mis301 exam 2

vertical niches

-Sometimes referred to as vertical markets. -Products and services designed to target a specific industry (e.g., pharmaceutical, legal, apparel retail).

network functionality

-TCP/IP doesn't care about the transition media. This allows networks of different types—copper, fiber, and wireless—to connect to and participate in the Internet. - The ability to swap in new applications, protocols, and media files gives the network tremendous flexibility. - Decentralization, fault tolerance, and redundancy help keep the network open and reliable.

load balancing

Distributing a computing or networking workload across multiple systems to avoid congestion and slow performance.

NAT (network address translation)

A technique often used to conserve IP addresses by maps devices on a private network to single Internet-connected device that acts on their behalf.

cache

A temporary storage space used to speed computing tasks.

cloudbursting

Describes the use of cloud computing to provide excess capacity during periods of spiking demand. Cloudbursting is a scalability solution that is usually provided as an overflow service, kicking in as needed.

platform

Products and services that allow for the development and integration of software products and other complementary goods. Windows, iOS, Android, and the standards that allow users to create Facebook apps are all platforms.

scripting languages

Programming tool that executes within an application. -Scripting languages are interpreted within their applications, rather than compiled to run directly by a microprocessor

UDP (user datagram protocol)

Protocol that operates instead of TCP in applications where delivery speed is important and quality can be sacrificed. -UDP is a replacement for TCP, used when it makes sense to sacrifice packet quality for delivery speed. It's often used for media streaming.

radio frequency identification (RFED) tags

Small chip-based tags that wirelessly emit a unique identifying code for the item that they are attached to. Think of RFID systems as a next-generation bar code.

virtual desktop

When a firm runs an instance of a PC's software on another machine and simply delivers the image of what's executing to the remote device. Using virtualization, a single server can run dozens of PCs, simplifying backup, upgrade, security, and administration. < Virtualization also works on the desktop, allowing multiple operating systems (Mac OS X, Linux, Windows) to run simultaneously on the same platform.

vertical integration

When a single firm owns several layers in its value chain.

peering

When separate ISPs link their networks to swap traffic on the Internet. -The Internet is a network of networks, and these networks swap traffic by peering—that is, connecting their networks together. Most peering between commercial networks (e.g., between firms like AT&T and Verizon) is done without exchanging fees. However, some ISPs are demanding payment (paid peering) for access to faster, private peering points.

User interface (UI)

The mechanism through which users interact with a computing device. The UI includes elements of the graphical user interface (or GUI, pronounced " gooey "), such as windows, scroll bars, buttons, menus, and dialogue boxes; and can also include other forms of interaction, such as touch screens, motion sensing controllers, or tactile devices used by the visually impaired.

operations

The organizational activities that are required to produce goods or services. - Operations activities can involve the development, execution, control, maintenance, and improvement of an organization's service and manufacturing procedures.

Amdahl's Law

Amdahl's Law A system's speed is determined by its slowest component.

Femotocells

Femtocells are a technology that can improve wireless service by providing a personal mobile phone hotspot that can plug into in-home broadband access

Web services

small pieces of code that are accessed via the application server which permit interoperable machine to machine interaction over a network < Web servers serve up Web sites and can perform some scripting. < Web services allow different applications to communicate with one another. <APIs define the method to call a Web service (e.g., to get it to do something), and the kind of response the calling program can expect back. < Web services make it easier to link applications as distributed systems, and can make it easier for firms to link their systems across organizations. < Web services, APIs, and open standards not only transform businesses, they can create entire new firms that change how we get things done.

application server

software that houses and serves business logic for use ( and reuse) by multiple application < Most firms serve complex business logic from an application server.

business intelligence (BI) systems

systems that use data created by other systems to provide reporting and analysis for organizational decision making

products and operating systems

-Most computing devices (enterprise-class server computers, PCs, phones, set-top boxes, video games, cars, the Mars Rover) have an operating system. -Some products use operating systems provided by commercial firms, while others develop their own operating system. Others may leverage open source alternatives (see Chapter 12 "Software in Flux: Partly Cloudy and Sometimes Free").

we're running out of IP addresses

-The current scheme (IPv4) is being replaced by IPv6, a scheme that will give us many more addresses and additional feature benefits but is not backward compatible with the IPv4 standard. -Transitioning to IPv6 will be costly, take time, and introduce delay when traffic transfers between IPv4 and IPv6 networks. -The domain name system is a distributed, fault-tolerant system that uses nameservers to map host/ domain name combinations to IP addresses.

