MIS CHAPTER 4

Key Terms

Ajax - Technology for creating interactive Web applications capable of updating the user interface without reloading the entire browser page.

Application server - Software that handles all application operations between browser-based computers and a company's back-end business applications or databases.

Application software - Programs written for a specific application to perform functions specified by end users.

Autonomic computing - Effort to develop systems that can manage themselves without user intervention.

Benchmarking - setting strict standards for products, services, or activities and measuring organizational performance against those standards.

best practices - The most successful solutions or problem-solving methods that have been developed by a specific organization or industry.

Business model - An abstraction of what an enterprise is and how the enterprise delivers a product or service, showing how the enterprise creates wealth.

business process management - an approach to business which aims to continuously improve business processes

business process reengineering - The radical redesign of business processes, combining steps to cut waste and eliminating repetitive, paper-intensive tasks in order to improve cost, quality, and service, and to maximize the benefits of information technology.

business processes - The unique ways in which organizations coordinate and organize work activities, information, and knowledge to produce a product or service.

C - A powerful programming language with tight control and efficiency of execution; is portable across different microprocessors and is used primarily with PCs.

C++ - a newer version of C that has all the capabilities of C plus additional features for working with software objects

Capacity planning - The process of predicting when a computer hardware system becomes saturated to ensure that adequate computing resources are available for work of different priorities and that the firm has enough computing power for its current and future needs.

CD-ROM - Read-only optical disk storage used for imaging, reference, and database applications with massive amounts of unchanging data and for multimedia.

Centralized processing - Processing that is accomplished by one large central computer.

change management - Giving proper consideration to the impact of organizational change associated with a new system or alteration of an existing system.

Client - The user point-of-entry for the required function in client/server computing. Normally a desktop computer, workstation, or laptop computer.

Client/server computing - A model for computing that splits processing between clients and servers on a network, assigning functions to the machine most able to perform the function.

Cloud computing - Web-based applications that are stored on remote servers and accessed via the "cloud" of the Internet using a standard Web browser.

competitive forces model - Model used to describe the interaction of external influences, specifically threats and opportunities, that affect an organization's strategy and ability to compete.

computer hardware - Physical equipment used for input, processing, and output activities in an information system.

computer literacy - Knowledge about information technology, focusing on understanding of how computer-based technologies work

computer software - Detailed, preprogrammed instructions that control and coordinate the work of computer hardware components in an information system.

computer-aided design system (CAD) - Information system that automates the creation and revision of designs using sophisticated graphics software.

core competency - Activity at which a firm excels as a world-class leader.

critical thinking - Sustained suspension of judgment with an awareness of multiple perspectives and alternatives.

Culture - Fundamental set of assumptions, values, and ways of doing things that has been accepted by most members of an organization.

cycle time - The total elapsed time from the beginning of a process to its end.

Data - Streams of raw facts representing events occurring in organizations or the physical environment before they have been organized and arranged into a form that people can understand and use.

Data management software - Software used for creating and manipulating lists, creating files and databases to store data, and combining information for reports.

data management technology - The software that governs the organization of data on physical storage media

Digital video disk (DVD) - High-capacity optical storage medium that can store full-length videos and large amounts of data.

disruptive technologies - Technologies with disruptive impact on industries and businesses, rendering existing products, services and business models obsolete.

Distributed processing - The distribution of computer processing work among multiple computers linked by a communications network.

domestic exporter - Form of business organization characterized by heavy centralization of corporate activities in the home county of origin.

efficient customer response system - System that directly links consumer behavior back to distribution, production, and supply chains.

Extensible markup language - A more powerful and flexible markup language than hypertext markup language (HTML) for Web pages.

extranets - Private intranets that are accessible to authorized outsiders.

feedback - output that is returned to appropriate members of the organization to help them evaluate or correct the input stage

Fourth-generation languages - Programming languages that can be employed directly by end users or less-skilled programmers to develop computer applications more rapidly than conventional programming languages.

Franchiser - Form of business organization in which a product is created, designed, financed, and initially produced in the home country, but for product-specific reasons relies heavily on foreign personnel for further production, marketing, and human resources.

Graphical user interface - The part of an operating system users interact with that uses graphic icons and the computer mouse to issue commands and make selections.

Grid computing - Applying the resources of many computers in a network to a single problem.

Hypertext markup language - Page description language for creating Web pages and other hypermedia documents.

Information - data that have been shaped into a form that is meaningful and useful to human beings

Information systems - a set of interrelated components that collect (or retrieve), process, store, and distribute information to support decision making, coordinating, and control in an organization.

