| Adaptive filter | asks you to rate products or situations and also monitors your actions over time to find out what you like and dislike.
|
 |
|
|
| Adaptivity | the ability of intelligent agents to discover, learn, and take action independently.
|
|
|
|
| Adware | software to generate ads that installs itself on your computer when you download some other (usually free) program from the Web.
|
|
|
|
| Affiliate programs | arrangements made between e-commerce sites that direct users from one site to the other and by which, if a sale is made as a result, the originating site receives a commission.
|
|
|
|
| Alliance partner | a company you do business with on a regular business in a cooperative fashion, usually facilitated by IT systems.
|
|
|
|
| Analysis phase | involves end users and IT specialists working together to gather, understand, and document the business requirements for the proposed system.
|
|
|
|
| Anonymous Web browsing (AWB) | services hide your identity from the Web sites you visit.
|
|
|
|
| Anti-virus software | detects and removes or quarantines computer viruses.
|
|
|
|
| Application architects | information technology professionals who can design creative technology-based business solutions.
|
|
|
|
| Application generation subsystem | contains facilities to help you develop transaction-intensive applications.
|
|
|
|
| Application service provider (ASP) | provides an outsourcing service for business software applications.
|
|
|
|
| Application software | software that enables you to solve specific problems or perform specific tasks.
|
|
|
|
| Arithmetic/logic unit (A/L unit) | performs all arithmetic operations (for example, addition and subtraction) and all logic operations (such as sorting and comparing numbers).
|
|
|
|
| Artificial intelligence (AI) | the science of making machines imitate human thinking and behavior.
|
|
|
|
| Artificial neural network (ANN) | also called a neural network, an artificial intelligence system that is capable of finding and differentiating patterns.
|
|
|
|
| ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) | the coding system that most personal computers use to represent, process, and store information.
|
|
|
|
| AutoFilter function | filters a list and allows you to hide all the rows in a list except those that match criteria you specify.
|
|
|
|
| Automatic speech recognition (ASR) | a system that not only captures spoken words but also distinguishes word groupings to form sentences.
|
|
|
|
| Autonomy | the ability of an intelligent agent to act without your telling it every step to take.
|
|
|
|
| B2B marketplace | an Internet-based service which brings together many buyers and sellers.
|
|
|
|
| Back office system | used to fulfill and support customer orders.
|
|
|
|
| Back-propagation neural network | a neural network trained by someone.
|
|
|
|
| Backup | the process of making a copy of the information stored on a computer.
|
|
|
|
| Bandwidth | or capacity of the communications medium, refers to the amount of information that a communications medium can transfer in a given amount of time.
|
|
|
|
| Banner ad | a small ad on one Web site that advertises the products and services of another business, usually another dot-com business.
|
|
|
|
| Bar code reader | captures information that exists in the form of vertical bars whose width and distance apart determine a number.
|
|
|
|
| Basic formatting tag | HTML tag that allows you to specify formatting for text.
|
|
|
|
| Benchmark | a set of conditions used to measure how well a product or system functions.
|
|
|
|
| Binary digit (bit) | the smallest unit of information that your computer can process.
|
|
|
|
| Biometrics | the use of your physical characteristics-such as your fingerprint, the blood vessels in the retina of your eye, the sound of your voice, or perhaps even your breath-to provide identification.
|
|
|
|
| Black-hat hackers | cyber vandals.
|
|
|
|
| Bluetooth | technology that provides entirely wireless connections for all kinds of communication devices.
|
|
|
|
| Broadband | high-capacity telecommunications pipeline capable of providing high-speed Internet service.
|
|
|
|
| Browser-safe colors | 216 colors that can be represented using 8 bits and are visible in all browsers.
|
|
|
|
| Business intelligence | knowledge about your customers, your competitors, your partners, your competitive environment, and your own internal operations. Business intelligence comes from information.
|
|
|
|
| Business process | a standardized set of activities that accomplishes a specific task, such as processing a customer's order.
|
|
|
|
| Business process reengineering (BPR) | the reinventing of processes within a business.
|
|
|
|
| Business requirement | a detailed knowledge worker request that the system must meet in order to be successful.
|
|
|
|
| Business to business (B2B) | companies whose customers are primarily other businesses.
|
|
|
|
| Business to consumer (B2C) | companies whose customers are primarily individuals.
|
|
|
|
| Buyer agent or shopping bot | an intelligent agent on a Web site that helps you, the customer, find the products and services you want.
|
|
|
|
| Buyer power | high when buyers have many choices of whom to buy from, and low when their choices are few.
|
|
|
|
| Byte | a group of eight bits that represents one natural language character.
|
|
|
|
| Cable modem | a device that uses your TV cable to deliver an Internet connection.
|
|
|
|
| Capacity planning | determines the future IT infrastructure requirements for new equipment and additional network capacity.
|
|
|
|
| Cat 5 (or Category 5) | a better-constructed version of the phone twisted-pair cable.
|
|
|
|
| CAVE (cave automatic virtual environment) | a special 3-D virtual reality room that can display images of other people and objects located in other CAVEs all over the world.
|
|
|
|
| CD-R (compact disc-recordable) | optical or laser disc that offers one-time writing capability with about 800MB of storage capacity.
|
|
|
|
| CD-ROM | optical or laser disc that offers no updating capabilities with about 800MB of storage capacity. Most software today comes on CD-ROM.
|
|
|
|
| CD-RW (compact disc-rewritable) | offers unlimited writing and updating capabilities on the CD.
|
|
|
|
| Central processing unit (CPU) | the actual hardware that interprets and executes the software instructions and coordinates how all the other hardware devices work together.
|
|
|
|
| Chief information officer (CIO) | responsible for overseeing an organization's information resource.
|
|
|
|
| Choice | the third step in the decision-making process where you decide on a plan to address the problem or opportunity.
|
|
|
|
| Class | contains information and procedures and acts as a template to create objects.
|
|
|
|
| Clicks-and-mortar | a retailer, like Nordstrom, which has both an Internet presence and one or more physical stores.
|
|
|
|
| Clickstream | is a stored record about your Web surfing session, such as what Web sites you visited, how long you were there, what ads you looked at, and what you bought.
|
|
|
|
| Click-throughs | a count of the number of people who visit one site and click on an ad, and are taken to the site of the advertiser.
|
|
|
|
| Client/server network | a network in which one or more computers are servers and provide services to the other computers which are called clients.
|
|
|
|
| Coaxial cable (coax) | one central wire surrounded by insulation, a metallic shield, and a final case of insulating material.
|
|
|
|
| Cold site | a separate facility that does not have any computer equipment but is a place where the knowledge workers can move after the disaster.
|
|
|
|
| Collaboration system | a system that is designed specifically to improve the performance of teams by supporting the sharing and flow of information.
|
|
|
|
| Collaborative filtering | a method of placing you in an affinity group of people with the same characteristics.
|
|
|
|
| Collaborative planning, forecasting, and replenishment (CPFR) | a concept that encourages and facilitates collaborative processes between members of a supply chain.
|
|
|
|
| Collaborative processing enterprise information portal | provides knowledge workers with access to workgroup information such as e-mails, reports, meeting minutes, and memos.
|
|
|
|
| Collocation | a vendor that rents space and telecommunications equipment to other companies.
|
|
|
|
| Communications medium | the path, or physical channel, in a network over which information travels.
|
|
|
|
| Communications protocol (protocol) | a set of rules that every computer follows to transfer information.
