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107 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Five-component framework
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The five fundamental components of an information system-computer hardware, software, data, procedures, and people-that are present in every information system, from the simplest to the most complex
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Moore’s Law-
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A law, created by Gordon Moore, stating that the number of transistors per square inch on an integrated chip doubles every 18 months. Moore’s prediction has proved generally accurate in the 40 years since it was made. Sometimes this law is stated that the performance of a computer doubles every 18 months. While not strictly true, this version gives the gist of the idea.
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Strong password-
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A password with the following characteristics: seven or more characters; does not contain the user’s user name, real name, or company name; does not contain a complete dictionary word, in any language; is different from the user’s previous passwords; and contains both upper-and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
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MIS-
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the development and use of IS’ that help businesses achieve their goals and objectives.
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Information Technology (IT) -
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refers to the methods, inventions, standards, and products. It refers to the raw technology, and it concerns only the hardware, software, and data components of an information system. Whereas, an IS is a system of hardware, software, data, procedures, and people that produce information.
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What is an information system?
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An information system is a computer-based information system. A information contains the five-component framework of computer hardware, software, data, procedures, and people. Information systems do not necessarily include a computer (those with are a computer-based IS) but in this book, we will use the term information system as a synonym for computer-based information system.
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How can you create a strong password?
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A good password has 7 or more characters, doesn’t contain your user name, real name, or company name, doesn’t contain a complete dictionary word in any language, is different from previous passwords you have used, and contains upper- and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. You can base your password on a memorable phrase of song/poem line. Once you have your password, write it down.
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Accurate information-
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Information that is based on correct and complete data and that has been processed correctly as expected.
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Activity-
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The part of a business process that transforms resources and information of one type into resources and information of another type; can be manual or automated.
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Business Process-
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A network of activities, resources, facilities, and information that interact to achieve some business function; sometimes called a business system
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Facilities-
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Structures used within a business process
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Information-
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(1) knowledge derived from data, where data is defined as recorded facts or figures; (2) Data presented in a meaningful context; (3) Data processed by summing, ordering, averaging, grouping, comparing, or other similar operations; (4) A difference that makes a difference
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Just-barely-sufficient information-
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Information that meets the purpose for which it is generated, but just barely so
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Relevant information-
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Information that is appropriate to both the context and the subject.
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Resources-
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Items of value, such as inventory or funds, are part of a business process
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Sufficient information-
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It is enough to make accurate decisions on.
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Timely information-
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Information that is produced in time for its intended use
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Worth-its-cost information-
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When an appropriate relationship exists between the cost of information and its value
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What is a business process?
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A business process is a network of activities, resources, facilities, and information that interact to achieve some business function. A business process is a system, and sometimes business processes are also referred to as business systems. In this text, we will use the term business process. Examples of business processes are inventory management processes, manufacturing processes, sales and support processes and so forth.
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What are the components of a business process?
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A business process consists of activities, resources, facilities, and information (as stated above). Activities transform resources and information of one type into resources and information of another type. An activity can be manual or automated. Resources are items of value. Facilities are structures used within the business process (inventories and databases). Information is the fourth element of business process. Activites use information to determine how to transform the inputs they receive into the outputs they produce.
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What is information? How is information different than data? How is information different than knowledge?
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Information is knowledge derived from data, where data is defined as recorded facts or figures. Information is data presented in meaningful context. Information is processed data, or sometimes, information is data processed by summing, ordering, averaging, grouping, comparing or other similar operations. The fundamental idea of this definition is that we do something to data to produce information.
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What are the characteristics of good information?
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Good information is accurate, timely, relevant, sufficient (but just barely so), and worth its cost.
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What is the role of information in business processes?
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The business process generates information by bringing together important items of data in a context. However, it also generates information at an even higher level. Over time, this process will generate information that will be useful for management and strategy decisions.
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How do information systems support business processes?
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Information systems are used by activities in a business probes, but the particular relationship varies among business processes. In some processes, several activities use one information system. In other processes, each activity has its own information system, and in still other processes, some activities use several different information systems.