Information systems literacy - Broad-based understanding of information systems that includes behavioral knowledge about organizations and individuals using information systems as well as technical knowledge about computers.

information technology infrastructure (IT) - Computer hardware, software, data, storage technology, and networks providing a portfolio of shared IT resources for the organization

information technology(IT) - All the hardware and software technologies that a firm needs to use in order to achieve its business objectives.

input - captures or collects raw data from within the organization or from its external environment

Input devices - Device which gathers data and converts them into electronic form for use by the computer.

internet - global network of networks using univeral standards to connect millions of different networks.

Intranets - Internal networks based on Internet and World Wide Web technology and standards.

Java - An operating system-independent, processor-independent, object-oriented programming language that has become a leading interactive programming environment for the Web.

Legacy systems - System that have been in existence for a long time and that continue to be used to avoid the high cost of replacing or redesigning them.

Linux - Reliable and compactly designed operating system that is an open-source offshoot of UNIX and that can run on many different hardware platforms and is available free or at very low cost.

Magnetic disk - A secondary storage medium in which data are stored by means of magnetized spots on a hard or floppy disk.

Magnetic tape - Inexpensive, older secondary-storage medium in which large volumes of information are stored sequentially by means of magnetized and nonmagnetized spots on tape.

Mainframe - Largest category of computer, used for major business processing.

management information systems (MIS) - The study of information systems focusing on their use in business and management.

Mashups - Composite software applications that depend on highspeed networks, universal communication standards, and open source code and are intended to be greater than the sum of their parts.

mass customization - The capacity to offer individually tailored products or services on a large scale.

Multicore processor - Integrated circuit to which two or more processors have been attached for enhanced performance, reduced power consumption and more efficient simultaneous processing of multiple tasks.

Multinational - Form of business organization that concentrates financial management and control out of a central home base while decentralizing.

Multitouch - an interface technology that has been popularized by the iphone

n-tier client/server architectures - Client/server arrangement which balances the work of the entire network over multiple levels of servers.

Nanotechnology - Technology that builds structures and processes based on the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules.

Netbooks - small, low-cost lightweight subnotebooks optimized for wireless communication and internet access, with core computing functions such as word processing, and digital e-book readers such as amazon's kindle with some web access capabilities

Network - The linking of two or more computers to share data or resources, such as a printer.

network economics - Model of strategic systems at the industry level based on the concept of a network where adding another participant entails zero marginal costs but can create much larger marginal gains.

networking & telecommunications technology - Physical devices and software that link various pieces of hardware and transfer data from one physical location to another.

Object - Software building block that combines data and the procedures acting on the data.

office 2010 - latest version of the office suite

offshore software outsourcing - Outsourcing systems development work or maintenance of existing systems to external vendors in another country.

on-demand computing - Firms off-loading peak demand for computing power to remote, large-scale data processing centers, investing just enough to handle average processing loads and paying for only as much additional computing power as they need. Also called utility computing.

open-source software - Software that provides free access to its program code, allowing users to modify the program code to make improvements or fix errors.

operating system - The system software that manages and controls the activities of the computer.

output - transfers the processed information to the people who will use it or to the activities for which it will be used

output devices - Device that displays data after they have been processed.

Outsourcing - The practice of contracting computer center operations, telecommunications networks, or applications development to external vendors.

personal computer - Small desktop or portable computer.

presentation graphics software - Software to create professional-quality graphics presentations that can incorporate charts, sound, animation, photos, and video clips.

primary activities - Activities most directly related to the production and distribution of a firm's products or services.

processing - converts raw input into a meaningful form world wide web

Quality - Product or service's conformance to specifications and standards.

query languages - Software tools that provide immediate online answers to requests for information that are not predefined.

SaaS (software as a service) - Services for delivering and providing access to software remotely as a Web-based service.

Scalability - The ability of a computer, product, or system to expand to serve a larger number of users without breaking down.

Service level agreement (SLA) - Formal contract between customers and their service providers that defines the specific responsibilities of the service provider and the level of service expected by the customer.

Service-oriented architecture (SOA) - Software architecture of a firm built on a collection of software programs that communicate with each other to perform assigned tasks to create a working software application.

six sigma - A specific measure of quality, representing 3.4 defects per million opportunities; used to designate a set of methodologies and techniques for improving quality and reducing costs.

Software package - A prewritten, precoded, commercially available set of programs that eliminates the need to write software programs for certain functions.

