Information Technlogy Flashcards
Processes data and transactiosn to provide users with the information they need to plan, control and operate an organization
Information Systems
An IS designed to improve productivity by supporting daily work of employees (ex. word processing, email, etc)
Office automation system
An IS that involves hte daily processing of transactions (ex. payroll processing)
Transaction processing system
An IS designed to help with the decision making process by providing access to computer data
Management reporting system
A management reporting system that’s designed to provide past, present and future information for planning, organzing, and controllin the operations of hte organization
Management information system
A management reporting system that combines models and data to resolve NONSTRUCTURED problems with extensive user involvement
Decision support system
A management reporting system that applies resoning methods to data in a specific relatively structured area to render advice or recommendations, much like a human expert
Expert system
A managmenet reporting system that is specifically designed to support executive work
Executive IS
The traditional methodology for developing information systems, characterized by its phases, each representing a specific set of development activities: Planning Analysis Design Development Testing Implemntation Maintenance
Systems Development Lifecycle (SDLC)
Phase of SDLC in which the problem is identified, plan is developed, and scope
Planning Phase
Phase of SDLC in which teams are developed to analyze the problem and system and create a needs assessment and gap analysis
Analysis Phase
Phase of SDLC where technical blueprints are built
Design Phase
Phase of SDLC in which the documents from the design phase are transformed into the actual system
Development Phase
Phase of SDLC in which tests are done to verifythat hte sytem works and meets the business requirements
Testing Phase
TEsting the units or pieces of code
Unite testing
Testing of the integration fo the units or pieces of code into a sytem
System testing
T
Testing whether the separate systems can work together
Integration testing
Testing whether the system meets the business reqquirements and enables users to perofrm their jobs efficently and effectively
User acceptance testing
The phase of SDLC involves putting the system in operation by the users
Implementation phase
Involves using both systems until it is determined that hte new system is operating properly
Parallel implementation
Ceasing using the old system and beginning using hte new system immediately (low cost, high risk)
Pluge implementation
Having a small group of individuals using the new system until it is seen to be working properly
Pilot implemntation
Installing a new system in a series of phases
Phased implementation
Phase of SDLC that ivolves monitoring and uspporting the new system
Maintenance phase
Extremely powerful, high-speed computers used for extremely high-volume and/or complex processing needs
Super computers
Large, powerful, high-speed computers traditionally used for high-volume transaction processing
Mainframe computer
High-powered microcomputers that serve applications and data to clients that are connected via a network; typically hae greater capacity than their clients and often act as a central repository for organizational data
Server
Computers designed to be used by one person at a time ; often called personal computers
Microcomputers
The principal hardware components of a computer; contains:
- an arithmetic/logic unit
- primary memory
- control unit
major function is to fetch stored instructions and data, decode the instructions, and carry them out
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Part of CPU that performs mathematical operaions and logical comparisons
Arithmetic/logic unit
Active data nd program steps that are being processed by the CPU; can be devided into RAM (Random-access memory) and ROM (Read-only memory)
Primary memory (storage)
Part of CPU that interprets program instructions and coordinates input, output, and storage devices
Control unit
Slowest type of storage available because data is stored sequentially; primarily used for archiving purposes today
Magnetic tape
The mot common storage medium in use on computers today; data can be accessed directly
Magnetic disks (hard disks, Hard disk drives)
A way of storing the same data reduntantly on multiple magnetic disks
RAID (Redundant array of independent disks)
Disks (CDs) and DVDs that use optical technology toread and write data to the diskc
Compact discs
Use microchips to store data and rquire no moving parts for read/write operations; faster and more expense than CDs, DVDs, and HDDs,
Solid State Drives (SSDs) “flash drives” USB drives”
storage hosted offsite, typically by third parties, and accessed via the Internet
Cloud-Based storage ; “Storage as a Service” (SaaS)
One binary digit
bit
A series of 8 bits
byte
a representation that is produced by the fluctuations of a continous signal (rather than using 0s and 1s) to transmit the functuations in the signal itself to represnet information
Analog
Equipment in direct communication with, and under the control of, the CPU; and having connection to the internet
online
Equipment not in direct communication with eCPU; the operator generally must intervene to connect this equipment or data to the CPU; also refers to lack of internet connection
Off-line
A terminal used for communication between the operator and the computer
Console
All non-CPU hardware that may be placed under the control of the central processor (consists of input, storage, output, and communication)
peripheral equipment
Hardware units designed to operate specific input-output units
Controllers
A temporary storage unit used to hold data during coomputer operaionts
Buffer
Millions of instructions per second; a unit for measuring the execution speed fo computers
MIPS
Uses keyboard to directly enter data into computer
Visual display terminal/monitors
A program that controls the display for hte user (usually on a computer monitor) and allows the user to interact with the system
Input interface
Uses icons, pictures, and menus instead of text for inputs
Graphical User interface (GUI)
Uses text-type commands
Command line interface
Documents that are sent to the customer and returend as inputs (ex. utility bills)
Turnaround documents
A device capable of sensing information recorded as magnetic spots on magnetic tape
