Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
centralized processing
Processing
alternative in which all processing
occurs at a single location or facility.
closed shops
IS departments in which
only authorized operators can run the
computers.
computer-assisted manufacturing
(CAM)
A system that directly controls
manufacturing equipment.
certificate authority (CA)
A trusted
third-party organization or company
that issues digital certificates.
cloud computing
Using a giant
cluster of computers to serve as a host
to run applications that require high-
performance computing.
computer-based information system
(CBIS)
A single set of hardware,
software, databases,
telecommunications, people, and
procedures that are configured to
collect, manipulate, store, and process
data into information.
certification
A process for testing skills
and knowledge, which results in a
statement by the certifying authority
that confirms an individual is capable of
performing a particular kind of job.
code of ethics
A code that states the
principles and core values that are
essential to a set of people and,
therefore, govern their behavior.
computer-integrated manufacturing
(CIM)
Using computers to link the
components of the production process
into an effective system.
change model
A representation of
change theories that identifies the
phases of change and the best way to
implement them.
cold site
A computer environment
that includes rooms, electrical service,
telecommunications links, data storage
devices, and the like; also called a
shell
.
concurrency control
A method of
dealing with a situation in which two or
more people need to access the same
record in a database at the same time.
channel bandwidth
The rate at which
data is exchanged over a
telecommunications channel, usually
measured in bits per second (bps).
command-based user interface
A
user interface that requires you to give
text commands to the computer to
perform basic activities.
consumer-to-consumer (C2C)
e-commerce
A subset of e-commerce
that involves consumers selling directly
to other consumers.
character
A basic building block of
information, consisting of uppercase
letters, lowercase letters, numeric digits,
or special symbols.
compact disc read-only memory
(CD-ROM)
A common form of
optical disc on which data, once it has
been recorded, cannot be modified.
content streaming
A method for
transferring multimedia files over the
Internet so that the data stream of voice
and pictures plays more or less
continuously without a break, or very
few of them; enables users to browse
large files in real time.
chat room
A facility that enables two
or more people to engage in interactive
“conversations” over the Internet.
competitive advantage
A significant
and (ideally) long-term benefit to a
company over its competition.
chief knowledge officer (CKO)
A
top-level executive who helps the
organization use a KMS to create, store,
and use knowledge to achieve
organizational goals.
competitive intelligence
One aspect
of business intelligence limited to
information about competitors and the
ways that knowledge affects strategy,
tactics, and operations.
continuous improvement
Constantly seeking ways to improve
business processes to add value to
products and services.
choice stage
The third stage of
decision making, which requires
selecting a course of action.
compiler
A special software program
that converts the programmer's source
code into the machine-language
instructions consisting of binary digits.
control unit
The part of the CPU that
sequentially accesses program
instructions, decodes them, and
coordinates the flow of data in and out
of the ALU, registers, primary storage,
and even secondary storage and various
output devices.
click fraud
A problem arising in a pay-
per-click online advertising
environment where additional clicks
are generated beyond those that come
from actual, legitimate users.
computer literacy
Knowledge of
computer systems and equipment and
the ways they function; it stresses
equipment and devices (hardware),
programs and instructions (software),
databases, and telecommunications.
coprocessor
The part of the computer
that speeds processing by executing
specific types of instructions while the
CPU works on another processing
activity.
clickstream data
The data gathered
based on the Web sites you visit and the
items you click.
computer network
The
communications media, devices, and
software needed to connect two or more
computer systems or devices.
client/server
An architecture in which
multiple computer platforms are
dedicated to special functions such as
database management, printing,
communications, and program
execution.
cost center
A division within a
company that does not directly generate
revenue.
computer programs
Sequences of
instructions for the computer.
cost/benefit analysis
An approach
that lists the costs and benefits of each
proposed system. After they are
expressed in monetary terms, all the
costs are compared with all the benefits.
computer-aided software
engineering (CASE)
Tools that
automate many of the tasks required in
a systems development effort and
encourage adherence to the SDLC.
clock speed
A series of electronic
pulses produced at a predetermined rate
that affects machine cycle time.
