question

Accounting

answer

tracks all financial activities and generates periodic financial statements

question

Marketing

answer

advertises, promotes, and sells the product (or service)

question

Production

answer

makes the product or service using raw materials and people to turn out finished goods

question

Human Resources

answer

finds and hires people; handles such matters as sick leave, retirement benefits, evaluation, compensation, and professional development

question

Research

answer

conducts product research and development; monitors and troubleshoots new products

question

Top Level Management

answer

concerned with long range planning and forecasting

question

Middle Level Management

answer

deals with control, planning, decision making, and implementing long-term goals

question

Supervisors

answer

control operational matters, monitor day-to-day events, and supervise workers

question

Top Level Information Flow

answer

primarily upward from within the organization and into the organization from the outside

question

Middle Level Information Flow

answer

horizontal and vertical within departments

question

Supervisors Information Flow

answer

primarily vertical

question

transaction processing system (TPS)

answer

System that records day-to-day transactions, such as customer orders, bills, inventory levels, and production output. The TPS tracks operations and creates databases

question

Expert system (ES)

answer

Computer program that provides advice to decision makers who would otherwise rely on human experts. It's a type of artificial intelligence that uses a database to provide assistance to users.

question

management information system (MIS)

answer

Computer-based information system that produces standardized reports in a summarized and structured form. Generally used to support middle managers

question

executive support systems (ESS)

answer

assist top-level executives. An executive support system is similar to MIS or DSS but easier to use. ESSs are designed specifically fro top level decision makers.

question

decision support system (DSS)

answer

Flexible analysis tool that helps managers make decisions about unstructured problems, such as effects of events and trends outside the organization

question

executive information system (EIS)

answer

Sophisticated software that can draw together data from an organization's databases in meaningful patterns and highly summarized forms

question

data processing system (DPS)

answer

Transaction processing system that keeps track of routine operations and records these events in a database. Also called transaction processing system (TPS)

question

sales order processing

answer

Activity that records the demands of customers for a company's products or services

question

accounts payable

answer

The activity that shows the money a company owes to its suppliers for the materials and services it has received

question

accounts receivable

answer

The activity that shows what money has been received or is owed by customers

question

inventory

answer

Material or products that a company has in stock.

question

inventory control system

answer

A system that keeps records of the number of each kind of part or finished good in the warehouse.

question

purchasing

answer

Buying of raw materials and services.

question

purchase order

answer

A form that shows the name of the company supplying the material or service and what is being purchased.

question

payroll

answer

Activity concerned with calculating employee paychecks.

question

general ledger

answer

Activity that produces income statements and balance sheets based on all transactions of a company.

question

income statements

answer

A statement that shows a company's financial performance, income, expenses, and the difference between them for a specific time period.

question

balance sheets

answer

Lists the overall financial condition of an organization.

question

periodic reports

answer

Reports for a specific time period as to the health of the company or a particular department of the company.

question

exception reports

answer

Report that calls attention to unusual events.

question

demand report

answer

A demand report is produced on request. An example is a report on the numbers and types of jobs held by women and minorities done at the request of the government.

question

group decision report system (GDSS)

answer

System used to support the collective work of a team addressing large problems.

question

user

answer

Any individual who uses a computer. See end user.

question

System software

answer

"Background" software that enables the application software to interact with the computer. System software consists of the operating system, utilities, device drivers, and language translators. It works with application software to handle the majority of technical details.

question

Data

answer

Raw, unprocessed facts that are input to a computer system that will give compiled information when the computer processes those facts. Data is also defined as facts or observations about people, places, things, and events.

question

Internal data

answer

Data from within an organization consisting principally of transactions from the transaction processing system.

question

external data

answer

Data gathered from outside an organization. Examples are data provided by market research firms.

question

decision models

answer

The decision model gives the decision support system its analytical capabilities. There are three types of models included in the decision model: tactical, operational, and strategic models.

question

strategic models

answer

A decision model that assists top managers in long-range planning, such as stating company objectives or planning plant locations.

