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Chapter 1business functions Specialized tasks performed in a business organization, including manufacturing and production, sales and marketing, finance, accounting, and human resources. business processes The unique ways in which organizations coordinate and organize work activities, information, and knowledge to produce a product or service. communications technology Physical devices and software that link various computer hardware components and transfer data from one physical location to another. computer hardware Physical equipment used for input, processing, and output activities in an information system. computer literacy Knowledge about information technology, focusing on understanding how computer-based technologies work. computer software Detailed, preprogrammed instructions that control and coordinate the work of computer hardware components in an information system. computer-based information systems (CBIS) Information systems that rely on computer hardware and software for processing and disseminating information. data Streams of raw facts representing events occurring in organizations or the physical environment before they have been organized and arranged into a form that people can understand and use. data workers People such as secretaries or bookkeepers who process the organization's paperwork. digital firm Organization where nearly all significant business processes and relationships with customers, suppliers, and employees are digitally enabled, and key corporate assets are managed through digital means. electronic business The use of Internet and other digital technology for organizational communication and coordination and the management of the firm. electronic commerce The process of buying and selling goods and services electronically involving transactions using the Internet, networks, and other digital technologies. electronic market A marketplace that is created by computer and communication technologies that link many buyers and sellers. extranet Private intranet that is accessible to authorized outsiders. feedback Output that is returned to the appropriate members of the organization to help them evaluate or correct input. formal system System resting on accepted and fixed definitions of data and procedures, operating with predefined rules. information Data that have been shaped into a form that is meaningful and useful to human beings. information architecture The particular design that information technology takes in a specific organization to achieve selected goals or functions. information system Interrelated components working together to collect, process, store, and disseminate information to support decision making, coordination, control, analysis, and visualization in an organization. information systems literacy Broad-based understanding of information systems that includes behavioral knowledge about organizations and individuals using information systems as well as technical knowledge about computers. information technology (IT) infrastructure Computer hardware, software, data and storage technology, input The capture or collection of raw data from within the organization or from its external environment for processing in an information system. Internet International network of networks that is a collection of hundreds of thousands of private and public networks. interorganizational systems Information systems that automate the flow of information across organizational boundaries and link a company to its customers, distributors, or suppliers. intranet An internal network based on Internet and World Wide Web technology and standards. knowledge- and information-intense products Products that require a great deal of learning and knowledge to produce. knowledge workers People such as engineers or architects who design products or services and create knowledge for the organization. management information systems (MIS) The study of information systems focusing on their use in business and management. mass customization The capacity to offer individually tailored products or services on a large scale. middle managers People in the middle of the organizational hierarchy who are responsible for carrying out the plans and goals of senior management. network The linking of two or more computers to share data or resources, such as a printer. operational managers People who monitor the day-to-day activities of the organization. output The distribution of processed information to the people who will use it or to the activities for which it will be used. processing The conversion, manipulation, and analysis of raw input into a form that is more meaningful to humans. production or service workers People who actually produce the products or services of the organization. senior managers People occupying the topmost hierarchy in an organization who are responsible for making long-range decisions. standard operating procedures (SOPs) Formal rules for accomplishing tasks that have been developed to cope with expected situations. storage technology Physical media and software governing the storage and organization of data for use in an information system. Web site All of the World Wide Web pages maintained by an organization or an individual. World Wide Web A system with universally accepted standards for storing, retrieving, formatting, and displaying information in a networked environment. bullwhip effect Large fluctuations in inventories along the supply chain resulting from small unanticipated fluctuations in demand. business processes The unique ways in which organizations coordinate and organize work activities, information, and knowledge to produce a product or service. collaborative commerce The use of digital technologies to enable multiple organizations to collaboratively design, develop, build, and manage products through their lifecycles. customer relationship management (CRM) Business and technology discipline to coordinate all of the business processes for dealing with customers. decision-support systems (DSS) Information systems at the organization's management level that combine data and sophisticated analytical models or data analysis tools to support nonroutine decision making. desktop publishing Technology that produces professional-quality documents combining output from word processors with design, graphics, and special layout features. document imaging systems Systems that convert documents and images into digital form so that they can be stored and accessed by the computer. domestic exporter Form of business organization characterized by heavy centralization of corporate activities in the home country of origin. enterprise systems Firmwide information systems that integrate key business processes