Computer in Business Exam 2
Byte
8 bits (1s or 0s) is equal to 1 byte.
Knowledge Management (KM)
The purpose of knowledge management is mainly to gain the second type of knowledge. Knowledge Management (KM) is the combination of activities involved in gathering, organizing, sharing, analyzing, and disseminating knowledge to improve an organization's performance.
Wordfast
Translates MS-WORD documents to multiple languages.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
systems support decision making in such areas as production capacity planning, logistics, and inventory replenishment. Many DSSs are now closely intertwined with other organizational systems, including data warehouses, data marts, and ERP systems, from which they draw relevant data.
Conversion
takes place when an operation switches from using an old system to using a new system.
Knowledge
that one type of knowledge is what we know about a subject, and the other type is knowing where to find information about the subject
Dialog Module
the part of the DSS that allows the user to interact with it
HTTP
) The communications protocol used to connect to Web servers on the Internet or on a local network (intranet). Its primary function is to establish a connection with the server and send HTML pages back to the user's browser
System Requirements
- Created during systems analysis. The functions that the system is expected to fulfill and the features through which it will perform its tasks.
6 Types of UML software
- UML consists of diagrams that describe the following types of software: use case, class, interaction, state, activity, and physical components.
Spreadsheets
- enable you to enter both data and formulas in cells. Thus, they are an excellent tool for building both the data and the models that decision support systems need, and therefore they make excellent tools for building decision support software.
Cut-over / Flash cut / Direct Conversion
- the old system is discarded and the new one takes over the entire business operation for which it was developed. This strategy is highly risky, but it can be inexpensive,
Open Source Software - Free or Open Source Software.
. FOSS programs are those that have licenses that allow users to freely run the program for any purpose, modify the program as they want, and to freely distribute copies of either the original version or their own modified version. There is a recent trend in less rich countries is to adopt free open source software to avoid high costs.
Dashboard
. They include speedometer-like indicators for periodic revenues, profits, and other financial information; plus bar charts, line graphs, and other graphical presentations whenever the information can be presented graphically.
Database
A database is an organized collection of data, generally stored and accessed electronically from a computer system. Where databases are more complex, they are often developed using formal design and modeling techniques.
Single-Fixed Model
A fixed variable model does not change.
CRM systems integrate what / why?
A major effort of most businesses, especially retail businesses, in using such systems is to collect business intelligence about customers. Both data-mining and OLAP software are often integrated into CRM systems for this purpose.
BI Semantic Layer
A part of the application that is called the semantic layer parses the question, which has been written as if you were speaking to a person, translates it into instructions to the computer to access the appropriate data mart or the proper columns of a data warehouse, and produces the answer, which is a number of charts showing trends.
B2B
Business to Business commerce
Business Model
Businesses collect data internally (from within the organization) and externally (from outside sources). They use models to analyze data. A model is an abstraction of reality.
Unicode
Coding system that uses double-bytes to represent a character. This works with international languages.
ASCII code vs EBCDIC
Coding systems that typically represented characters by one byte. This is not enough for some international languages such as Chinese.
C2C
Consumer to Consumer commerce - this author includes this with B2C since there is a business that is facilitating the sale (or providing the website for the sale).
XML
primary languages (along with HTML) used to compose and retrieve webpages, support the presentation of pictures with marked areas, which makes them ideal for retrieval of marked maps.
What-if-Analysis
sensitivity analysis is often referred to as what-if analysis.
Beta Site
site is an organization whose management agrees to test the new system for several months and provide feedback.
Clickstream
software tracks and stores data about every visit to a site, including the site from which the visitor has come, which pages have been viewed, how long each page has been viewed, which items have been clicked, and so on.
Multimedia
the field concerned with the computer-controlled integration of text, graphics, drawings, still and moving images (Video), animation, audio, and any other media where every type of information can be represented, stored, transmitted and processed digitally
Pilot
the new system is introduced for a period of time in a single unit or limited arena, where problems can be addressed, and the system can be polished before implementing it in other business units.
Parallel Conversion
the old system is used along with the new system for a predetermined period. This duplication minimizes risk because if the new system fails, operations are not stopped, and no damage is caused to the organization.
Globalization
the process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale
Glocalization
the process of planning and carefully designing an organizations global sites so that they also cater to the local needs and preferences of their audience
Data Mining
the process of selecting, exploring, and modeling large amounts of data to discover previously unknown relationships that can support decision making.
Dimensional Database
the raw data is organized in tables that show information in summaries and ratios so that the inquirer does not have to wait for processing raw data
Insider Trading
trading of stocks based on information available only to those affiliated with a company, not to the general public.
Broadband
wide bandwidth data transmission which transports multiple signals and traffic types. International ISs, especially those using the web, often incorporate graphics to convey technical or business information, and those applications, as well as interactive software, require increasingly fast (broadband) communication lines.
B2C
Business to Consumer commerce
Inference Engine
software that combines data that is input by the user with the data relationships stored in the knowledge base.
