management information systems test 1
Telecommunications and networking
Computer network is two or more connected computer; components of a network typically include client computers, server computer, network Interfaces, connection medium (iw. fiber optic cabling), network devices & appliances (firewalls, routers, switches, etc.)
Firewall
a part of a computer system or network that is designed to block unauthorized access while permitting outward communication.
malicious software (malware)
developed to harm and disrupt computers; closely associated with computer-related crimes, though some may have been designed as practical jokes. (viruses, worms, trojan horses, etc.
Digital firm: nearly all business relationships are digitally mediated
-Any piece of information required to support business decisions are available at anytime anywhere; core business processes are accomplished through digital networks -Business processes: set of logically related taks and behaviors hat organizations develop over time to produce specific busienss results and the unique way these activities are organized
Service Level Agreement (SLA) (Cloud Computing Service Models & Types)
-Commitment between a service provider and client; details of the service delivery (quality, availability, responsibilities) are agreed upon between the service provider and the service user. -Details aspects related to the data center and network hosting the compute resources, data storage, security, service disruptions (outages), vendor responsibilities/liabilities, maintenance, etc. -A downside of cloud computing relative to SLAs is the difficulty in determining the root cause of service interruptions due to the complex nature of the environment.
Organizational strategy and IS
-Competitive strategy determines organization goals and objectives, ie. Wal-Mart (low cost leadership) or Chick-fil-a (quality customer service, minimize response time) -Competitive strategy determines Information System structure, features, and functions, ie. Amazon ("the everything store", product recommendation agents)
grid/cluster computing
-Complete tasks that would otherwise be difficult, or time consuming, for a single machine by creating a "virtual super-computer;" modern computing architecture for high-volume web services (i.e. Facebook) and is cost effective, globally distributed, and redundant systems. -Cluster Computing: two or more homogeneous computers (same type of hardware and operating system) residing on the same local network (physical location) dedicated to performing the same task(s), ie. cluster of computers for facebook messenger - Grid Computing: a geographically distributed network of homogeneous or heterogeneous computers in data centers around the globe working together over a long distance to perform a task(s).
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
-Customers use infrastructure and programming tools supported by the cloud service provider to develop and/or host their own applications. -Microsoft offers PaaS tools and services for software development and testing among its Azure cloud services, and GoDaddy, Wix, and SquareSpace provide customers with user-friendly tools and "one-click" hosting services to build and host their own websites with no technical knowledge required.
Infrastructure as a service (PaaS)
-Customers use processing, storage, networking, and other computing resources from cloud service providers to run and manage their own information system. -For example, Amazon uses the spare capacity of its IT infrastructure to provide a robust cloud environment and IT infrastructure services to customers branded under the umbrella of Amazon Web Services (AWS). -These services include its Simple Storage Service (S3) for storing customers' data and its Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) service for running their applications; users pay only for the amount of computing and storage capacity they actually use.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
-Customers use software hosted by the vendor on the vendor's cloud infrastructure and delivered as a service of a network; Users access these applications using a web browser, while the data and software are maintained on the provider's remote servers. -Leading SaaS examples Google's G Suite, which provides common business applications online, and Salesforce.com, which leases customer relationship management and related software services over the Internet (both charge annual subscription fee)
fundamentals of Data Transmission:
-Data is transmitted as Bits (1's and 0's) -Bandwidth is the maximum transmission capacity of a given device or path and is measured by Bitrate, the number of bits that we can send over a given period of time (i.e. transmission speed). -Latency (lag) is the time it takes for a bit to travel from one place to another and is measured in milliseconds (ms); anything at 100ms or less is considered acceptable for gaming/streaming, but 20-40ms is optimal.
Client/Server Computing on the Internet
-Distributed (versus centralized) computing model -Client linked through network controlled by network server(s) -Server(s) set rules of communication for network and provides every client with an address so others can find it on the network -Has largely replaced centralized mainframe computing T-he Internet: Largest implementation of client/server computing
system software
-For managing computer hardware behavior to provide basic functionalities that are required by users or other software and is designed for providing a platform for running application software: -Utilities: computer programs designed to assist users in the maintenance and care of their computers.
Client/Server Computing
-Form of distributed computing (versus centralized) that splits the processing between "client" and "server" machines (has largely replaced the centralized mainframe computing model) -Client Machines: user point of entry to systems, applications, and networks. -Server Machines: serves resources to clients, stores, processes, and distributes dat, hoosts services and performs network management activities. T -Two-tiered client/server architecture (uses two types of machines) -Multi-tiered client/server architecture (balances the load of client requests for service over several levels of servers, ie. Web Servers & Application Servers)
operational excellence
-Information systems and technology applications enable organizations to achieve greater efficiency and productivity in operations resulting in higher profits -ie. Wal-Mart's system links suppliers directly to stores to create superior inventory replenishment; Suppliers have complete access to inventory information and in turn are held accountable for KPIs
Business: a formal organization that makes products and/or provides a service in order to make a profit.