|
|
|
|
| Communications satellite | a microwave repeater in space.
|
|
|
|
| Communications service provider | third party who furnishes the conduit for information.
|
|
|
|
| Communications software | helps you communicate with other people.
|
|
|
|
| Competitive advantage | providing a product or service in a way that customers value more than what the competition is able to do.
|
|
|
|
| Complementor | provides products and services that complement the offerings of the enterprise and thereby extends its value-adding capabilities to its customers.
|
|
|
|
| Composite primary key | the primary key fields from two intersecting relations.
|
|
|
|
| Computer-aided software engineering (CASE) | software suites that automate system development.
|
|
|
|
| Computer crime | a crime in which a computer, or computers, plays a significant part.
|
|
|
|
| Computer forensics | the collection, authentication, preservation, and examination of electronic information for presentation in court.
|
|
|
|
| Computer network (or network) | two or more computers connected so that they can communicate with each other and share information, software, peripheral devices, and/or processing power.
|
|
|
|
| Computer virus (or simply a virus) | software that is written with malicious intent to cause annoyance or damage.
|
|
|
|
| Conditional formatting | highlights the information in a cell that meets some criteria you specify.
|
|
|
|
| Connectivity software | enables you to use your computer to "dial up" or connect to another computer.
|
|
|
|
| Control unit | interprets software instructions and literally tells the other hardware devices what to do, based on the software instructions.
|
|
|
|
| Conversion rate | the percentage of customers who visit a site who actually buy something.
|
|
|
|
| Cookie | a small record deposited on your hard disk by a Web site containing information about you and your Web activities.
|
|
|
|
| Copyright | the legal protection afforded to an expression of an idea, such as a song, video game, and some types of proprietary documents.
|
|
|
|
| Counterfeit software | software that is manufactured to look like the real thing and sold as such.
|
|
|
|
| Cracker | a hacker for hire; a person who engages in electronic corporate espionage.
|
|
|
|
| Crash-proof software | utility software that helps you save information if your system crashes and you're forced to turn it off and then back on again.
|
|
|
|
| Creative design | one that solves the business problem in a new and highly effective way rather than the same way others have done it.
|
|
|
|
| Critical success factor (CSF) | a factor simply critical to your organization's success.
|
|
|
|
| Crossover | the process within a genetic algorithm where portions of good outcomes are combined in the hope of creating an even better outcome.
|
|
|
|
| CRT | a monitor that looks like a television set.
|
|
|
|
| CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) | the four primary procedures, or ways, a system can manipulate information.
|
|
|
|
| Culture | the collective personality of a nation or society, encompassing language, traditions, currency, religion, history, music, and acceptable behavior, among other things.
|
|
|
|
| Custom AutoFilter function | allows you to hide all the rows in a list except those that match criteria, besides "is equal to," you specify.
|
|
|
|
| Customer-integrated system (CIS) | an extension of a TPS that places technology in the hands of an organization's customers and allows them to process their own transactions.
|
|
|
|
| Customer relationship management (CRM) system | uses information about customers to gain insights into their needs, wants, and behaviors in order to serve them better.
|
|
|
|
| Cyberterrorist | one who seeks to cause harm to people or destroy critical systems or information.
|
|
|
|
| Data | raw facts that describe a particular phenomenon.
|
|
|
|
| Data administration | the function in an organization that plans for, oversees the development of, and monitors the information resource.
|
|
|
|
| Data administration subsystem | helps you manage the overall database environment by providing facilities for backup and recovery, security management, query optimization, concurrency control, and change management.
|
|
|
|
| Database | a collection of information that you organize and access according to the logical structure of that information.
|
|
|
|
| Database-based workflow system | stores the document in a central location and automatically asks the knowledge workers to access the document when it's their turn to edit the document.
|
|
|
|
| Database administration | the function in an organization that is responsible for the more technical and operational aspects of managing the information contained in organizational databases (which can include data warehouses and data marts).
|
|
|
|
| Database management system (DBMS) | helps you specify the logical organization for a database and access and use the information within the database.
|
|
|
|
| Data cleansing | ensures all information is accurate.
|
|
|
|
| Data definition subsystem | helps you create and maintain the data dictionary and define the structure of the files in a database.
|
|
|
|
| Data dictionary | contains the logical structure for the information.
|
|
|
|
| Data management | component of DSS that performs the function of storing and maintaining the information that you want your DSS to use.
|
|
|
|
| Data manipulation subsystem | helps you add, change, and delete information in a database and mine it for valuable information.
|
|
|
|
| Data mart | subset of a data warehouse in which only a focused portion of the data warehouse information is kept.
|
|
|
|
| Data-mining agent | an intelligent agent that operates in a data warehouse discovering information.
|
|
|
|
| Data-mining tool | software tool you use to query information in a data warehouse.
|
|
|
|
| Data warehouse | a logical collection of information-gathered from many different operational databases-used to create business intelligence that supports business analysis activities and decision making tasks.
|
|
|
|
| DBMS engine | accepts logical requests from the various other DBMS subsystems, converts them into their physical equivalent, and actually accesses the database and data dictionary as they exist on a storage device.
|
|
|
|
| Decentralized computing | an environment in which an organization splits computing power and locates it in functional business areas as well as on the desktops of knowledge workers.
|
|
|
|
| Decision processing enterprise information portal | provides knowledge workers with corporate information for making key business decisions.
|
|
|
|
| Decision support system (DSS) | a highly flexible and interactive IT system that is designed to support decision making when the problem is not structured.
|
|
|
|
| Demand aggregation | combines purchase requests from multiple buyers into a single large order which justifies a discount from the business.
|
|
|
|
| Denial-of-service (DoS) | attack floods a Web site with so many requests for service that it slows down or crashes.
|
|
|
|
| Design | where you consider possible ways of solving the problem, filling the need, or taking advantage of the opportunity.
|
|
|
|
| Design phase | the stage of system planning where the planner builds a technical blueprint of how the proposed system will work.
|
|
|
|
| Desktop computer | the most popular choice for personal computing needs.
|
|
|
|
| Desktop publishing software | extends word processing software by including design and formatting techniques to enhance the layout and appearance of a document.
|
|
|
|
| Development phase | takes all of your detailed design documents from the design phase and transforms them into an actual system.
|
|
|
|
| Digital cash (also called electronic cash or e-cash) | an electronic representation of cash.
|
|
|
|
| Digital divide | the fact that different peoples, cultures, and areas of the world or within a nation do not have the same access to information and telecommunications technologies.
|
|
|
|
| Digital economy | marked by the electronic movement of all types of information, not limited to numbers, words, graphs, and photos but including physiological information such as voice recognition and synthesization, biometrics (your retina scan and breath for example), and 3-D holograms.
|
|
|
|
| Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) | a high-speed Internet connection using phone lines, which allows you to use your phone for voice communications at the same time.
|
|
|
|
| Direct material | material that is used in production in a manufacturing company or is placed on the shelf for sale in a retail environment.
|
|
|
|
| Directory search engine | organizes listings of Web sites into hierarchical lists.
|
|
|
|
| Disaster recovery cost curve | charts (1) the cost to your organization of the unavailability of information and technology, and (2) the cost to your organization of recovering from a disaster over time.
|
|
|
|
| Disaster recovery plan | a detailed process for recovering information or an IT system in the event of a catastrophic disaster such as a fire or flood.
|
|
|
|
| Disintermediation | the use of the Internet as a delivery vehicle, whereby intermediate players in a distribution channel can be bypassed.