Geographic Information System (GISs)
A typical GIS consists of (1) a database of quantitative and qualitative data from which information is extracted for display, (2) a database of maps, and (3) a program that displays the information on the maps. The digitized maps are produced from satellite and aerial photography. Displays might be in the form of easily understood symbols and colors or even moving images.
Unified Modeling Language (UML)
UML is a graphical standard for visualizing, specifying, and documenting software. It helps developers to communicate and logically validate desired features in the design phases of software development projects.
Uniform Code Council (UCC)-
American Uniform Code Council - promoted the use of the European standard, now trying to get the use of the 14-digit Global Trade Item Numbers (GTIN).
Universal Product Code (UPC)
American companies used the 12-digit Universal Product Code to identify products.
Expert System (ES)
An expert system (ES) is developed to emulate the knowledge of an expert to solve problems and make decisions in a relatively narrow domain. A domain is a specific area of knowledge.
4 Phases of SDLC
Analysis, Design, Implementation, & Support.
Microsoft's SQL Server
BI software has become so popular in large companies that Microsoft has integrated such software into its popular database management system, SQL Server.
3 components of DSS
Database management module, model management module, dialog module.
Data Mining Examples
Identifying profitable customer groups, Utilizing Loyalty Programs, Inferring Demographics, Amazon uses examples to determine demographics.
Consumer Clustering
Identifying the common characteristics of customers who tend to buy the same products and services from your company.
Data Flow Diagram (DFD)
is used to describe the flow of data in a business operation, using only four symbols for these elements: external entities, processes, data stores, and the direction in which data flows.
Data warehouse
large databases containing historical transactions and other data.
Forecasting
Discovering patterns in data that can lead to reasonable predictions.
Examples of standards that impact integrating ISs internationally
English system for weights and measures, rest of the world uses metric system.
European Article Number (EAN)
Europeans adopted the 13-digit code to identify products. The additional bar in the EAN bar code identifies the product's country of origin.
Phased Conversion
ISs, especially large ones, can often be broken into functional modules and phased into operation one at a time. This phased approach also reduces risk, although the benefits of using the entire integrated system are delayed
Customer Churn
Identify the reason customers switch to competitors; predict which customers are likely to do so.
Direct Marketing
Identify which prospective clients should be included in a mailing or email list to obtain the highest response rate.
National Government
The goal of this is to protect the economic, scientific, and security interests of its people. Scientific information is an important national resource and a great source of income for foreign corporations, so occasionally those interests' conflict.
Corporate Management
The goal of this position is to seize a large market share and maximize its organization's profits.
Yield Management
The purpose of yield management DSSs is to find the proper pricing to maximize the overall revenue. In the airline industry, the result is often price discrimination, which is legal and a common practice in the airline industry: you might pay a different price depending on how far in advance you purchased the ticket, the fact that a companion flies with you, the number of days between departure and return, and several other variables.
IT Mission Statement
The role of the IT organization in the corporation. It is usually a paragraph, or several paragraphs, describing the role of IT in the organization.
5 steps of Systems Analysis
Investigation, Technical Feasibility Study, Economic Feasibility Study, Operational Feasibility Study, Requirements Definition.
American Stock Exchange (AMEX)
Like other similar institutions, the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) has a special department to prevent insider trading of the securities under its supervision
Konbini
Most Japanese are reluctant to use credit cards. This calls for a different mechanism of payment. In Japan, many people who order merchandise online prefer to pick it up at convenience stores
Country-of-origin principle
One of two approaches to e-commerce jurisdiction. All legal matters are confined to the country from which the site operates.
Country-of-destination principle
One of two approaches to e-commerce jurisdiction. Dealings with the site, regardless of the site's country of operation, are guided by the laws of the country to which the site caters.
Trend Analysis
Reveal the difference between a typical customer this month and a typical customer last month.
Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
SDLC is the more traditional approach. Large ISs that address structured problems, such as accounting and payroll systems and enterprise software applications, are usually conceived, planned, developed, and maintained within a framework called the systems development life cycle (SDLC).
Structured Query Language (SQL) query speed vs OLAP
Since OLAP applications are designed to process large amounts of records and produce summaries, they are usually significantly faster than relational applications such as those using SQL (Structured Query Language) queries.
Transactional database
Stores only the transactions not the summaries and ratios stored in a dimensional database.
Directive on Data Privacy - how it conflicts with US practices and who enforces -
The European Union enforces a privacy law called the Directive on Data Privacy. Member countries have crafted their laws according to the Directive. The EU defines personal data as "any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person; an identifiable person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identification number or to one or more factors specific to his physical, physiological, mental, economic, cultural, or social identity." Some of the principles of the directive are in stark contrast to the practices of U.S. businesses and therefore limit the free flow of personal data between the United States and the EU. For example, consider the following provisions and how they conflict with U.S. practices: • Personal data can be collected only for specified, explicit, and legitimate purposes and not further processed in a way incompatible with those purposes. However, in the United States, businesses often collect data from people without having to tell them how the data will be used. Many U.S. corporations use personal data for purposes other than the original one, and many organizations purchase personal data from other organizations, so subjects do not even know that the data is used, let alone for what purpose. Obviously, these activities would not be allowed under the EU directive.
Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs)
The UCC has developed the 14-digit Global Trade Item Numbers ((GTINs}. This code is large enough to identify more than 100 times the number of products and manufacturers than the12-digit UPCs could.
Spyware
The companies, such as Razorfish, DoubleClick, and Engage Software, use cookies and spyware to collect consumer data, which can be combined with the individual's clickstream data.
Autocategorization
To categorize knowledge into manageable data, companies use autocategorization software. Autocategorization or automatic taxonomy automates the classification (taxonomy) of data into categories for future retrieval.
Interface
To make the use of BI tools convenient for executives, companies that develop BI tools create interfaces that help the executives and other employees to quickly grasp business situations.
DSS Component - Model Management Module
To turn data into useful information, the system utilizes its model management module, which offers a single fixed model, a dynamically modified model, or a collection of models from which either the DSS or the user selects the most appropriate one.
Bandwidth
maximum rate of data transfer across a given path. The bandwidth available in some countries is too narrow for high-volume transmission of graphically and animation-rich webpages.
Customer Relationship Management System (CRM)
When organizations use a supply chain management (SCM) or customer relationship management (CRM) system, the databases of such systems provide the data for the DSS.
Supply Chain Management System (SCM)
When organizations use a supply chain management (SCM) or customer relationship management (CRM) system, the databases of such systems provide the data for the DSS.
Business Intelligence (BI)
organizations must use software tools to process data from these huge databases into meaningful information. Because executives can obtain significantly more information about their customers, suppliers, and their own organizations, they like to call information gleaned with such tools business intelligence (BI)
Agile Methods
While the full approach of the SDLC or similar waterfall methods are used to develop ISs, it is widely recognized that these methods are lengthy, expensive, and inflexible. Systems developed on the SDLC model are often unable to adapt to vague or rapidly changing user requirements. To overcome these challenges, alternative methods have emerged that are collectively called agile methods. Agile methods treat software development as a series of contacts with users, with the goal of fast development of software to satisfy user requirements, and then improving the software shortly after users request modifications. Agile methods make extensive use of iterative programming, involving users often, and keeping programmers open to modifications while development is still under way.
Return on Investment (ROI)
a calculation of the difference between the stream of benefits and the stream of costs over the life of the system, discounted by the applicable interest rate.
Knowledge Base
a collection of facts and the relationships among them.
Decision support system (DSS)
a computer-based information system designed to help knowledge workers select one of many alternative solutions to a problem.
DSS Component - Data Management Module
a database or data warehouse that provides the data for the intelligence phase of decision making.
Linear Regression Model
a linear regression model is the best-fit linear relationship between two variables
Case-based Reasoning
a methodology of solving a new problem established on the solutions of similar problems. The software that supports the technique is often called case-based ESs. The important parameters of a case to be analyzed are compared to many eases until one or a small number of them are found highly like the analyzed case.
Dynamically Modified Model
a model that is automatically adjusted based on changing relationships among variables.
European Union (EU)
a political and economic union of 28 member states that are located primarily in Europe.
Unstructured Problem
a problem for which there is no algorithm to follow to reach an optimal solution—either because there is not enough information about the factors that might affect the solution or because there are so many potential factors that no algorithm can be formulated to guarantee a unique optimal solution. An unstructured situation is closely related to uncertainty.
Structured Problem
a problem in which an optimal solution can be reached through a single set of steps.
Semi-structured Problem
a problem that is neither fully structured nor totally unstructured.
Implementation of a new IS
also called delivery, consists of two steps: conversion and training. Although training might precede conversion, if training is done on the job it can occur after conversion.
Online Analytical Processing (OLAP)
another type of application used to exploit data warehouses. Although OLAP might not be as sophisticated in terms of the analysis conducted, it has extremely fast response time and enables executives to make timely decisions.
Mashups
applications that combine features of two or more online applications. Often, one of these applications shows maps. Combining the maps with data such as the location of certain information—events, clubs, real estate for sale—creates a specialized GIS.
Neural Network
computer programs that emulate the way the human brain works and can learn from new situations and formulate new rules in the Knowledge bases to address events not originally considered in their development.
Systems Design
designing the new system. The purpose of this phase is to devise the means to meet all the business requirements detailed in the requirements report.
Mission Statement
is a paragraph that communicates the most important overarching goal of the organization for the next few years
HTML
is a primary languages (along with XML) used to compose and retrieve webpages, support the presentation of pictures with marked areas, which makes them ideal for retrieval of marked maps.
Change Management
is a structured, disciplined approach that facilitates the adoption of new or modified systems by various groups and individuals within an organization.
Sensitivity Analysis
is conducted to test the degree to which the total profit grows or shrinks if one or more of the factors is increased or decreased. The results indicate the relative sensitivity of the profit to the changes.
