems, the classic business intelligence and global intelligence. The difference between BI and GI is in their content: the latter analyzes business processes in the global platform and tracks the globalization index to be aware of a given enterprise’s global operations.
TopGlobal Civilization And Global Enterprise
The current third wave of globalization takes place on the threshold of the third millennium and is the most extensive to date. Globalization refers to a multidimensional set of social processes that create, multiply, stretch, and intensify worldwide social interdependencies and exchanges while at the same time fostering in people a growing awareness of deepening connections between the local and distant (Steger, 2003). The world is shrinking fast and comes together as a Global civilization, which shapes our lives and changes politics, work, and families.