|
|
|
|
| Disk optimization software utility | software that organizes your information on your hard disk in the most efficient way.
|
|
|
|
| Distributed denial-of-service (DDos) | attack attack from multiple computers that flood a Web site with so many requests for service that it slows down or crashes.
|
|
|
|
| Distribution chain | the path followed from the originator of a product or service to the end consumer.
|
|
|
|
| Document management system | manages a document through its life cycle.
|
|
|
|
| Domain expert | the person who provides the domain expertise in the form of problem-solving strategies.
|
|
|
|
| Domain expertise | the set of problem-solving steps; it's the reasoning process that will solve the problem.
|
|
|
|
| Domain name | identifies a specific computer on the Web and the main page of the entire site.
|
|
|
|
| Dot pitch | the distance between the centers of a pair of likecolored pixels.
|
|
|
|
| DVD-R | optical or laser disc that offers one-time writing capability with upward of 17GB of storage capacity.
|
|
|
|
| DVD-ROM | optical or laser disc that offers no updating capabilities with upward of 17GB of storage capacity. The trend is now for movie rentals to be on DVD.
|
|
|
|
| DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, or DVD+RW | (all different names by different manufacturers) optical or laser disc that offers unlimited writing and updating capabilities on the DVD.
|
|
|
|
| ebXML | a set of technical specifications for business documents built around XML designed to permit enterprises of any size and in any geographical location to conduct business over the Internet.
|
|
|
|
| E-government | the application of e-commerce technologies in governmental agencies.
|
|
|
|
| Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP) | a system that sends us our bills over the Internet and gives us an easy way to pay them if the amount looks correct.
|
|
|
|
| Electronic catalog | designed to present products to customers or partners all over the world via the Web.
|
|
|
|
| Electronic commerce | commerce, but it is commerce accelerated and enhanced by information technology, in particular, the Internet.
|
|
|
|
| Electronic data interchange (EDI) | the direct computer-to-computer transfer of transaction information contained in standard business documents, such as invoices and purchase orders, in a standard format.
|
|
|
|
| Electronic job market | consists of employers using Internet technologies to advertise and screen potential employees.
|
|
|
|
| Electronic portfolio (e-portfolio) | collection of Web documents used to support a stated purpose such as demonstrating writing, photography, or job skills.
|
|
|
|
| E-mail software (electronic mail software) | enables you to electronically communicate with other people by sending and receiving e-mail.
|
|
|
|
| Encapsulation | information hiding.
|
|
|
|
| Encryption | scrambles the contents of a file so that you can't read it without the right decryption key.
|
|
|
|
| Enterprise application integration (EAI) | the process of developing an IT infrastructure that enables employees to quickly implement new or changing business processes.
|
|
|
|
| Enterprise application integration middleware (EAI middleware) | allows organizations to develop different levels of integration from the information level to the business-process level.
|
|
|
|
| Enterprise information portal (EIP) | allows knowledge workers to access company information via a Web interface.
|
|
|
|
| Enterprise resource planning (ERP) | the method of getting and keeping an overview of every part of the business (a bird's eye view, so to speak), so that production, development, selling, and servicing of goods and services will all be coordinated to contribute to the company's goals and objectives.
|
|
|
|
| Enterprise software | a suite of software that includes (1) a set of common business applications; (2) tools for modeling how the entire organization works; and (3) development tools for building applications unique to your organization.
|
|
|
|
| Entity class | a concept-typically people, places, or things about which you wish to store information and that you can identify with a unique key (called the primary key).
|
|
|
|
| Entity-relationship (E-R) diagram | a graphic method of representing entity classes and their relationships.
|
|
|
|
| Entry barrier | a product or service feature that customers have come to expect from companies in a particular industry.
|
|
|
|
| E-tailer | an Internet retail site.
|
|
|
|
| Ethernet card | the most common type of network interface card.
|
|
|
|
| Ethical (or white-hat) hacker | a computer security professional who is hired by a company to break into its computer system.
|
|
|
|
| Ethics | the principles and standards that guide our behavior toward other people.
|
|
|
|
| Executive information system (EIS) | a highly interactive IT system that allows you to first view highly summarized information and then choose how you would like to see greater detail, which may alert you to potential problems or opportunities.
|
|
|
|
| Expandability | refers to how easy it is to add features and functions to a system.
|
|
|
|
| Expansion bus | moves information from your CPU and RAM to all of your other hardware devices such as your microphone and printer.
|
|
|
|
| Expansion card | a circuit board that you insert into an expansion slot.
|
|
|
|
| Expansion slot | a long skinny socket on the motherboard into which you insert an expansion card.
|
|
|
|
| Expert system (also called a knowledge-based system) | an artificial intelligence system that applies reasoning capabilities to reach a conclusion.
|
|
|
|
| Explanation module | the part of an expert system where the "why" information, supplied by the domain expert, is stored to be accessed by knowledge workers who want to know why the expert systems asked a question or reached a conclusion.
|
|
|
|
| External information | describes the environment surrounding the organization.
|
|
|
|
| Extraction engine | smart software with a vocabulary of jobrelated skills that allows it to recognize and catalog terms in your scannable résumé.
|
|
|
|
| Extranet | an intranet that is restricted to an organization and certain outsiders, such as customers and suppliers.
|
|
|
|
| Fair Use Doctrine | allows you to use copyrighted material in certain situations.
|
|
|
|
| Feature analysis | the step of ASR in which the system captures your words as you speak into a microphone, eliminates any background noise, and converts the digital signals of your speech into phonemes (syllables).
|
|
|
|
| Feature creep | occurs when developers add extra features that were not part of the initial requirements.
|
|
|
|
| File transfer protocol (ftp) | the communications protocol that allows you to transfer files of information from one computer to another.
|
|
|
|
| Financial cybermediaries | Internet-based companies that make it easy for one person to pay another person over the Internet.
|
|
|
|
| Financial EDI (FEDI) | the use of EDI for payments.
|
|
|
|
| Firewall | hardware and/or software that protects a computer or network from intruders.
|
|
|
|
| First mover | the company first to market with a new IT-based product or service.
|
|
|
|
| Five forces model | a model developed to determine the relative attractiveness of an industry.
|
|
|
|
| Flat-panel display | thin, lightweight monitor that takes up much less space than a CRT.
|
|
|
|
| Floppy disk | storage device that is great for portability of information and ease of updating but holds only 1.44MB of information.
|
|
|
|
| Foreign key | a primary key of one file (relation) that appears in another file (relation).
|
|
|
|
| Forensic image copy | an exact copy or snapshot of the contents of an electronic medium.
|
|
|
|
| Front office system | the primary interface to customers and sales channels.
|
|
|
|
| FTP (file transfer protocol) server | maintains a collection of files that you can download.
|
|
|
|
| Genetic algorithm | an artificial intelligence system that mimics the evolutionary, survival-of-the-fittest process to generate increasingly better solutions to a problem.
|
|
|
|
| Geographic information system (GIS) | a decision support system designed specifically to work with spatial information.
|
|
|
|
| Gigabyte (GB or Gig) | roughly 1 billion characters.
|
|
|
|
| Gigahertz (GHz) | the number of billions of CPU cycles per second.
|
|
|
|
| Global digital divide | the term used specifically to describe differences in IT access and capabilities between different countries or regions of the world.
|
|
|
|
| Global economy | one in which customers, businesses, suppliers, distributors, and manufacturers all operate without regard to physical and geographical boundaries.
