Provides information technology professionals with a foundation for making decisions on the role of Java in their corporate IT strategy. Documents the advantages and challenges of building Java-based business systems, using case studies to illustrate the use of Java in typical business applications, including customer sales support, electronic commerce, and human resource service delivery. Other subjects include application performance, developer productivity, and the impact of Java on business systems. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or. This book reflects the authors' personal experiences in building the technology infrastructure for via World Network, an Andersen Consulting Enterprise. via World Network is permanently removing cost and complexity from travel product distribution by connecting corporations and their travelers directly to their preferred suppliers. Andersen Consulting Enterprises are companies wholly or majority-owned by Andersen Consulting that deliver unique network-centric solutions to changing industries. They exploit advances in network computing to allow companies and industries to acquire or distribute information-based, digital products and services through virtual channels. As part of Andersen Consulting's Enterprise Group, we have had the opportunity to leverage the knowledge gained in via World Network to support additional ventures. Some of these experiences are explored in the other cases presented in this book. For an overview and outline of the book's purpose and scope, see Chapter 1, which presents a summary of the book and a synopsis of each chapter. Acknowledgments The authors would like to express our thanks for the outstanding contributions of all those people who have helped make this book possible. Most importantly, we appreciate the patient and important contributions of our wives, Victoria Dennis and Laura Rubin. The following people were instrumental in reviewing or providing input to the book: Elmer Baldwin, via World Network Ann Cloos, Andersen Consulting Michael Dickoff, Andersen Consulting Richard Erickson, Sun Microsystems Christopher Gardner, Andersen Consulting Hal Ghering, Andersen Consulting Mark Goodyear, Andersen Consulting Thomas Grudnowski, Andersen Consulting Mike Hendrickson, Addison Wesley Longman Regina Hoffman, Andersen Consulting Capers Jones, author and consultant Cliff Jury, Andersen Consulting Phyllis Kennedy, Andersen Consulting Cynthia Monroe, Andersen Consulting Mary O'Brien, Addison Wesley Longman Dr. Judith Simon, University of Memphis Mike Swenson, Andersen Consulting Shari Wenker, Andersen Consulting 020132573XP04062001 The advent of the Java programming language has made the corporate computing world take notice. Java offers businesses many benefits, including the secure deployment of distributed business applications. Yet for all of its strengths, Java is still largely a mystery to professionals charged with mapping corporate computing strategy. Mission-Critical Java™ Project Management provides information technology professionals with the foundation they need to decide what role Java should play in their corporate IT strategy. Rather than hyping the use of Java for every application, this book documents the advantages and challenges of building Java-based business systems. The authors--experts in deploying large-scale Java business systems--provide invaluable information for those confronting the challenges and opportunities that Java presents to the corporate computing architecture. Case studies throughout the book offer real-world examples and lessons learned from the authors' personal experience using Java in business applications. The approach is candid and unbiased, and this objective view helps you learn when using Java is the best solution and when it is not. In short Mission-Critical Java™ Project Management will show you how Java should fit in your organization's current and future enterprise computing plans. Highlights include: * A discussion of the risks and rewards of an enterprise-wide Java implementation using multiple case studies * An explanation of building Java-based systems from experienced consultants who have developed a complex, real-world Java business application with over one million lines of code * A case study focusing on the development of a large-scale Java business application for via World Network, an Andersen Consulting Enterprise that delivers e-commerce technologies to the travel industry 020132573XB04062001 Gregory C. Dennis is an associate partner with Andersen Consulting. He has significant experience in the formation and general management of Andersen Consulting Enterprises--including via World Network, ServiceNet, and PRA Solutions. His efforts center on the development and operation of complex business systems for client/server and Internet technologies. James R. Rubin is currently the director of technology for ServiceNet. Previously he was