Spreadsheet software - Software displaying data in a grid of columns and rows, with the capability of easily recalculating numerical data.

Storage area networks (SANs) - High-speed networks dedicated to storage that connects different kinds of storage devices, such as tape libraries and disk arrays so they can be shared by multiple servers.

Supercomputer - Highly sophisticated and powerful computer that can perform very complex computations extremely rapidly.

support activities - Activities that make the delivery of a firm's primary activities possible. Consist of the organization's infrastructure, human resources, technology, and procurement.

System software - Generalized programs that manage the computer's resources, such as the central processor, communications links, and peripheral devices.

Total cost of ownership (TCO) - Designates the total cost of owning technology resources, including initial purchase costs, the cost of hardware and software upgrades, maintenance, technical support, and training.

total quality management (TQM) - A concept that makes quality control a responsibility to be shared by all people in an organization.

Transnational - Truly global form of business organization where value-added activities are managed from a global perspective without reference to national borders, optimizing sources of supply and demand and local competitive advantage.

UNIX - Operating system for all types of computers, which is machine independent and supports multiuser processing, multitasking, and networking. Used in high-end workstations and servers.

value chain model - Model that highlights the primary or support activities that add a margin of value to a firm's products or services where information systems can best be applied to achieve a competitive advantage.

value web - Customer-driven network of independent firms who use information technology to coordinate their value chains to collectively produce a product or service for a market.

virtual company - Uses networks to link people, assets, and ideas, enabling it to ally with other companies to create and distribute products and services without being limited by traditional organizational boundaries or physical loca

Virtualization - Presenting a set of computing resources so that they can all be accessed in ways that are not restricted by physical configuration or geographic location.

Visual basic - widely used visual programming tool and environment for creating applications that run on Microsoft windows operating systems

Visual programming language - Allows users to manipulate graphic or iconic elements to create programs.

Web browsers - Easy-to-use software tool for accessing the World Wide Web and the Internet.

Web hosting service - Company with large Web server computers to maintain the Web sites of fee-paying subscribers.

Web server - Software that manages requests for Web pages on the computer where they are stored and that delivers the page to the user's computer.

Web services - Set of universal standards using Internet technology for integrating different applications from different sources without time-consuming custom coding. Used for linking systems of different organizations or for linking disparate systems within the same organization.

Widget - Small software program that can be added to a Web page or placed on the desktop to provide additional functionality.

Windows 7 - latest windows version

Windows Vista - Microsoft Windows operating system featuring improved security; diagnostics; parental controls; usability; desktop searching, synchronization with mobile devices, cameras, and Internet services; and better support for video and TV.

Word processing software - Software for electronically creating, editing, formatting, and printing documents.

Workstation - Desktop computer with powerful graphics and mathematical capabilities and the ability to perform several complicated tasks at once.

Review Questions 

  What are the components of IT infrastructure?Define information technology (IT) infrastructure and describe each of its components.

The five major components of an information technology (IT) infrastructure are:

·  computer hardware: technology for computer processing, data storage, input, and output.

·  computer software: includes both system software and application software.

·  data manag

ement technology: organizes, manages, and processes business data concerned with inventory, customers, and vendors.

·  networking and telecommunications technologies; provides data, voice, and video connectivity to employees, customers, and suppliers.

·  technology services: external consultants who run and manage infrastructure components.

2.  What are the major computer hardware, data storage, input, and output technologies used in business? List and describe the various types of computers available to businesses today.

·  Personal digital assistants (PDAs): generally used to perform one task at a time by the operator.  Most of the processing power is used to draw the screen and handle voice messages.

·  Personal computers :generally used when working alone or with a few other people in a small business.

·  Servers: specifically optimized to support a computer network, enabling users to share files, software, peripheral devices, or other network resources.

·  Mainframes: large-capacity, high performance computers that process vast amounts of data very rapidly.

·  Supercomputers: specially designed and more sophisticated computers used for tasks requiring extremely rapid and complex calculations with thousands of variables, millions of measurements, and thousands of equations.

·  Distributed computing: also known as grid computing; geographically remote computers connected into a single network to create a “virtual supercomputer” by combining the computational power of all computers on the grid.

Define the client/server model of computing and describe the difference between a two-tiered and N-tier client/server architecture.

Client/server computing splits processing between “clients” and “servers”. The client is the user point of entry for the required function and is normally a desktop computer, workstation, or laptop computer.

Two-tiered client/server architecture is the simplest form of client/server network. It consists of a client computer networked to a server computer, with processing split between the two types of machines. 

