Successful management teams can identify the cost and return derived from the implementation of new technology, and they can properly apply the technology toward gaining a competitive advantage. IT and business managers alike need a resource that enables them to prepare for future operating conditions, identify beneficial solutions, and use high technology to achieve organizational goals. The Real-Time Enterprise analyzes the forward-looking implementation of IT within a business, focusing on how careful planning can improve efficiency while reducing costs. The book includes case studies that emphasize how the most profitable uses of technology are now the real-time response to customer requirements, and the accumulation of knowledge about markets and business partners. Divided into four parts, the text begins by explaining how advanced information technology is a moving target, and why companies that want to benefit from it must set priorities and move quickly. Part II covers many recent developments in IT and its implementation, including smart dust and straight through processing (STP). Part III is made up of case studies that address specific application areas, including credit institutions, treasury operations, risk management, and approaches to replace office automation. The book concludes by exploring a series of prerequisites made necessary by advanced applications. The Real-Time Enterprise provides a perspective on the deployment of strategic information technology, covering guidelines, advanced applications, and practical examples. It delivers a much-needed upgrade of knowledge and skills for IT professionals seeking to progress beyond traditional implementations.