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What does it mean to automate a process activity?
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It means that work formerly done by people following procedures has been moved so that computers now do that work by following instructions in software.
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What kinds of processes are the most easily automated?
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Counter sales, the purchasing activity (uses both automation and manual systems).
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Competitive strategy-
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the strategy an organization chooses as the way it will succeed in its industry. According to Porter, there are four fundamental competitive strategies: cost leadership across an industry or within a particular industry segment; and product differentiation across an industry or within a particular industry segment.
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Linkages-
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process interactions across value chains. Linkages are important sources of efficiencies and are readily supported by information systems.
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Margin (also known as net benefit)-
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the difference between value and cost
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Primary activities-
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In Porter’s value chain model, the activities that contribute indirectly to value creation-procurement, technology, human resources, and the firm’s infrastructure
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Support activities-
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In Porter’s value chain model, the activities that contribute indirectly to value creation-procurement, technology, human resources, and the firm’s infrastructure
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Switching costs-
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this is where organizations lock in customers by making it difficult or expensive for customers to switch to another product.
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Value chain-
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the network of value-creating activities. A generic chain consists of five primary activities (In-bound logistics, operations, out-bound logistics, marketing and sales) and four support activities (firm infrastructure, human resources, technology development and procurement).
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What five forces determine industry structure?
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1. Bargaining power of customers
2. Threat of substitution 3. Bargaining power of suppliers 4. Threat of new entrants 5. Rivalry among existing firms |
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What is competitive strategy?
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The strategy an organization chooses as the way it will succeed in its industry. According to Porter, there are four fundamental competitive strategies: cost leadership across an industry or within a particular industry segment and product differentiation across an industry or within a particular industry segment
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What is a value chain? What are the primary activities? What are the support activities?
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A value chain is the network of value-creating activities. The five primary activities are in-bound logistics, operations, out-bound logistics, marketing and sales and the four support activities are firm infrastructure, human resources, technology development and procurement.
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What are linkages in the value chain? Why are they important?
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Linkages process interactions across value chains. Linkages are important sources of efficiencies and are readily supported by information systems. Manufacturing systems use linkages to reduce inventory costs. Such a system uses sales forecasts to plan production; it then uses the production plan to determine raw materials needs and then uses the material needs to schedule purchases. The end result is just-in-time inventory, which reduces inventory sizes and costs.
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How can information systems improve linkages in the value chain?
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They can automate the process and eliminate wait time, therefore cutting on time and labor and boosting efficiency.
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What are the ways that a company can achieve competitive advantage?
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Organizations create competitive advantage by creating new products or services, by enhancing existing products or services, and by differentiating their products and services from those of their competitors.
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How do information systems provide competitive advantage?
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An information system can be part of a product or it can provide support for a product or service. For example, think about Hertz. An information system that produces information about the car’s location and provides driving instructions to destinations is part of the car rental and thus is part of the product itself. In contrast, an information system that schedules care maintenance is not part of the product, but instead supports the product. Either way, information systems can achieve the first three objectives.
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How does the global economy change the competitive environment? How does this relate to Robust Adaptive Strategies?
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Supplies have to reach a wider range of customers, and customers have to consider a wider range of vendors. Suppliers and customers benefit not just from the greater size of the economy, but also by the ease with which business can learn of each other using infrastructure like Google. Because of the availability of the internet, customers can more easily learn of substitutions. In other industries, the global economy facilitates new entrants. Finally, the global economy has intensified rivalry y increasing product and vendor choirs and by accelerating the flow of information about price, product, availability, and service.
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How does the global economy change competitive strategy?
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First, the sheer size and complexity of the global economy means that any organization that chooses a strategy allowing it to compete industry-wide is taking a very big bite. Competing in many different countries, with products localized to the language and culture of those countries, is an enormous and expensive task. Second, its size, combined with the Internet, enables unprecedented product differentiation. If you choose to produce the world’s highest quality and most exotic oatmeal- and if your production costs require you to sell that oatmeal for $350 a pound- your target market may contain only 200 people worldwide. The Internet allows you to find them- and them to find you.
