MIS test 2 (wenwenwenwenwen)

What are the non-cost related benefits to users that accrue from using SaaS?

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What is IaaS?

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What is total cost of ownership?

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What is the web? How does it work?

A collection of interconnected hypertext documents and other resources, linked by hyperlinks and URLs. It is one of the services that runs on the internet. It is pretty much a request-response cycle that may include multiple steps, since web pages often contain embedded files such as graphics, each requiring a separate response.

What is a database? Why do people use a database?

A collection of interrelated data that is used by apps. Tactical Advantages Preserve data integrity Limit data view (query, report) Eliminate data redundancy - unnecessary repetition of data that slows data processing Strategic Advantage Connecting activities across the value chain Analytic purposes - trend analyses, forecasts Transforming raw data into information that can be used for decision making

What is the internet?

A global system of interconnected computing networks.

What is cloud computing?

A model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on demand access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.

What is a relation?

A named, two dimensional table of data which consists of rows (records) and named columns also called attributes or fields

What are the 5 major DBMS products?

Access - MS personal DBMS SQL server - MS enterprise DBMS DB2 from IBM Oracle MySQL - free, open source

Two-tier email architecture (e.g. outlook)

Client computer sends email in SMTP packets to server computer with email server software over LAN. Server computer sends SMTP across internet to another server computer, which is retrieved by other client computers in IMAP or POP packets.

What is a CDN? What are the required technologies to provide a CDN? What are benefits a CDN may provide to online store/content providers (especially multinational corps delivering heavy content over the internet.

Content delivery service, providing caching as a service, and place content providers web cache servers across different locations. Distributed servers (web caches) that store popular content Algorithms that routed end user's requests to the optimal CDN server Software that ensures data elements to be synchronized Improves site response speed and reduces response time variation Can reach a large customers base that is geographically distributed

What are the main reasons about why firms choose open source software over commercial alternatives?

Cost - Free alternatives to costly commercial code that requires you to pay for every copy used. Reliability - More people that look at code, more chances errors are found. Security - Many "eyes" looking at code means security vulnerabilities can be found fast. Scalability - Ability to handle increasing workloads or be easily expanded to manage workload increases. Agility and Time to Market - Vendors who use OSS as part of product offerings may be able to skip whole segments of the software development process, allowing products to hit the market earlier than if software had to be developed from scratch.

What is CRM?

Customer Relationship Management. Enterprise software systems used to support customer-related sales and marketing activities.

What are the barriers to cloud computing adoption?

Dependence on a single vendor. Concern about the long term viability of partner firms. Users may be forced to migrate to new versions Reliance on a network connection may be slower, less stable, less secure Data asset stored off-site security and legal concerns Limited configuration, customization, and system integration options compared to packaged software The UI of web-based software is often less sophisticated and lacks the richness of most desktop alternatives Ease of adoption may lead to pockets of unauthorized IT being used throughout an organization

What is the difference between desktop and enterprise software?

Desktop software refers to applications installed on a personal computer (browser, word processor, games). Enterprise software refers to applications that address the needs of multiple, simultaneous users in an organization or work group.

What is protocol?

Enables communication by defining the format of data and rules for exchange, i.e. defining how to "wrap" the information

What is ERP?

Enterprise resource planning. A software package that integrates the many functions (accounting, finance, inventory management, HR, sales, manufacturing) of a business.

What are the benefits realized by vendors that accrue from using SaaS?

Firms forgo the large upfront costs of buying and installing software packages. Also they don't need to spend money on IT staff needed to run the systems. If the company pays monthly per each employee using the software, it can scale use up or down if necessary. SaaS is highly scalable. Vendors frequently sign service level agreements with their customers to ensure a guaranteed uptime and define their ability to meet demand spikes. Also, the potential for increased quality and service levels. An established SaaS firm is mostly likely an expert in dealing with all critical computing issues, and all maintenance to the server.

What are the benefits realized by vendors that offer SaaS services instead of conventional software?

For cloud vendors - instantly deploy bug fixes and product enhancements to all users. Accessibility to anyone with an internet connection. Tighter feedback loop with clients. Reduced costs associated with distribution, development across different platforms, software piracy.

What is HTML?

Hypertext markup language. a language used to create web pages. Tags are embedded in HTML documents, they include info on how to format the files.

What is HTTP?

Hypertext transfer protocol. A protocol to retrieve files from appropriate servers as specified by the hyperlinks. In the web setting, the web browser will act as an HTTP client, sending an HTTP request and getting HTTP responses from the web server.

What are the characteristics of software systems?

Large upfront costs. Low marginal costs - huge economies of scale Exhibits complementarity - potential for bundling Exhibits network effect Generally needs inter-operability and backwards compatibility. last three contribute to high switching costs/lock in

OS arbitration

Manages and coordinates tasks and shares the computers hardware resources.