so that information can flow freely between different parts of the firm. executive support systems (ESS) Information systems at the organization's strategic level designed to address unstructured decision making through advanced graphics and communications. finance and accounting information systems Systems that keep track of the firm's financial assets and fund flows. franchiser Form of business organization in which a product is created, designed, financed, and initially produced in the home country, but for product-specific reasons relies heavily on foreign personnel for further production, marketing, and human resources. human resources information systems Systems that maintain employee records; track employee skills, job performance, and training; and support planning for employee compensation and career development. knowledge work systems (KWS) Information systems that aid knowledge workers in the creation and integration of new knowledge in the organization. knowledge-level systems Information systems that support knowledge and data workers in an organization. management information systems (MIS) Information systems at the management level of an organization that serve the functions of planning, controlling, and decision making by providing routine summary and exception reports. management-level systems Information systems that support the monitoring, controlling, decision-making, and administrative activities of middle managers. manufacturing and production information systems Systems that deal with the planning, development, and production of products and services, and with controlling the flow of production. multinational Form of business organization that concentrates financial management and control out of a central home base while decentralizing production, sales, and marketing operations to units in other countries. office systems Computer systems, such as word processing, electronic mail systems, and scheduling systems, that are designed to increase the productivity of data workers in the office. operational-level systems Information systems that monitor the elementary activities and transactions of the organization. private industrial networks Web-enabled networks linking systems of multiple firms in an industry for the coordination of transorganizational business processes. reverse logistics The return of items from buyers to sellers in a supply chain. sales and marketing information systems Systems that help the firm identify customers for the firm's products or services, develop products and services to meet customers' needs, promote these products and services, sell the products and services, and provide ongoing customer support. strategic-level systems Information systems that support the long-range planning activities of senior management. supply chain Network of organizations and business processes for procuring materials, transforming raw materials into intermediate and finished products, and distributing the finished products to customers. supply chain management Close linkage and coordination of activities involved in buying, making, and moving a product. transaction processing systems (TPS) Computerized systems that perform and record the daily routine transactions necessary to conduct the business; they serve the organization's operational level. transnational Truly global form of business organization with no national headquarters; value-added activities are managed from a global perspective without reference to national borders, optimizing sources of supply and demand and local competitive advantage. word processing Office system technology that facilitates the creation of documents through computerized text editing, formatting, storing, and printing. agency theory Economic theory that views the firm as a nexus of contracts among self-interested individuals who must be supervised and managed. behavioral models Descriptions of management based on behavioral scientists' observations of what managers actually do in their jobs. bureaucracy Formal organization with a clear-cut division of labor, abstract rules and procedures, and impartial decision making that uses technical qualifications and professionalism as a basis for promoting employees. chief information officer (CIO) Senior manager in charge of the information systems function in the firm. choice Simon's third stage of decision making, when the individual selects among the various solution alternatives. classical model of management Traditional description of management that focused on its formal functions of planning, organizing, coordinating, deciding, and controlling. cognitive style Underlying personality dispositions toward the treatment of information, selection of alternatives, and evaluation of consequences. competitive forces model Model used to describe the interaction of external influences, specifically threats and opportunities, that affect an organization's strategy and ability to compete. core competency Activity at which a firm excels as a world-class leader. decisional roles Mintzberg's classification for managerial roles where managers initiate activities, handle disturbances, allocate resources, and negotiate conflicts. design Simon's second stage of decision making, when the individual conceives of possible alternative solutions to a problem. efficient customer response system System that directly links consumer behavior back to distribution, production, and supply chains. end users Representatives of departments outside the information systems group for whom applications are developed. focused differentiation Competitive strategy for developing new market niches for specialized products or services where a business can compete in the target area better than its competitors. implementation Simon's final stage of decision making, when the individual puts the decision into effect and reports on the progress of the solution. information partnership Cooperative alliance formed between two or more corporations for the purpose of sharing information to gain strategic advantage. information systems department The formal organizational unit that is responsible for the information systems function in the organization. information systems managers Leaders of the various specialists in the information systems department. informational roles Mintzberg's classification for managerial roles where managers act as the nerve centers of their organizations, receiving and disseminating critical information. intelligence The first of Simon's four stages of decision making, when the individual collects information to identify problems occurring in the organization. interpersonal roles Mintzberg's classification for managerial roles where managers act as figureheads and leaders for the organization. intuitive