|
|
|
|
| Global positioning system (GPS) | a collection of 24 earthorbiting satellites that continuously transmit radio signals to determine your current longitude, latitude, speed, and direction of movement.
|
|
|
|
| Global reach | the ability to extend a company's reach to customers anywhere there is an Internet connection, and at a much lower cost.
|
|
|
|
| Glove | an input device that captures and records the shape and movement of your hand and fingers and the strength of your hand and finger movements.
|
|
|
|
| Government-to-business (G2B) | the electronic commerce activities performed between a government and its business partners for such purposes as purchasing direct and indirect materials, soliciting bids for work, and accepting bids for work.
|
|
|
|
| Government-to-consumer (G2C) | the electronic commerce activities performed between a government and its citizens or consumers including paying taxes, registering vehicles, and providing information and services.
|
|
|
|
| Government-to-government (G2G) | the electric commerce activities limited to a single nation's government focusing on vertical integration (local, city, state, and federal) and horizontal integration (within the various branches and agencies).
|
|
|
|
| Graphical user interface (GUI) | the interface to an information system.
|
|
|
|
| Graphics software | helps you create and edit photos and art.
|
|
|
|
| Grid computing | harnesses far-flung computers together by way of the Internet or a virtual private network to share CPU power, databases, and storage.
|
|
|
|
| Group document database | a powerful storage facility for organizing and managing all documents related to specific teams.
|
|
|
|
| Groupware | the popular term for the software component that supports the collaborative efforts of a team.
|
|
|
|
| GUI screen design | the ability to model the information system screens for an entire system.
|
|
|
|
| Hacker | a very knowledgeable computer user who uses his or her knowledge to invade other people's computers.
|
|
|
|
| Hacktivist | a politically motivated hacker who uses the Internet to send a political message of some kind.
|
|
|
|
| Handspring | a type of PDA that runs on the Palm Operating System (Palm OS).
|
|
|
|
| Hard disk | storage device that rests within your system box and offers both ease of updating and great storage capacity.
|
|
|
|
| Hardware | the physical devices that make up a computer (often referred to as a computer system).
|
|
|
|
| Hardware key logger | a hardware device that captures keystrokes on their journey from the keyboard to the motherboard.
|
|
|
|
| Heading tag | HTML tag that makes certain information, such as titles, stand out on your Web site.
|
|
|
|
| Headset | a combined input and output device that (1) captures and records the movement of your head, and (2) contains a screen that covers your entire field of vision and displays various views of an environment based on your movements.
|
|
|
|
| Help desk | responds to knowledge workers' questions.
|
|
|
|
| Hidden job market | the collective term used to describe jobs that are not advertised. Up to 80 percent of new jobs fall into this category.
|
|
|
|
| High-capacity floppy disk | storage device that is great for portability and ease of updating and holds between 100MB and 250MB of information. Superdisks and Zip disks are examples.
|
|
|
|
| Holographic device | a device that creates, captures, and/or displays images in true three-dimensional form.
|
|
|
|
| Home PNA (Home Phoneline Networking Alliance) | allows you to network your home computers using telephone wiring.
|
|
|
|
| Horizontal market software | application software that is general enough to be suitable for use in a variety of industries.
|
|
|
|
| Hot site | a separate and fully equipped facility where the company can move immediately after the disaster and resume business.
|
|
|
|
| HTML document | a file that contains your Web site content and HTML formatting instructions.
|
|
|
|
| HTML tag | specifies the formatting and presentation of information on a Web site.
|
|
|
|
| Hypertext markup language (HTML) | the language you use to create a Web site.
|
|
|
|
| Hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) | the communications protocol that supports the movement of information over the Web, essentially from a Web server to you.
|
|
|
|
| Implant chip | a technology-enabled microchip implanted into the human body.
|
|
|
|
| Implementation | the final step in the decision-making process where you put your plan into action.
|
|
|
|
| Implementation phase | distributes the system to all of the knowledge workers and they begin using the system to perform their everyday jobs.
|
|
|
|
| Indirect material | (commonly called MRO materials) material that is necessary for running a modern corporation, but does not relate to the company's primary business activities.
|
|
|
|
| Inference engine | the processing component of the expert system. It takes your problem facts and searches the knowledge base for rules that fit your problem facts.
|
|
|
|
| Information | data that have a particular meaning within a specific context.
|
|
|
|
| Information age | a time when knowledge is power.
|
|
|
|
| Information decomposition | breaking down the information and procedures for ease of use and understandability.
|
|
|
|
| Information granularity | the extent of detail within the information.
|
|
|
|
| Information-literate knowledge workers | can define what information they need, know how and were to obtain that information, understand the information once they receive it, and act appropriately based on the information to help the organization achieve the greatest advantage.
|
|
|
|
| Information partnership | two or more companies that cooperate by integrating their IT systems, thereby providing customers with the best of what each can offer.
|
|
|
|
| Information technology (IT) | any computer-based tool that people use to work with information and support the information and information-processing needs of an organization.
|
|
|
|
| Information view | includes all of the information stored within a system.
|
|
|
|
| Infrared | a wireless communications medium that uses light waves to transmit signals or information.
|
|
|
|
| Inheritance | the ability to define superclass and subclass relationships among classes.
|
|
|
|
| Inkjet printer | makes images by forcing ink droplets through nozzles.
|
|
|
|
| Input device | a tool you use to capture information and commands.
|
|
|
|
| Insourcing | means that IT specialists within your organization will develop the system.
|
|
|
|
| Instance | an occurrence of an entity class that can be uniquely described.
|
|
|
|
| Integration | allows separate systems to communicate directly with each other by automatically exporting data files from one system and importing them into another.
|
|
|
|
| Integrity constraints | rules that help ensure the quality of the information.
|
|
|
|
| Intellectual property | intangible creative work that is embodied in physical form.
|
|
|
|
| Intelligence | the first step in the decision-making process where you find or recognize a problem, need, or opportunity (also called the diagnostic phase of decision-making).
|
|
|
|
| Intelligent agent | software that assists you, or acts on your behalf, in performing repetitive computer-related tasks.
|
|
|
|
| Interactive chat | lets you engage in real-time typed exchange of information between you and one or more other individuals over the Internet.
|
|
|
|
| Interface | any device that calls procedures and can include such things as a keyboard, mouse, and touch screen.
|
|
|
|
| Intermediary | a specialist company that provides services better than its client companies can themselves.
|
|
|
|
| Internal information | information that describes specific operational aspects of the organization.
|
|
|
|
| International government-to-government (IG2G) | the electronic commerce activities performed between two or more governments, including providing foreign aid.
|
|
|
|
| International virtual private network (international VPN) | virtual private networks that depend on services offered by phone companies of various nationalities.
|
|
|
|
| Internet | a vast network of computers that connects millions of people all over the world.
|
|
|
|
| Internet backbone | the major set of connections for computers on the Internet.
|
|
|
|
| Internet server computer | computer that provides information and services on the Internet.
|
|
|
|
| Internet service provider (ISP) | a company that provides individuals, organizations, and businesses access to the Internet.
|
|
|
|
| Internet telephony | a combination of hardware and software that uses the Internet as the medium for transmission of telephone calls in place of traditional telephone networks.
|
|
|
|
| Interorganizational system (IOS) | automates the flow of information between organizations to support the planning, design, development, production, and delivery of products and services.
|
|
|
|
| Intersection relation (sometimes called a composite relation) | a relation you create to eliminate a many-to-many relationship.