Zara

-Zara has used technology to dominate the retail fashion industry as measured by sales, profitability, and growth. -Excess inventory in the retail apparel industry is the kiss of death. Long manufacturing lead times require executives to guess far in advance what custom

cons on applications

< Critics of apps say they force consumers into smartphone walled gardens and raise consumer-switching costs. < While development and distribution costs are cheaper for apps than packaged software, discovery poses a problem, and it can be increasingly difficult for high-quality firms to generate consumer awareness among the growing crowd of app offerings.

need for business technologists

< Demand continues to spike for business-savvy technologists. Tech managers will need even stronger business skills and will focus an increasing percentage of their time on strategic efforts. These latter jobs are tougher to outsource, since they involve an intimate knowledge of the firm, its industry, and its operations.

isolating a system's logic

< Isolating a system's logic in three or more layers (presentation or user interface, business logic, and database) can allow a firm flexibility in maintenance, reusability, and in handling upgrades. < Distributed computing can yield enormous efficiencies in speed, error reduction, and cost savings and can create entirely new ways of doing business. < When computers can communicate with each other (instead of people), this often results in fewer errors, time savings, cost reductions, and can even create whole new ways of doing business.

pros of applications

< Over one billion smartphones are sold a year, providing a rich platform for app deployment. < Compared with packaged software, apps lower the cost of software distribution and maintenance. < Apps offer a richer user interface and integrate more tightly with a device's operating system, enabling more functionality and services such as app-delivered alerts. < Several billion-dollar firms have leveraged smartphone apps as their only, or primary, interface with consumers.

SaaS and the environment

< SaaS (and the other forms of cloud computing) are also thought to be better for the environment, since cloud firms more efficiently pool resources and often host their technologies in warehouses designed for cooling and energy efficiency.

server farm modules

< Server farms require plenty of cheap land, low cost power, ultrafast fiber-optic connections, and benefit from mild climates. < Google, Oracle's Sun, Microsoft, IBM, and HP have all developed rapid-deployment server farm modules that are preconfigured and packed inside shipping containers.

make, buy, or rent?

< The make, buy, or rent decision may apply on a case-by-case basis that might be evaluated by firm, division, project or project component. Firm and industry dynamics may change in a way that causes firms to reassess earlier decisions, or to alter the direction of new initiatives. < Factors that managers should consider when making a make, buy, or rent decision include the following: competitive advantage, security, legal and compliance issues, the organization's skill and available labor, cost, time, and vendor issues. < Factors must be evaluated over the lifetime of a project, not at a single point in time. < Managers have numerous options available when determining how to satisfy the software needs of their companies: purchase packaged software from a vendor, use OSS, use SaaS or utility computing, outsourcing development, or developing all or part of the effort themselves. < If a company relies on unique processes, procedures, or technologies that create vital, differentiating, competitive advantages, the functions probably aren't a good candidate to outsource.

pro's of using OSS

< The most widely cited benefits of using OSS include low cost; increased reliability; improved security and auditing; system scalability; and helping a firm improve its time to market. < Free OSS has resulted in cost savings for many large companies in several industries. < OSS often has fewer bugs than its commercial counterparts due to the large number of persons who have looked at the code. < The huge exposure to scrutiny by developers and other people helps to strengthen the security of OSS. < "Hardened" versions of OSS products often include systems that monitor the integrity of an OSS distribution, checking file size and other indicators to be sure that code has not been modified and redistributed by bad guys who have added a back door, malicious routines, or other vulnerabilities. < OSS can be easily migrated to more powerful computers as circumstances dictate, and also can balance workload by distributing work over a number of machines. < Vendors who use OSS as part of product offerings may be able to skip whole segments of the software development process, allowing new products to reach the market faster.

pros of virtualization software

< allows one computing device to function as many. The most sophisticated products also make it easy for organizations to scale computing requirements across several servers. < can lower a firm's hardware needs, save energy, and boost scalability. < Data center virtualization software is at the heart of many so-called private clouds and scalable corporate data centers, as well as the sorts of public efforts described earlier. < can increase data center utilization to 80 percent or more. < While virtualization is used to make public cloud computing happen, it can also be used in-house to create a firm's own private cloud. < A number of companies, including Microsoft and Dell, have entered the growing virtualization market.