decision makers Cognitive style that describes people who approach a problem with multiple methods in an unstructured manner, using trial and error to find a solution. knowledge-level decision making Evaluating new ideas for products, services, ways to communicate new knowledge, and ways to distribute information throughout the organization. management control Monitoring how efficiently or effectively resources are used and how well operational units are performing. managerial roles Expectations of the activities that managers should perform in an organization. network economics Model of strategic systems at the industry level based on the concept of a network where adding another participant entails zero marginal costs but can create much larger marginal gain. operational control Deciding how to carry out specific tasks specified by upper and middle management, and establishing criteria for completion and resource allocation. organization (behavioral definition) A collection of rights, privileges, obligations, and responsibilities that are delicately balanced over a period of time through conflict and conflict resolution. organization (technical definition) A stable, formal, social structure that takes resources from the environment and processes them to produce outputs. organizational culture The set of fundamental assumptions about what products the organization should produce, how and where it should produce them, and for whom they should be produced. organizational models of decision making Models of decision making that take into account the structural and political characteristics of an organization. primary activities Activities most directly related to the production and distribution of a firm's products or services. product differentiation Competitive strategy for creating brand loyalty by developing new and unique products and services that are not easily duplicated by competitors. programmers Highly trained technical specialists who write computer software instructions. rational model Model of human behavior based on the belief that people, organizations, and nations engage in basically consistent, value-maximizing calculations. standard operating procedures (SOPs) Precise rules, procedures, and practices developed by organizations to cope with virtually all expected situations. strategic decision making Determining the long-term objectives, resources, and policies of an organization. strategic information systems Computer systems at any level of the organization that change goals, operations, products, services, or environmental relationships to help the organization gain a competitive advantage. strategic transitions A movement from one level of sociotechnical system to another. Often required when adopting strategic systems that demand changes in the social and technical elements of an organization. structured decisions Decisions that are repetitive, routine, and have a definite procedure for handling them. support activities Activities that make the delivery of a firm's primary activities possible. Consist of the organization's infrastructure, human resources, technology, and procurement. switching costs The expense a customer or company incurs in lost time and resources when changing from one supplier or system to a competing supplier or system. systematic decision makers Cognitive style that describes people who approach a problem by structuring it in terms of some formal method. systems analysts Specialists who translate business problems and requirements into information requirements and systems, acting as liaisons between the information systems department and the rest of the organization. transaction cost theory Economic theory stating that firms grow larger because they can conduct marketplace transactions internally more cheaply than they can with external firms in the marketplace. unstructured decisions Nonroutine decisions in which the decision maker must provide judgment, evaluation, and insights into the problem definition; there is no agreed-on procedure for making such decisions. value chain model Model that highlights the primary or support activities that add a margin of value to a firm's products or services where information systems can best be applied to achieve a competitive advantage. value web Customer-driven network of independent firms who use information technology to coordinate their value chains to collectively produce a product or service for a market. virtual organization Organization using networks to link people, assets, and ideas to create and distribute products and services without being limited to traditional organizational boundaries or physical locations.
accumulated balance digital payment systems Systems enabling users to make micropayments and purchases on the Web, accumulating a debit balance on their credit card or telephone bills. banner ad A graphic display on a Web page used for advertising. The banner is linked to the advertiser's Web site so that a person clicking on it will be transported to the advertiser's Web site. business model An abstraction of what an enterprise is and how the enterprise delivers a product or service, showing how the enterprise creates wealth. business-to-business (B2B) electronic commerce Electronic sales of goods and services among businesses. business-to-consumer (B2C) electronic commerce Electronic retailing of products and services directly to individual consumers. call center An organizational department responsible for handling customer service issues by telephone and other channels. channel conflict Competition between two or more different distribution chains used to sell the products or services of the same company. clicks-and-mortar Business model where the Web site is an extension of a traditional bricks-and-mortar business. consumer-to-consumer (C2C) electronic commerce Consumers selling goods and services electronically to other consumers. digital cash Currency represented in electronic form that moves outside the normal network of money. Digital checking Systems that extend the functionality of existing checking accounts so they can be used for on-line shopping payments. digital credit card payment system Secure services for credit card payments on the Internet that protect information transmitted among users, merchant sites, and processing banks. digital wallet Software that stores credit card and owner identification information and provides these data automatically during electronic commerce purchase transactions. disintermediation The removal of organizations or business process layers responsible for certain intermediary steps in a value chain. dynamic pricing Pricing of items based on real-time interactions between buyers and sellers that determine what a item is worth at any