Toward Establishing Design Methods for Cloud-Based Business Platforms

摘要

'Cloud computing' enables system integrators to develop business platforms from existing system by combining software and hardware functions provided by virtualized servers and resources. This functional substitution is the essence of cloud computing and it is the embodiment of the concept of Product-Service Systems in the IT industry. Bearing this in mind, this paper proposes design methods for cloud-based business platforms. By applying Axiomatic Design, Design Structure Matrix and Design-for-X, these design methods can be streamlined, thereby identifying better alignment/separation of functionalities and allocating them to physical servers and resources. Accordingly, the methods will facilitate the shift to service-based business in the IT industry.