Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
systems investigation
The systems
development phase during which
problems and opportunities are
identified and considered in light of the
goals of the business.
technology-enabled relationship
management
Occurs when a firm
obtains detailed information about a
customer's behavior, preferences,
needs, and buying patterns and uses
that information to set prices, negotiate
terms, tailor promotions, add product
features, and otherwise customize its
entire relationship with that customer.
transaction processing cycle
The
process of data collection, data editing,
data correction, data manipulation,
data storage, and document
production.
systems investigation report
A
summary of the results of the systems
investigation and the process of
feasibility analysis and
recommendation of a course of action.
transaction processing system
(TPS)
An organized collection of
people, procedures, software, databases,
and devices used to record completed
business transactions.
telecommunications
The electronic
transmission of signals for
communications, which enables
organizations to carry out their
processes and tasks through effective
computer networks.
systems maintenance
A stage of
systems development that involves
checking, changing, and enhancing the
system to make it more useful in
achieving user and organizational goals.
transaction processing system
audit
A check of a firm's TPS systems
to prevent accounting irregularities
and/or loss of data privacy.
telecommunications medium
Any
material substance that carries an
electronic signal and serves as an
interface between a sending device and
a receiving device.
Transmission Control Protocol
(TCP)
The widely used Transport-
layer protocol that most Internet
applications use with IP.
systems operation
Use of a new or
modified system.
systems request form
A document
filled out by someone who wants the IS
department to initiate systems
investigation.
Trojan horse
A malicious program
that disguises itself as a useful
application or game and purposefully
does something the user does not
expect.
telecommunications protocol
A set
of rules that governs the exchange of
information over a communications
medium.
systems review
The final step of
systems development, involving the
analysis of systems to make sure that
they are operating as intended.
telecommuting
A work arrangement
whereby employees work away from the
office using personal computers and
networks to communicate via e-mail
with other workers and to pick up and
deliver results.
tunneling
The process by which
VPNs transfer information by
encapsulating traffic in IP packets over
the Internet.
team organizational structure
A
structure centered on work teams or
groups.
ultra wideband (UWB)
A wireless
communications technology that
transmits large amounts of digital data
over short distances of up to 30 feet
using a wide spectrum of frequency
bands and very low power.
technical documentation
Written
details used by computer operators to
execute the program and by analysts
and programmers to solve problems or
modify the program.
thin client
A low-cost, centrally
managed computer with essential but
limited capabilities and no extra drives,
such as a CD or DVD drive, or
expansion slots.
technical feasibility
Assessment of
whether the hardware, software, and
other system components can be
acquired or developed to solve the
problem.
time-driven review
Review
performed after a specified amount of
time.
unified communications
A
technology solution that provides a
simple and consistent user experience
across all types of communications such
as instant messaging, fixed and mobile
phone, e-mail, voice mail, and Web
conferencing.
total cost of ownership (TCO)
The
measurement of the total cost of
owning computer equipment,
including desktop computers,
networks, and large computers.
technology acceptance model
(TAM)
A model that describes the
factors leading to higher levels of
acceptance and usage of technology.
Uniform Resource Locator (URL)
An assigned address on the Internet for
each computer.
traditional approach to data
management
An approach whereby
separate data files are created and stored
for each application program.
technology diffusion
A measure of
how widely technology is spread
throughout the organization.
unit testing
Testing of individual
programs.
traditional organizational
structure
An organizational structure
in which major department heads
report to a president or top-level
manager.
technology infrastructure
All the
hardware, software, databases,
telecommunications, people, and
procedures that are configured to
collect, manipulate, store, and process
data into information.
unstructured interview
An interview
where the questions are not written in
advance.
user acceptance document
A formal
agreement signed by the user that states
that a phase of the installation or the
complete system is approved.
transaction
Any business-related
exchange, such as payments to
employees, sales to customers, and
payments to suppliers.
technology infusion
The extent to
which technology is deeply integrated
into an area or department.