particular moment. electronic billing presentment and payment systems Systems used for paying routine monthly bills that allow users to view their bills electronically and pay them through electronic funds transfers from bank or credit card accounts. electronic payment system The use of digital technologies, such as credit cards, smart cards, and Internet-based payment systems, to pay for products and services electronically. exchange Third-party net marketplace that is primarily transaction oriented and that connects many buyers and suppliers for spot purchasing. information asymmetry Situation where the relative bargaining power of two parties in a transaction is determined by one party in the transaction possessing more information essential to the transaction than the other party. micropayment Payment for a very small sum of money, often less than $10. mobile commerce (m-commerce) The use of wireless devices, such as cell phones or handheld digital information appliances, to conduct both business-to-consumer and business-to-business e-commerce transactions over the Internet. net marketplace A single digital marketplace based on Internet technology linking many buyers to many sellers. peer-to-peer payment system Electronic payment system for people who want to send money to vendors or individuals who are not set up to accept credit card payments. portal Web site or other service that provides an initial point of entry to the Web or to internal company data. private exchange A network linking a firm to its suppliers, distributors, and other key business partners for efficient supply chain management and other collaborative commerce activities. Another term for a private industrial network. pure-play Business models based purely on the Internet. reach Measurement of how many people a business can connect with and how many products it can offer those people. reintermediation The shifting of the intermediary role in a value chain to a new source. richness Measurement of the depth and detail of information that a business can supply to the customer as well as information the business collects about the customer. smart card A credit-card-size plastic card that stores digital information and that can be used for electronic payments in place of cash. stored value payment systems Systems enabling consumers to make instant on-line payments to merchants and other individuals based on value stored in a digital account. syndicator Business aggregating content or applications from multiple sources, packaging them for distribution, and reselling them to third-party Web sites. Web personalization The tailoring of Web content directly to a specific user.
accountability The mechanisms for assessing responsibility for decisions made and actions taken. carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) Type of RSI in which pressure on the median nerve through the wrist's bony carpal tunnel structure produces pain. computer abuse The commission of acts involving a computer that may not be illegal but are considered unethical. computer crime The commission of illegal acts through the use of a computer or against a computer system. computer vision syndrome (CVS) Eyestrain condition related to computer display screen use; symptoms include headaches, blurred vision, and dry and irritated eyes. cookie Tiny file deposited on a computer hard drive when an individual visits certain Web sites. Used to identify the visitor and track visits to the Web site. copyright A statutory grant that protects creators of intellectual property against copying by others for any purpose for a period of 28 years. Descartes' rule of change A principle that states that if an action cannot be taken repeatedly, then it is not right to be taken at any time. due process A process in which laws are well-known and understood and there is an ability to appeal to higher authorities to ensure that laws are applied correctly. ethical "no free lunch" rule Assumption that all tangible and intangible objects are owned by someone else, unless there is a specific declaration otherwise, and that the creator wants compensation for this work. ethics Principles of right and wrong that can be used by individuals acting as free moral agents to make choices to guide their behavior. Fair Information Practices (FIP) A set of principles originally set forth in 1973 that governs the collection and use of information about individuals and forms the basis of most U.S. and European privacy laws. framing Displaying the content of another Web site inside one's own Web site within a frame or a window. Immanuel Kant's Categorical Imperative A principle that states that if an action is not right for everyone to take it is not right for anyone. information rights The rights that individuals and organizations have with respect to information that pertains to themselves. informed consent Consent given with knowledge of all the facts needed to make a rational decision. intellectual property Intangible property created by individuals or corporations that is subject to protections under trade secret, copyright, and patent law. liability The existence of laws that permit individuals to recover the damages done to them by other actors, systems, or organizations. opt-in Model of informed consent prohibiting an organization from collecting any personal information unless the individual specifically takes action to approve information collection and use. opt-out Model of informed consent permitting the collection of personal information until the consumer specifically requests that the data not be collected. P3P Industry standard designed to give users more control over personal information gathered on Web sites they visit. Stands for Platform for Privacy Preferences. patent A legal document that grants the owner an exclusive monopoly on the ideas behind an invention for 20 years; designed to ensure that inventors of new machines or methods are rewarded for their labor while making widespread use of their inventions. privacy The claim of individuals to be left alone, free from surveillance or interference from other individuals, organizations, or the state. profiling The use of computers to combine data from multiple sources and create electronic dossiers of detailed information on individuals. repetitive stress injury (RSI) Occupational disease that occurs when muscle groups are forced through repetitive actions with high-impact loads or thousands of repetitions with low-impact loads. responsibility Accepting the potential costs, duties, and obligations for the decisions one makes. Risk Aversion Principle Principle that one should take the action that produces the least harm or incurs the least cost. spamming The practice of sending unsolicited e-mail and other electronic