The risks associated with SaaS include the following:

< dependence on a single vendor . < concern about the long-term viability of partner firms . < users may be forced to migrate to new versions —possibly incurring unforeseen training costs and shifts in operating procedures. < reliance on a network connection —which may be slower, less stable, and less secure. < data asset stored off-site —with the potential for security and legal concerns. < limited configuration, customization, and system integration options compared to packaged software or alternatives developed in-house. < the user interface of Web-based software is often less sophisticated and lacks the richness of most desktop alternatives . < ease of adoption may lead to pockets of unauthorized IT being used throughout an organization.

Vendors of SaaS products benefit from the following:

< limiting development to a single platform , instead of having to create versions for different operating systems < tighter feedback loop with clients, helping fuel innovation and responsiveness < ability to instantly deploy bug fixes and product enhancements to all users < lower distribution costs < accessibility to anyone with an Internet connection < greatly reduced risk of software piracy

SaaS firms may offer their clients several benefits including the following:

< lower costs by eliminating or reducing software, hardware, maintenance, and staff expenses <financial risk mitigation since start-up costs are so low < potentially faster deployment times compared with installed packaged software or systems developed in-house < costs that are a variable operating expense rather than a large, fixed capital expense < scalable systems that make it easier for firms to ramp up during periods of unexpectedly high system use < higher quality and service levels through instantly available upgrades, vendor scale economies, and expertise gained across its entire client base < remote access and availability —most SaaS offerings are accessed through any Web browser, and often even by phone or other mobile device

industry impacts of cloud

<Cloud computing's impact across industries is proving to be broad and significant. < lower barriers to entry in an industry, making it easier for start-ups to launch and smaller firms to leverage the backing of powerful technology. < Clouds may also lower the amount of capital a firm needs to launch a business, shifting power away from venture firms in those industries that had previously needed more VC money. < Clouds can shift resources out of capital spending and into profitability and innovation. < Hardware and software sales may drop as cloud use increases, while service revenues will increase. < Cloud computing can accelerate innovation and therefore changes the desired skills mix and job outlook for IS workers. Tech skills in data center operations, support, and maintenance may shrink as a smaller number of vendors consolidate these functions. < The market for expensive, high margin, sever hardware is threatened by companies moving applications to the cloud instead of investing in hardware.

router

A computing device that connects networks and exchanges data between them. -routers are typically connected with more than one outbound path, so in case one path becomes unavailable, an alternate path can be used.

domain

A domain name represents an organization. -Hosts are public services offered by that organization. Hosts are often thought of as a single computer, although many computers can operate under a single host name and many hosts can also be run off a single computer. - You don't buy a domain name but can register it, paying for a renewable right to use that domain name. -Domains need to be registered within a generic top-level domain such as ".com" or ".org" or within a twocharacter country code top-level domain such as ".uk," ".ly," or ".md." ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) has allowed the expansion of gTLDs to new names and even trademarks. - Registering a domain that uses someone else's trademark in an attempt to extract financial gain is considered cybersquatting. - The United States and other nations have anticybersquatting laws, and ICANN has a dispute resolution system that can overturn domain name claims if a registrant is considered to be cybersquatting.

web hosting service

A firm that provides hardware and services to run the Web sites of others.

server farm

A massive network of computer servers running software to coordinate their collective use. Server farms provide the infrastructure backbone to SaaS and hardware cloud efforts, as well as many large-scale Internet services.

service level agreement (SLA)

A negotiated agreement between the customer and the vendor. - The SLA may specify the levels of availability, serviceability, performance, operation, or other commitment requirements.

capability maturity model integration (CMMI)

A process-improvement approach (useful for but not limited to software engineering projects) that can assist in assessing the maturity, quality, and development of certain organizational business processes, and suggest steps for their improvement.

Java

A programming language, initially developed by Sun Microsystems, designed to provide true platform independence ("write once, run anywhere") for application developers. In most cases, Java apps are developed to be executed by a Java Virtual Machine—an interpreting layer that translates code as it executes, into the format required by the operating system and microprocessor. Without Java, application developers have to write and compile software to execute natively by a specific operating system / microprocessor combination (e.g., Windows/ Intel, Linux PowerPC, Mac/ Intel, Linux/Intel).

