CHAPTER 4
Digital Networks and
the Triple Bottom Line
OBJECTIVES
Describe networks;
Discuss quality-of-service;
Discuss the function of an application program interface;
Identify opportunities for the application of networked devices to improve
operational efficiency and business models.
OBJECTIVES
Distinguish between 3G, 4G and 5G wireless networks;
Discuss mobile network infrastructures;
Analyse the ways in which virtual collaboration and
communication technologies support group work.
Define the three pillars of sustainability;
Evaluate the ways in which enterprises can optimise their triple
bottom line.
Network
A NETWORK IS A GROUP OF TWO OR MORE COMPUTER SYSTEMS
LINKED TOGETHER.
Types of Networks
LAN(Local Area Network)
WLAN(Wireless Local Area Network
WAN(Wide Area Network)
MAN(Metropolitan Area Network)
HAN(Home Area Network)
IT networks are critical infrastructures and a
huge
expense for organizations. Business runs on
high-capacity (broadband) data and voice
networks. Business performance depends on
wired and wireless network connectivity,
mobility, and collaboration.
Recent research shows that
Recent research shows that web server response times can impact e-
commerce sales revenues. For instance, users get impatient and are less
likely to revisit a website if the time it takes to load is longer than
competitors by 250 milliseconds, Users have the same intolerance for
other types of network delays.
DATA NETWORKS
A data network is a system designed to transfer data from
one network access point to one other or more network access
points via data switching, transmission lines, and system
controls
Switching is process to forward packets coming in from one port
to a port leading towards the destination
a transmission line is a specialized cable or other structure
designed to conduct electromagnetic waves in a contained
manner
A control system is a system, which provides the desired
response by controlling the output. ... Traffic lights control
system is an example of control system.
LAN
A wireless local area network (LAN) is created by multiple wireless access
points (AP). Most wireless LANs are based on IEEE 802.11 standards, also
known as Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi connectivity uses radio frequencies (RF).
Quality-Of-Service
Quality of service (QoS) is the use of mechanisms or technologies to
manage traffic and ensure the performance of critical applications
QoS is the ability to provide different priority to different applications,
users, or data flow, or to guarantee a certain level of performance to a data
flow
QoS ensures that when there isn't enough capacity, the highest-priority
workloads get through first without slowing down
The most common use cases for QoS are voice and video streams
Business networks support basic
functions:
Communication
Mobility
Collaboration
Relationships
Brief descriptions of these functions
are:
• Communication: Being able to talk, text, tweet, fax, send messages, etc.
• Mobility: Having secure, trusted, and reliable access from anywhere at
satisfactory
download (DL) and upload (UL) speeds.
• Collaboration: Supporting teamwork activities that are synchronous and
asynchronous; brain storming; and knowledge and document sharing within
the organization and with outside business partners and interests.
Internet Protocol (IP)
IP is the method by which data is sent from one device to another via a
private network, cellular network, or public Internet.
A device’s IP address uniquely identifies it to the network.
The address serves two principal functions: host or network interface
identification and location addressing.
IP Address
Network switches and routers
These are devices that transmit data to their destination based on IP addresses.
Switches and routers are the building blocks for all business communications data, voice,
video, and wireless.
switch
A switch acts as a controller, enabling networked devices to talk to each
other efficiently.
Business networks use switches to connect computers, printers and
servers within a building or campus.
Switches create a network
Router
Routers connect networks.
A router links computers to the Internet, so that users can share the
connection.
Routers act like a dispatcher, choosing the best paths for signals or
packets to travel so that they are sent and received quickly.
Switching
switching Is the transmission of the signal by the switches and routers
called.
The two types of switching approach
are:
• Circuit switching: A circuit is a dedicated connection between a source
and destination, such as when a call is placed between two landline phones.
Circuit switching is older technology that originated with telephone calls; and
is inefficient for digital transmission
• Packet switching: Packet switching transfers data in small blocks called
packets based on the destination IP address in each packet. When received
at the destination, the packets are reassembled into their proper sequence.
Terminology to be familiar with when
working on networks
Bandwidth: Bandwidth is a measure of the speed at which data is transmitted.
Bandwidth depends on the network protocol.
Protocol: Protocols are rules and standards that govern how devices on a network
exchange data and talk to each other. An example is a country’s driving rules—whether
to drive on the right or left side of the road.
