Information Systems Evolution

This book addresses the recent developments in systems maintenance research and practices ranging from technicality of systems evolution to managerial aspects of the topic, including issues such as evolving legacy systems to e-business, applying patterns for reengineering legacy systems to web, architectural recovery of legacy systems, evolving legacy systems into software components.

Many organizations critically depend on very large information systems. In the authors' experience these organizations often struggle to find the right strategy to sustainably develop their systems. Based on their own experience at a major bank, over more than a decade, the authors have developed a successful strategy to deal with these challenges, including: - A thorough analysis of the challenges associated with very large information systems - An assessment of possible strategies for the development of these systems, resulting in managed evolution as the preferred strategy - Describing key system aspects for the success of managed evolution, such as architecture management, integration architecture and infrastructure - Developing the necessary organizational, cultural, governance and controlling mechanisms for successful execution

This book introduces and describes in detail the SEQUAL framework for understanding the quality of models and modeling languages, including the numerous specializations of the generic framework, and the various ways in which this can be used for different applications. Topics and features: contains case studies, chapter summaries, review questions, problems and exercises throughout the text, in addition to Appendices on terminology and abbreviations; presents a thorough introduction to the most important concepts in conceptual modeling, including the underlying philosophical outlook on the quality of models; describes the basic tasks and model types in information systems development and evolution, and the main methodologies for mixing different phases of information system development; provides an overview of the general mechanisms and perspectives used in conceptual modeling; predicts future trends in technological development, and discusses how the role of modeling can be envisaged in this landscape.

An interdisciplinary team of scientists is presenting a new paradigm: all existing structures on earth are the consequence of information processing. Since these structures have been evolved over the last five billion years, information processing and its systems have an evolution.This is under consideration in the book. Starting with a basic paper which summarizes the essential hypotheses about the evolution of informaion processing systems, sixteen international scientists have tried to verify or falsify these hypothesises. This has been done at the physical, the chemical, the genetic, the neural, the social, the societal and the socio-technical level. Thus, the reader gets an insight into the recent status of research on the evolution of information processing systems. The papers are the result of an interdisciplinary project in which scientists of the classical disciplines have been invited to collaborate. Their inputs have been intensively discussed in a workshop. The book is the output of the workshop. The first goal of the bookis to give the reader an insight into basic principles about the evolution of information processing systems. This, however, leads directly to a very old and essential question: who is controlling the world, "matter" or an "immaterial intelligence"? Several authors of the papers are arguing that there is a basic concept of information processing in nature. This is the crucial process, which, however, needs a material basis. The reader has a chance to understand this paradigm as an approach which is valid for all levels of inorganic, organic and societal structures. This provocative concept is open to debate.

This book covers several aspects related the evolution of Information Systems into Pervasive Information Systems. New IT trends have an important impact on IT infrastructures, which become increasingly heterogeneous, flexible, and dynamic. These new trends are transforming Information Systems into what we call Pervasive Information Systems. The purpose of this book is to combine “state-of-the-art” solutions from various research communities (such as Information Systems Engineering, Cloud Computing, Fog/Edge Computing, Pervasive systems, Distributed systems, and Middleware systems) related to the Pervasive Information Systems emergence as a common point of view. Through these multiple contributions, this book tackles important challenges concerning Information Systems evolution, promoting a holistic view of Pervasive Information System. Pervasive Information Systems (PIS) can be defined as a new class of Information Systems. It can be characterized by an IT that is gradually embedded in the physical environment and can accommodate the user’s requirements and desires when necessary. This evolution implies considering Information Systems beyond the organization's physical environment to integrate new technologies transparently, leading to a pervasive environment whose behavior should be more and more reactive & proactive. It corresponds to an important change in Information Systems Engineering. Pervasive Information Systems are deeply multidisciplinary systems, demanding a holistic view in which multiple domains are invited to contribute.

A strategic model for identifying, evaluating, and improving information use "Fundamentally changes how you look at the role of information technology and takes it to the leadership level, which is the only way for business performance to be maximized in this global economy." --Ron Milton, Executive Vice President, Computerworld "Information Revolution is truly a must-read for those who generate, support, and make decisions for their respective organizations. By the way, that would be everybody." --Bob Schwartz, Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Panasonic Corporation of North America "As this book clearly describes, information management advances both through evolution and intelligent design. The ideas herein will help any organization avoid extinction!" --Thomas H. Davenport, President's Distinguished Professor and Director of Research, Babson College "This model captures the best practices from the early stage of Business Intelligence development through the most sophisticated environments where the value and nature of information is unquestioned. All of us should strive to reach the final level. And now we have the ultimate guide to help us get there." --Claudia Imhoff, President, Intelligent Solutions, Inc. "Managing a successful Business Intelligence effort requires a long-term view and this means leaders must have a methodology to guide them as they navigate their organization through the BI evolution. Information Revolution provides the prag-matic road map all executives can understand and follow." --Irving Tyler, Chief Information Officer, Quaker Chemical Corporation "Information Revolution is the perfect blend of 'what,' 'how,' and especially 'why.' This book is a must-read for those driven to excel in this information-based world, instead of being another 'me, too' along for the ride." --Bruce Barnes, former chief information officer, Nationwide Financial Services "Information Revolution provides a powerful framework for assessing the current state of your company's systems and its decision making capabilities. It then presents a clear process for moving your systems and your company toward an adaptive and innovative enterprise." --Michael Hugos, Chief Information Officer, Network Services Company

This book constitutes the post-conference proceedings of the CAiSE Forum from the 22nd International Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering (CAiSE 2010), held in Hammamet, Tunisia, June 9, 2010. While the CAiSE conference itself focuses on papers that report on matured research, the CAiSE forum was created specifically as a platform to present fresh ideas, new concepts, and new and innovative systems, tools, and applications. The 22 papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 32 submissions. The reworked and extended versions of the original presentations cover topics such as business process management, enterprise architecture and modeling, service-oriented architectures, and requirements engineering.

"Information Systems for Business and Beyond introduces the concept of information systems, their use in business, and the larger impact they are having on our world."--BC Campus website.