Enterprise?

Can someone tell me, in plain language, what “enterprise” means when used marketing technology products with phrases like “enterprise class?” Does it just mean “for business” or “for a whole bunch of people,” or is there some more subtle meaning?

Comments

al o'neill's picture
al o'neill on November 18, 2004 - 21:36 Permalink

Close, “for a whole bunch of money” would be more accurate.

Most enterprise-level products I’ve used seems just add lots of database-integration functions to the main product.

DerekMac's picture
DerekMac on November 19, 2004 - 00:50 Permalink

Simply put, “enterprise class” this means that an app will scale to handle your entire enterprise — a large, profit-driven, diverse business organization usually with more than one location.

Al is right about the database and the money. A small-business solution might use flat files. A “professionsl” solution would use MySQL, while you’d find something heavy-duty and overpriced (like Oracle) in an “enterprise class” solution.

From Dictionary.com:
An undertaking, especially one of some scope, complication, and risk.
A business organization.
Industrious, systematic activity, especially when directed toward profit: Private enterprise is basic to capitalism.
Willingness to undertake new ventures; initiative:

oliver's picture
oliver on November 19, 2004 - 13:03 Permalink

Sings like William Shatner?

Ken's picture
Ken on November 19, 2004 - 15:21 Permalink

Within Nortel there are two product lines: Enterprise and Service Provider.

Here is the official description. It definitely is rooted in the Star Trek lexicon, who wouldn’t want to be the captain of the enterprise?

Ken's picture
Ken on November 19, 2004 - 15:35 Permalink

This french definition is the best:

Ensemble de technologies qui permet aux logiciels d’application d