ITC 388

empowerment

A business practice that places more responsibility and accountability throughout all levels of an organization.

B2C (business-to-consumer)

A commercial exchange (e.g., products or services) between businesses and consumers conducted over the Internet.

B2B (business-to-business)

A commercial exchange (e.g., products or services) between businesses, typically enabled by the Internet or electronic means.

management information systems (MIS)

A computer-based information system used in business planning, control, decision making, and problem solving.

systems request

A formal request to the IT department that describes problems or desired changes in an information system or business process. It might propose enhancements for an existing system, the correction of problems, or the development of an entirely new system.

server farm

A large concentration of servers working together

joint application development (JAD)

A popular systems development technique that uses a group of users, managers and IT professionals that work together to gather information, discuss business needs, and define the new system requirements.

app

A software application that runs on a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet.

rapid application development (RAD)

A team-based technique that speeds up information systems development and produces a functioning information system. RAD is similar in concept to joint application development (JAD), but goes further by including all phases of the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC).

structured analysis

A traditional systems development technique that uses phases to plan, analyze, design, implement, and support an information system. Processes and data are treated as separate components.

systems support and security phase

During the systems support and security phase of the SDLC, the IT staff maintains, enhances, and protects the system.

ecommerce (electronic commerce)

Internet-based commerce

stakeholders

People who have an interest in an information system

users

Stakeholder inside or outside the company who will interact with the system.

The SDLC model

Systems Planning, Systems Analysis, Systems Design, Systems Implementation, Security Systems and Support

agile methods

Systems development method that attempts to develop a system incrementally, by building a series of prototypes and constantly adjusting them to user requirements. Related to adaptive method.

object-oriented (O-O) analysis

The act of understanding an information system by identifying things called objects. An object represents a real person, place, event, or transaction. Object-oriented analysis is a popular approach that sees a system from the viewpoint of the objects themselves as they function and interact with the system.

systems planning phase

The first phase of the SDLC. During this phase the systems project gets started. The project proposal is evaluated to determine its feasibility. The project management plan is formulated, with the help of CASE tools where appropriate.

systems implementation phase

The fourth phase of SDLC. During this phase the new system is constructed, programs are written, tested, and documented, and the system is installed.

Project management

The process of planning, scheduling, monitoring, controlling, and reporting upon the development of an information system.

systems analysis phase

The second SDLC phase. The purpose of this phase is to build a logical model of the new system.

systems design phase

The third SDLC phase. The purpose of systems design is to create a blueprint for the new system that will satisfy all documented requirements, whether the system is being developed in-house or purchased as a package

help desk

The user support function

knowledge base

a large database used by knowledge management systems

system

a set of related components that produces specific results.

business process

a specific set of transactions, events, and results that can be described and documented.

Systems analysis and design

a step-by-step process for developing high-quality information systems

horizontal system

a system, such as an inventory or payroll application, that can be adapted for use in many different types of companies.

systems analyst

a valued member of the IT department team who helps plan, develop, and maintain information systems.

prototype

an early working version of an information system.

business profile

an overview of a company's mission, functions, organization, products, services, customers, suppliers, competitors, constraints, and future direction.

information system

combines technology, people, and data to provide support for business functions such as order processing, inventory control, human resources, accounting, and many more.

data

consists of basic facts that are the system's raw material.

Hardware

consists of everything in the physical layer of the information system.

Application software

consists of programs that support day-to-day business functions and provide users with the information they need.

Information

data that has been transformed into output that is valuable to users.

Processes

describe the tasks and business functions that users, managers, and IT staff members perform to achieve specific results.

business model

describes the information that a system must provide. Analysts also create models to represent data, objects, networks, and other system components.

vertical system

designed to meet the unique requirements of a specific business or industry, such as an online retailer, a medical practice, or an auto dealership.

electronic data interchange (EDI)

electronic commerce between two companies used a data sharing arrangement

Groupware programs

enable users to share data, collaborate on projects, and work in teams.

business process model (BPM)

graphically displays one or more business processes, such as handling an airline reservation, filling a product order, or updating a customer account.

user productivity systems

include email, voice mail, video and web conferencing, word processing, automated calendars, database management, spreadsheets, desktop publishing, presentation graphics, company intranets, and integrated mobile computing systems.

enterprise applications

include order processing systems, payroll systems, and company communications networks.

critical thinking skills

include the ability to compare, classify, evaluate, recognize patterns, analyze cause-and-effect, and apply logic.

business process modeling notation (BPMN)

includes standard shapes and symbols to represent events, processes, workflows, and more. Multipurpose application such as Microsoft Visio

inference rules

logical rules that identify data patterns and relationships.

strategic plans

long-range plans

System software

manages the hardware components, which can include a single computer or a global network with many thousands of clients.

legacy systems

older systems

mission-critical system

one that is vital to a company's operations.

Transaction processing (TP) systems

process data generated by day-to-day business operations.

Modeling

produces a graphical representation of a concept or process that systems developers can analyze, test, and modify.

enterprise resource planning (ERP)

provide cost-effective support for users and managers throughout the company.

Business support systems

provide job-related information support to users at all levels of a company.

supply chain

refers to all the companies who provide materials, services, and functions needed to provide a product to a customer.

Enterprise computing

refers to information systems that support company-wide operations and data management requirements.

Software

refers to the programs that control the hardware and produce the desired information or results.

Information technology (IT)

the combination of hardware, software, and services that people use to manage, communicate and share information

Moore's Law

the number of transistors on an integrated circuit chip would double about every 24 months.

radio frequency identification (RFID)

uses high-frequency radio waves to track physical objects