communication. technostress Stress induced by computer use; symptoms include aggravation, hostility toward humans, impatience, and enervation. trade secret Any intellectual work or product used for a business purpose that can be classified as belonging to that business, provided it is not based on information in the public domain. Utilitarian Principle Principle that assumes one can put values in rank order and understand the consequences of various courses of action. Web bugs Tiny graphic files embedded in e-mail messages and Web pages that are designed to monitor on-line Internet user behavior. application service provider (ASP) Company providing software that can be rented by other companies over the Web or a private network. application software Programs written for a specific application to perform functions specified by end users. arithmetic-logic unit (ALU) Component of the CPU that performs the computer's principal logic and arithmetic operations. assembly language A programming language developed in the 1950s that resembles machine language but substitutes mnemonics for numeric codes. batch processing A method of collecting and processing data in which transactions are accumulated and stored until a specified time when it is convenient or necessary to process them as a group. bit A binary digit representing the smallest unit of data in a computer system. It can only have one of two states, representing 0 or 1. byte A string of bits, usually eight, used to store one number or character in a computer system. C A powerful programming language with tight control and efficiency of execution; is portable across different microprocessors and is used primarily with PCs. C++ Object-oriented version of the C programming language. capacity planning The process of predicting when a computer hardware system becomes saturated to ensure that adequate computing resources are available for work of different priorities and that the firm has enough computing power for its current and future needs. CD-ROM (compact disk read-only memory) Read-only optical disk storage used for imaging, reference, and database applications with massive amounts of unchanging data and for multimedia. central processing unit (CPU) Area of the computer system that manipulates symbols, numbers, and letters, and controls the other parts of the computer system. centralized processing Processing that is accomplished by one large central computer. client The user point-of-entry for the required function in client/server computing. Normally a desktop computer, workstation, or laptop computer. client/server computing A model for computing that splits processing between "clients" and "servers" on a network, assigning functions to the machine most able to perform the function. COBOL (COmmon Business Oriented Language) Major programming language for business applications because it can process large data files with alphanumeric characters. compiler Special system software that translates a high-level language into machine language for execution by the computer. control unit Component of the CPU that controls and coordinates the other parts of the computer system. data management software Software used for creating and manipulating lists, creating files and databases to store data, and combining information for reports. digital video disk (DVD) High-capacity optical storage medium that can store full-length videos and large amounts of data. distributed processing The distribution of computer processing work among multiple computers linked by a communications network. downsizing The process of transferring applications from large computers to smaller ones. electronic mail (e-mail) The computer-to-computer exchange of messages. enterprise application integration software Software that ties together multiple applications to support enterprise integration. enterprise software Set of integrated modules for applications such as sales and distribution, financial accounting, investment management, materials management, production planning, plant maintenance, and human resources that allow data to be used by multiple functions and business processes. floppy disk Removable magnetic disk storage primarily used with PCs. FORTRAN (FORmula TRANslator) A programming language developed in 1956 for scientific and mathematical applications. fourth-generation language A programming language that can be employed directly by end users or less-skilled programmers to develop computer applications more rapidly than conventional programming languages. gigabyte Approximately one billion bytes. Unit of computer storage capacity. graphical user interface (GUI) The part of an operating system users interact with that uses graphic icons and the computer mouse to issue commands and make selections. groupware Software that provides functions and services that support the collaborative activities of work groups. hard disk Magnetic disk resembling a thin steel platter with a metallic coating; used in large computer systems and in most PCs. hypertext markup language (HTML) Page description language for creating Web pages and other hypermedia documents. integrated software package A software package that provides two or more applications, such as word processing and spreadsheets, providing for easy transfer of data between them. Java Programming language that can deliver only the software functionality needed for a particular task, such as a small applet downloaded from a network; can run on any computer and operating system. kilobyte One thousand bytes (actually 1,024 storage positions). Used as a measure of PC storage capacity. Linux Reliable and compactly designed operating system that is an offshoot of UNIX and that can run on many different hardware platforms and is available free or at very low cost. Used as alternative to UNIX and Windows NT. machine cycle Series of operations required to process a single machine instruction. machine language A programming language consisting of the 1s and 0s of binary code. magnetic disk A secondary storage medium in which data are stored by means of magnetized spots on a hard or floppy disk. magnetic tape Inexpensive, older secondary-storage medium in which large volumes of information are stored sequentially by means of magnetized and nonmagnetized spots on tape. mainframe Largest category of computer, used for major business processing. massively parallel computers Computers that use hundreds or thousands of processing chips to attack large computing problems simultaneously. master file A file that contains all permanent information and is updated during processing by transaction data. megabyte Approximately one million bytes. Unit of computer storage capacity. megahertz A measure of cycle speed, or the pacing of events in a