In this groundbreaking book, two acknowledged experts explore the underlying principles of systems integration, and, with the help of numerous case studies show IT managers, systems analysts, and project managers how to apply those principles to solving complex business problems. The authors reveal the linkages between business processes and how they can be supported in enterprise--wide integrated systems. Rather than review specific products and tools, the authors use real--life examples to provides readers with a practical understanding of integrated system architectures and how they function within the framework of an Enterprise Planning System.