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274 Part Two Information Technology Infrastructure

them. It is also possible to include performance mea- September 25, 2007 (www.scdigest.com/assets/on_target/07-09-25-
surements and get real-time insight into HR trends. 7.php?cid=1237, accessed November 16, 2010); G. W. Anderson, T.
Rhodes, J. Davis, and J. Dobbins, SAMS Teach Yourself SAP in 24
Using these advanced features, together with tools
hours (Indianapolis, IN: SAMS, 2008).
from other software vendors, Lego’s managers are
able to track employees’ leadership potential, develop CASE STUDY QUESTIONS
their careers, and forecast the recruiting of new
1. Explain the role of the database in SAP’s three-tier
employees with certain skills. n. system.
Sources: ”Business 2010: Embracing the Challenge of Change,” 2. Explain why distributed architectures are flexible.
The Economist Intelligence Unit, February 2005 (http://graph-
3. Identify some of the business intelligence features
ics.eiu.com/files/ad_pdfs/Business%202010_Global_ FINAL.
pdf, accessed November 16, 2010); “Lego Creates Model Business included in SAP’s business software suite.
Success with SAP and IBM,” IBM Global Financing, May 19, 4. What are the main advantages and disadvantages
2010 (www-01.ibm.com/software/success/cssdb.nsf/CS/STRD- of having multiple databases in a distributed archi-
85KGS6?OpenDocument, October 20, 2010); “Human Resources tecture? Explain.
as an Exponent of Good Governance” (in Danish) (www.sat.com,
October 20, 2010); “Lego, The Toy of the Century Had to Reinvent Case contributed by Daniel Ortiz Arroyo, Aalborg
the Supply-Chain to Save the Company,” Supply Chain Digest, University

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