Chapter 1 Glossary

brick-andmortar

Companies conducting business primarily from physical locations

business
process

A specific set of transactions, events, tasks, and results that can be described and
documented

business
process
model

Graphically displays one or more business processes

business
process
modeling

Process used to represent company operations and information needs

business
profile

Company overview; the starting point for the modeling process

business
support
systems

Provide job-related information support to users at all levels of a company

business-tobusiness

Business sector focused on selling to businesses

business-toconsumer

Business sector focused on selling to consumers

CASE tools

Powerful software used to help develop and maintain information systems

computeraided
systems
engineering

Technique that uses CASE tools to help systems analysts develop and maintain information
systems

data

Basic facts that are a system's raw material

data model

Describes data structures and design

deliverable

The result of each phase in the waterfall model

empowermen
Trend to give employees more responsibility and accountability
t
end product

Another term for deliverable

enterprise
applications

Company-wide applications

enterprise
computing

Information systems that support company-wide operations and date management

requirements

expert
systems

Systems that simulate human reasoning by combining a knowledge base and inference rules

extensible
markup
language

Language that allowed company-to-company traffic to migrate to the Internet

feasibility
study

Reviews anticipated costs and benefits and recommends a course of action

horizontal
system

System that can be adapted for use in many different types of companies

in-house
applications

Information systems developed within a company

inference

Logical rules that identify data patterns and relationships

rules
knowledge
base

Large database that allows users to find information by entering keywords in normal English
phrases

knowledge
workers

Professional staff members who provide support for the organization's basic functions

missioncritical
system

A system vital to a company's operations

modeling

Produces a graphical representation of a concept or process

Moore's Law

Prediction of Gordon Moore that the number of transistors in an integrated circuit would
double about every 24 months

predictive

Approach based on an overall plan

process
model

Describes the logic that programmers use to write code modules

productoriented

Companies that manufacture and sell products

prototype

Early working version of an information system

radio
frequency
identification

High-frequency radio waves used to track physical objects

requirements
model

Describes information that a system must provide

software

Programs that control the hardware and produce the desired information or results

software
packages

Information systems purchased from outside vendors

strategic
plans

Long-range plans that define the company's overall mission and goals

structured
analysis

Traditional method of developing information systems that is still widely used

system
requirements
document

Deliverable of systems analysis phase

system
software

Programs that manage system hardware components

systems
analysis and
design

Step-by-step process for developing high-quality information systems

systems
design phase

Phase used to create a physical model that will satisfy all documented requirements for the
system

systems
evaluation

Assessment to determine whether the system operates properly and if costs and benefits are
within expectations

systems
planning
phase

Beginning phase starting with a systems request

systems
request

Describes problems or desired changes in an information system or a business process

systems
support and

Provides vital protection and maintenance services for system hardware and software

security
systems
support and
security
phase

Phase during which IT staff maintain, enhance, and protect the system

user support

Provides users with technical information, training, and productivity support

Web support

Support function for a company's Internet operations