-Manufacturing & Production, Sales & Marketing, Finance & Accounting, Human Resources, Etc. -Unique Business processees, unique business Culture, and organizational Politics -MIS enables firms to manage their inforamtion, make better deicsions, achieve strategic business objectives, and improve execution of processes
packet switching
-Method of slicing digital messages into parcels (packets) and sending those packets along various communication paths as they become available, and then reassembling packets at destination. -Older "circuit-switched" networks required assembly of a complete point-to-point circuit for devices to communicate. -Packet switching is a more efficient use of a network's communication capacity and increases fault-tolerance through redundancy. -Fault-tolerance: property that enables a system to continue operating properly in the event of the failure (or one or more faults within) some of its components. -Redundancy: inclusion of extra components which are not strictly necessary to a systems normal functionality, in case of failure in other components.
cloud computing
-Model of computing in which computer processing, storage, software, and other services are provided as a shared pool of virtualized resources over a network, primarily the Internet (i.e. the "Cloud") -Firms ad individuals obtain computing resources over the Internet.; these clouds of computing resources can be accessed on an as-needed basis from any network connected device and location. -fastest-growing form of computing (worldwide public cloud computing expenditures expected to reach approx. $266 billion by 2021 and by 2025, 80 percent of enterprises will have replaced their traditional on-premises data centers (servers) with cloud computing services)
Capacity planning (Cloud Computing Service Models & Types)
-Process of predicting when hardware systems become saturated; ensuring the firm has enough computing power for current and future demand volume -Factors include maximum number of users (traffic/request volume, impact of current, future software (hardware requirements, resource consumption), and performance measures (response/processing times) -Scalability: ability of the system to expand in order to serve large number of users (volume) without crashing system (service interruptions)
Cloud Computing types
-Public Cloud: Owned and operated by external service providers; accessed through the Internet; available to anyone; generally used for non-sensitive data. Private Cloud: Proprietary system owned and operated by a specific company; based on virtualization; available only to users inside the company; generally used for sensitive financial and personal data -Hybrid Cloud: Generally used by large corporations that store the most essential core activities on their own infrastructure and use the cloud for less-critical systems or additional processing capabilities.
Business Processes:
-Sets of activities; workflows of materials, data à information à knowledge -Underlines the importance of data capture -Business processes may be tied to a functional area or be cross functional. -Performance of a firm is largely based on how well processes are designed and executed, so processes can be both assets and liabilities
globalization
-The internet has created a flattened world; Internet technologies and global communication have greatly reduced the economic and cultural advantages of developed countries. -Drastic cost reduction of operating and transacting on a global scale, increased competition for jobs, markets, resources, ideas, increased dependence on imports and exports, and required new understanding of skills, markets, opportunities
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Model (Cloud Computing Service Models & Types)
-Used to analyze direct and indirect costs to help determine the actual costs of owning a specific technology (capital investment). -Direct Costs: hardware and software purchase costs -Indirect Costs: ongoing administration costs, upgrades, maintenance, technical support, training, utility, real estate (facility) costs, etc. \-Hidden Costs: support staff, downtime, additional network management -TCO can be reduced through increased centralization and standardization of hardware and software resources, and cloud computing can drive down infrastructure costs,
Voice Over IP (VoIP):
-digital voice communication using IP and packet switching, ie. Skype, FaceTime, WhatsApp, etc. -A VoIP phone call digitizes and breaks up a voice message into data packets that may travel along different routes before being reassembled at the final destination; processor nearest the call's destination, called a gateway, arranges the packets in the proper order and directs them to the telephone number of the receiver or the IP address of the receiving computer.
Information technology and systems can improve business processes
-increasing the efficiency of existing processes through streamlining and automation- automating steps that were previously manual and replacing sequential steps with parallel steps -Enabling entirely new processes capable of transforming the business- changing the flow of information, eliminating delays in decision making, driving new business models
moore's law
-number of transistors that can be packed into a given unit of space will double about every two years, so as transistors in integrated circuits become more efficient, computers become smaller and faster. -We can expect the speed and capability of our computers to increase every couple of years, and we will pay less for them -Computers should reach the physical limits of Moore's Law at some point in the 2020s; the high temperatures of transistors eventually would make it impossible to create smaller circuits because cooling down the transistors takes more energy than the amount of energy that already passes through the transistors.
