Integrating Wireless Technology in the Enterprise

William Wheeler has over 15 years of MIS/IT experience, most at a major Fortune 100 company. He has a Masters Degree in Computer Resources and Information Management. He is uniquely qualified to author this text as he has worked to implement wireless devices to hundreds of employees in several companies. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. concentrating on heuristics and artificial intelligence in information systems.

"The author is very much in command of the hands-on material when it comes to project management and project scoping. The experience acquired as a project manager makes that part of the book valuable and enjoyable." - Association for Computing Machinery

• Author InformationPrefaceAcknowledgments1 Introduction and Handheld BasicsExecutive Summary1.1 Avoiding the “That's the Way We've always Done it” Trap1.2 What is a Personal Digital assistant?1.3 What it is Not?1.4 How Do We Get the Most Out of it?1.5 So We Ask again, “What is a PDA?”1.5.1 It is Portable1.5.2 It is Convenient1.5.3 It Helps You Remember1.5.4 It is Scalable1.5.5 It Comes in Different Flavors1.5.6 It is an Extension to Your PC1.5.7 It is Open to Software Developers to Solve Your Problems1.6 So What Does a PDA Buy Me?1.6.1 It Promotes a Professional Image1.6.2 It Reduces Paperwork1.6.3 It Reduces Errors1.6.4 It is Cool!1.7 Use it Like it Was intended to be Used1.8 Baseline Features1.9 Calendar1.10 Contacts or Phone Book1.11 Tasks/To-Do's1.12 Notes/Memos1.13 EmailSummary2 Handhelds as industrial Strength toolsExecutive Summary2.1 Barcoding2.2 Barcode Symbology and Formats2.3 Scanners and Decoders2.4 Batch Scanners2.5 Wireless Scanners2.6 Additional Software and A-Os2.7 Cellular Phones2.8 Wireless Standards 2.9 High Points of the 802.11 StandardsSummary3 Laying the Groundwork for SuccessExecutive Summary3.1 Business Justification3.2 Cost3.3 Scope3.4 Schedule3.5 Putting Cost, Scope, and Schedule Together 3.6 Feasibility Analysis3.7 Feasibility Analysis Matrix3.8 Identify Critical Success FactorsSummary4 How Do We Know Where to Go Without a Plan?Executive Summary4.1 Planning4.2 Request for Information System Services4.3 Preliminary Investigations4.4 Problem Analysis4.5 Pest Management Problem Description 4.6 Describe Current Situation4.7 Problem or Opportunity Statements4.8 Basic Workflow (Process) Design4.9 Problems, Opportunities, Objectives, and Constraints Matrix4.10 Systems Analysis4.11 Solution Analysis4.12 Candidate Systems Matrix4.13 Management ApprovalSummary5 When Does it Make Sense to Do a Project and When Doesn’t it?Executive Summary5.1 OK, You've Got My attention, But Does it Make Sense to My Accounting Department? 5.2 It Sounds Expensive5.3 When Does it Make Sense and When Doesn’t it?5.4 I’m a “Bottom-Line Kind of Guy.” Show Me the Numbers5.5 Systems Analysis5.6 Preliminary Investigations5.7 Problem Analysis5.8 Requirements Analysis5.9 Feasibility Analysis5.10 The Challenge5.11 The Method 5.12 Environment Complexity 5.13 End-User Complexity5.14 Expanded Requirements 5.15 The Results 5.16 Decision Tables5.17 Decisions and Conclusions 5.18 How Will I Know if it Makes Money to Do This?5.19 What are the Next Steps? 5.20 The Challenge5.21 End-User Mobility5.22 End-User Complexity 5.23 Environment Complexity 5.24 Expanded Requirements5.25 More Decision Tables 5.26 Decisions and Conclusions Summary 6 System Requirements and Project SuccessExecutive Summary 6.1 System Requirements and Analysis Summary7 Methodology, Application Development, and System ArchitectureExecutive Summary7.1 Methodology7.2 Approach Overview 7.3 Process Models7.4 Waterfall Method 7.5 Extreme Programming 7.6 Differences in Requirements Focus 7.7 Cultural Differences7.8 Testing Approaches7.9 Customer Focus 7.10 Methodology Conclusions7.11 Application Development Environments 7.12 Code Warrior 7.13 Palmos Emulator (POSE)7.14 GCC Compiler/PRC-tools 7.15 Satellite Forms Enterprise Edition 7.16 Pendragon Forms 7.17 Conduit Development Kit (CDK)7.18 Java Development Environment (for the Blackberry)7.19 Microsoft Windows Ce Developer's Kit 7.20 Other Notable Products 7.21 Design 7.22 Data Flow Diagram 7.23 High-Level Design7.24 Decomposition Diagram7.25 Low-Level Design7.26 How Long is This Supposed to Take?7.27 Implementation ScheduleSummary8 System architectureExecutive Summary8.1 Topology Terms and Concepts8.1.1 Topology8.1.2 Protocols8.1.3 Token Ring8.1.4 Ethernet8.1.5 Fiber (Fiber