A technical architecture defines the "technologies" that are required to support an organization's automation environment. The goal of a technical architecture is to identify and define those technologies that are critical to the implementation and use of a new applications environment. The level of definition is, by design, at a high level. If the definition of technologies and configurations was too detailed and specific, the architecture would be too restrictive to allow growth and would rapidly fall out-of-date in relation to advances in technology. The level of detail presented should be taken as a guideline for implementing any of the technologies or procedures defined in an architecture.

Goals of a technical architecture are:

• To support company-wide connectivity
• To create standardization
• To integrate data
• To implement integrated applications

The primary goal of the technical architecture study is to provide an architecture (or environment) within which your company will have the capability of accessing data to meet your needs in an easy manner. The "look and feel" provided by the technology defined will be very similar throughout organizations if not exactly the same.

The technical architecture plan contains technical and procedural recommendations which will facilitate the group/project/office/interoffice connectivity to support shared information, input/output devices and message services. The recommendations address computers, networks, programming software and data base software. Also included are the technical and management guidelines which are required to control such an environment.

An essential element for designing and implementing an integrated environment is the need to develop an efficient hardware and communication system for processing and supporting integrated applications. An integrated technical architecture strategy has been developed to link the applications and data bases.

The major elements of the strategy include:

• Application Planning/Administration
• Technical Infrastructure
• Service Delivery
• Security and Administration

Integrated Technical Architecture
An essential element in constructing an integrated environment is an efficient delivery vehicle for processing integrated applications. The design of this delivery system incorporates a complex infrastructure based on the standardization of a Technical Architecture. Technical Architecture includes the methods, standards, policies and management directives.

A complex integrated technical architecture requires a highly trained staff to manage resources and provide services. This staff must perform specialized functions: managing daily operations, controlling the systems development environment, maintaining software to operate the environment, and planning for future requirements. Above all else, the technical environment must be continually monitored to ensure it meets all business and engineering requirements.

Ensuring that hardware, systems software, communication networks, program development standards, and data base resources for business operations are in place and available.

An effective technical architecture depends on a businesses ability to deliver sufficient resources to the systems users. The implementation of the proposed architecture will otherwise fail.

Providing appropriate types of service delivery and maintaining appropriate performance measurement standards.

The Technical Architecture incorporates specific services to support the system users. These services range from defining relational data base management systems to installing a backbone communications network. Providing these services represents a major cost; however, the return is an effective mechanism for supporting integrated applications and integrated project requirements.

Standardization of a basic technical architecture provides strategic and economic benefits. However, because systems integration requires access to more of the hardware, software, and information resources, it exposes the organization to greater risk by allowing access to sensitive data. Although unauthorized access of information is a risk in any systems environment, the risk is even greater in a decentralized environment because of the increased access to systems and the complexity of controlling information.

The integrated systems environment is characterized by a disciplined approach where the correct information is readily available to quickly and efficiently do the job right the first time. This allows the designers and technicians to fully explore previous operating experience, customer requirements, and total cost implications of alternatives. To achieve this environment, the design function must be carefully evaluated and the identified requirements implemented in an integrated systems environment.

By enhancing and developing new applications and creating data bases which contain the shared design data, the cycle time (calendar days) required for the design process can be substantially reduced. The systems need to continually move towards the vision that anyone can access any required information (with proper security and management controls). This can represent a significant change from the current situation and must occur over a period of time. It is important to first standardize the hardware and software platforms, then design the shared data bases. Once this is accomplished, the applications can be designed and developed.

Historically, automation has focused on isolated "islands of automation" due to the paper-based method of information exchange. The systems recommended in this report will move to an online information exchange among the design groups. As this evolves, further opportunities will occur by linking the data bases with new expert systems. Parametric design systems (where the design rules are captured and the drawing, bill of material and process plans are output) must also be evaluated. These systems have the potential to make conventional software applications, where a "rule based" repetitive design is required, obsolete. Their implications must be evaluated before a final commitment is made to conventional software applications.

It is necessary to implement a mechanism to control all information created in the design process. This controlling mechanism will serve as the configuration management function for all design data residing at multiple project locations. The document control project as defined in "Project Planning and Control" will be critical to control the engineering design work which is regarded as released and also to give other groups the capability to access the most recent work related to any analysis or design results. Security will be the key to ensuring that only authorized groups can update the design data. Thus, all of the projects outlined here will need to address the configuration management issues in order to achieve the key benefits.

Application Planning/Administration.
Application Planning/Administration includes the methods, standards, policies and management directives for maintaining an integrated delivery system. The following recommendations identify the requirements for supporting an integrated environment:

Select a systems development methodology which will fit into the organization's culture and provide the necessary structure for designing and implementing all the required systems in the future. Designate responsibilities for the technical architecture development projects.

Technical Infrastructure.
The Technical Infrastructure is the planned configuration of computing hardware and operating systems software, communication networks and data bases required to support integrated applications, development functions and administration.

• The first element which must be addressed is the standardization of platforms (i.e., the computing hardware and operating system software).

• The second element is a standard networking technology and communications software to support communications across varying hardware platforms, projects and locations. In order to achieve the integration between the various data bases and applications, it is necessary to provide all sites with the capability to communicate either online or through file transfers. Within a regional office, networks must be in place to connect each project site with the corresponding regional office.

• The third element is a data base management system (DBMS).

Service Delivery.
A technical environment is configured on the principle that the implementation of new technology is a business decision based on cost/benefits and strategic positioning. The following recommendations focus on four key service areas:

Define and establish a corporate-wide data administration function. This function administers the components of the logical and physical data base design and ensures corporate-wide data integration.

Initiate a service management process. The new architecture must provide specific services to support all users. Formalize the process of capacity planning and performance management. This process measures the performance and resource consumption of systems.

Implement a support organization for the resolution of problems. The purpose of problem management is to maintain and protect the integrity of the computing environment.

Security and Administration.
The technical environment must be properly managed. The following recommendations focus on four management issues related to data security:

• Implement a security plan to assist management in protecting business assets.

• Centralize the management and operations of the backbone network at the corporate level. This requires a centralized function to define, monitor and control network installations, and performance monitoring.

• Initiate a structured approach to evaluate and implement changes into the installed processing environment. This function attempts to minimize the adverse impact on system integrity by planned changes.

• Initiate a structured approach to contingency planning for each regional office and major project. This process identifies critical business functions and precautions which must be taken to ensure continual operation in the event of disasters.