Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
sign-on procedure
Identification
numbers, passwords, and other
safeguards needed for someone to gain
access to computer resources.
spyware
Software that is installed on a
personal computer to intercept or take
partial control over the user's
interaction with the computer without
knowledge or permission of the user.
synchronous communications
A
form of communications where the
receiver gets the message
instantaneously, when it is sent.
simplex channel
A communications
channel that can transmit data in only
one direction.
syntax
A set of rules associated with a
programming language.
stakeholders
People who, either
themselves or through the organization
they represent, ultimately benefit from
the systems development project.
system
A set of elements or
components that interact to accomplish
goals.
single-user license
A software license
that permits only one person to use the
software, typically on only one
computer.
start-up (also called
cutover
)
The
process of making the final tested
information system fully operational.
system performance measurement
Monitoring the system—the number of
errors encountered, the amount of
memory required, the amount of
processing or CPU time needed, and
other problems.
site preparation
Preparation of the
location of a new system.
static Web pages
Web pages that
always contain the same information.
slipstream upgrade
An upgrade that
usually requires recompiling all the
code, allowing the program to run faster
and more efficiently.
statistical sampling
Selecting a
random sample of data and applying the
characteristics of the sample to the
whole group.
system performance
products
Software that measures all
components of the computer-based
information system, including
hardware, software, database,
telecommunications, and network
systems.
smart card
A credit card-sized device
with an embedded microchip to
provide electronic memory and
processing capability.
steering committee
An advisory
group consisting of senior management
and users from the IS department and
other functional areas.
smartphone
A phone that combines
the functionality of a mobile phone,
personal digital assistant, camera, Web
browser, e-mail tool, and other devices
into a single handheld device.
storage area network (SAN)
The
technology that provides high-speed
connections between data-storage
devices and computers over a network.
system performance standard
A
specific objective of the system.
system testing
Testing the entire
system of programs.
social engineering
Using social skills
to get computer users to provide
information to access an information
system or its data.
storefront broker
A company that
acts as an intermediary between your
Web site and online merchants who
have the products and retail expertise.
systems analysis
The systems
development phase that determines
what the information system must do
to solve the problem by studying
existing systems and work processes to
identify strengths, weaknesses, and
opportunities for improvement.
software
The computer programs that
govern the operation of the computer.
strategic alliance (strategic
partnership)
An agreement between
two or more companies that involves
the joint production and distribution of
goods and services.
software as a service (SaaS)
A service
that allows businesses to subscribe to
Web-delivered business application
software by paying a monthly service
charge or a per-use fee.
systems analyst
A professional who
specializes in analyzing and designing
business systems.
strategic planning
Determining long-
term objectives by analyzing the
strengths and weaknesses of the
organization, predicting future trends,
and projecting the development of new
product lines.
systems controls
Rules and
procedures to maintain data security.
software piracy
The act of
unauthorized copying or distribution of
copyrighted software
systems design
The systems
development phase that defines how the
information system will do what it must
do to obtain the problem solution.
software suite
A collection of single
application programs packaged in a
bundle.
structured interview
An interview
where the questions are written in
advance.
systems development
The activity of
creating or modifying business systems.
source data automation
Capturing
and editing data where it is initially
created and in a form that can be
directly input to a computer, thus
ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
supercomputers
The most powerful
computer systems with the fastest
processing speeds.
systems implementation
The systems
development phase involving the
creation or acquisition of various system
components detailed in the systems
design, assembling them, and placing
the new or modified system into
operation.
switch
A telecommunications device
that uses the physical device address in
each incoming message on the network
to determine to which output port it
should forward the message to reach
another device on the same network.
speech-recognition
technology
Input devices that
recognize human speech.