Distributed Data Interface—FDDI)8.1.6 Wireless (or Unbounded Transmission Media)8.2 Physical Means of Transmission8.2.1 Sneakernet8.2.2 Category 5 Cabling 8.2.3 Type 1 Cabling8.3 Topology Summary8.3.1 Bluetooth8.3.2 Infrared8.3.3 Laser8.3.4 Microwave 8.3.5 Radio 8.4 Other Important Terms and Concepts 8.4.1 Host or Server 8.4.2 Node 8.4.3 Wireless Directional Communication 8.4.4 Wireless Conclusions8.5 Generalizations before We Move Forward with Your Project8.6 Do Your Homework 8.7 Design it, Build it, and Test it8.8 Communicate to Death, and then Communicate Some More8.9 Are We Ready Yet?8.10 Build it and they Will Come 8.11 Take a Deep Breath, Flip the Switch, and Watch What Happens8.12 We Said What We Were Going to Do; We Did it, Now We are Going to Tell You What We Did8.13 Ok, I’m Sold. What Gadgets are Right for Me?8.14 Small Business (Single Site) Solution 8.15 Enterprise Solution (Single or Secure Multi-Site)8.16 Enterprise-Wide Wireless Solution (EWWS)8.17 Project Specifications 8.18 Small Business (Single Site)8.19 Enterprise Solution (Single or Secure Multi-Site)8.20 Enterprise Wireless Solution8.21 How Do I Connect This to What I Have?Summary 9 My Firm Makes Widgets: What's in it for Me?Executive Summary9.1 Sure it's Cool, But How Does it Work in My Business?9.1.1 Telecommuters 9.1.2 Road Warriors 9.1.3 Hallway or Corridor Cruisers9.1.4 Cube or office Dwellers9.1.5 What Do You Have?9.2 Case Study 1—Pest Management Operators (PMO)9.2.1 Request for Information System Services9.2.2 Problem or Opportunity Statements9.2.3 Basic Workflow (Process) Design9.2.4 Problems, Opportunities, Objectives, and Constraints Matrix9.2.5 Feasibility Analysis Matrix9.3 Critical Success Factors9.4 Current Situation 9.5 Approach Considerations 9.6 Solution Analysis9.7 Accountability9.8 Resources9.9 Efficiency9.10 Forward-Thinking Flexibility9.11 Prototyping9.12 architecture9.13 Suggestions and Lessons Learned9.14 Have You Seen My Workforce?Summary10 Case Study 2: Sales Force organizationExecutive Summary10.1 Mobile Sales Force10.2 Architecture10.3 Have You Seen My Workforce?10.4 Suggestions and Lessons LearnedSummary11 Case Study 3: LogisticsExecutive Summary11.1 It's a Harsh World; Make the best of it11.2 Architecture11.3 Have You Seen My Workforce?11.4 Suggestions and Lessons LearnedSummary12 Case Study 4: Information Services/Information Technology ApplicationsExecutive Summary12.1 Our Own Worst Enemy12.2 What is the End Goal?12.3 Is This Enterprise- or Project-Based?12.4 How Does This affect Enterprise Support Costs?12.5 is This the Best Choice?12.6 Architecture12.7 Have You Seen My Workforce?12.8 Suggestions and Lessons LearnedSummary 13 Case Study 5: Executive MobilityExecutive Summary13.1 Management Technology13.2 Architecture13.3 Have You Seen My Workforce?13.4 Suggestions and Lessons LearnedSummary14 Different Markets Have the Same ChallengeExecutive Summary 14.1 advertising & Marketing14.2 Education14.3 Hospitality14.4 Sales Force automation and Customer Relationship Management14.5 Technology FirmsSummary15 How am I Supposed to Manage This?Executive Summary15.1 This Shouldn’t be Anything New15.2 Hardware Standards 15.3 Software Standards15.4 User Community Standards15.5 Security Standards 15.6 Asset Management Overview15.7 Hardware Management15.8 Software Management 15.9 Asset Management15.10 Refresh Cycle Strategy15.11 Now That I Can’t Live without This, Disaster Strikes!15.12 Disaster Recovery Standards15.13 Training? What Training? 15.14 Ownership15.15 Usability 15.16 Expectations15.17 Costs (Mostly Hidden)15.18 Training 15.19 Post-TrainingSummary 16 Now That it is Up and Running, How Do I Measure it?Executive Summary 16.1 Implementation 1—Pest Control Operation16.2 Implementation 2—Outside Sales organization16.3 Implementation 3—Logistics16.4 Implementation 4—Information Services/Information Technology Support Applications16.5 Implementation 5—Executive Mobility16.6 When is it Time to Upgrade? I Just Paid for This!16.7 How Do I Possibly Keep Up?Here We Go again Summary 17 Future TrendsExecutive Summary17.1 Where Do We Go From Here?17.2 What Can I Expect tomorrow and How Do I Prepare Now?17.3 Future Devices and Wearable Computers17.4 What's a Wearable?17.5 What Else is Out there?17.6 About SyncML17.7 Managing the Future17.8 Convergence of Tools17.9 So What are the Lessons Learned?17.9.1 Keep it Simple17.9.2 Customization is the Key17.9.3 Find Partners17.9.4 become Device-IndependentSummaryBibliographyGlossary