Chapter 6 Definitions

Question 1

Data

Answer 1

Numerical or verbal descriptions that usually result from some sort of measurement.

Question 2

Information

Answer 2

Data presented in a form that is useful for a specific purpose.

Question 3

Database

Answer 3

A single collection of data and information stored in one place that can be used by people throughout an organization to make decisions.

Question 4

Knowledge management (KM)

Answer 4

A firm’s procedures for generating, using, and sharing the data and information

Question 5

Management information system (MIS)

Answer 5

A system that provides managers and employees with the information they need to perform their jobs as effectively as possible.

Question 6

Information technology (IT) officer

Answer 6

A manager at the executive level who is responsible for ensuring that a firm has the equipment necessary to provide the information the firm’s employees and managers need to make effective decisions.

Question 7

Data Processing

Answer 7

The transformation of data into a form that is useful for a specific purpose.

Question 8

Statistic

Answer 8

A measure that summarises a particular characteristic of an entire group of numbers.

Question 9

Decision-suppert system (DSS)

Answer 9

A type of computer program that provides relevant data and information to help a firm’s employees make decisions.

Question 10

Executive information system (EIS)

Answer 10

A computer-based system that facilitates and supports the decision-making needs of top managers and senior executives by providing easy access to both internal and external information

Question 11

Expert system

Answer 11

A type of computer program that uses artificial intelligence to imitate a human’s ability to think.

Question 12

Groupware

Answer 12

One of the latest types of software that facilitates the management of large projects among geographically dispersed employees as well as such group activities as problem solving and brainstorming.

Question 13

Collaborative Learning System

Answer 13

A work environment that allows problem solving participation by all team members.

Question 14

Virtual office

Answer 14

Allows employees to work at any place where they have access to computers, software and other technology that enables them to perform their normal work activities.

Question 15

Computer Backup

Answer 15

A process of storing data, information, and computer systems on secondary computer systems that can be accessed if a firm’s main computer system fails.

Question 16

Information society

Answer 16

A society in which large groups of employees generate or depend on information to perform their jobs.

Question 17

Internet

Answer 17

A worldwide network of computers linked through telecommunications

Question 18

World Wide Web (the Web)

Answer 18

The Internet’s multimedia environment of audio, visual and text data.

Question 19

Broadband technology

Answer 19

A general term referring to higher speed internet connections that deliver data, voice and video material

Question 20

Intranet

Answer 20

A smaller version of the internet for use within a firm’s computer network.

Question 21

Computer network

Answer 21

A group of two or more computers linked together that allows users to share data and information

Question 22

Wide-area network (WAN)

Answer 22

A network that connects computers over a large geographic area, such as a city, a state, or even the world.

Question 23

Local-area network (LAN)

Answer 23

A network that connects computers that are in close proximity to each other, such as an office building or a college campus.

Question 24

E-business (electronic business)

Answer 24

The organized effort of individuals to produce and sell, for a profit, the products and services that satisfy society’s needs through the facilities available on the Internet.

Question 25

Outsourcing

Answer 25

The process of finding outside vendors and suppliers that provide professional help, parts, or materials at a lower cost.

Question 26

Revenue Stream

Answer 26

A source of revenue flowing into a firm.

Question 27

Business Model

Answer 27

Represents a group of common characteristics and methods of doing business to generate sales revenues and reduce expenses.

Question 28

Business-to-business (B2B) model

Answer 28

A model used by firms that conduct business with other businesses.

Question 29

Business-to-consumer (B2C) model

Answer 29

A model used by firms that focus on conducting business with individual consumers.

Question 30

Social network site

Answer 30

A web site (often called a social site) that functions like an online community of internet users where you can share your profile, messages and photographs with family and friends.

Question 31

Spamming

Answer 31

The sending of massive amounts of unsolicited e-mails

Question 32

Cookie

Answer 32

A small piece of software sent by a website that tracks an individual’s internet use.

Question 33

Log-file records

Answer 33

Files that store a record of the website visited

Question 34

Data mining

Answer 34

The practice of searching through data records looking for useful information.

Question 35

Malware

Answer 35

A general term that describes software designed to infiltrate a computer system without the user’s consent

Question 36

Computer Virus

Answer 36

A software code designed to disrupt normal computer operations

Question 37

Cloud computing

Answer 37

A type of computer usage in which services stored on the internet are provided to users on a temporary basis.

Question 38

green IT

Answer 38

A term used to describe all of a firm’s activities to support a healthy environment and sustain the planet.