The content changes for the Seventh Edition were driven by:

• Instructor feedback from the sixth edition.

• Changes that have occurred in the business world.

• Advances that have occurred in the technology area.

• Changes made by our competitors.

As a group of authors and contributors working together, we carefully sifted through all the competitive scanning information we could gather to create a Seventh Edition that builds on the success of the sixth edition.

Throughout the text, you’ll find new or updated opening and closing case studies, Industry Perspectives, and Global Perspectives. You’ll also find new or expanded coverage on the following essential IT topics:

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems —now appearing in Chapter 2 (as a system foundation for integrating CRM, SCM, and e-collaboration functions) and Chapter 7 as the enabling infrastructure of a service-oriented architecture framework.

Service-Oriented Architecture (SoA) —now appearing in Chapter 6 (as the architecture approach within which component-based development is undertaken) and Chapter 7 in creating an SoA-enabled ERP infrastructure.

Component-Based Development —now appearing in Chapter 6 as the “umbrella” for rapid application development (RAD), extreme programming (XP), and agile software development methodologies.

Web 2.0 —integrated throughout the text, especially in Extended Learning Module B, Chapter 5, and Chapter 9. Technologies include wikis, social networking sites, blogs, RSS feeds, and podcasting.

IT Metrics —extensive coverage in Chapter 7 including specific metrics that focus on infrastructure-centric measures, call center measures, and Web-centric measures.

Business Continuity Planning —in-depth coverage of the business continuity planning development cycle, including risk assessment, requirement recovery documents, collocation facilities, hot and cold sites, and disaster recovery plans.

Service Level Agreements (SLAs) —expanded coverage in Chapters 6 (outsourcing), 7 (call centers), and 9 (personal application service providers), including service level specifications and service level objectives.

9 Major E-Commerce Business Models —every combination of “B” (Business), “C” Consumer, and “G” Government with good illustrations and examples.

E-Business Trends —now a part of Chapter 5, focusing on screenagers, digital immigrants, digital natives, mobile computing (and m-commerce), and the Long Tail.

IT Culture —now appearing in Chapter 2 with two focuses: (1) the structural placement of the IT function—silo, matrix, and fully integrated; and (2) the philosophical approach to the acquisition, development, and use of IT (ranging from “wait and see” to supporting technology innovation failure).