What are the essential characteristics of cloud computing?

On demand self service Broad network access Resource pooling Multi-tenancy model - multiple users sharing one resource. Location independence - customers have little or no knowledge over the exact location of the hardware Measured service - resource usage can be monitored, measured, optimized etc. for transparency for provider/consumer. Rapid Elasticity (scalability)

POP

Post office protocol, internet standard protocol for retrieving email.

Platform

Products and services that allow for the development and integration of software products and other complementary goods.

What does an internet service provider do?

Provides access to the internet. Networks in homes, universities, businesses connect to it. Most are big telecommunication companies like Verizon, Comcast, etc.

Pros of choosing on-demand CRM

Reduces a firm's assets that can stay idle and depreciate over time (reduced capital investment) Reduce IT maintenance/training and upgrade costs Free firm's IT resources for core competency tasks Rapid access to resources/rapid deployment on platforms Scalability - adjust resource consumption on a per-need basis These benefits are particularly important for small/medium size business

What is Internet Protocol?

Routes the packets of information to their final destination. The relay work is done by routers who speak to other routers using the IP.

Email client application functions

Send email to email servers, download email from mailboxes on those servers.

The pros of choosing packaged CRM

Significant customization. Signification integration with other enterprise systems such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. Higher interoperability with old system. Cost won't increase given the increase of # of accesses, of data transfers. Not highly dependent on internet connections (for concerns about data confidentiality and data transfer speeds These benefits are particularly important for large organizations

SMTP

Simple mail transfer protocol. Internet standard protocols for sending email.

What is DBMS?

Software that allows storing, retrieval, update, or deletion of data, on demand, from many concurrent users in an organized and efficient manner. The DBMS shields users from hardware level details.

What is open source software?

Software that is free and where anyone can look at and potentially modify the code.

What is SCM?

Supply chain management. Enterprise software systems that can help a firm manage aspects of its value chain, from the flow of raw materials into the firm, through the delivery of finished products and services at the point of consumption.

Requirements for a table to qualify as a relation

Table must have a unique name. Every attribute value falls into a known domain or legal value. Attributes (columns) in tables must have unique names. Every record (row) must be unique (can't have to rows with exactly the same values for all their fields) Order of attributes is irrelevant; Order of rows is irrelevant.

What is operating system (OS)? Understand the value of an operating system is determined both by the OS's own functionality and the availability of the applications running on it.

The collection of programs that control the hardware (layer above computer hardware). Establishes the standards for developing and executing applications. Contains user interface. Two basic functions. Abstraction - interface between the hardware and applications. Arbitration - Manages and coordinates tasks and shares the computers hardware resources

What is a relational database?

The most common standard for expressing databases, whereby tables (files) are related based on common or foreign keys.

What is total cost of ownership?

Total cost of ownership is a financial estimate whose purpose is to help consumers and enterprise managers determine direct and indirect costs of a product or system.

What is a URL?

Uniform resource locator - what you type into the web browser (what you are looking for)

What different business models can be built around OSS?

Vendors of the software make money by selling support and consulting services. Also, since all majors hardware firms run Linux server software, there is a large unified market that attracts application software developers. Hardware firms also don't have to worry about non-differentiated expensive operating systems.

Microsoft success

Windows operating systems that run on intel processors, primarily sold to OEMs. Got apps from ISVs, released periodic upgrades of OS. Software - provided standard interfaces/file formats, lowered switching costs of users to microsoft. Became the world's largest PC application vendor. Success in server operating systems. Releases web browser. Increase security features Reduce costs to emerging markets Introduce cloud-computing features (platforms, infrastructure) Home entertainment (xbox) ERM software Mobile software

How does the DNS look up host and domain names and return actual IP addresses for computers?

Your computer sends a request to your primary DNS server/DNS resolver then the DNS serv/resolv will look at its domain name/IP address databases. If the combo is there, it will return it to your computer, if it is not, it will check another DNS server or give you the IP address of another DNS server that might know more

What is peering?

a voluntary interconnection of administratively separate internet networks for the purpose of exchanging traffic between the customers of each network between ISP of the same level. ISP's charge lower levels of users for access, but don't charge ISP's of the same level.

OS abstraction

interface between the hardware and the applications

IMAP

internet mail access protocol. IMAP has faster response time than POP, provides stronger authentication. Also messages are stored on the server; accessible to any computer and webmail anywhere in the world; can be restored. IMAP mail folders remain synchronized.

Functions of email server application

sends email between email servers. Maintains individual mailboxes

What is TCP?

transmission control protocol. Works at both ends of most internet communication to ensure a perfect copy of the message is sent. Slices up web pages into smaller chunks of data called packets, hands them off to the Internet Protocol.

Application layer of the internet

user-facing layer; used by application programs such as web browsers, email applications