Wi-Fi

A term used to brand wireless local-area networking devices. Devices typically connect to an antenna-equipped base station or hotspot, which is then connected to the Internet. Wi-Fi devices use standards known as IEEE 802.11, and various versions of this standard (e.g., b, g, n) may operate in different frequency bands and have access ranges.

packet (or datagram)

A unit of data forwarded by a network. All Internet transmissions—URLs, Web pages, e-mails—are divided into one or more packets.

IP address

A value used to identify a device that is connected to the Internet. IP addresses are usually expressed as four numbers (from 0 to 255), separated by periods. -Every device connected to the Internet has an IP address. These addresses are assigned by the organization that connects the user to the Internet. An IP address may be assigned temporarily, for use only during that online session.

scalability

Ability to either handle increasing workloads or to be easily expanded to manage workload increases. - In a software context, systems that aren't scalable often require significant rewrites or the purchase or development of entirely new systems.

cybersquatting

Acquiring a domain name that refers to a firm, individual, product, or trademark, with the goal of exploiting it for financial gain. The practice is illegal in many nations, and ICANN has a dispute resolution mechanism that in some circumstances can strip cybersquatters of registered domains.

total cost of ownership (TCO)

All of the costs associated with the design, development, testing, implementation, documentation, training and maintenance of a software system.

security focused

Also known as "hardened." Term used to describe technology products that contain particularly strong security features.

LAMP

An acronym standing for L inux, the A pache Web server software, the M ySQL database, and any of several programming languages that start with P (e.g., Perl, Python, or PHP). < The LAMP stack of open source products is used to power many of the Internet's most popular Web sites. Linux can be found on 30 percent of corporate servers; supports most Web servers, smartphones, tablets, and supercomputers; and is integral to TiVo and Android-based products.

information systems (IS)

An integrated solution that combines five components: hardware, software, data, procedures, and the people who interact with and are impacted by the system. -It's critical for managers to think about systems, rather than just technologies, when planning for and deploying technology-enabled solutions.

hypertext transfer protocol (http)

Application transfer protocol that allows Web browsers and Web servers to communicate with each other.

file transfer protocol (FTP)

Application transfer protocol that is used to copy files from one computer to another.

fiber to the home (FTTH)

Broadband service provided via light-transmitting f iber-optic cables.

digital subscriber line (DSL)

Broadband technology that uses the wires of a local telephone network.

broadband (broadband Internet access)

Broadly refers to high-speed Internet connections and is often applied to "last-mile" technologies.

business behind OSS

Business models for firms in the open source industry are varied, and can include selling services, licensing OSS for incorporation into commercial products, and using OSS to fuel hardware sales. < Many firms are trying to use OSS markets to drive a wedge between competitors and their customers.

cable firms

Cable firms and phone companies can leverage existing wiring for cable broadband and DSL service, respectively. Cable services are often criticized for shared bandwidth. DSL's primary limitation is that it only works within a short distance of telephone office equipment. -Fiber to the home can be very fast but very expensive to build.

logistics

Coordinating and enabling the flow of goods, people, information, and other resources among locations. -Zara's combination of vertical integration and technology-orchestrated supplier coordination, just-in-time manufacturing, and logistics allows it to go from design to shelf in days instead of months.

protocol

Enables communication by defining the format of data and rules for exchange.

wireless spectrum

Frequencies used for communication. Most mobile cell phone services have to license spectrum. Some technologies (such as Wi-Fi) use unlicensed public spectrum.

personal digital assistants (PDAs)

Handheld computing devices meant largely for mobile use outside an office setting. -PDAs were initially (nonphone) handheld computing devices, but sophisticated computing capabilities have now been integrated into other mobile device classes, such as smartphones and tablets. -Zara store management and staff use PDAs and POS systems to gather and analyze customer preference data to plan future designs based on feedback, rather than on hunches and guesswork.

internet backbone

High-speed data lines provided by many firms all across the world that interconnect and collectively form the core of the Internet.

Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)

Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) offers an organization an alternative to buying its own physical hardware. -Computing, storage, and networking resources are instead allocated and made available over the Internet and are paid for based on the amount of resources used. -Where cloud providers offer services that include running the remote hardware, storage, and networking (i.e., the infrastructure), but client f irms can choose software used (which may include operating systems, programming languages, databases, and other software packages). In this scenario the cloud firm usually manages the infrastructure (keeping the hardware and networking running), while the client has control over most other things (operating systems, storage, deployed applications, and perhaps even security and networking features like firewalls and security systems).

coaxial cable (or coax)

Insulated copper cable commonly used by cable television providers.

domain name service (DNS)

Internet directory service that allows devices and services to be named and discoverable. The DNS, for example, helps your browser locate the appropriate computers when entering an address like http://finance.google.com.

hypertext markup language (HTML)

Language used to compose Web pages.

interpretted

Languages where each line of written code is converted (by a software program, called an "interpreter") for execution at run-time. Most scripting languages are interpreted languages. Many programmers also write Java applications to be interpreted by the Java Virtual Machine

Linux on the desktop

Linux has been very successful on mobile devices and consumer electronics, as well as on high-end server class and above computers. -But it has not been as successful on the desktop. The small user base for desktop Linux makes the platform less attractive for desktop software developers. - Incompatibility with Windows applications, switching costs, and other network effects-related issues all suggest that Desktop Linux has an uphill climb in more mature markets.

network speeds

Many firms in the finance industry have developed automated trading models that analyze data and execute trades without human intervention. Speeds substantially less than one second may be vital to capitalizing on market opportunities, so firms are increasingly moving equipment into collocation facilities that provide high-speed connectivity to other trading systems.

net neutrality

Net neutrality is the principle that all Internet traffic should be treated equally. Google, Netflix, and other f irms say it is vital to maintain the openness of the Internet. Telecommunications firms say they should be able to limit access to services that overtax their networks, and some have suggested charging content providers for providing access to their customers.

bandwidth

Network transmission speeds, typically expressed in some form of bits per second (bps). -An explosion of high-bandwidth mobile applications has strained wireless networks. The transition from 3G to 4G is increasing bandwidth and capacity, but usage continues to skyrocket as smartphone and tablet users stream increasing amounts of video and audio.

new trends in software

New trends in the software industry, including open source software (OSS), cloud computing, software as a service (SaaS), and virtualization are creating challenges and opportunities across tech markets. Understanding the impact of these developments can help a manager make better technology choices and investment decisions.

ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers)

Nonprofit organization responsible for managing the Internet's domain and numbering systems.

cons of OSS

OSS also has several drawbacks and challenges that limit its appeal. These include complexity of some products and a higher total cost of ownership for some products, concern about the ability of a product's development community to provide support or product improvement, and legal and licensing concerns.

contract manufacturing

Outsourcing production to third-party firms. Firms that use contract manufacturers don't own the plants or directly employ the workers who produce the requested goods. -Contract manufacturing can offer firms several advantages, including lower costs and increased profits. -But f irms have also struggled with the downside of cost-centric contract manufacturing when partners have engaged in sweatshop labor, poor working conditions, and environmental abuse.

Platform as a service (PaaS)

Platform as a service (PaaS) delivers tools (a.k.a. a platform) so an organization can develop, test, and deploy software in the cloud. -These could include programming languages, database software, and product testing and deployment software. -Where cloud providers offer services that include the hardware, operating system, development tools, testing and hosting (i.e., the platform) that its customers use to build their own applications on the provider's infrastructure. In this scenario the cloud firm usually manages the platform (hosting, hardware, and supporting software), while the client has control over the creation and deployment of their application.

private clouds

Pools of computing resources that reside inside an organization and that can be served up for specific tasks as need arrives.

IP (Internet protocol)

Routing protocol that is in charge of forwarding packets on the Internet.

colocation facility

Sometimes called a "colo," or carrier hotel; provides a place where the gear from multiple f irms can come together and where the peering of Internet traffic can take place. Equipment connecting in colos could be high-speed lines from ISPs, telecom lines from large private data centers, or even servers hosted in a colo to be closer to high-speed Internet connections.

compile

Step in which program code written in a language that humans can more easily understand, is then converted into a form (expressed in patterns of ones and zeros) that can be understood and executed by a microprocessor. -Programmers using conventional programming languages must compile their software before making it available for execution.

last mile technologies

Technologies that connect end users to the Internet. The last-mile problem refers to the fact that these connections are usually the slowest part of the network. -The slowest part of the Internet is typically the last mile, not the backbone. While several technologies can offer broadband service over the last mile, the United States continues to rank below many other nations in terms of access speed, availability, and price.

return on investment (ROI)

The amount earned from an expenditure.

value chain

The set of activities through which a product or service is created and delivered to customers. -Zara's value chain is difficult to copy; but it is not invulnerable, nor is future dominance guaranteed. Zara management must be aware of the limitations in its business model, and must continually scan its environment and be prepared to react to new threats and opportunities.