computer; one megahertz equals one million cycles per second. microprocessor Very large scale integrated circuit technology that integrates the computer's memory, logic, and control on a single chip. microsecond one-millionth of a second middleware Software that connects two disparate applications, allowing them to communicate with each other and to exchange data. midrange computer Middle-size computer that is capable of supporting the computing needs of smaller organizations or of managing networks of other computers. minicomputer Middle-range computer used in systems for universities, factories, or research laboratories. MP3 (MPEG3) Compression standard that can compress audio files for transfer over the Internet with virtually no loss in quality. multimedia The integration of two or more types of media such as text, graphics, sound, voice, full-motion video, or animation into a computer-based application. multiprocessing An operating system feature for executing two or more instructions simultaneously in a single computer system by using multiple central processing units. multiprogramming A method of executing two or more programs concurrently using the same computer. The CPU executes only one program but can service the input/output needs of others at the same time. multitasking The multiprogramming capability of primarily single-user operating systems, such as those for older PCs. nanosecond One-billionth of a second. natural languages Programming language that is very close to human language. network computer (NC) Simplified desktop computer that does not store software programs or data permanently. Users download whatever software or data they need from a central computer over the Internet or an organization's own internal network. object-oriented programming An approach to software development that combines data and procedures into a single object. Office 2000 and Office XP Integrated software suite with capabilities for supporting collaborative work on the Web or incorporating information from the Web into documents. on-line processing A method of collecting and processing data in which transactions are entered directly into the computer system and processed immediately. open-source software Software that provides free access to its program code, allowing users to modify the program code to make improvements or fix errors. operating system The system software that manages and controls the activities of the computer. parallel processing Type of processing in which more than one instruction can be processed at a time by breaking down a problem into smaller parts and processing them simultaneously with multiple processors. peer-to-peer computing Form of distributed processing that links computers via the Internet or private networks so that they can share processing tasks. personal computer (PC) Small desktop or portable computer. presentation graphics Software to create professional-quality graphics presentations that can incorporate charts, sound, animation, photos, and video clips. primary storage Part of the computer that temporarily stores program instructions and data being used by the instructions. program A series of statements or instructions to the computer. query language Software tool that provides immediate on-line answers to requests for information that are not predefined. RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) Disk storage technology to boost disk performance by packaging more than 100 smaller disk drives with a controller chip and specialized software in a single large unit to deliver data over multiple paths simultaneously. RAM (random access memory) Primary storage of data or program instructions that can directly access any randomly chosen location in the same amount of time. reduced instruction set computing (RISC) Technology used to enhance the speed of microprocessors by embedding only the most frequently used instructions on a chip. ROM (read-only memory) Semiconductor memory chips that contain program instructions. These chips can only be read from; they cannot be written to. scalability The ability of a computer, product, or system to expand to serve a larger number of users without breaking down. secondary storage Relatively long term, nonvolatile storage of data outside the CPU and primary storage. server Computer specifically optimized to provide software and other resources to other computers over a network. server farm Large group of servers maintained by a commercial vendor and made available to subscribers for electronic commerce and other activities requiring heavy use of servers. software package A prewritten, precoded, commercially available set of programs that eliminates the need to write software programs for certain functions. source code Program instructions written in a high-level language that must be translated into machine language to be executed by the computer. spreadsheet Software displaying data in a grid of columns and rows, with the capability of easily recalculating numerical data. storage area network (SAN) A high-speed network dedicated to storage that connects different kinds of storage devices, such as tape libraries and disk arrays. storage service provider (SSP) Third-party provider that rents out storage space to subscribers over the Web, allowing customers to store and access their data without having to purchase and maintain their own storage technology. streaming technology Technology for transferring data so that they can be processed as a steady and continuous stream. supercomputer Highly sophisticated and powerful computer that can perform very complex computations extremely rapidly. system software Generalized programs that manage the computer's resources, such as the central processor, communications links, and peripheral devices. terabyte Approximately one trillion bytes. Unit of computer storage capacity. time sharing The sharing of computer resources by many users simultaneously by having the CPU spend a fixed amount of time on each user's program before proceeding to the next. total cost of ownership (TCO) Designates the total cost of owning technology resources, including initial purchase costs, the cost of hardware and software upgrades, maintenance, technical support, and training. transaction file In batch systems, a file in which all transactions are accumulated to await processing. UNIX Operating system for all types of computers, which is machine independent and supports multiuser processing, multitasking, and networking. Used in high-end workstations and servers. virtual storage Handling programs more efficiently by dividing the programs into small fixed- or variable-length portions with only a small portion stored in primary memory at one time. visual programming The construction of software programs by selecting and arranging programming objects rather than by writing program code. Web browser An easy-to-use software tool for accessing the World Wide Web and the Internet. Web server Software that manages requests for Web pages on the computer where they are stored and that delivers the page to the user's computer. Windows 2000 Powerful operating system developed by Microsoft for use with 32-bit PCs, workstations, and network servers. Supports networking, multitasking, multiprocessing, and Internet services. Windows 98 Version of the Windows operating system that is closely integrated with the Internet and that supports hardware technologies such as MMX, digital video disk, videoconferencing cameras, scanners, TV tuner-adapter cards, and joysticks. Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me) Enhanced Windows operating system for consumer users featuring tools for working with video, photos, music, and home networking. Windows XP Powerful Windows operating system that provides reliability, robustness, and ease of use for both corporate and home PC users. workstation Desktop computer with powerful graphics and mathematical capabilities and the ability to perform several complicated tasks at once. XML (eXtensible Markup Language) General-purpose language that describes the structure of a document and supports links to multiple documents, allowing data to be manipulated by the computer. Used for both Web and non-Web applications.
application server Software that handles all application operations between browser-based computers and a company's back-end business applications or databases. attribute A piece of information describing a particular entity. data administration A special organizational function for managing the organization's data resources, concerned with information policy, data planning, maintenance of data dictionaries, and data quality standards. data definition language The component of a database management system that defines each data element as it appears in the database. data dictionary An automated or manual tool for storing and organizing information about the data maintained in a database. data element A field. data manipulation language A language associated with a database management system that end users and programmers use to manipulate data in the database. data mart A small data warehouse containing only a portion of the organization's data for a specified function or population of users. data redundancy The presence of duplicate data in multiple data files. data warehouse A database, with reporting and query tools, that stores current and historical data extracted from various operational systems and consolidated for management reporting and analysis. database A group of related files. database (rigorous definition) A collection of data organized to service many applications at the same time by storing and managing data so that they appear to be in one location. database administration Refers to the more technical and operational aspects of managing data, including physical database design and maintenance. database management system (DBMS) Special software to create and maintain a database and enable individual business applications to extract the data they need without having to create separate files or data definitions in their computer programs. database server A computer in a client/server environment that is responsible for running a DBMS to process SQL statements and perform database management tasks. datamining Analysis of large pools of data to find patterns and rules that can be used to guide decision making and predict future behavior. distributed database A database that is stored in more than one physical location. Parts or copies of the database are physically stored in one location, and other parts or copies are stored and maintained in other locations. entity A person, place, thing, or event about which information must be kept. entity-relationship diagram A methodology for documenting databases illustrating the relationship between various entities in the database. field A grouping of characters into a word, a group of words, or a complete number, such as a person's name or age. file A group of records of the same type. hierarchical DBMS Older logical database model that organizes data in a treelike structure. A record is subdivided into segments that are connected to each other in one-to-many parentchild relationships. hypermedia database An approach to data management that organizes data as a network of nodes linked in any pattern the user specifies; the nodes can contain text, graphics, sound, full-motion video, or executable programs. information policy Formal rules governing the maintenance, distribution, and use of information in an organization. key field A field in a record that uniquely identifies instances of that record so that it can be retrieved, updated, or sorted. legacy system A system that has been in existence for a long time and that continues to be used to avoid the high cost of replacing or redesigning it. logical view A representation of data as they would appear to an application programmer or end user. network DBMS An older logical database model that is useful for depicting many-to-many relationships. normalization The process of creating small stable data structures from complex groups of data when designing a relational database. object-oriented DBMS An approach to data management that stores both data and the procedures acting on the data as objects that can be automatically retrieved and shared; the objects can contain multimedia. object-relational DBMS A database management system that combines the capabilities of a relational DBMS for storing traditional information and the capabilities of an object-oriented DBMS for storing graphics and multimedia. on-line analytical processing (OLAP) Capability for manipulating and analyzing large volumes of data from multiple perspectives. physical view The representation of data as they would actually be organized on physical storage media. program-data dependence The close relationship between data stored in files and the software programs that update and maintain those files. Any change in data organization or format requires a change in all the programs associated with those files. record group of related fields. relational DBMS A type of logical database model that treats data as if they were stored in two-dimensional tables. It can relate data stored in one table to data in another as long as the two tables share a common data element. Structured Query Language (SQL) The standard data manipulation language for relational database management systems. tuple A row or record in a relational database.