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How does the global economy change information systems?
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Most computer programs are written in computer languages tat have an English base, but not all. The human components (procedures and people) are obviously affected by language and culture. As with business processes, information systems procedures need to reflect local cultural values and norms.
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Application software-
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Programs that perform a business function. Some application programs are general purpose, such as Excel or Word. Other application programs are specific to a business function, such as accounts payable
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Bus-
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Means by which the CPU reads instructions and data from main memory and writes data to main memory
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Cache memory-
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The CPU has a small amount of very fast memory called a cache. The CPU keeps frequently used instructions in the cache. More cache= faster computer. Stuff about cache:
o Some data accessed more frequently o CPU throughput speeded up by creating small, very fast cache memory o Typically, CPU stores intermediate results and most- used computer instructions in cache |
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Central Processing Unit (CPU)-
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The CPU selects instructions, processes them, performs arithmetic and logical comparisons, and stores results of operations in memory. It reads instructions and data from main memory, writes data to main memory via data channel, or bus
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Client-
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A computer that provides word processing, spreadsheets, database access, and usually a network connection
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Custom-developed software-
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Tailor-made software (by developing custom software, the organization can tailor its application to fit its requirements)
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Horizontal-market application-
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Software that provides capabilities common across all organizations and industries; examples include word processors, graphics programs, spreadsheets, and presentation programs.
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Main Memory (RAM)-
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A set of cells in which each cell holds a byte of data or instruction; each cell has an address, and the CPU uses the addresses to identify particular data items. The cache and main memory are volatile, meaning their contents are lost when power is off.
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Magnetic Storage-
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refers to the storage of data on a magnetized medium (hard drive)
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Nonvolatile-
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Memory that preserves data contents even when not powered (e.g., magnetic and optical disks). With such devices you can turn the computer off and back on, and the contents will be unchanged
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(Commercial) Off-the-shelf software (COTS)-
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Software that is developed for a specific, unique need, usually for a particular company’s operations.
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Open source community-
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A loosely coupled group of programmers who mostly volunteer their time to contribute code to develop and maintain common software. Linux and MySQL are two prominent products developed by such a community
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Optical storage-
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CDs (compact disks) & DVD (digital versatile disks)- Plastic coated with photosensitive material
• Record bits by burning pit into photosensitive material with low-power laser • Optical disks nonvolatile • Differences capacity & speed |
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Server-
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A computer that provides some type of service, such as hosting a database, running a blog, publishing a Web site, or selling goods. Server computers are faster, larger, and more powerful than client computers.
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Thick client-
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A software application that requires programs other than just the browser on a user’s computer—that is, that requires code on both a client and server computers.
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Thin client—
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A software application that requires nothing more than a browser and can be run on only the user’s computer
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Vertical-market application-
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software that serves the needs of a specific industry. Examples of such programs are those used by dental offices to schedule appointments and bill patients, those used by auto mechanics to keep track of customer data and customers’ automobile repairs, and those used by parts warehouses to track inventory, purchases, and sales.
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Volatile-
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the contents are lost when the power is off
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Byte
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Number of bits to represent one character
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K
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Kilobyte (1024 bytes)
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MB
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Megabyte (1024 K)
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GB
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Gigabyte (1024 MB)
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TB
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Terabyte (1024 GB)
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What is the difference between a client and a server?
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Client computers have word processing, spreadsheets, database access and so forth. They also have software that enables them to connect to a network. Servers can run blogs, publish Web sites, sell goods, host databases, and provide other functions. Server computers need to be faster, larger, and more powerful than client computers. Servers usually have very simply video displays and some servers have no display at all because they are only accessed from another computer via the network.
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What is the difference between a thick (fat) client and a thin client?
