Abstract
This chapter presents the creation of a process framework that can be used by enterprises in order to transition to mobile enterprises. This framework facilitates adoption of mobile technologies by organizations in a strategic manner. A mobile enterprise transition framework provides a process for transition that is based on the factors that influence such transition. The Mobile Enterprise Transition (MET) framework, outlined in this chapter, is based on the four dimensions of economy, technology, methodology, and sociology. These four dimensions for MET have been identified based on an understanding of people, processes, and technologies. A research project undertaken by the author validates these four dimensions.
TopConsidering The Nature Of Mobility In The “Met” Framework
Electronic business transitions have been studied, amongst others, by Ginige et al (2001), Lan and Unhelkar (2005). However, the uniqueness of mobile technologies in terms of their impact on business has been discussed by Marmaridis and Unhelkar (2005), Arunatileka and Unhelkar (2003), Godbole and Unhelkar (2003), Lan and Unhelkar (2005), and Unhelkar (2008). These authors have focussed on the specific nature of mobility as depicted in Figure 1. The inner square in Figure 1 indicates land-based connectivity between enterprises, functional units and other fixed devices. This connectivity evolved from the initial centralized connectivity of the mainframe, followed by the client-server connectivity and finally resulting in the Internet connectivity (business to business - B2B and business to customer - B2C). The Internet-based connectivity is further augmented by the XML (eXtensible Markup Language) to facilitate the Internet as a medium of computing, rather than merely as a means of communication. However, as depicted by the outer square in Figure 1, the external wireless connectivity, by its very nature, is between an individual and the business or between two individuals. As correctly stressed by Elliott and Phillips (2004), a mobile phone is a far more personal device that is carried by an individual as compared with a desktop personal computer.
Figure 1. Mobility is personal in nature (based on Unhelkar, 2005)
Key Terms in this Chapter
Economic Dimension of MET: Describes the business reasons for undertaking transformation and includes discussions on costs and competition.
Methodological Dimension of MET: Deals primarily with the question of “how” to – amongst other things- model and design business processes, approach methodologies and quality in software processes.
Social Dimension of MET: Deals with “who” is involved in and influenced by the transformation and typically it includes the users, customers and employees of the business.
Mobile Technologies: Are made up of wireless network, devices and contents. Mobile technologies are at the crux of the communications revolution.
Technical Dimension of MET: Describes the technologies for transformation and include devices/gadgets, programming, databases, networking, security and architecture.