question

tactical models

answer

A decision model that assists middle level managers to control the work of the organization, such as financial planning and sales promotion planning.

question

operational models

answer

A decision model that helps lower level managers accomplish the organization's day-to-day activities, such as evaluating and maintaining quality control.

question

information workers

answer

Employee who creates, distributes, and communicates information.

question

data workers

answer

Person involved with the distribution and communication of information, such as secretaries and clerks.

question

knowledge workers

answer

Person involved in the creation of information, such as an engineer and a scientist.

question

Office automation systems (OAS)

answer

System designed primarily to support data workers. It focuses on managing documents, communicating, and scheduling.

question

project managers

answer

Software that enables users to plan, schedule, and control the people, resources, and costs needed to complete a project on time.

question

videoconferencing systems

answer

Computer system that allows people located at various geographic locations to have in-person meetings.

question

knowledge work systems (KWS)

answer

Specialized information system used to create information in a specific area of expertise.

question

computer aided manufacturing/design (CAM/CAD)

answer

Knowledge work systems that run programs to integrate the design and manufacturing activities. CAD/CAM is widely used in manufacturing automobiles.

question

expert systems

answer

Computer program that provides advice to decision makers who would otherwise rely on human experts. It's a type of artificial intelligence that uses a database to provide assistance to users.

question

knowledge based systems

answer

Programs duplicating human knowledge. A type of artificial intelligence that uses a database to provide assistance to users.

question

knowledge base

answer

A system that uses a database containing specific facts, rules to relate these facts, and user input to formulate recommendations and decisions.

question

Information systems managers

answer

Oversees the work of programmers, computer specialists, systems analysts, and other computer professionals.

question

Character

answer

A single letter, number, or special character, such as a punctuation mark or $.

question

Field

answer

Each column of information within a record is called a field. A field contains related information on a specific item like employee names within a company department.

question

Record

answer

Each row of information in a database is a record. Each record contains fields of data about some specific item, like employee name, address, phone, and so forth. A record represents a collection of attributes describing an entity.

question

Table

answer

The list of records in a database. Tables make up the basic structure of a database. Their columns display field data and their rows display records. See field and record.

question

Database

answer

A collection of related information, like employee names, addresses, and phone numbers. It is organized so that a computer program can quickly select the desired pieces of information and display them for you.

question

key field(primary key)

answer

The common field by which tables in a database are related to each other. This field uniquely identifies the record. For example, in university databases, a key field is the Social Security number. Also known as primary key.

question

batch processing

answer

Processing performed all at once on data that has been collected over time.

question

real-time processing(online processing)

answer

Or online processing. Occurs when data is processed at the same time a transaction occurs.

question

Data Redundancy

answer

A common database problem in which data is duplicated and stored in different files.

question

data integrity

answer

Database characteristics relating to the consistency and accuracy of data

question

database management system(DBMS)

answer

To organize, manage, and retrieve data. DBMS programs have five subsystems: DBMS engine, data definition, data manipulation, applications generation, and data administration. An example of a database management system is Microsoft Access. See Database manager.

question

DBMS engine

answer

Provides a bridge between the logical view of data and the physical view of data.

question

Data definition subsystem

answer

This system defines the logical structure of the database by using a data dictionary.

question

data dictionary/schema

answer

Dictionary containing a description of the structure of data in a database.

question

Data manipulation subsystem

answer

Provides tools to maintain and analyze data.

question

query-by-example

answer

A specific tool in database management that shows a blank record and lets you specify the information needed, like the fields and values of the topic you are looking to obtain.

question

structured query language (SQL)

answer

A program control language used to create sophisticated database applications for requesting information from a database.

question

application generation subsystem

answer

Provides tools to create data entry forms and specialized programming languages that interface or work with common languages, such as C or Visual Basic.

question

Data administration subsystem

answer

Helps manage the overall database, including maintaining security, providing disaster recovery support, and monitoring the overall performance of database operations.

question

database administrators(DBAs)

answer

Uses database management software to determine the most efficient way to organize and access data.

