Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
net present value
The net amount by
which project savings exceed project
expenses after allowing for the cost of
capital and the passage of time.
on-demand computing
Contracting
for computer resources to rapidly
respond to an organization's varying
workflow. Also called on-demand
business and utility computing.
organizational structure
Organizational subunits and the way
they relate to the overall organization.
output
Production of useful
information, usually in the form of
documents and reports.
network operating system (NOS)
Systems software that controls the
computer systems and devices on a
network and allows them to
communicate with each other.
online analytical processing
(OLAP)
Software that allows users to
explore data from a number of
perspectives.
outsourcing
Contracting with outside
professional services to meet specific
business needs.
network-attached storage (NAS)
Storage devices that attach to a network
instead of to a single computer.
online transaction processing
(OLTP)
A form of data processing
where each transaction is processed
immediately, without the delay of
accumulating transactions into a batch.
parallel computing
The simultaneous
execution of the same task on multiple
processors to obtain results faster.
network-management software
Software that enables a manager on a
networked desktop to monitor the use
of individual computers and shared
hardware (such as printers), scan for
viruses, and ensure compliance with
software licenses.
parallel start-up
Running both the
old and new systems for a period of time
and comparing the output of the new
system closely with the output of the old
system; any differences are reconciled.
When users are comfortable that the
new system is working correctly, the old
system is eliminated.
open shops
IS departments in which
people, such as programmers and
systems analysts, are allowed to run the
computers, in addition to authorized
operators.
networks
Computers and equipment
that are connected in a building, around
the country, or around the world to
enable electronic communications.
open-source software
Software that is
freely available to anyone in a form that
can be easily modified.
password sniffer
A small program
hidden in a network or a computer
system that records identification
numbers and passwords.
operating system (OS)
A set of
computer programs that controls the
computer hardware and acts as an
interface with application programs.
neural network
A computer system
that can simulate the functioning of a
human brain.
patch
A minor change to correct a
problem or make a small enhancement.
It is usually an addition to an existing
program.
nominal group technique
A decision-
making approach that encourages
feedback from individual group
members, and the final decision is made
by voting, similar to the way public
officials are elected.
operational feasibility
The measure
of whether the project can be put into
action or operation.
perceptive system
A system that
approximates the way a person sees,
hears, and feels objects.
optical disc
A rigid disc of plastic onto
which data is recorded by special lasers
that physically burn pits in the disc.
personal area network (PAN)
A
network that supports the
interconnection of information
technology within a range of
33 feet or so.
nonprogrammed decision
A decision
that deals with unusual or exceptional
situations.
optimization model
A process to find
the best solution, usually the one that
will best help the organization meet its
goals.
object-oriented database
A database
that stores both data and its processing
instructions.
personal productivity software
The
software that enables users to improve
their personal effectiveness, increasing
the amount of work they can perform
and enhancing its quality.
organization
A formal collection of
people and other resources established
to accomplish a set of goals.
object-oriented database
management system (OODBMS)
A
group of programs that manipulate an
object-oriented database and provide a
user interface and connections to other
application programs.
personal sphere of influence
The
sphere of influence that serves the needs
of an individual user.
organizational change
How for-
profit and nonprofit organizations plan
for, implement, and handle change.
object-oriented systems development
(OOSD)
An approach to systems
development that combines the logic of
the systems development life cycle with
the power of object-oriented modeling
and programming.
personalization
The process of
tailoring Web pages to specifically
target individual consumers.
organizational culture
The major
understandings and assumptions for a
business, corporation, or other
organization.
phase-in approach (also called
piecemeal approach
)
Slowly replacing
components of the old system with
those of the new one. This process is
repeated for each application until the
new system is running every application
and performing as expected; also called
a
piecemeal approach
.
organizational learning
The
adaptations to new conditions or
alterations of organizational practices
over time.
object-relational database
management system (ORDBMS)
A
DBMS capable of manipulating audio,
video, and graphical data.