|
|
|
|
| Intranet | an internal organizational Internet that is guarded against outside access by a special security feature called a firewall (which can be software, hardware, or a combination of the two).
|
|
|
|
| Intrusion-detection software | looks for people on the network who shouldn't be there or who are acting suspiciously.
|
|
|
|
| IRC (Internet relay chat) | server supports your use of discussion groups and chat rooms.
|
|
|
|
| IrDA (infrared data association) port | for wireless devices that work in essentially the same way as the remote control on your TV.
|
|
|
|
| IT infrastructure | the hardware, software, and telecommunications equipment, that when combined, provides the underlying foundation to support the organization's goals.
|
|
|
|
| Joint application development (JAD) | occurs when knowledge workers and IT specialists meet, sometimes for several days, to define or review the business requirements for the system.
|
|
|
|
| Just-in-time (JIT) | an approach that produces or delivers a product or service just at the time the customer wants it.
|
|
|
|
| Keyboard | today's most popular input technology.
|
|
|
|
| Key logger (or key trapper) | software a program that, when installed on a computer, records every keystroke and mouse click.
|
|
|
|
| Knowledge acquisition | the component of the expert system that the knowledge engineer uses to enter the rules.
|
|
|
|
| Knowledge base | stores the rules of the expert system.
|
|
|
|
| Knowledge-based system | also known as an expert system, an artificial intelligence system that applies reasoning capabilities to reach a conclusion.
|
|
|
|
| Knowledge engineer | the person who formulates the domain expertise into an expert system.
|
|
|
|
| Knowledge worker | works with and produces information as a product.
|
|
|
|
| Language processing | the step of ASR in which the system attempts to make sense of what you're saying by comparing the word phonemes generated in step 2 with a language model database.
|
|
|
|
| Laser printer | forms images using an electrostatic process, the same way a photocopier works.
|
|
|
|
| Last-mile bottleneck | problem occurs when information is traveling on the Internet over a very fast line for a certain distance and then comes near your home where it must travel over a slower line.
|
|
|
|
| Legacy system | a previously built system using older technologies such as mainframe computers and programming languages such as COBOL.
|
|
|
|
| Link (the technical name is hyperlink) | clickable text or an image that takes you to another site or page on the Web.
|
|
|
|
| Linux | an open-source operating system that provides a rich operating environment for high-end workstations and network servers.
|
|
|
|
| List | a collection of information arranged in columns and rows in which each column displays one particular type of information.
|
|
|
|
| List definition table | a description of a list by column.
|
|
|
|
| Local area network (LAN) | a network that covers a limited geographic distance, such as an office, a building, or a group of buildings in close proximity to each other.
|
|
|
|
| Logical view | focuses on how you as a knowledge worker need to arrange and access information to meet your particular business needs.
|
|
|
|
| Mac OS | the operating system for today's Apple computers.
|
|
|
|
| Macro virus | spreads by binding itself to software such as Word or Excel.
|
|
|
|
| Mailing list | discussion groups organized by area of interest.
|
|
|
|
| Mail server | provides e-mail services and accounts.
|
|
|
|
| Mainframe computer (sometimes just called a mainframe) | a computer designed to meet the computing needs of hundreds of people in a large business environment.
|
|
|
|
| Maintenance phase | monitors and supports the new system to ensure it continues to meet the business goals.
|
|
|
|
| Management information systems (MIS) | deals with the planning for, development, management, and use of information technology tools to help people perform all tasks related to information processing and management.
|
|
|
|
| Marketing mix | the set of marketing tools that a firm uses to pursue its marketing objectives in the target market.
|
|
|
|
| Mass customization | when a business gives its customers the opportunity to tailor its product or service to the customer's specifications.
|
|
|
|
| M-commerce | the term used to describe electronic commerce conducted over a wireless device such as a cell phone or personal digital assistant.
|
|
|
|
| MD5 hash value | a mathematically generated string of 32 letters and digits that is unique for an individual storage medium at a specific point in time.
|
|
|
|
| Megabyte (MB or M or Meg) | roughly 1 million bytes.
|
|
|
|
| Megahertz (MHz) | the number of millions of CPU cycles per second.
|
|
|
|
| Message | how objects communicate with each other.
|
|
|
|
| Messaging-based workflow system | sends work assignments through an e-mail system.
|
|
|
|
| Meta tag | a part of a Web site text not displayed to users but accessible to browsers and search engines for finding and categorizing Web sites.
|
|
|
|
| Micro-payment | a technique to facilitate the exchange of small amounts of money for an Internet transaction.
|
|
|
|
| Microphone | for capturing live sounds such as a dog barking or your voice (for automatic speech recognition).
|
|
|
|
| Microsoft Windows 2000 Millennium (Windows 2000 Me) | an operating system for a home computer user with utilities for setting up a home network and performing video, photo, and music editing and cataloging.
|
|
|
|
| Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional (Windows 2000 Pro) | an operating system for people who have a personal computer connected to a network of other computers at work or at school.
|
|
|
|
| Microsoft Windows XP Home | Microsoft's latest upgrade to Windows 2000 Me, with enhanced features for allowing multiple people to use the same computer.
|
|
|
|
| Microsoft Windows XP Professional (Windows XP Pro) | Microsoft's latest upgrade to Windows 2000 Pro.
|
|
|
|
| Microwave | a type of radio transmission used to transmit information.
|
|
|
|
| Minicomputer (sometimes called a mid-range computer) | designed to meet the computing needs of several people simultaneously in a small to medium-size business environment.
|
|
|
|
| Modeling | the activity of drawing a graphical representation of a design.
|
|
|
|
| Model management | component of a DSS that consists of the DSS models and the DSS model management system.
|
|
|
|
| Monitoring-and-surveillance agents (or predictive agents) | intelligent agents that observe and report on equipment.
|
|
|
|
| Mouse | today's most popular "pointing" input device.
|
|
|
|
| Multidimensional analysis (MDA) | tools slice-and-dice techniques that allow you to view multidimensional information from different perspectives.
|
|
|
|
| Multifunction printer | scans, copies, and faxes, as well as prints.
|
|
|
|
| Multitasking | allows you to work with more than one piece of software at a time.
|
|
|
|
| Municipal area network (MAN) | a network that covers a metropolitan area.
|
|
|
|
| Mutation | the process within a genetic algorithm of randomly trying combinations and evaluating the success (or failure) of the outcome.
|
|
|
|
| Network | two or more computers connected so that they can communicate with each other and possibly share information, software, peripheral devices, and/or processing power.
|
|
|
|
| Network access point (NAP) | a point on the Internet where several connections converge.
|
|
|
|
| Network hub | a device that connects multiple computers into a network.
|
|
|
|
| Network interface card (NIC) | an expansion card or a PC Card (for a notebook computer) that connects your computer to a network and provides the doorway for information to flow in and out.
|
|
|
|
| Network service provider (NSP) | such as MCI or AT&T, owns and maintains routing computers at NAPs and even the lines that connect the NAPs to each other.
|
|
|
|
| Neural network (often called an artificial neural network or ANN) | an artificial intelligence system that is capable of finding and differentiating patterns.
|
|
|
|
| Nonrecurring, or ad hoc, decision | one that you make infrequently (perhaps only once) and you may even have different criteria for determining the best solution each time.
|
|
|
|
| Nonstructured decision | a decision for which there may be several "right" answers and there is no precise way to get a right answer.