N-tier client/server architecture is more complex than the simple two-tiered client/server network.  In this network, the work of the entire network is balanced over several different levels of servers, depending on the kind of service being requested.

List the most important secondary storage media.

The principal secondary storage technologies are magnetic disk, optical disk, magnetic tape, and storage networks.

List and describe the major computer input and output devices.

Input devices include keyboard, computer mouse, touch screen, optical character recognition, magnetic ink character recognition, pen-based input, digital scanner, audio input, sensors, and radio frequency identification. Output devices include cathode ray tube, printers, and audio output.

Distinguish between batch and online processing.

Batch processing involves grouping transactions together and then processing these transactions at some later point to update a master file. Online processing involves entering a transaction directly into the computer and processing it immediately. With online processing, information in the system is always up-to-date and current.

3.  What are the major types of computer software used in business?

Distinguish between application software and system software and explain the role played by the operating system of a computer.

System software surrounds and controls access to the hardware.  It manages and controls a computer’s activities. Some types of system software consist of computer language translation programs that convert programming languages into machine language that can be understood by the computer and utility programs that perform common processing tasks, such as copying, sorting, or computing a square rootApplication software works through the system software in order to develop specific business applications. 

List and describe the major PC and server operating systems.

·  Windows Vista:  most recent Windows operating system with improved security, desktop searching, and synchronization with mobile devices, cameras, and Internet services.

·  Windows XP: used on PCs with versions for both home and corporate users.  Features support of Internet access, multimedia, and group collaboration, along with networking, security, and corporate management capabilities

·  Windows Server 2003: most recent Windows OS for servers.

·  UNIX: used for powerful PCs, workstations, and network servers.  Supports multitasking, mutiuser processing, and networking. Is portable to different models of computer hardware.

·  Linux: Open source, reliable alternative to UNIX and Windows OS that runs on many different types of computer hardware.  Can be modified by software developers.

·  Mac OS X:  OS for Macintosh computers that is stable and reliable, with powerful search capabilities, support for video and image processing, and an elegant user interface.  Most recent version is Leopard.

  

Name the of fourth-generation software tools,

The seven categories of fourth-generation tools: PC software tools, query languages, report generators, graphics languages, application generators, application software packages, and very high-level programming languages.

Name and describe the major desktop productivity software tools.

Word processing: allows users to make changes in the document electronically in memory, eliminating the need to retype entire pages to make corrections. It often includes advanced features such as spelling checkers and thesaurus programs.

Spreadsheets: composed of a grid of columns and rows and are good at performing calculations on interrelated pieces of data. Used for applications in which numerous calculations with pieces of data must be related to each other.  When you change a value or values, all other related values on the spreadsheet will be automatically recomputed.  Spreadsheets provide computerized versions of traditional financial modeling tools and provide an easy-to-use method of performing what-if analysis.

Data management: used for creating and manipulating lists and for combining information from different fields. Data management software typically has facilities for creating files and databases to store, modify, and manipulate data for reports and queries.

Presentation graphics: allow users to create professional quality graphics presentations. This software can convert numeric data into charts and other types of graphics and can include multimedia displays of sound, animation, photos, and video clips.

Software suites: combine the functions of the most important microcomputer software packages, such as spreadsheets, word processing, graphics, and data management. This integration provides a more general-purpose software tool and eliminates redundant data entry and data maintenance. 

Web browsers: easy-to-use software tools for accessing the Web and the Internet.   Web browsers have become the primary interface for accessing the Internet or for using networked systems based on Internet technology.

  

Explain how Java and HTML are used in building applications for the Web?

Java is used for building applications that run on the Web and HTML is used for creating Web pages.  Java, is an operating system that is processor-independent. Its object-oriented programming language has become the leading interactive programming environment for the Web.  Java enables users to manipulate data on networked systems using Web browsers, reducing the need to write specialized software.  

Hypertext markup language (HTML) is a page description language for specifying how text, graphics, video, and sound are placed on a Web page and for creating dynamic links to the Web pages and objects.  HTML programs can be custom written, but they also can be created using the HTML authoring capabilities of Web browsers or of popular word processing, spreadsheet, data management, and presentation graphics software packages. HTML editors are more powerful HTML authoring tool programs for creating Web pages.

Define Web services, describe the technologies they use, and explain how Web services benefit business. 

Web services offer a standardized alternative for dealing with integration across various computer platforms.  Web services are loosely coupled software components based on XML and open Web standards that are not product specific and can work with any application software and operating system.  They can be used as components of Web-based applications linking the systems of two different organizations or to link disparate systems of a single company.  Web services are not tied to a particular operating system or programming language. Different applications can use them to communicate with each other in a standard way without time-consuming custom coding.