Operating Systems
-software collections that manage resources and provide services for other software that runs "on top" of them, including supervisory programs,, shells and window systems (comes bundled with additional softwares so a user can do work with a computer with only one OS) -manages and controls the computer's activities. enabling the computer to multi-task, run multiple applications, and store data (Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, etc
MIS definition
-system or process providing information necessary to manage an organization efficiently and effectively, aiding in decision making and solving complex business problems (business intelligence, analytics) -enable organizations to increase goals and objectives and facilitate in both strategic and operational activities -Organizations use information systems to do things faster (automation and efficient processes), better (improved decisions by managers), smarter (support business strategy and innovation)
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP):
: standard that defines how to establish and maintain a network conversation through which application programs can exchange data (works with IP, which defines how computers send packets of data to each other), ie. verifying each packet has arrived before piecing together spotify song and letting it deliver to listener
Internet proxy servers
A server on a network that acts as an intermediary between systems to check and validate incoming requests to see if it can fulfill the request before passing it on to the server; helps lessen the load on internet connection
New Products, Services, & Business Models
Business Model: describes how a company produces, delivers, and sells products or services, ie. the Apple Ecosystem
Competitive Strategy implemented by creating value
Value: amount of money a customer is willing to pay for a resource, product, or service. Margin: difference between the value an activity generates and cost of that activity. Value Chain: a network of value-creating activities (primary or secondary)
network (LAN)
a computer network that interconnects computers (devices) within a limited area such as a residence, school, laboratory, university campus or office building (i.e. geographically local)
extranet
a controlled private network that allows access to partners, vendors, suppliers, and/or an authorized set of customers - normally to a subset of the information accessible from an organization's intranet.
Wide Area Network (WAN)
a telecommunications network that extends over a large geographic area for the primary purpose of computer networking; often established with leased telecommunication circuits owned by third-parties (i.e. internet service/telecom providers)
survival
businesses may need to invest in information systems out of necessity (simply the cost of doing business), competitive & compliance forces, or industry Level Changes (ie. Citibank's introduction of the ATM- government regulations requiring improved record-keeping systems)
servers
computer is designated as a "server" based on its purpose, ie. upports computer networks, sharing files and resources, platform for e-commerce, etc.
intranet
computer network for sharing information, collaboration tools, operational and transactional systems, and other web/network services within an organization, usually to the exclusion of external users. (related to VPN)
Device Drivers
control a particular type of device that is attached to a computer; each device needs at least one corresponding device driver because a computer has at least one input device and one output device control a particular type of device that is attached to a computer
Information v. Data
data is a stream of raw facts, whereas information is data shaped into a meaningful, useful form.
Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer:
first general-purpose electronic digital computer built in WW2 (150 feet wide with 20 banks of flashing lights)
Domain Name System (DNS)
hierarchical and decentralized naming system for computers, services, or other resources connected to the Internet or private network; translates readily memorized domain names to the numerical IP addresses needed for locating and identifying computer services and devices.
workstations
high-performance personal computers designed for a single user typically configured with advanced graphics capabilities, large storage and memory capacities, and powerful process capabilities (graphics/video design and editing, gaming, mathematical processing, research & development)
An Internet Protocol (IP) Address
is a numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication; serves two main functions of host or network identification and location addressing. (i.e. local vs. global scope address)
Internet Protocol (IP):
labels and delivers packets from the source host to the destination host solely based on the IP addresses in the packet information; IP defines packet structures that encapsulate the data to be delivered.
mainframes
large capacity, high performance computer that can process larges amounts of data very rapidly.
Personal Computers
mobile Devices: (Smartphones, Tablets, Etc.)
supercomputers
more sophisticated computers used for tasks requiring extremely rapid and complex calculations with thousands of variables, potentially millions of measurements; used for engineering, scientific research, simulations, military/weapons research, weather forecasting, etc. (ie. IBM watson)
routers
network devices used to route packets of data through different networks, ensuring that data sent arrives at the correct address.
competitive advantage
often results from achieving previous business objectives and involves delivering better performance, charging less for superior (or comparable) products, and responding to customers and suppliers in real time (ie. Best Buy v. Circuit City)
Virtual Machine (VM)
operating system or application that is installed within a virtual application, which imitates dedicated computer hardware; to the user, the experience of running the virtual machine is intended to be the same as if they were running an operating system or application on their dedicated machine.
virtualization
process of presenting a set of computing resources so they can be accessed in ways that are unrestricted by physical configuration or geographic location; enables single physical resource to appear to the user as multiple resources and can host multiple systems on a single machine (resource).
customer supplier intimacy
serving customers well leads to customers returning, which raises revenues and profits and intimacy with suppliers allows them to provide vital inputs, which lowers costs.
Investments in Complementary Assets
ssets required to derive value from a primary investment.; firms supporting technology investments with complementary asset investments experience superior returns, ie. invest in technology and its consultants, hire subject matter experts, train workforce properly
internet
the global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet Protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices (largest scale WAN)
Primary Storage (Volatile Memory / RAM)
the memory storage that is directly accessible to the CPU which continuously reads and executes instructions; primary storage is responsible for storing the data related the operating system and applications actively running on your computer.
Secondary Storage (Non-Volatile Memory / Drives) :
the storage devices responsible for storing your data (operating system files, application files, personal/work files) and retains that information even when not powered (ie. hard Disk Drives, solid state drives, tape drives, optical disks)
Application Software (Apps):
uses the computer system to perform special functions or provide entertainment functions beyond the basic operation of the computer
protocols
well-known set of rules and procedures that govern the transmission of data between two points (standards for communication between devices), ie. CP/IP - the common worldwide language of the web.
improved deicision making
without accurate information, managers must rely on basic forecasts, guesses, and luck, resulting in over/underproduction, misallocation of resources and poor response times; these raise costs and lose customers but real-time data improves ability of managers to make informed decisions
