Chapter 1

Seven main functions of technical support:

1. Application development 2. Systems support and security 3. User support 4. Database administration 5. Network administration 6. Web support 7. Quality assurance

The five steps in the SDLC model:

1. Systems planning 2. Systems analysis 3. Systems design 4. Systems implementation 5. Systems support and security

Class

A collection of similar objects.

NoSQL Database

A database that stores data in a format other than relational tables.

Business Profile

A definition of a company's overall functions, processes, organization, products, services, customers, suppliers, competitors, constraints, and future direction.

System Design Specification

A document that contains the requirements for the new system, describes the alternatives that were considered, and makes a specific recommendation to management. It is the end product of the system analysis phase.

Data Center

A large concentration of networked computers working together.

Deliverable

A polished, final product, suitable for its intended use. Often coincide with the completion of each SDLC phase.

Knowledge Base

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

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)

A process that involves computer-to-computer transfer of date between companies.

Modeling

A process that provides a graphical representation of a concept of process that system analysts can analyze, text, and modify.

Personal Digital Assistant

A program that responds to user requests through a natural interface, such as regular speech, to provide assistance to general-purpose queries. Often embedded in devices such as Internet-connected speakers and smartphones.

System Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

A series of phases used to plan, analyze, design, implement, and support an information system.

System

A set of related components that produce a specific result.

App

A software application that runs on a mobile device, often a phone or a tablet.

Business Process

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

Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN)

A standard set of shapes and symbols used to represent events, processes, and workflows in computer-based modeling tools.

System Analysis and design

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

Mission-Critical System

A system that is vital to a company's operations (order processing system).

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.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

A type of system that provides cost-effective support for users and managers throughout the company.

Supply Chain

All companies that provide products, services, or functions to provide a product to a customer.

User

Also known as End User. The person who ultimately uses or is intended to use a particular product.

Model-Based System Engineering

An approach to systems engineering that relies on domain models, rather than traditional documents, to design large-scale systems and convey information between engineers.

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

An equipment management system where employees are responsible for their own device, not IT.

Preliminary Investigation

An internal investigation to clearly identify the nature and scope of the business opportunity of the problem.

Requirements Engineering

Analyst investigates business processes and documents what the new system must to to satisfy users.

Groupware

Applications that allow user to share data, collaborate on projects, and work in teams.

User Productivity Systems

Applications that provide employees of all levels a wide array of tools to improve job performance. Examples include email, word processing, graphics, and company intranets.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

Automated data acquisition which uses high-frequency radio waves to track physical objects,

Data

Basic facts that are a systems raw material.

Properties

Characteristics of a class.

Information Systems

Combines technology, people and data to provide support for business functions.

Enterprise Applications

Company-wide applications.

Information

Data that has been transformed into output that is useful for users.

Business Model

Describes what information a system must provide.

Systems Support and Security Phase

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

Prototype

Early working version of a system.

Data Flow Diagram (DFD)

Graphical representation of the system, showing it stores processes and transforms data into useful information.

Business Process Model

Graphically displays one or more business processes.

Systems Analyst

Helps plan, develop and maintain information systems.

Business Rules

How a system handles data and produces useful information. Reflects the operational requirements of the business (adding the proper sales tax to invoices, calculating customer balances...).

Product-Oriented

IT companies that produce computers, routers, or microchips.

Service-Oriented

IT companies that provide consultants, software developers, vendors, and service providers.

Interface Rules

Instructions that direct a knowledge management system to identify data patterns and relationships.

E-commerce

Internet based commerce.

Big data

Large, hard to manage data.

Strategic Plans

Long-range plans that define a companies overall mission and goals.

Legacy Systems

Older systems.

Stakeholder

People who have an interest in an information systems.

Transaction Processing System (TPS)

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

Business Support Systems

Provide job-related date to users at all levels of a company.

Enterprise Computing

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

Spiral Model

Represents a series of iterations, or revisions, based on user feedback.

System Software

Software designed to be a platform for other software (OS).

Application Software

Software that supports day-to-day business functions and provide users with the information they need.

Agile Methods

Systems development methods that attempt to develop a system incrementally by building a series of prototypes and constantly adjusting them to user requirements. Related to adaptability method.

Horizontal Systems

Systems that can be adapted for use in many different types of companies.

Vertical Systems

Systems that meet unique requirements of a specific business or industry.

Processes

Tasks and business functions users, IT staff and managers perform to achieve specific results.

Iterative

Team-based effort ad short-term milestones used to help keep quality up and costs down.

Scalable

The ability of a system to expand to meet new business requirements and volumes.

Critical Thinking Skills

The ability to compare, classify, evaluate, recognize patterns, analyze cause and effect, and apply logic.

Objects

The act of understanding an information system by identifying things called objects. A popular approach that sees a system from the viewpoint of the objects themselves as they function and interact with the system.

Object-Oriented Analysis

The act of understanding an information system by identifying things called objects. An object represents real person, place, event, or translation. 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.

Supply Chain Management

The coordination, integration, and management of materials, information, and finances as they move from suppliers to customers, both within and between companies.

System Requirements Document

The deliverable of the Systems Analysis Phase. Describes management and user requirements, costs, and benefits and outlines alternative developments strategies.

Systems Planning Phase

The first phase of 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 the CASE tools where appropriate.

Systems Implementation Phase

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

Information Technology

The hardware, software, and services that people use to manage, communicate, and share information.

Moore's Law

The number of transistors in an integrated circuit chip will roughly double every 2 years.

Hardware

The physical layer of information systems (scanners, cables, servers...).

Project Development

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

Software

The programs that control the hardware to produce desired information or results. Consists of system software and application software.

Systems Analysis Phase

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

Corporate Culture

The set of beliefs, rules, traditions, values, and attitudes that define a company and influence its way of doing business.

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 systems is being developed in-house or purchased as a package.

Waterfall Model

The traditional model of software development. A graph that depicts the results of each SDLC phase flowing down into the next phase.

Data Science

Uses scientific methods, processes, algorithms and systems to extract knowledge and insights from structured and unstructured data, and apply knowledge and actionable insights from data across a broad range of application domains.

Certification

Verification that an individual has demonstrated a certain level of knowledge on a standardized test.