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A thin client requires nothing more than a browser on the user’s computer. An application such as Microsoft Outlook that requires programs other than a browser on the user’s computer is called a thick client. The terms thick and thin refer to the amount of code that must run on the client computer. Thin is typically preferred to thick client applications because they do not require the installation and administration of client software.
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Be able to name the four major operating systems-
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Windows, Mac OS, Unix, and Linux.
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What categories of application programs exist? (horizontal market v. vertical market)-
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Horizontal-market application software provides capabilities common across all organizations and industries. Word processors, graphics programs, spreadsheets, and presentation programs are all horizontal-market application software. They’re used in wide variety of businesses, across all industries. They are purchased off-the-shelf, and little customization of features is necessary (or possible). Vertical-market application software serves the needs of a specific industry. Examples of such programs are those used by dental offices, auto mechanics, and parts warehouses. Vertical applications can be altered or customized. Typically, the company that sold the application software will provide such services or offer referrals to qualified consultants who can provide this service. One-of-a-kind application software is developed for a specific, unique need. The IRS develops such software, for example, because it has needs that no other organization has.
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How do organizations acquire application software? (COTS v. custom development aka Build v. Buy)
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They can either buy off a shelf (BUY), then choose to alter it or not (COTS), or custom develop software (BUILD)
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When would an organization choose to use COTS software? When would they choose a custom-developed solutions?
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They tailor the application to fit its requirements; a last choice alternative. COTS (or Commercial Off-The-Shelf software) is very general such as Word, whereas a custom-developed software is going to be something that is need or business-specific (something that’s not largely needed by the general business populace).
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Database-
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a self-describing collection of integrated records
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Database application-
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A collection of forms, reports, queries, and application programs that process a database
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Database Management System (DBMS)-
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A program used to create, process, and administer a database
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Enterprise DBMS-
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A product that processes large organizational and workgroup databases. These products support many users, perhaps thousands, and many different database applications. Such DBMS products support 24/7 operations and can manage databases that span dozens of different magnetic disks with hundreds of gigabytes or more of data. IBM’s DB2, Microsoft’s SQL Server, and Oracle’s Oracle are examples of enterprise DBMS systems
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Field-
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Also called columns, groups of bytes in a database table. A database table has multiple columns that are used to represent the attributes of an entity. Examples are PartNumber, EmployeeName, and SalesDate
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Foreign Key-
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A column or group of columns used to represent relationships. Values of the foreign key match values of the primary key in a different (foreign) table
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Form-
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Data entry forms are used to read, insert, modify, and delete database data.
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Metadata-
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Data that describes data
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Query-
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A request for data from a database
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Personal DBMS-
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DBMS products designed for smaller, simpler database applications. Such products are used for personal or small workgroup applications that involve less than a 100 users, and normally fewer than 15. Today, Microsoft Access is the only prominent personal DBMS.
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Record-
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Also called rows, groups of columns in a database table
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Relationship-
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An association among entities or entity instances in an E-R model or an associate among rows of a table in a relational database
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Report-
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A presentation of data in a structured or meaningful context
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Structured Query Language (SQL)-
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An international standard language for processing database data
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Table-
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Also called a file, a group of similar rows or records in a database
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What is the purpose of a database?
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Keep track of things
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When is it appropriate to use a database? When is it appropriate to use a spreadsheet?
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When structure is simple use a spreadsheet
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What does a database contain?
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Columns (fields), rows (records), tables (files), bytes
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What is a primary key? What is a foreign key? How are the two types of keys used to connect tables in a database?
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Primary key- key that defines a table. Foreign key, a primary key of a different table in the studied table.
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What is metadata? Why is it useful?
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Data about data; makes databases much more useful than spreadsheets
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What is a DBMS, and what does it do?
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A program used to create, process, and administer a database; used to read, insert, modify, or delete data
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What is a database application?
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Applications, having the standard five components, that make database data more accessible and useful; users employ a database application that consists of forms, formatted reports, queries, and application programs; each of these, in turn, calls on the database management system (DBMS) to process the database tables
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What is the difference between forms, reports, and queries?