Magnetic tape reader
Device that reads characters that have been encoded witha magnetic ink (ex. bank check readers)
Magnetic ink character reader (MICR)
A machine used to execute and record transacitons with financial instiutions
Automatic teller machine (ATM)
Uses radio waves to track and input data–increasingly used for inventory and contactless payment sistems
RFID Radio Frequency Identification (ex. Mobil’s speedpass)
Devices that read price and product code data–function as boht a terminal and cash register
Point of sale(POS) recorders
Manages the input , output, processing and storage devices and operations of a computer (ex. Windows, Linus, Unix)
Operating system
Handle common file, data manipulation, and housekeeping tasks
Utility programs
Controls and supports transmission between computers, computers and monitors, and acceses various databases
Communications software
Programs designed for specific uses, or “applications” such as Word processing, email, and accounting sofware
Applications sofware
Accounting software where everything is in an allin one package; designed for small orgnaizations
Low-end accounting software
Accounting software that is designed in modules (ex. general ledger, receivables)
High-end accounting software
Accounting software designed as relatively complete information system “suites” for large and medium size organizations (ex. HR, financial, manufacturing,e tc)
Ex. SAP, PeopleSoft, Oracle
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Produces a machine language object program from a source program language
compiler
Simultaneous execution of two or more tasks, usually by two or more CPUs that are part of the same system
Multiprocessing
Teh ismultaneous processing of several jobs on a computer
Multitasking
The conveted source program that was chagnedusing a compiler to creat a set of machien readable instructions that eh CPU understands
Object program
A program writte in a language from which statments are translated into machine language (0’s and 1’s)
Source program
combinations of 1;s and 0’s that are meaningful to a the computer
machine languagw
A low-level programming language that uses words (mneomonics) instead of numbers to perform an operation–can be translated to machine language using an assembler
Assembly language
Translates assembly language into machine language
Assembler
Keep together data structures and procedures through a procedure referred to as encapsulation Include classes (a set of objects with similar structures) and inheritance (the ability to create new classes from existing classes)
Object-oriented programs
Online secondary memory that is used as an extension of primary memory, thus giving hte appearance of larger, virtunally unlimited internal memory
Virtual memory (storage)
Rules determining the required format and methods for transmission of data
Protocal
REveiw of a program by the programmer for errors befroe the program is run and debugged on the computer
Desk checking
To find and eliminate errors in a computer program–often assisted by compilers
debug
To correct input data prior to processing
Edit
A set of program instructions performed reptitively a predetermined number of times, or until all of a particular type of data has been processed
Loop
A listing of hte contents of storage
Memory dump
A section of coding inserted into a program to correct a mistake or to alter a routine
Patch
A complete cycle of a program including input, processing and output
Run
Groups of like transactions
batch
Databases that support day-to-day operations (ex. airline reservation systems, bank ATMS)
Online transaction processing (OLTP)
A getegory of software technology that enables the user to query the system and conduct an alaysis ordinarily while the user is at teh PC—primarily used for analytical analysis
-use statistical and graphical tools
Used as decision support systems
Online Analytical Processing (OLAP)
A subject-orientied, integrated collection of data used to support managment decision making processes
Data warehouse
a data warehouse that is limited in scope
data mart
Using sophisticated techniques from stats, artificial intelligence and computer graphics to explain, confirm, and explore relationships among data
data mining
A combination of systems that help aggregate, access and analyze business data and assist in teh business decision-making process
Business Intelligence
Computer software designed to help humans make decisions—may be viewed as an attempt to model aspects of human thought on computers
Artificial Intelligence
Processing that occurs at one location (typically using a mainframe computer)
centralized processing
Processing and data are stored on computers at multiple locations with the computeres not interconnected by a network
(ex. end-user computing)
Decentralized processing
Processng in which transactions for a single database are processed at various sites (ex. MN office processes payroll for MN emplyees, while WI office processes payfroll forWI employees, but all update the payroll database)
Can be either batch or real time processing
Distributed processing
A group of related characters (ex. social security number)
field
An ordered set of logically related fields; for example, all payroll data relating to a single employee
record
A group of related records (ex. all weekly pay records to date) which is usually arranged in sequence
File
A group of related records in a relational database with a unique identifier (primary key) in each reacord
table
A group of related files or a group of related tables
database
In a programming language, an aggregate that consists of data objects with attributes each which may be uniquely referenced by an index (address)
-often used with object-oriented programs such as C++ and Java
Array
A file containing relatively permanent information used as a source of reference and periodically updated witha detail file
Master file
A file containing current transaction information used to update the master file
Detail or transaction file
Systems that focus upon data processing needs of individual departments; each application program or system is designed to meet the needs of the particular requesting department–similar to traditional accounting (ex. files set up for purchasing, cash receipts, sales, etc.)
Traditional File processing systems
the process of separating a database into logical tables to avoid certain kinds of updating difficulties (known as anomolies)
Normalization
