Publisher's Synopsis
Modern information and communication technologies are driving a new digital economy of networked enterprises linked at many levels through modern networking techniques. These enterprises of distributed and independent production units connected by communication networks are flexible and allow separate organisational units which are geographically distant from each other to cooperate and react quickly to market demands. Information and Communication Systems for Networked Enterprises describes in detail how networked enterprises have evolved and comprehensively surveys the latest wired and wireless communication technologies, both those that are already being used in practice and the most up-to-date developments currently being developed by researchers. Unique to the book is an analysis of the entire life cycle of a networked enterprise, including a description of every applicable technology used during the enterprises life. The pros and cons of wireless technologies are fully explained. Information and Communication Systems for Networked Enterprises provides an accessible but up-to-date introduction to networked enterprises that will be of use to researchers and students in engineering, computer science and management studies as well as managers in industry and all those interested in how modern technology is changing the ways in which organisations perform.