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59 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Define Information Technology (IT) |
Relates to any computer-based tool that people use to work with information and to support the information and information-processing needs of an organization |
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Define Information System (IS) |
Collects, processes, stores, analyzes, and disseminates information for a specific purpose |
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Define Informed User |
A person knowledgeable about IT and IS |
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Software |
A set of computer programs that enable the hardware to process data |
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Application Programming |
Refers to the creation, modification and improvement of application software |
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Open system |
A concept that refers to a group of computing products that work together |
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Proprietary software |
Is purchased software that has restrictions on its use, copying and modifications |
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Discuss the major software issues that confront modern organizations |
Increased software complexity Increased potential for errors Testing and debugging software is expensive and time consuming |
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Advantages of open-source software: |
Source code $0.00 with license terms, produced by a worldwide "community," high-quality, reliable, flexible, technical support is provided |
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Disadvantages of open-source software: |
Only core developers can modify the code, a community of volunteer developers = high risk for companies, without in-house tech experts 3rd party maintenance-support is required, ease of use?, training time & expense?, compatibility with existing systems? |
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System software vs. Application software |
Systems: control and support the computer system/info-processing activities/app software by directing the computer's basic functions Apps: instructions that direct the computer system and provide functionality for users |
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Describe the general functions of the operating system: |
Director: supervises the overall operation of the computer Provides an interface GUI |
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The graphical user interface (GUI): |
Allows users to exercise direct control of the hardware through manipulation of visible objects and actions that replace complex commands |
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Identify the major types of application software: |
Spreadsheets, Word processing, desktop publishing, data management, presentation, graphics, personal info management, personal finance, web authoring, communications, multimedia, speech recognition, groupware, software suites |
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Computer program |
The sequences of instructions for the computer, which comprise software |
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Identify the major hardware components of a computer system: |
Central processing unit Primary storage Secondary storage Input tech Output tech Communication tech |
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Discuss the strategic issues that link hardware design to business strategy: |
How to keep up with the rapid price/performance advancements in hardware? How often should upgrades occur? How to measure benefits gained from price/performance improvements in hardware? |
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Describe the hierarchy of computers according to power and their respective roles: |
Supercomputers (most powerful, designed to handle the max computational demands of science and the military) Mainframes (used for centralized data processing and large databases) Minicomputer (smaller/less-powerful mainframes) Microcomputer (PC) |
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Differentiate the various types of input and output technologies and their uses: |
Input = Principal human data-entry input tech Principal source-data automation input devices Output = multimedia tech |
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Input technologies: principal human data-entry devices |
Keyboard, mouse, optical mouse, trackball, touchpad, joystick, touchscreen, stylus, and voice-recognition systems |
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Input technologies: principal source-data automation devices |
ATMs, POS terminals, barcode scanners, optical mark readers, magnetic ink character readers, optical character readers, sensors, cameras, radio frequency identification, and retinal scanning displays |
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Output technologies |
Various types of monitors, impact and non-impact printers, plotters and voice output |
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Describe the design and function of the CPU: |
Made up of the arithmetic-logic unit (ALU), which performs the calculations; the registers, which store minute amounts of data and instructions immediately before and after processing; and the control unit, which controls the flow of info on the microprocessor chip. After processing, the data in their original form and the instructions are sent back to a storage place outside the chip. |
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Describe the relationship between microprocessor component designs and performances: |
Microprocessor designs aim to increase processing speed by minimizing the physical distance that the data (as electrical impulses) must travel, increasing the number of transistors on the chip, increasing the number of CPUs on the chip, and using 3-D chip architecture |
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Describe the main types of primary storage: |
Registers = least capacity amount Cache memory = physically closer to CPU and faster than RAM Random Access Memory (RAM) = holds software programs and small amounts of data for processing Read-only Memory (ROM) = a type of chip where certain critical instructions are safeguarded |
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Programming |
The process of writing or coding programs |
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Describe the main types of secondary storage: |