question

processing rights

answer

Refers to which people have access to what kind of data.

question

database models

answer

Defines rules and standards for all data in a database. There are five database models: hierarchical, network, relational, multidimensional, and object-oriented. For example, Access uses the relational data model.

question

hierarchical database

answer

Database in which fields or records are structured in nodes. Organized in the shape of a pyramid, and each node is linked directly to the nodes beneath it. Also called one-to-many relationship.

question

nodes

answer

Any device connected to a network. For example, a node is a computer, printer, or data storage device and each device has its own address on the network. Also, within hierarchical databases, fields or records are structured in nodes.

question

parent node

answer

Node one level above the node being considered in a hierarchical database or network. Each entry has one parent node, although a parent may have several child nodes. Also called one-to- many relationship.

question

child node

answer

A node one level below the node being considered in a hierarchical database or network. See parent node.

question

one-to-many relationship

answer

In a hierarchical database, each entry has one parent node, and a parent may have several child nodes.

question

network database

answer

Database with a hierarchical arrangement of nodes, except that each child node may have more than one parent node. Also called many-to-many relationship.

question

many to many relationship

answer

In a network database, each child node may have more than one parent node and vice versa.

question

pointers

answer

For a monitor, a pointer is typically displayed as an arrow and controlled by a mouse. For a database, a pointer is a connection between a parent node and a child node in a hierarchical database.

question

relational database

answer

A widely used database structure in which data is organized into related tables. Each table is made up of rows called records and columns called fields. Each record contains fields of data about a specific item.

question

relations

answer

A table in a relational database in which data elements are stored in rows and columns.

question

common data item

answer

In a relational database, all related tables must have a common data item or key field.

question

multidimensional databases

answer

Data can be viewed as a cube having three or more sides consisting of cells. Each side of the cube is considered a dimension of the data; thus, complex relationships between data can be represented and efficiently analyzed. Sometimes called a data cube and designed for analyzing large groups of records.

question

data cube

answer

A multidimensional data model. Also see multidimensional database.

question

object-oriented databases

answer

A more flexible type of database that stores data as well as instructions to manipulate data and is able to handle unstructured data such as photographs, audio, and video. Object-oriented databases organize data using objects, classes, entities, attributes, and methods.

question

classes

answer

In an object-oriented database, classes are similar objects grouped together.

question

objects

answer

An element, such as a text box, that can be added to a workbook, which can be selected, sized, and moved. For example, if a chart (object) in an Excel workbook file (source file) is linked to a word document (destination file), the chart appears in the word document. In this manner, the object contains both data and instructions to manipulate the data.

question

attributes

answer

A data field represents an attribute (description or characteristic) of some entity (person, place, thing, or object). For example, an employee is an entity with many attributes, including his or her last name, address, phone, etc.

question

methods

answer

In an object-oriented database, description of how the data is to be manipulated.

question

individual (microcomputer) database

answer

Collection of integrated records used mainly by just one person. Also called microcomputer database.

question

company database

answer

Also called shared database. Stored on a mainframe, users throughout the company have access to the database through their microcomputers linked by a network.

question

distributed database

answer

Database that can be made accessible through a variety of communications networks, which allow portions of the database to be located in different places.

question

commercial databases

answer

Enormous database an organization develops to cover certain particular objects. Access to this type of database is usually offered for a fee or subscription. Also known as data bank and informational utility.

question

data warehouses

answer

Data collected from a variety of internal and external databases and stored in a database called a data warehouse. Data mining is then used to search these databases.

question

data mining

answer

Technique of searching data warehouses for related information and patterns.

question

database administrators

answer

Uses database management software to determine the most efficient way to organize and access data.

question

firewalls

answer

Security hardware and software. All communications into and out of an organization pass through a special security computer, called a proxy server, to protect all systems against external threats.

