March 5, 2007

FEATURE 1 Server Evolution Theory BLADE pulling ahead as major player The shape of servers is changing greatly. The BLADE server has pulled ahead as the main player. More companies are beginning to value the integration, expandability, and the high maintenance that comes with BLADE’s unique structure. Companies such as Olympus, Mitsubishi-Tokyo-UFJ Bank and WOWOW have started to introduce BLADE into their information-based and backbone-based systems.   They’re amazing because you assemble them - Usage can expand as far as backbone-based systems   Complete BLADE anatomy - Integration levels, expandability and virtualization are the sources of its strength   BLADE is still in a period of transition – Manufactures’ opinions on remaining issues such as limits in compatibility     FEATURE 2 UNIQLO’s Growth Strategy Making half of all employees “system people” Fast Retailing has grown into the largest retailer of clothing in the country, boasting consolidated sales of 450 billion yen. Few people are aware that, in terms of business process, the systems division and retail outlets work in tandem, and the company's growth has been sustained by making full use of its information systems and an ongoing process of installation. How did the company build up its processes and put together the systems? We went behind the scene to find out.

REPORT

Inside

Fujitsu and Sun finally announce “APL” with a 10-month delay

Tokyo Marine Nichido’s US subsidiary renews its insurance office system with a package

 

News & Trends

Greater adoption of user skill standards

NTT Communications realizes highly convenient authentication in NGNs

Fujitsu provides accounting systems using SaaS (Software as a Service)

Middleware products based on EDA (Event-Driven Architecture) appear on the market one after another

Seino Transportation reduces operating costs by half through legacy migration

IBM Japan sees fall in consolidate profits for fiscal 2006, the fifth consecutive year

HP Japan completes absorption of Mercury

 

Actual Practices of Internal Control (17)

Yokogawa Electric analyzes 200 businesses in one and a half years

 

The Leading Edge of RFID

The latest regulations concerning EPC (Electronic product Code) for cooperation between companies firm up

 

From Business Week

Google tapping into corporate users

 

The Practical Side of Introducing a BCP

The backbone which supports the running of business at Seven Eleven’s 10,000 stores

 

News Flash by Industry

Manufacture:

Mitsui Chemicals shifts to total outsourcing of backbone

Service:

Nippon COMSYS uses IC tags for its warehouse management system

 

PEOPLE

Interview

Edward Yourdon, author of “Death March” and consultant

The key to engineers’ survival is their negotiating ability

 

Real Feelings Expressed by Top Executives

Yuji Takei, Director, Asia Professional Services, Reuters Asia

The cornerstone which brings IT alive is the engineer

 

CASE STUDIES

Investigation of a Noteworthy Project

Sagawa Express

Complete migration of backbone to IA server

 

A Computer That Does Not Work

The Rokinren Bank

Troubles three times in a row in a single day

 

MANAGEMENT/TECHNOLOGY

Reading and understanding the implementation criteria for the Japanese version of the Sarbanes-Oxley law (Final Part)

Evaluate not just custom installation but also operation

 

Hints for IT Managers (Final Part)

As the structure of the IT industry changes, stay ahead in developing strategies

 

Salient Points on IT Investment and Outsourcing

Work towards the maximization of your development power by dividing up responsibilities with your outsourcing companies

 

Risk Management for Successful Projects

The transfer of know-how is vital in highly risky data transfers

 

Basic Knowledge for the IT Manager - The Art of Communication from A to Z

Smooth email exchanges start with concrete subject lines

 

IT Keywords You Should Have Already Known

Test