Examples of OSS

There are thousands of open source products available, covering nearly every software category. Many have a sophistication that rivals commercial software products. < Not all open source products are contenders. Less popular open source products are not likely to attract the community of users and contributors necessary to help these products improve over time (again we see network effects are a key to success—this time in determining the quality of an OSS effort). < Just about every type of commercial product has an open source equivalent.

point-of-sale (POS) systems

Transaction processing systems that capture customer purchases. -Cash registers and store checkout systems are examples of point-of-sale systems. These systems are critical for capturing sales data and are usually linked to inventory systems to subtract out any sold items. -Zara store management and staff use PDAs and POS systems to gather and analyze customer preference data to plan future designs based on feedback, rather than on hunches and guesswork.

voice over Internet protocol (VoIP)

Transmission technologies that enable voice communications (phone calls) to take place over the Internet as well as private packet-switched networks. -VoIP allows voice and phone systems to become an application traveling over the Internet. This is allowing many firms to save money on phone calls and through the elimination of old, inefficient circuit-switched networks. As Internet applications, VoIP phone systems can also have additional features that circuitswitched networks lack. The primary limitation of many VoIP systems is quality of service.

black swans

Unpredicted, but highly impactful events. Scalable computing resources can help a firm deal with spiking impact from Black Swan events. The phrase entered the managerial lexicon from the 2007 book of the same name by Nassim Taleb.

TCP (transmission control protocol)

Works at both ends of most Internet communication to ensure a perfect copy of a message is sent. -TCP/IP, or the Internet protocol suite, helps get perfect copies of Internet transmissions from one location to another. -TCP works on the ends of transmission, breaking up transmissions up into manageable packets at the start and putting them back together while checking quality at the end. IP works in the middle, routing packets to their destination.

software layer cake

You can think of software as being part of a layer cake, with hardware at the bottom; the operating system controlling the hardware and establishing standards, the applications executing one layer up, and the users at the top. -

software layer cake

You can think of software as being part of a layer cake, with hardware at the bottom; the operating system controlling the hardware and establishing standards, the applications executing one layer up, and the users at the top. -How these layers relate to one another has managerial implications in many areas, including the flexibility in meeting business demand, costs, legal issues and security. -Software is everywhere—not just in computers, but also in cell phones, cars, cameras, and many other technologies.

Zara's IT expenditures vs. Prada

Zara's IT expenditures are low by fashion industry standards. -The spectacular benefits reaped by Zara from the deployment of technology have resulted from targeting technology investment at the points in the value chain where it has the greatest impact, and not from the sheer magnitude of the investment. -- -This is in stark contrast to Prada's experience with in-store technology deployment.

software

a computer program or a collection of programs, it is a precise set of instructions that tells hardware what to do -Software refers to a computer program or collection of programs. It enables computing devices to perform tasks.

utility computing

a form of cloud computing where a firm develops its own software, and then runs it over the Internet on a service provider's computers

software as a service (SaaS)

a form of cloud computing where a firm subscribes to a third part software and receives a service that is delivered online

distributed computing

a form of computing where systems in different locations communicate and collaborate to complete a task

server

a program that fufills the requests of the client -Server is a tricky term and is sometimes used to refer to hardware. While server-class hardware refers to more powerful computers designed to support multiple users, just about any PC or notebook can be configured to run server software. Many firms chose to have their server software hosted "in the cloud" on the computers of third-party firms. -

service oriented architecture (SOA)

a robust set of Web services built around an organizations processes and procedures

EDI (electronic data interchange)

a set of standards for exchanging messages containing formatted data between computer applications < Popular messaging standards include EDI (older) and XML. Sending messages between machines instead of physical documents can speed processes, drastically cut the cost of transactions, and reduce errors.

enterprise resource planning (ERP)

a software package that integrates the many functions (accounting, finance, inventory management, human resources, etc.) of a business -ERP and other packaged enterprise systems can be challenging and costly to implement, but can help f irms create a standard set of procedures and data that can ultimately lower costs and streamline operations.

software package

a software product offered commercially by a third party

client

a software program that makes requests of a server program -Client-server computing is a method of distributed computing where one program (a client) makes a request to be fulfilled by another program (a server).