Prioritize traffic: Data and apps that are time-delay sensitive or latency-sensitive
apps, such as voice and video are given priority on the network.
Throttle traffic: In order to give latency-sensitive apps priority, other types of traffic need
to be held back (throttled).
TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/Internet protocol)
•TCP/IP is the basic communication protocol of the Internet.
This protocol is supported by every major network operating system to ensure that all devices on the
Internet can communicate.
It is used as a communications protocol in a company’s private network for internal uses.
• Fixed-line broadband: Describes either cable or DSL Internet connections.
• Mobile broadband: Describes various types of wireless high-speed Internet access through a
portable modem, telephone, or other device. Example 3G: Short for third generation of cellular networks
or 4G, better yet the one we are all anticipating for 5G
Application Program Interface(API)
An application program interface (API) is a set of routines, protocols, and
tools for building software applications.
Basically, an API specifies how software components should interact.
Additionally, APIs are used when programming graphical user interface
(GUI) components.
A good API makes it easier to develop a program by providing all the
building blocks, then A programmer then puts the blocks together.
3G
3G: Short for third generation of cellular networks. 3G networks support
multimedia and broadband services, and it does so over a wider distance,
and at faster speeds than the ones before it which are 1G and 2G
generations.
3G networks have far greater ranges because they use large satellite
connections to telecommunication towers.
4G
4G: Short for fourth generation of cellular networks . 4G mobile network
standards enable faster data transfer rates. 4G networks are digital.
4G delivers average download rates of 3Mbps or higher.
3G networks typically deliver average download speed which is about
one-tenth of the 4G rate
Unlike 2G and 3G the 4G networks do not have a circuit-switched
subsystem. 4G is based purely on the packet-based IP(Packet Switching)
Remember
Improved network performance, which is measured by its
data transfer capacity, provides fantastic opportunities for
mobility, mobile commerce, collaboration, supply chain
management, remote work, and other productivity gains.
NFC Techonology
Near-field communication (NFC) is an umbrella term that applies to
various location-aware technologies, such as radio-frequency
identification (RFID).
RFID is a location-aware system that transmits the identity (in the form of a
unique serial number) of an object or person using radio waves.
RFID is used to track items in a supply chain or to track equipment in a
hospital.
NFC technology allows devices to communicate securely with each
other over short distances. Location-aware NFC technology can be
used to make purchases in restaurants, resorts, hotels, theme parks
and theatres, at gas stations, and on buses and trains.
Mobile Infrastructure
Mobile infrastructure consists of the integration of technology, software,
support, security measures, and devices for the management and delivery
of wireless communications.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi technology allows devices to share a network or Internet connection
without the need to connect to a commercial network.
Wi-Fi networks beam large chunks of data over short distances using part
of the radio spectrum, or they can extend over larger areas, such as
municipal Wi-Fi networks. However, municipal networks are not common
because of their huge costs.
Two general types of mobile
networks
1. Wide area Networks (WANs)
3. Local Area Networks (LANs)
WAN a computer network in which the computers connected may be far
apart, generally having a radius of more than 1 km.
WANs for mobile computing are known as WWANs (wireless wide area
networks). The range of a WWAN depends on the transmission media
and the wireless generation, which determines which services are
available.
Wireless LAN
A local area network is a computer network that interconnects computers
within a limited area such as a residence, school, laboratory, university
campus or office building.
Wireless LANs use high-frequency radio waves to communicate between
computers, devices, or other nodes on the network.
Virtual collaboration
is the method of collaboration between virtual team members that is carried out via
technology-mediated communication.
Virtual collaboration follows the same process as collaboration, but the parties involved in
virtual collaboration do not physically interact and communicate exclusively through
technological channels.
Distributed teams use virtual collaboration to simulate the information transfer present in
face-to-face meetings, communicating virtually through verbal, visual, written, and digital
means
Group Work and Dynamics. Group
work involves can be quite complex
depending on the following factors:
Group members may be located in different places or work
at different times.
Group members may work for the same or different
organizations.
Needed data, information, or knowledge may be located in
many sources, several of which are external to the
organization.
Online Brainstorming in the Cloud
Brainstorming ideas is no longer limited to a room full of
people offering their ideas that are written on a whiteboard or
posters.
