1.5 Applications Building Block

The applications building block includes three types of applications:

• Client applications typically run on end user devices like PCs and laptops. Examples of client applications are web browsers, word processors, and email clients.

• Office applications provide standard server-based applications most organizations use. Examples are mail servers, portals, collaboration tools, and instant messaging servers. Most organizations run these office applications more or less out of the box.

• Business-specific applications are applications that are typically highly customized or custom built. Some examples are Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, and applications that are created for a specific business process (like an insurance management system).

Applications management is responsible for the configuration and technical operations of the applications.