analog signal A continuous waveform that passes through a communications medium; used for voice communications. asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) A networking technology that parcels information into 53-byte cells, allowing data to be transmitted between computers from different vendors at any network speed. backbone Part of a network handling the major traffic and providing the primary path for traffic flowing to or from other networks. bandwidth The capacity of a communications channel as measured by the difference between the highest and lowest frequencies that can be transmitted by that channel. baud A change in signal from positive to negative or vice versa that is used as a measure of transmission speed. broadband High-speed transmission technology. Also designates a communications medium that can transmit multiple channels of data simultaneously. bus network Network topology linking a number of computers by a single circuit with all messages broadcast to the entire network. cable modem Modem designed to operate over cable TV lines to provide high-speed access to the Web or corporate intranets. cellular telephone A device that transmits voice or data, using radio waves to communicate with radio antennas placed within adjacent geographic areas called cells. channels The links by which data or voice are transmitted between sending and receiving devices in a network. coaxial cable A transmission medium consisting of thickly insulated copper wire; can transmit large volumes of data quickly. concentrator Telecommunications computer that collects and temporarily stores messages from terminals for batch transmission to the host computer. controller A specialized computer that supervises communications traffic between the CPU and the peripheral devices in a telecommunications system. converged network Network with technology to enable voice, video, and data to run over a single network. dataconferencing Teleconferencing in which two or more users are able to edit and modify data files simultaneously. dedicated lines Telephone lines that are continuously available for transmission by a lessee. Typically conditioned to transmit data at high speeds for high-volume applications. dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) Technology for boosting transmission capacity of optical fiber by using many different wavelengths to carry separate streams of data over the same fiber strand at the same time. digital signal A discrete waveform that transmits data coded into two discrete states as 1-bits and 0-bits, which are represented as onoff electrical pulses; used for data communications. digital subscriber line (DSL) A group of technologies providing high-capacity transmission over existing copper telephone lines. distance learning Education or training delivered over a distance to individuals in one or more locations. e-learning Instruction delivered through purely digital technology using the Internet or private networks. electronic data interchange (EDI) The direct computer-to-computer exchange between two organizations of standard business transaction documents. facsimile (fax) A machine that digitizes and transmits documents with both text and graphics over telephone lines. fiber-optic cable A fast, light, and durable transmission medium consisting of thin strands of clear glass fiber bound into cables. Data are transmitted as light pulses. frame relay A shared network service technology that packages data into bundles for transmission but does not use error-correction routines. Cheaper and faster than packet switching. front-end processor A special purpose computer dedicated to managing communications for the host computer in a network. gateway A communications processor that connects dissimilar networks by providing the translation from one set of protocols to another. information superhighway High-speed digital telecommunications networks that are national or worldwide in scope and accessible by the general public rather than restricted to specific organizations. Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) International standard for transmitting voice, video, image, and data to support a wide range of service over the public telephone lines. local area network (LAN) A telecommunications network that requires its own dedicated channels and that encompasses a limited distance, usually one building or several buildings in close proximity. microwave A high-volume, long-distance, point-to-point transmission in which high-frequency radio signals are transmitted through the atmosphere from one terrestrial transmission station to another. mobile data networks Wireless networks that enable two-way transmission of data files. modem A device for translating digital signals into analog signals and vice versa. multiplexer A device that enables a single communications channel to carry data transmissions from multiple sources simultaneously. network operating system (NOS) Special software that routes and manages communications on the network and coordinates network resources. optical network High-speed networking technologies for transmitting data in the form of light pulses. packet switching Technology that breaks blocks of text into small, fixed bundles of data and routes them in the most economical way through any available communications channel. paging system A wireless transmission technology in which the pager beeps when the user receives a message; used to transmit short alphanumeric messages. peer-to-peer Network architecture that gives equal power to all computers on the network; used primarily in small networks. personal communication services (PCS) A digital cellular technology that uses lower power, higher frequency radio waves than does analog cellular technology. personal digital assistants (PDA) Small, pen-based, handheld computers with built-in wireless telecommunications capable of entirely digital communications transmission. private branch exchange (PBX) A central switching system that handles a firm's voice and digital communications. protocol A set of rules and procedures that govern transmission between the components in a network. ring network A network topology in which all computers are linked by a closed loop in a manner that passes data in one direction from one computer to another. router Device that forwards packets of data from one LAN or WAN to another. satellite The transmission of data using orbiting satellites that serve as relay stations for transmitting microwave signals over very long distances. smart phone Wireless phone with voice, text, and Internet capabilities. star network A network topology in which all computers and other devices are connected to a central host computer. All communications between network devices must pass through the host computer. switched lines |
