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e-Business or Out of Business

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e-Business or Out of Business

Oracle's Roadmap for Profiting in the New Economy

McGraw-Hill,

15 min read
10 take-aways
Text available

What's inside?

So you think this Internet thing was a flash in the pan? Oracle has a billion reasons why you’re wrong.

Editorial Rating

9

Qualities

  • Innovative
  • Applicable

Recommendation

Mark J. Barrenechea, a senior vice president for applications development at Oracle Corp., describes how to transform a company by using a range of e-business applications. He draws on Oracle’s success at changing its business by using the Internet and networking to interconnect employees, customers and suppliers. Barrenechea’s useful roadmap shows how your company can apply these methods to coordinate, systematize and streamline operations. He demonstrates how other companies - including General Motors, Boeing and Microsoft - use e-business networking. He writes in a straightforward style without jargon and maintains a keen focus on operations, making this book a wealth of practical knowledge. Of course, that same focus might limit the book’s appeal to executives without an interest in operations technology and to other mainstream readers. getabstract strongly recommends this educational book, and if the advice seems a little weighted toward Oracle products... well, let’s not be naïve.

Summary

An E-Business Transformation

In June 1999, Oracle began the process of transforming itself into an e-business using its own applications software - the Oracle E-Business Suite - to put every aspect of its business on the Internet. As a result, Oracle saved $1 billion in a year, as reflected in a 10-point improvement in its operating margin, which increased to 14 points the following quarter.

A fully developed e-business operates by using the Internet as a global network and a global database to integrate all aspects of business. It combines every business function, connecting everyone and putting all the information in one place. In other words, marketing, sales, supply-chain management, manufacturing, customer service, accounting and human resources all use this global network and database, united in one computer system.

Oracle began moving its application products to the Internet in 1995, the first software company to do so. Though it moved everything to the Net, its information was scattered through hundreds of separate databases. Each internal organization had its own computer system and each system had its own database. Data was fragmented and it was difficult...

About the Author

Mark J. Barrenechea is the Senior Vice President for Applications Development at Oracle Corporation who reports directly to Larry Ellison. He is a frequent and popular speaker at computer-industry events.

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