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Forms are used to read, insert, modify, and delete data; reports show data in a structured context; queries look for specific criteria
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What is the difference between a personal DBMS and an enterprise DBMS?
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Personal is designed for smaller database applications; enterprise process large and organizational databases
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What are some commonly used enterprise DBMS brands?
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IMB’s DB2, Microsoft’s SQL server, Oracle’s Oracle
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What is the difference between a database, a DBMS, and a database application?
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A database is a self-describing collection of integrated records; a DBMS is program used to create, process, and administer a database; a database application is a collection of forms, reports, queries, and application programs that process a database
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Kroenke's 8 principles of competitive advantage:
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Product Implementations:
1. Create a new product or service 2. Enhance products or Services 3. Differentiate products or services System Implementations 4. Lock in customers and buyers 5. Lock in suppliers 6. Raise barriers to market entry 7. Establish Alliances 8. Reduce costs |
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the five forces that define competition:
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threat of substitutions. Threat of new entrants, barging power of suppliers, and bargaining power of customers.
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Characteristics of complex adaptive systems theory (CAS):
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o Contain a large number of elements
o No one element understands the entire system o Have rich interaction o Operate in an open system, one of many |
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• Characteristics of a complex adaptive system:
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o Contain large number of elements
o No one element understands entire system o Have rich interaction o Operate in an open system, one of many o Affected by positive and negative feedback loops o Operate far from equilibrium o Any agent can influence and be influenced by other agents o Demonstrate emergent behavior o Are unknowable and unpredictable o Self-organize into patterns o Can experience big change from small causes o Co-evolve with environment in nonlinear ways o Operate best at the Edge of Chaos o All systems are a function of their history |
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• Robust adaptive strategies (RAS) a company may use to thrive in a complex adaptive system
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o If CAS is unknowable and unpredictable, companies must value STRATEGIES as real options
Deploy platoons of hikers in fitness landscape (run parallel strategies) o Self-organize into emergent patterns o Small causes can cause big changes o Co-evolve with environment in nonlinear ways o Keep moving o Mix short, medium, and long jumps (take adaptive walk on the landscape) o Invest in diversity o Bring market inside – be entrepreneurial o Map jumps on the landscape o Test population of strategies o Use Venture Capital firm metrics |
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The difference between a theory and a strategy
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o General difference between a theory and a strategy:
Theory - In science, a proposed description, explanation, or model of the manner of interaction of a set of natural phenomena, capable of predicting future occurrences or observations of the same kind, and capable of being tested through experiment or otherwise falsified through empirical observation. Strategy – an organization’s strategy must be appropriate for resources, environmental circumstances, and core objectives. The process involves matching a company's strategic advantages to the business environment an organization faces. One objective of corporate strategy is to put the organization into position to carry out its mission effectively and efficiently. A good corporate strategy should integrate the organization’s goals, policies, and action sequences (tactics) into a cohesive whole, and must be based on business realities. Businesses can fail despite “excellent” strategy because the world changes in ways they failed to un |
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The difference between CAS THEORY characteristics and RAS STRATEGIES –
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o Theory – model of how the world works
o Mission Statement - summary description of organization’s purpose o Strategy – plan, method, or series of maneuvers or stratagems for obtaining specific goal or result o Tactics – specific actions for reaching strategic goals o Actions – detailed, day-to-day steps for achieving tactics |
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The difference between CAS THEORY characteristics and RAS STRATEGIES –
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o Theory – model of how the world works
o Mission Statement - summary description of organization’s purpose o Strategy – plan, method, or series of maneuvers or stratagems for obtaining specific goal or result o Tactics – specific actions for reaching strategic goals o Actions – detailed, day-to-day steps for achieving tactics |
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Konana's Software Ecosystem
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Shows us that companies typically compete in one sector or ring in fear of competing with their own clients. Microsoft is one of the only companies that competes in two (database and consumer applications)
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