|
|
|
|
| Normalization | a process of assuring that a relational database structure can be implemented as a series of two-dimensional relations.
|
|
|
|
| Notebook computer | a fully functional computer designed for you to carry around and run on battery power.
|
|
|
|
| Object | an instance of a class.
|
|
|
|
| Objective information | quantifiably describes something that is known.
|
|
|
|
| Object-oriented (OO) | approach combines information and procedures into a single view.
|
|
|
|
| Object-oriented database | works with traditional database information and also complex data types such as diagrams, schematic drawings, videos, and sound and text documents.
|
|
|
|
| Object-oriented programming language | a programming language used to develop object-oriented systems.
|
|
|
|
| Online analytical processing (OLAP) | the manipulation of information to support decision making.
|
|
|
|
| Online training | runs over the Internet or off a CD-ROM.
|
|
|
|
| Online transaction processing (OLTP) | the gathering of input information, processing that information, and updating existing information to reflect the gathered and processed information.
|
|
|
|
| Operating system software | system software that controls your application software and manages how your hardware devices work together.
|
|
|
|
| Operational database | a database that supports OLTP.
|
|
|
|
| Operational management | manages and directs the day-to-day operations and implementations of the goals and strategies.
|
|
|
|
| Optical fiber | a telecommunications medium that uses a very thin glass or plastic fiber through which pulses of light travel.
|
|
|
|
| Optical mark recognition (OMR) | detects the presence or absence of a mark in a predetermined place (popular for multiple choice exams).
|
|
|
|
| Output device | a tool you use to see, hear, or otherwise accept the results of your information-processing requests.
|
|
|
|
| Outsourcing | the delegation of specific work to a third party for a specified length of time, at a specified cost, and at a specified level of service.
|
|
|
|
| Palm | a type of PDA that runs on the Palm Operating System (Palm OS).
|
|
|
|
| Palm Operating System (Palm OS) | the operating system for Palm and Handspring PDAs.
|
|
|
|
| Parallel connector | has 25 pins, which fit into the corresponding holes in the port. Most printers use parallel connectors.
|
|
|
|
| Pattern classification | the step of ASR in which the system matches your spoken phonemes to a phoneme sequence stored in an acoustic model database.
|
|
|
|
| Peer-to-peer network | a network in which a small number of computers share hardware (such as a printer), software, and/or information.
|
|
|
|
| Performance | measures how quickly an IT system performs a certain process.
|
|
|
|
| Permission marketing | when you have given a merchant your permission to send you special offers.
|
|
|
|
| Personal agent (or user agent) | an intelligent agent that takes action on your behalf.
|
|
|
|
| Personal digital assistant (PDA) | a small hand-held computer that helps you surf the Web and perform simple tasks such as note taking, calendaring, appointment scheduling, and maintaining an address book.
|
|
|
|
| Personal finance software | helps you maintain your checkbook, prepare a budget, track investments, monitor your credit card balances, and pay bills electronically.
|
|
|
|
| Personal information management (PIM) software | helps you create and maintain (1) to-do lists, (2) appointments and calendars, and (3) points of contact.
|
|
|
|
| Personalization | when a Web site can know enough about your likes and dislikes that it can fashion offers that are more likely to appeal to you.
|
|
|
|
| Personal productivity software | helps you perform personal tasks-such as writing a memo, creating a graph, and creating a slide presentation-that you can usually do even if you don't own a computer.
|
|
|
|
| Physical view | deals with how information is physically arranged, stored, and accessed on some type of storage device such as a hard disk.
|
|
|
|
| Pirated software | is the unauthorized use, duplication, distribution or sale of copyrighted software.
|
|
|
|
| Pivot table | enables you to group and summarize information.
|
|
|
|
| Planning phase | involves determining a solid plan for developing your information system.
|
|
|
|
| PNA adapter card | an expansion card that you put into your computer to act as a doorway for information flowing in and out.
|
|
|
|
| PocketPC | a type of PDA that runs on Pocket PC OS that used to be called Windows CE.
|
|
|
|
| Pocket PC OS (or Windows CE) | the operating system for the PocketPC PDA.
|
|
|
|
| Pointing stick | small rubberlike pointing device that causes the pointer to move on the screen as you apply directional pressure (popular on notebooks).
|
|
|
|
| Point-of-sale (POS) | for capturing information at the point of a transaction, typically in a retail environment.
|
|
|
|
| Polymorphism | to have many forms.
|
|
|
|
| Port | the plug-in found on the outside of your system box (usually in the back) into which you plug a connector.
|
|
|
|
| Portable document format (PDF) | the standard electronic distribution file format for heavily formatted documents such as a presentation résumé because it retains the original document formatting.
|
|
|
|
| Presentation résumé | a format-sensitive document created in a word processor to outline your job qualifications in one to two printed pages.
|
|
|
|
| Presentation software | helps you create and edit information that will appear in electronic slides.
|
|
|
|
| Primary key | a field (or group of fields in some cases) that uniquely describes each record.
|
|
|
|
| Privacy | the right to be left alone when you want to be, to have control over your own personal possessions, and not to be observed without your consent.
|
|
|
|
| Private network | the communications media that your organization owns or exclusively leases to connect networks or network components.
|
|
|
|
| Procedure | manipulates or changes information
|
|
|
|
| Procedure view | contains all of the procedures within a system.
|
|
|
|
| Profile filtering | requires that you choose terms or enter keywords to provide a more personal picture of you and your preferences.
|
|
|
|
| Program | a set of instructions that, when executed, causes a computer to behave in a specific manner.
|
|
|
|
| Programming language | the tool developers use to write a program.
|
|
|
|
| Project manager | an individual who is an expert in project planning and management, defines and develops the project plan and tracks the plan to ensure all key project milestones are completed on time.
|
|
|
|
| Project milestone | represents a key date for which you need a certain group of activities performed.
|
|
|
|
| Project plan | defines the what, when, and who questions of system development including all activities to be performed, the individuals, or resources, who will perform the activities, and the time required to complete each activity.
|
|
|
|
| Project scope | clearly defines the high-level system requirements.
|
|
|
|
| Project scope document | a written definition of the project scope and is usually no longer than a paragraph.
|
|
|
|
| Project team | a team designed to accomplish specific one-time goals, which is disbanded once the project is complete.
|
|
|
|
| Proof-of-concept prototype | a prototype you use to prove the technical feasibility of a proposed system.
|
|
|
|
| Prototype | a model of a proposed product, service, or system.
|
|
|
|
| Prototyping | the process of building a model that demonstrates the features of a proposed product, service, or system.
|
|
|
|
| Psychographic filtering | anticipates your preferences based on the answers you give to a questionnaire.
|
|
|
|
| Public key encryption (PKE) | an encryption system that uses two keys: a public key that everyone can have and a private key for only the recipient.
|
|
|
|
| Public network | a network on which your organization competes for time with others.
|
|
|
|
| Pure play | an Internet retailer such as Amazon.com that has no physical stores.
|
|
|
|
| Push technology | an environment in which businesses and organizations come to you with information, services, and product offerings based on your profile.
|
|
|
|
| Query-and-reporting tools | similar to QBE tools, SQL, and report generators in the typical database environment.
|
|
|
|
| Query-by-example (QBE) tool | helps you graphically design the answer to a question.
|
|
|
|
| RAM (random access memory) | temporary storage that holds the information you're working with, the application software you're using, and the operating system software you're using.