extensible markup language (XML)

a tagging language that can be used to identify data fields made available for use by other applications -most APIs and Web services send messages where the data exchanged is wrapped in identifying XML tags

virtualization

a type of software that allows a single computer (or cluster of connected computers) to function as if it were several different computers, each running its own operating system and software -virtualization software underpins most cloud computing efforts, and can make computing more efficient, cost effective, and scalable

integrated development environment (IDE)

an application that includes an editor (a sort of programmer's word processor), debugger, and compiler, among other tools

Linux

an open source software operating system < The flagship OSS product is the Linux operating system, now available on all scales of computing devices from cell phones to supercomputers.

internet service provider (ISP)

an organization or firm that provides access to the Internet -The Internet is a network of networks. Internet service providers connect with one another to share traffic, enabling any Internet-connected device to communicate with any other.

desktop software

applications installed on a personal computer, typically supporting tasks performed by a single user -designed for single user

enterprise software

applications that address the needs of multiple users throughout an organization or work group

application programming interfaces (APIs)

programming hooks, or guidelines that tell other programs how to get a service to perform a task such as send or receive data -for example, Amazon provides APIs to let developers write their own applications and Web sites that can send the firm orders

URL (inform resource locator)

often used interchangeably with "web address," URLs identify resources on the Internet along with the application protocol need to retrieve it -URLs may list the application protocol, host name, domain name, path name, and file name, in that order. Path and file names are case sensitive.

compliance

ensuring that an organization's systems operate within the required legal constraints, and industry and organizational obligations

n00b

geek-slang, derogatory term for uniformed or unskilled person

applications

includes desktop applications, utilities, and other programs that perform specific tasks for users and organizations

programming language

provides the standards, syntax, statements, and instructions for writing computer software

cloud computing

replacing computer resources--either an organization's or individual's hardware or software--with services provided over the Internet -Cloud computing is reshaping software, hardware, and service markets and is impacting competitive dynamics across industries.

satellites and broadband

satellite systems show promise in providing high-speed access to underserved parts of the world, but few satellite broadband providers have been successful so far.

firmware

software stored on nonvolatile memory chips (as opposed to devices such as hard drives or removable disks) -despite the seemingly permanent nature of firmware, many products allow for firmware to be upgraded online or by connecting to another device

open source software (OSS)

software that is free and where anyone can look at and potentially modify the code -OSS is not only available for free, but also makes source code available for review and -While open source alternatives are threatening to conventional software firms, some of the largest technology companies now support OSS initiatives and work to coordinate standards, product improvements, and official releases.

database management system (DBMS)

sometimes referred to as database software, software for creating, maintaining, and manipulating data -The DBMS stores and retrieves the data used by the other enterprise applications. Different enterprise systems can be configured to share the same database system in order share common data.

embedded systems

special purpose software designed and included inside physical products (often on firmware). -embedded systems made devices "smarter," sharing usage information, helping diagnose problems, indicating maintenance schedules, providing alerts, or enabling devices to take orders from other systems -designed to perform one or a few dedicated functions, and are frequently built into conventional products like thermostats, door locks, cars, air conditioners, industrial equipment, and elevators. -can make products and services more efficient, more reliable, more functional and can enable entire new businesses and create or reinforce resources for competitive advantage.

Firms that don't have common database systems with consistent formats across their enterprise often...

struggle to efficiently manage their value chain, and often lack the flexibility to introduce new ways of doing business. Firms with common database systems and standards often benefit from increased organizational insight and decision-making capabilities.

supply chain management (SCM)

systems that can help a firm manage aspects of its value chain, from the flow of raw materials into the firm, through the delivery of finished products and services at the point of consumption

customer relationship management (CRM)

systems used to support customer related sales and marketing activites

fault tolerance

the ability of a system to continue operation even if a component fails.

computer hardware

the physical components of information technology, which can include the computer itself plus peripherals such as storage devices, input devices like the mouse and keyboard, output devices like monitors and printers, networking equipment, and so on

marginal costs of technology

the software business is attractive due to near-zero marginal costs and an opportunity to establish a standard—creating the competitive advantages of network effects and switching costs.

operating system

the software that controls the computer hardware and establishes standards for developing and executing applications -The operating system (OS) controls a computer's hardware and provides a common set of commands for writing programs.

LTE

the two major 3G standards (the more popular GSM and the less widely adopted CDMA) are being replaced by a single, dominant, higher-capacity 4G standard (LTE).