OA-Office Automation refers to a new type of office that combines modern office and computer network function. Through the computer network and OA system, the internal personnel of the enterprise can cross the time and space restrictions, so that the information is more fast and convenient. Using OA systems, companies can minimize employee's daily workload, liberate employee's main labor from cumbersome business, better concentrate thinking, resolve the issues related to business development, thus greatly enhanced work effect. Therefore, in today's market competition, the OA system is increasingly become a practical tool for many companies to improve internal management efficiency and enhance the comprehensive competitiveness of enterprises.
However, in implementing OA systems, it is often facing such a dilemma: there are various types of OA systems in the market, which is based on different technical platforms. There are Lotus Domino / Notes based on Microsoft Exchange, based on ASP / SQL Server, there are also JSP-based ... In the face of this OA product based on different technical platforms and the propaganda of five flowers of software manufacturers, the company implements the OA system? Which OA product can actually meet the needs and actual situation of the company itself? Based on the comprehensive analysis of various mainstream OA technology platforms, this paper provides several guiding principles to implement the technical selection in the OA system in the enterprise.
I. Analysis of the mainstream platform for OA system The current OA system mainly has the following three technical platforms, representing three mainstream OA technology development trends: 1. Lotus Domino / Notes platform OA system Lotus (currently available) It is one of the earliest advocates of office automation. Domino / Notes is a foundation platform integrating document database, mail system, dynamic web information, visual integrated development environment, is suitable for processing non-structured document information generated in the office collaboration process, and can utilize flexible mail mechanisms in the enterprise. Internal delivery document. Domino / Notes is now almost almost almost the standard platform for the government office automation system. OA system based on the Domino / Notes platform: System platform has built-in E-mail system (no additional E-mail software); high system security (this is an important reason for wide application in the government); support more Operating system platform; system development speed is fast. The deficiencies are: the query statistics for relational data is relatively weak; the system platform software is more expensive; the requirements for system maintenance personnel are high; based on the C / S structure, each client needs to install software - although also Based on the B / S structural application, it will inevitably sacrifice Domino / Notes's high-security based on "cross-verification".
2. OA system (1) ASP (ASP.NET) MS SQL Server mode based on Microsoft platform is a broader OA development mode, using Windows NT / 2000 as an operating system. The MS SQL Server database uses ASP or ASP as a development language, providing content storage, IIS provides web services. The OA system developed in this mode has the system easy to use - use B / S mode, the client implements zero maintenance, only the browser (IE) can access the OA system, the investment cost is low, the development speed is fast, easy to maintain Features. However, the operation of this mode is only limited to the Windows NT / 2000 operating system, and does not apply to other operating systems such as UNIX / Linux; its system security is low compared to the Domino / Notes platform. (2) ASP (ASP.NET) MS SQL Server Exchange Mode The OA system developed by this mode is basically the same as the ASP (ASP.NET) MS SQL Server mode, and the main difference is that this mode has increased Exchange. Can be used as an enterprise E-mail server and uses Exchange as the transfer tool for documentation in OA. 3. OA system based on JSP / Java platform is based on the OA system developed by JSP / Java platform. It is similar to the OA system based on Microsoft platform. The main difference is to use JSP / Java development language, so cross-operative system platforms can be implemented. Windows NT / 2000, UNIX, Linux can be used, run in a variety of hardware servers, and the system is simple and easy to use - using B / S mode, the client implements zero maintenance, only browser (IE) You can access the OA system. However, the development and maintenance cost of such systems is relatively high.
Second, OA system technology selection guidelines 1, the most critical is what OA can do for you, but not OA uses what technology development for the company, OA system is a "tool" that improves the internal management efficiency of the company. Therefore, what functions that have the tools have the most attention to the company's choice of OA systems. As for the development technology of the OA system, it is just a "tool tool", and should not be used as a main consideration.
2. Try to take advantage of existing server hardware and system software this is to make full use of an important principle of investment in computer systems, reducing the overall cost (TCO) of information systems. For example, if the company has purchased Windows 2000, SQL Server and Exchange during the information construction, it will undoubtedly select an OA system of ASP (ASP.NET) SQL Server Exchange.
3. Find a balance point between security and ease of use If the company's requirements for OA security are supreme, there is no doubt that you should choose Domino / Notes-based OA system. However, in practical applications, the higher the pursuit of "security" is not, the better. This is like to prevent the mobile phone from being stolen, and the lock is in the safe - it has reached a very high realm in safety, but at the same time, it has lost the practical value of the phone itself. Domino / Notes-based Applications No government departments are popular, the utilization rate of Domino / Notes based on the government department has always been too high, and important causes are the system in "ease of use" Lack.
4. Consider the combination of other business systems, the company's OA system will not be a completely independent system, and often need to be combined with an existing or ready for future implementation. At this time, it is necessary to focus on the expansion of the product when selecting OA products, and it is retained to quickly integrate with other systems. And, whether the software provider is committed to integrating its OA products to other business systems of the company, and is also an important consideration when enterprises choose OA products. In addition, in the empirical experience, if the company has the need to integrate OA systems with other business systems, the Domino / Notes platform is often not the best choice. Because companies' business systems are generally based on relational databases, queries and statistics are the main applications, which is just one of Domino / Notes weaknesses. 5. The objective law of the OA system later maintenance computer application software system is: the cost of the maintenance period accounts for about 30% of the entire software life cycle. Therefore, in implementing OA systems, you must pay attention to post-maintenance, focusing on two aspects: (1) There must be a suitable internal personnel to subsequent maintenance of OA systems, and take into account the initial product technology selection at this point. For example, if there is no technical personnel who are familiar with JSP / Java inside, companies have not planned to recruit a system administrator who master JSP / Java - in this case, naturally give up JSP / JAVA-based OA product. (2) Requires software providers to provide the corresponding after-sales service commitments and write them to contracts to request software providers to assist in resolving system issues in the necessary situation.
III. In summary, enterprises are confused by software providers for product propaganda by software providers, and should be based on the functional requirements of the OA system, "I am mainly", In combination with the actual situation within the company, it is comprehensive to determine which OA product is selected. If the company cannot make accurate judgment due to lack of professional technicians, professional IT consultants can invite relevant services, including the pre-product technology selection and post-implementation process supervision, which greatly reduces the risk of enterprises to implement the OA system.
