Networking for project success
K. Davey · IEE Review · 2000
It has become clear that significant savings can be made within an organisation by moving away from client/server software architectures and adopting Web architectures. A benefit of Web-based systems is that they do not require complex client software to be installed on the user's computer. A Web-based system simply uses an Internet browser such as Netscape or Microsoft's Internet Explorer which, almost invariably, is already installed on the client's machine. This thin client or `thinware' approach has a number of distinct benefits to a user: multi-user access (not standalone); robustness and security; scalability-from a few local users to many thousands world-wide; a secure true real-time shared data environment across partner companies; and reduced installation and configuration costs. This approach allows authorised users to share real-time management information, news, project and programme updates on a worldwide basis, irrespective of their temporal or geographical location. The author describes how the use of Web-based enterprise-wide project management software is solving the problem of real-time project management between geographically dispersed teams.