|
|
|
|
| Recovery | the process of reinstalling the backup information in the event the information was lost.
|
|
|
|
| Recurring decision | a decision that you have to make repeatedly and often periodically, whether weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly.
|
|
|
|
| Relation | describes each two-dimensional table or file in the relational model (hence its name relational database model).
|
|
|
|
| Relational database | uses a series of logically related two-dimensional tables or files to store information in the form of a database.
|
|
|
|
| Repeater | a device that receives a radio signal, strengthens it, and sends it on.
|
|
|
|
| Report generator | helps you quickly define formats of reports and what information you want to see in a report.
|
|
|
|
| Request for proposal (RFP) | a formal document that describes in detail your logical requirements for a proposed system and invites outsourcing organizations (which we'll refer to as "vendors") to submit bids for its development.
|
|
|
|
| Requirement definition document | defines all of the business requirements and prioritizes them in order of business importance and places them in a formal comprehensive document.
|
|
|
|
| Resolution of a printer | the number of dots per inch (dpi) a printer produces, which is the same principle as the resolution in monitors.
|
|
|
|
| Resolution of a screen | the number of pixels a screen has. Pixels (picture elements) are the dots that make up an image on your screen.
|
|
|
|
| Reverse auction | the process in which a buyer posts its interest in buying a certain quantity of items, and sellers compete for the business by submitting successively lower bids until there is only one seller left.
|
|
|
|
| Risk assessment | the process of evaluating IT assets, their importance to the organization, and their susceptibility to threats, to measure the risk exposure of these assets.
|
|
|
|
| Risk management | consists of the identification of risks or threats, the implementation of security measures, and the monitoring of those measures for effectiveness.
|
|
|
|
| Rivalry among existing competitors | makes an industry less attractive to enter when high and more attractive to enter when low.
|
|
|
|
| Robot | a mechanical device equipped with simulated human senses and the capability of taking action on its own.
|
|
|
|
| Router | a device that acts as a smart hub connecting computers into a network, and it also separates your network from any other network it's connected to.
|
|
|
|
| Rule-based expert system | the type of expert system that expresses the problem-solving process as rules.
|
|
|
|
| Safe-harbor principles | the set of rules to which U.S. businesses that want to trade with the European Union (EU) must adhere.
|
|
|
|
| Sales force automation (SFA) system | automatically tracks all of the steps in the sales process.
|
|
|
|
| Satellite modem | a modem that allows you to get Internet access from a satellite dish.
|
|
|
|
| Scalability | refers to how well your system can adapt to increased demands.
|
|
|
|
| Scannable résumé (ASCII résumé, plain-text résumé) | designed to be evaluated by skills-extraction software and typically contain all résumé content without any formatting.
|
|
|
|
| Scanner | captures images, photos, and artwork that already exist on paper.
|
|
|
|
| Scope creep | occurs when the scope of the project increases.
|
|
|
|
| Script bunny (or script kiddie) | someone who would like to be a hacker but doesn't have much technical expertise.
|
|
|
|
| Script kiddie (or script bunny) | someone who would like to be a hacker but doesn't have much technical expertise.
|
|
|
|
| Search engine | a facility on the Web that helps you find sites with the information and/or services you want.
|
|
|
|
| Security auditing software | checks out your computer or network for potential weaknesses.
|
|
|
|
| Selection | the process within a genetic algorithm that gives preference to better outcomes.
|
|
|
|
| Self-organizing neural network | a network that finds patterns and relationships in vast amounts of data by itself.
|
|
|
|
| Selfsourcing (also called knowledge worker development or end-user development) | the development and support of IT systems by knowledge workers with little or no help from IT specialists.
|
|
|
|
| Selling prototype | a prototype you use to convince people of the worth of a proposed system.
|
|
|
|
| Serial connector | usually has 9 holes but may have 25, which fit into the corresponding number of pins in the port. Serial connectors are often most used for monitors and certain types of modems.
|
|
|
|
| Server farm | a location that stores a group of servers in a single place.
|
|
|
|
| Service Level Agreement (SLA) | defines the specific responsibilities of the service provider and sets the customer expectations.
|
|
|
|
| Shared information | an environment in which an organization's information is organized in one central location, allowing anyone to access and use it as he or she needs to.
|
|
|
|
| Sign-off | the knowledge workers' actual signatures indicating they approve all of the business requirements.
|
|
|
|
| Skill words | nouns and adjectives used by organizations to describe job skills which should be woven into the text of applicants' résumés.
|
|
|
|
| Slack space | the space left over from the end of the file to the end of the cluster.
|
|
|
|
| Smart cards | plastic cards the size of a credit card that contain an embedded chip on which digital information can be stored.
|
|
|
|
| Sociability | the ability of intelligent agents to confer with each other.
|
|
|
|
| Social engineering | conning your way into acquiring information that you have no right to.
|
|
|
|
| Software | the set of instructions that your hardware executes to carry out a specific task for you.
|
|
|
|
| Software suite | bundled software that comes from the same publisher and costs less than buying all the software pieces individually.
|
|
|
|
| Spam | unsolicited e-mail.
|
|
|
|
| Spoofing | the forging of the return address on an e-mail so that the e-mail message appears to come from someone other than the actual sender.
|
|
|
|
| Spreadsheet software | helps you work primarily with numbers, including performing calculations and creating graphs.
|
|
|
|
| Spyware (also called sneakware or stealthware) | software that comes hidden in free downloadable software and tracks your online movements, mines the information stored on your computer, or uses your computer's CPU and storage for some task you know nothing about.
|
|
|
|
| Steganography | the hiding of information inside other information.
|
|
|
|
| Storage device | a tool you use to store information for use at a later time.
|
|
|
|
| Strategic management | provides an organization with overall direction and guidance.
|
|
|
|
| Structured decision | a decision where processing a certain kind of information in a specified way ensures you will always get the right answer.
|
|
|
|
| Structured query language (SQL) | a standardized fourth-generation query language found in most DBMSs.
|
|
|
|
| Structure tag | HTML tag that sets up the necessary sections and specifies that the document is indeed an HTML document.
|
|
|
|
| Subjective information | attempts to describe something that is unknown.
|
|
|
|
| Supercomputer | the fastest, most powerful, and most expensive type of computer.
|
|
|
|
| Supplier power | high when buyers have few choices of whom to buy from, and low when there are many choices.
|
|
|
|
| Supply chain | the paths reaching out to all of a company's suppliers of parts and services.
|
|
|
|
| Supply chain management (SCM) system | tracks inventory and information among business processes and across companies.
|
|
|
|
| Switch | a device that connects multiple computers into a network in which multiple communications links can be in operation simultaneously.
|
|
|
|
| Switching costs | costs that can make customers reluctant to switch to another product or service.
|
|
|
|
| System bus | the electronic pathways that move information between basic components on the motherboard, including between your CPU and RAM.
|
|
|
|
| System development life cycle (SDLC) | a structured step-bystep approach for developing information systems.
|
|
|
|
| System software | handles tasks specific to technology management and coordinates the interaction of all technology devices.
|
|
|
|
| Tactical management | develops the goals and strategies outlined by strategic management.
|
|
|
|
| TCP/IP (transport control protocol/Internet protocol) | the primary protocol for transmitting information over the Internet.
|
|
|
|
| Technical architecture | defines the hardware, software, and telecommunications equipment required to run the system.
|
|
|
|
| Technology-literate knowledge worker | a person who knows how and when to apply technology.
