Chapter 1 Systems Planning

Server Farm

a large concentration of servers working together

System

a set of related components the produces specific result.

Systems Analysis and Design

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

Horizontal System

a system, such as inventory or payroll application, that can be adapted for use in many different types of companies. (like across the board so this shape)

Systems Analyst

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

Data

basic facts that are the system's raw material.

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.

Hardware

consists of everything in the physical layer of the information system (e.g. servers, workstations, networks, telecommunications equipment, mobile devices, etc).

Application Software

consists of programs that support day-to-day business functions and provide users with the information they need (e.g. enterprise applications). Include horizontal and vertical systems.

Information

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

Processses

describe the tasks and business functions that users, managers, and IT staff members perform to achieve specific results; are the building blocks of an information system because they represent actual day-to-day business operations.

Information System's 5 Key Components

hardware, software, data, processes, and people.

Enterprise Applications

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

E-Commerce (electronic commerce) or I-Commerce (internet commerce)

internet-based commerce. E-commerce contains two main sectors business-to-consumer and business-to-business.

Vertical System

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

System Software

manages the hardware components, which can include a single workstation or a global network with many thousands of clients. Either hardware manufacturer supplies this or a company purchases it from a vendor (e.g. operating system, security software, etc). Also controls the flow of data, provides data security, and manages network operations.

Legacy Systems

older systems

Stakeholders

people who have an interest in an information system; include the management group responsible for the system, the users (sometimes called end users) inside and outside the company who will interact with the system, and IT staff members, such as systems analysts, programmers and network administrators who develop and support the system.

Software

refers to programs that control the hardware and produce the desired information or results; consists of system software and application software.

Mission-Critical System

system vital to a company's operations (e.g. order processing system).

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.