question

System analysis and Designs

answer

six phase problem solving procedure for examining and improving an information system

question

Preliminary investigation

answer

the information problems or needs are identified

question

System analysis

answer

the present system is studied in depth. New requirements are specified. Three steps; gather data, analyze the data, and document systems analysis

question

Systems design

answer

a new or alternative information system is designed. Three tasks designing alternative systems, selecting the best system, and writing a systems design report

question

Systems development

answer

New hardware and software are acquired, developed, and tested

question

Systems Implementation

answer

the new information system is installed, and people are trained to use it

question

Systems maintenance

answer

In this ongoing phase, the system is periodically evaluated and updated as needed

question

Conversion steps

answer

Direct approach, parallel approach, pilot approach, phased approach

question

Direct approach

answer

abandoning the old system and starting a new system, can be very risky and not recommended

question

Parallel approach

answer

running the old and new side by side until the new system proves its worth; very low risk; however very expensive; not generally recommended

question

Pilot approach

answer

converting only one part of the organization to the new system until the new system proves its worth; less expensive but riskier than parallel conversion; recommended for situations with many people performing different operations

question

Phased approach

answer

gradually implementing the new system to the entire organization ; less risky but more expensive than parallel conversion; recommended for situation with many people performing different operations

question

Prototyping

answer

to build a model or prototype that can be modified before the actual system is installed

question

rapid applications development

answer

Involves the use of powerful development software and specialized teams as an alternative to the systems development life cycle approach. Time for development is shorter and quality of the completed systems development time is better, although cost is greater.

question

Make or Buy

answer

The act of choosing between manufacturing a product in-house or purchasing it from an external supplier. In a make-or-buy decision, the two most important factors to consider are cost and availability of production capacity.

question

SDLC

answer

SDLC stands for Software Development Life Cycle. A Software Development Life Cycle is essentially a series of steps, or phases, that provide a model for the development and lifecycle management of an application or piece of software.

question

Step 1: Program specification

answer

Programming step in which objectives, output, input, and processing requirements are determined.

question

Step 2: Program Design

answer

Creating a solution using programming techniques, such as top-down program design, pseudocode, flowcharts, logic structures, object-oriented programming, and CASE tools.

question

Step 3: Program Code (Coding)

answer

Actual writing of a computer program, using a programming language.

question

Step 4: Program Test (Debugging)

answer

Programmer's word for testing and then eliminating errors in a program. Programming errors are of two types: syntax and logic errors.

question

Step 5: Program Documentation

answer

Written description of the purpose and process of a program. Documentation is written within the program itself and in printed documents. Programmers will find themselves frustrated without adequate documentation, especially when it comes time to update or modify the program.

question

Step 6: Program Maintenance

answer

Activity of updating software to correct errors, improve usability, standardize, and adjust to organizational changes.

question

Computer-aided software engineering tools(CASE)

answer

A type of software development tool that helps provide some automation and assistance in program design, coding, and testing.

question

Object-oriented programming (OOP)

answer

Methodology in which a program is organized into self-contained, reusable modules called objects. Each object contains both the data and processing operations necessary to perform a task.

question

1st Generation of Programming: Machine Languages

answer

Language in which data is represented in 1s and 0s. Most languages have to be translated into machine language for the computer to process the data. Either a compiler or an interpreter performs this translation.

question

2nd Generation of Programming : Assembly Languages

answer

A step up from machine language, using names instead of numbers. These languages use abbreviations or mnemonics, such as ADD, that are automatically converted to the appropriate sequence of 1s and 0s.

question

3rd Generation of Programming: High-Level Procedural Languages

answer

Programming language designed to focus on procedures and how a program will accomplish a specific task. Also known as 3GLs or third-generation languages. C++

question

4th Generation of Programming: Task-Oriented Languages

answer

Programming language that is nonprocedural and focuses on specifying what the program is to accomplish. Also known as 4GLs or very high level languages. service;17 log

question

5th Generation of Programming: Problem and Constraint Languages

answer

Computer language that incorporates the concept of artificial intelligence to allow direct human communication. Patient symptoms like sneezing, coughing, and aching.

Info Tech Exam 3

Unlock all answers in this set

Haven't found what you were looking for?

Search for samples, answers to your questions and flashcards