Skip to content
AI-assisted content — see full disclaimer

Enterprise Technology

Enterprise technology encompasses the systems, platforms, and infrastructure that organizations rely on to operate, compete, and grow. Understanding these technologies — not at a technical level, but at a strategic and managerial level — is critical for every MBA graduate.

Topics in This Section

Topic What You'll Learn
Technical Literacy for Business Leaders Core technical concepts every MBA should know — APIs, databases, networking, and software development basics
Enterprise Architecture TOGAF, Zachman, and how organizations design their technology landscape
Enterprise Applications ERP, CRM, and SCM — the core application ecosystems that run modern businesses
Data Centers Physical and virtual infrastructure, operations, and the evolution toward cloud
Cloud Computing IaaS, PaaS, SaaS models; hybrid and multi-cloud strategies; migration planning
Make vs. Buy Frameworks for deciding whether to build custom solutions or purchase commercial products
Open Source Software Open source vs. proprietary software — licensing, business models, and strategic implications

Suggested Reading Order

These pages are self-contained, but if you're reading the full section, this sequence builds concepts progressively:

  1. Technical Literacy — Foundational vocabulary for the rest of the section
  2. Enterprise Architecture — The big picture: how technology components fit together
  3. Enterprise Applications — The core systems (ERP, CRM, SCM) that run businesses
  4. Data Centers — Physical infrastructure that hosts enterprise systems
  5. Cloud Computing — How cloud transforms infrastructure economics and delivery
  6. Make vs. Buy — Decision frameworks for technology sourcing
  7. Open Source Software — Licensing, business models, and the open source ecosystem

Why This Matters

Technology choices are business choices. Whether your organization runs on-premise data centers or is fully cloud-native, whether it uses a monolithic ERP or a best-of-breed application strategy — these decisions affect cost structure, agility, risk, and competitive advantage. This section gives you the vocabulary and frameworks to evaluate these choices as a business leader.