|
|
|
|
| Telecommunications device | a tool you use to send information to and receive it from another person or location.
|
|
|
|
| Telecommuting | the use of communications technologies (such as the Internet) to work in a place other than a central location.
|
|
|
|
| Telephone modem (or modem) | a device that connects your computer to your phone line so that you can access another computer or network.
|
|
|
|
| Temporary advantage | an advantage that, sooner or later, the competition duplicates or even leap-frogs you with a better system.
|
|
|
|
| Terabyte (TB) | roughly 1 trillion bytes.
|
|
|
|
| Test condition | a detailed step the system must perform along with the expected result of the step.
|
|
|
|
| Testing phase | verifies that the system works and meets all of the business requirements defined in the analysis phase.
|
|
|
|
| Thin client | a workstation with a small amount of processing power and costs less than a full-powered workstation.
|
|
|
|
| Threat of new entrants | high when it is easy for competitors to enter the market and low when it's difficult for competitors to enter the market.
|
|
|
|
| Threat of substitute products or services | alternatives to using a product or service.
|
|
|
|
| Three-dimensional (3-D) technology | presentations of information give you the illusion that the object you're viewing is actually in the room with you.
|
|
|
|
| Three generic strategies | cost leadership, differentiation, or a focused strategy.
|
|
|
|
| Thrill-seeker hacker | a hacker who breaks into computer systems for entertainment.
|
|
|
|
| Top-level domain | three-letter extension of a Web site address that identifies its type.
|
|
|
|
| Touch pad | another form of a stationary mouse on which you move your finger to cause the pointer on the screen to move (popular on notebooks).
|
|
|
|
| Touch screen | special screen that lets you use your finger to point at and touch a particular function you want to perform.
|
|
|
|
| Trackball | an upside-down, stationary mouse in which you move the ball instead of the device (mainly for notebooks).
|
|
|
|
| Traditional technology approach | has two primary views of any system - information and procedures - and it keeps these two views separate and distinct at all times.
|
|
|
|
| Transaction processing system (TPS) | a system that processes transactions that occur within an organization.
|
|
|
|
| Transnational firm | firm that produces and sells products and services in countries all over the world.
|
|
|
|
| Trojan horse software | software you don't want hidden inside software you do want.
|
|
|
|
| Trojan horse virus | hides inside other software, usually an attachment or download.
|
|
|
|
| True search engine | uses software agent technologies to search the Internet for key words and then places them into indexes.
|
|
|
|
| Unallocated space | the set of clusters that has been marked as available to store information but have not yet received a file, or still contain some or all of a file marked as deleted.
|
|
|
|
| Uninstaller software utility | software that you can use to remove software from your hard disk that you no longer want.
|
|
|
|
| URL (uniform resource locator) | an address for a specific Web page or document within a Web site.
|
|
|
|
| USB (universal serial bus) | becoming the most popular means of connecting devices to a computer. Most standard desktops today have at least two USB ports, and most standard notebooks have at least one.
|
|
|
|
| User acceptance testing (UAT) | determines if the system satisfies the business requirements and enables the knowledge workers to perform their jobs correctly.
|
|
|
|
| User agent (or personal agent) | an intelligent agent that takes action on your behalf.
|
|
|
|
| User documentation | highlights how to use the system.
|
|
|
|
| User interface management | the component of the expert system that you use to run a consultation.
|
|
|
|
| Utility software | software that provides additional functionality to your operating system.
|
|
|
|
| Value-added network (VAN) | a semipublic network that provides services beyond the movement of information from one place to another.
|
|
|
|
| Value chain | a tool that views the organization as a chain-or series-of processes, each of which adds value to the product or service for the customer.
|
|
|
|
| Value network | all of the resources behind the click on a Web page that the customer doesn't see, but that together create the customer relationship-service, order fulfillment, shipping, financing, information brokering, and access to other products and offers.
|
|
|
|
| Vertical market software | application software that is unique to a particular industry.
|
|
|
|
| View | allows you to see the contents of a database file, make whatever changes you want, perform simple sorting, and query to find the location of specific information.
|
|
|
|
| Viral marketing | encourages users of a product or service supplied by a B2C company to ask friends to join in as well.
|
|
|
|
| Virtual private network (VPN) | uses software to establish a secure channel on the Internet for transmitting data.
|
|
|
|
| Virtual reality | a three-dimensional computer simulation in which you actively and physically participate.
|
|
|
|
| Virtual workplace | a technology-enabled workplace. No walls. No boundaries. Work anytime, anyplace, linked to other people and information you need, wherever they are.
|
|
|
|
| Virus (or computer virus) | software that is written with malicious intent to cause annoyance or damage.
|
|
|
|
| Walker | an input device that captures and records the movement of your feet as you walk or turn in different directions.
|
|
|
|
| Wearable computer | a fully-equipped computer that you wear as a piece of clothing or attached to a piece of clothing similar to the way you would carry your cell phone on your belt.
|
|
|
|
| Web authoring software helps | you design and develop Web sites and pages that you publish on the Web.
|
|
|
|
| Web browser software | enables you to surf the Web.
|
|
|
|
| Web farm | either a Web site that has multiple servers, or an ISP that provides Web site outsourcing services using multiple servers.
|
|
|
|
| Web log | consists of one line of information for every visitor to a Web site and is usually stored on a Web server.
|
|
|
|
| Web page | a specific portion of a Web site that deals with a certain topic.
|
|
|
|
| Web portal | a site that provides a wide range of services, including search engines, free e-mail, chat rooms, discussion boards, and links to hundreds of different sites.
|
|
|
|
| Web server | provides information and services to Web surfers.
|
|
|
|
| Web Services | software applications that talk to other software applications over the Internet using XML as a key enabling technology.
|
|
|
|
| Web site | a specific location on the Web where you visit, gather information, and perhaps even order products.
|
|
|
|
| Web site address | a unique name that identifies a specific site on the Web.
|
|
|
|
| Web space | a storage area where you keep your Web site.
|
|
|
|
| White-hat (or ethical) hacker | a computer security professional who is hired by a company to break into its computer system.
|
|
|
|
| Wide area network (WAN) | a network that covers large geographic distances, such as a state, a country, or even the entire world.
|
|
|
|
| WiFi stands for wireless fidelity (also known as IEEE 802.11b) | a way of transmitting information in wave form that is reasonably fast and is often used for notebooks.
|
|
|
|
| Wired communications | media that transmit information over a closed, connected path
|
|
|
|
| Wireless communications | media that transmit information through the air.
|
|
|
|
| Wireless Internet service provider (wireless ISP) | a company that provides the same service as a standard Internet service provider except that the user doesn't need a wired connection for access.
|
|
|
|
| Wireless network access point or wireless access point | a device that allows computers to access a network using radio waves.
|
|
|
|
| Word processing software | helps you create papers, letters, memos, and other basic documents.
|
|
|
|
| Workflow | defines all of the steps or business rules, from beginning to end, required for a process to run correctly.
|
|
|
|
| Workflow system | automates business processes.
|
|
|
|
| Workshop training | held in a classroom environment and led by an instructor.
|
|
|
|
| World Wide Web, or Web | a multimedia-based collection of information, services, and Web sites supported by the Internet.
|
|
|
|
| Worm | a type of virus that spreads itself, not just from file to file, but from computer to computer via e-mail and other Internet traffic.
|
|
|
|
| XML (eXtensible Markup Language) | a coding language for the Web that lets computers interpret the meaning of information in Web documents.
|