Magnetic media = (tapes, hard drives, thumb drives and flash drives) Optical media = (CD-ROM, DVD, and blu-ray disks) |
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Primary vs. Secondary storage (speed, cost & capacity): |
Primary: fast, expensive and small Secondary: slow, cheaper and large |
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Data |
an elementary description of things, events, activities, and transactions that are recorded, classified and stored, but not organized to convey any specific meaning |
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Information |
Data that have been organized so that they have meaning and value to the recipient |
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Knowledge |
Consists of data and/or information that have been organized and processed to convey understanding, experience, accumulated learning, and expertise as they apply to a current business problem |
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Computer-Based IS (CBIS) |
Is an IS that uses computer technology to perform some or all of its intended tasks. |
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Application |
Is a computer program designed to support a specific task or business process |
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Identify several ways in which you depend on IT in your daily life: |
School, banking, shopping, entertainment, research, sell, search, apply, connect, communicate, educate |
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Discuss 3 ways in which IT can impact managers: |
1) Reduce the number of middle managers 2) provide managers with real-time info (less time to make decisions) 3) geographically dispersed employees and teams |
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Discuss 3 ways in which IT can impact non-managerial workers: |
1) may eliminate jobs 2) May cause employees to experience a loss of identity 3) can cause job stress and physical problems, such as repetitive stress injury |
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Programmers |
Individuals who perform programming |
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List 3 positive societal effects of the increased use of IT: |
1) can provide opportunities for people with disabilities 2) can provide people with the flexibility in their work (anywhere/anytime) 3) robots will take over mundane chores 4) will enable improvements in healthcare |
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List 3 negative societal effects of the increased use of IT: |
1) can cause health problems for individuals 2) can place employees on constant call 3) can potentially misinform patients about their health problems |
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IT infrastructure |
IT services IT personnel IT components |
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Knowledge workers |
Professional employees who are experts in a particular subject area and create info and knowledge, which they integrate into the business |
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Network |
A connecting system (wireline or wireless) that permits different computers to share resources |
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Procedures |
The set of instructions for combining IT components in order to process information and generate the desired output |
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Supply chain |
The flow of materials, information, money, and services from suppliers of raw materials through factories and warehouses to the end customers |
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Transaction Processing System (TPS): |
Supports the monitoring, collection, storage, and processing of data from the organization's basic business transactions, each of which generates data |
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Business Intelligence Systems (BI): |
Provide computer-based support for complex, non-routine decisions, primarily for middle managers and knowledge workers |
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Dashboards |
A special form of IS that support all managers of the organization by providing rapid access to timely info and direct access to structured info in the form of reports |
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Documentation |
Written description of the functions of a software program |
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Database |
A collection of related files or tables containing data |
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Electronic commerce (e-commerce) systems: |
A type of inter-organizational IS that enables organizations to conduct transactions, (B2B) e-commerce, and customers to conduct transactions (B2C) e-commerce |
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Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems: |
IS that correct a lack of communication among the functional area ISs by tightly integrating the functional area ISs via a common database |
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Ergonomics |
The science of adapting machines and work environments to people; focuses on creating an environment that is safe, well lit, and comfortable |
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Expert systems (ES): |
Attempt to duplicate the work of human experts by applying reasoning capabilities, knowledge, and expertise within a specific domain |
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Functional area ISs (FAISs): |
ISs that support a particular functional area within the organization |
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Documentation helps... |
The user operate the computer system Other programmers understand what the program does and how it accomplishes it's purpose |
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System software |
The class of computer instructions that serve primarily as an intermediary between computer hardware and app programs |
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System software provides.... |
Important self-regulatory functions for computer systems and commonly used sets of instructions for all applications |
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System Programming refers to: |
Both Tempe creation and the maintenance for systems software |
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Application software |
The class of computer instructions that directs a computer system to perform specific processing activities and provide functionality for users |