Companies are choosing an alternative way which is—online
brainstorming apps in the cloud.
Anadvantage is avoiding travel expenses if members are
geographically dispersed, which often restricts how many
sessions the company can afford to hold
Sustainability Solutions
Communications technology accounts for approximately 2 percent of global carbon
emissions, a figure that was predicted to double by 2020 as end-user demand for high-
bandwidth services with enhanced quality of experience explodes worldwide.
Innovative solutions hold the key to curbing these emissions and reducing environmental
impact.
Network service providers as well as organizations face the challenges of energy efficiency,
smaller carbon footprint, and eco-sustainability.
Sustainability Solutions continued
To deal with these challenges, wired and wireless service providers and companies
need to upgrade their networks to next-generation, all-IP infrastructures that are
optimized and scalable.
The network must provide eco-sustainability in traffic transport and deliver services more
intelligently, reliably, securely, efficiently, and at the lowest cost.
Sustainability Incentives
Four incentives are driving mobile network operators (carriers)
to develop greener mobile networks. The four incentives are:
1. To reduce costs. Energy consumption is one of the biggest operating costs for both fixed
and mobile networks.
2. To overcome limited availability of reliable electricity. Many developing countries are
high-growth markets for telecommunications, but they have limited reliable access to electricity.
Sustainability Incentives continued
3. To be more socially responsible. Many organizations have adopted corporate social
responsibility initiatives with a goal of reducing their networks’ carbon footprints.
4. To gain competitive advantage. Network infrastructure vendors are striving to gain
competitive advantage by reducing the power requirements of their equipment.
Health Issues
Managers need to consider ethical and social issues, such as quality of
working life.
Workers will experience both positive and negative impacts from being
linked to a 24/7 workplace environment, working in computer-contrived
virtual teams, and being connected to handhelds whose impact on health
can be damaging.
A 2008 study by Solutions Research Group found that always being
connected is a borderline obsession for many people.
According to the study, 68 percent of Americans may suffer from
disconnect anxiety—feelings of disorientation and nervousness when
deprived of Internet or wireless access for a period of time.
Consider these developments and their
implications:
Health risks
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends minimizing potential risk
by using hands-free devices and keeping mobile phone talk to a minimum.
A few studies have indicated that using a mobile phone for an hour each day over a
10-year period can increase the risk of developing a rare brain tumour and that those
tumours are more likely to be on the side of the head used to talk on the phone.
The Triple Bottom Line Defined
Triple bottom line (TBL), in economics, believes that companies should commit to focusing as
much on social and environmental concerns as they do on profits. TBL theory posits that instead of
one bottom line, there should be three: profit, people, and the planet.
The TBL is an accounting framework that incorporates three dimensions of performance: social,
environmental and financial.
This differs from traditional reporting frameworks as it includes ecological (or environmental) and
social measures that can be difficult to assign appropriate means of measurement.
The TBL dimensions are also commonly called the three Ps: people, planet and profits.
Triple Bottom Line
The Triple Bottom Line is one of the main systems being used by businesses to assess the profits
they are making through their corporate sustainability solutions.
The Triple Bottom Line method asks you to see beyond the traditional bottom line of business to
the profits that your business makes socially, environmentally, and economically.
Measuring your business using the Triple Bottom Line is one of the best markers of how
sustainable your business is, and how profitable it really is.
Social Sustainability
TheSocial bottom line measures your business’ profits in
human capital, including your position within your local
society.
Your
social bottom line is increased by having fair and
beneficial labour practices and through corporate
community involvement, and can also be measured in the
impact of your business activities on the local economy.
Environmental Sustainability
The Triple Bottom Line approach to sustainability takes the view that the
smaller impact your business has on the environment and the fewer
natural resources you consume, the longer and more successful your
business will be.
Controlling your Environmental bottom line means managing, monitoring,
and reporting your consumption and waste and emissions.
Economic Sustainability
In the Triple Bottom Line approach, economic sustainability is not simply your traditional corporate
capital. Your economic capital under the Triple Bottom Line model should be measured in terms of
how much of an impact your business has on its economic environment.
The business that strengthens the economy it is part of is one that will continue to succeed in the
future, since it contributes to the overall economic health of its support networks and community.
Of course, a business needs to be aware of its traditional profits as well, and the Triple Bottom Line
accounts for this.