 Businesses use Web services to tie their Web sites with external Web sites creating an apparently seamless experience for users.  The benefit derives from not having to re-create applications for each business partner or specific functions within a single company.

     

Define and describe grid computing, edge computing, autonomic computing, virtualization, and multicore processing. 

Grid computing connects geographically remote computers into a single network to create a “virtual supercomputer” by combining the computational power of all computers on the grid. 

 Edge computing is a multitier, load-balancing scheme for Web-based applications in which significant parts of Web site content, logic, and processing are performed by smaller, less expensive servers located nearby the user in order to increase response time and resilience while lowering technology costs.

Autonomic computing is an industry-wide effort to develop systems that can configure themselves, optimize and tune themselves, heal themselves when broken, and protect themselves from outside intruders and self-destruction.

Virtualization is the process of presenting a set of computing resources (such as computing power or data storage) so that they can all be accessed in ways that are not restricted by physical configuration or geographic location. Server virtualization enables companies to run more than one operating system at the same time on a single machine.

Multicore processing used integrated circuit to which two or more processors have been attached for enhanced performance, reduced power consumption and more efficient simultaneous processing of multiple tasks.

Explain why open-source software is so important today and its benefits for business.

Open-source software provides all computer users with free access to the program code so they can modify the code, fix errors in it, or to make improvements.  Open-source software is not owned by any company or individual.  A global network of programmers and users manage and modify the software.  By definition, open-source software is not restricted to any specific operating system or hardware technology. Several large software companies are converting some of their commercial programs to open source.

Linux is the most well-known open-source software.  It’s a UNIX-like operating system that can be downloaded from the Internet, free of charge, or purchased for a small fee from companies that provide additional tools for the software.  It is reliable, compactly designed, and capable of running on many different hardware platforms, including servers, handheld computers, and consumer electronics.  Linux has become popular during the past few years as a robust low-cost alternative to UNIX and the Windows operating system. 

Thousands of open-source programs are available from hundreds of Web sites. Businesses can choose from a range of open-source software including operating systems, office suites, Web browsers, and games.  Open-source software allows businesses to reduce the total cost of ownership.  It provides more robust software that’s often more secure than proprietary software.

Define cloud computing, mashups, and widgets and explain how they benefit individuals and businesses

Cloud computing is becoming popular for describing Web-based applications that are stored and accessed via the “cloud” of the Internet.  The software and the data they use are hosted on powerful servers in massive data centers, and can be accessed by anyone with an Internet connection and standard Web browser. The best examples are Google Apps desktop productivity  tools and Microsoft’s Live software suite.

Mashups are new software applications and services based on combining different online software applications using high-speed data networks, universal communication standards, and open-source code. Entrepreneurs are able to create new software applications and services based on combining different online software applications. These new combined applications depend on high-speed data networks, universal communication standards, and open-source code.  The idea is to take different sources and produce a new work that is “greater than” the sum of its parts.  Web mashups combine the capabilities of two or more online applications to create a kind of hybrid that provides more customer value than the original sources alone.

Widgets are small software programs that can be added to Web pages or placed on the desktop to provide additional functionality.  Web widgets run inside a Web page or a blog.  Desktop widgets integrate content from an external source into the user’s desktop to provide services such as a calculator, dictionary, or display current weather conditions.

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Describe the benefits of outsourcing, on-demand computing, and SaaS for businesses.

In the past, most companies ran their own computer facilities and developed their own software.  Today, more and more companies are obtaining their hardware and software technology from external service vendors.

The most important benefit of outsourcing technology management is that it allows a business to concentrate on its core competencies rather than focusing on technology issues.  Instead of purchasing all the necessary hardware and software for hosting a Web site, a business can use a Web hosting service that maintains a large Web server, or a series of servers, and provides fee-paying subsribers with space to maintain their Web sites. 

Outsourcing custom software development or maintenance to outside firms benefits a company because it won’t have to hire programmers, analysts, and managers with the necessary skills. 

On-demand computing refers to firms off-loading peak demand for computing power to remote, large-scale data processing centers.  It works similar to other utility providers like electricity, water, and waste treatment. 

Software as a Service (SaaS) refers to services that deliver and provide access to software remotely as a Web-based service.  A business can rent software from another firm and avoid the expense and difficulty of installing, operating, and maintaining the hardware and software on its own.