ITM 100 (Class 1-6) Combined Textbook Key Terms EXAM REVIEW 2025/2026

(Except Appendix A from Class 3). Remove duplicates.

algorithm

Mathematical formula placed in software that performs analytics on a dataset. ____ are step-by-step procedures or rules for solving a problem or accomplishing a particular task.

analytics

The systematic computation analysis of data for the discovery, interpretation, and communication of meaningful patterns.

big data

Large, volumes of data—both structured and unstructured—containing greater variety, increased veracity, and with more velocity.

business analytics

The scientific process of transforming data into information for making data-driven business decisions.

business department

A segment of a company (such as accounting, production, marketing) representing a specific business function.

business intelligence (BI)

Information collected from multiple sources such as suppliers, customers, competitors, partners, and industries that analyzes patterns, trends, and relationships for strategic decision making.

chief data officer (CDO)

Responsible for determining the types of information the enterprise will capture, retain, analyze, and share.

chief information officer (CIO)

Responsible for (1) overseeing all uses of information systems and (2) ensuring the strategic alignment of MIS with business goals and objectives.

chief knowledge officer (CKO)

Responsible for collecting, maintaining, and distributing the organization’s knowledge.

chief privacy officer (CPO)

Responsible for ensuring the ethical and legal use of information within an organization.

chief security officer (CSO)

Responsible for ensuring the security of MIS systems and developing strategies and MIS safeguards against attacks from hackers and viruses.

chief technology officer (CTO)

Responsible for ensuring the throughput, speed, accuracy, availability, and reliability of an organization’s information technology.

data

Raw facts that describe the characteristics of an event.

data analyst

Collects, queries, and consumes organizational data to uncover patterns and provide insights for strategic business decision making.

data democratization

The ability for information in a digital format to be accessible to the average end user.

data scientist

Extracts knowledge from data by performing statistical analysis, data mining, and advanced analytics on big data to identify trends, market changes, and other relevant information.

data silo

Occurs when one business unit is unable to freely communicate with other business units, making it difficult or impossible for organizations to work cross-functionally.

democratization

The action of making something accessible to everyone.

descriptive analytics

Analytical techniques that describe past performance and history.

diagnostic analytics

Examines data or content to answer the question, “Why did it happen?”

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)

A conceptual framework that claims to promote the fair treatment of all people, especially in the workplace, including populations who have historically been under-represented or subject to discrimination because of their background or identity.

dynamic report

A report that changes automatically during creation.

environmental data

Captures environmental data including annual carbon emissions and energy consumption, water usage, waste and pollution output, etc.

fact

The confirmation or validation of an event or object.

feedback

Information that returns to its original transmitter (input, process, or output) and modifies the transmitter’s actions.

fourth industrial revolution

Represents the blending of the digital, physical, and biological worlds with rates of change operating at hypervelocity.

gender skills gap

Refers to the disparity in skills and capabilities between men and women in the workforce.

goods

Material items or products that customers will buy to satisfy a want or need.

governance data

Captures company data regarding corruption, labor practices, gender composition of the board of directors, etc.

information

Data converted into a meaningful and useful context.

information age

The present time, during which infinite quantities of facts are widely available to anyone who can use a computer.

Internet of Things (IoT)

Any device connected to the Internet with the goal of enhancing performance without human intervention.

knowledge

Skills, experience, and expertise coupled with information and intelligence that creates a person’s intellectual resources.

knowledge assets

The human, structural, and recorded resources available to the organization.

knowledge workers

Individuals valued for their ability to interpret and analyze information.

machine-to-machine (M2M)

Two or more connected devices interacting via wireless or wired connections with the goal of data sharing and analytics without human intervention.

management information system (MIS)

A business function, such as accounting and human resources, that moves information about people, products, and processes across the company to facilitate decision making and problem solving.

predictive analytics

Analytical techniques that extract information from data and use it to predict future trends and identify behavioral patterns.

prescriptive analytics

Analytical techniques that create models indicating the best decision to make or course of action to take.

production

The process where a business takes raw materials and processes them or converts them into a finished product for its goods or services.

productivity

The rate at which goods and services are produced based upon total output given total inputs.

report

A document containing data organized in a table, matrix, or graphical format allowing users to easily comprehend and understand information.

services

Tasks that customers will buy to satisfy a want or need.

snapshot

A view of data at a particular moment in time.

social data

Captures statistics related to workforce diversity, gender equity, human rights, etc.

static report

A report created once based on data that does not change.

structured data

Data that has a defined length, type, and format and includes numbers, dates, or strings such as Customer Address.

system

A collection of parts that link to achieve a common purpose.

systems thinking

A way of monitoring the entire system by viewing multiple inputs being processed or transformed to produce outputs while continuously gathering feedback on each part.

unstructured data

Data that is not defined, does not follow a specified format, and is typically free-form text such as emails, Twitter tweets, and text messages.

variable

A data characteristic that stands for a value that changes or varies over time.

analytical data/information

Encompasses all organizational data, and its primary purpose is to support the performing of managerial analysis tasks.

bar chart

A chart or graph that presents grouped data with rectangular bars with lengths proportional to the values that they represent.

benchmarks

Baseline values the system seeks to attain.

benchmarking

The process of continuously measuring system results, comparing those results to optimal system performance (benchmark values), and identifying steps and procedures to improve system performance.

best practices

The most successful solutions or problem-solving methods that have been developed by a specific organization or industry.

critical success factors (CSFs)

Crucial steps companies perform to achieve their goals and objectives and implement their strategies.

decision support system (DSS)

Model information using OLAP, which provides assistance in evaluating and choosing among different courses of action.

digital dashboard

Tracks key performance indicators (KPIs) and critical success factors (CSFs) by compiling information from multiple sources and tailoring it to meet user needs.

effectiveness MIS metrics

Measure the impact MIS has on business processes and activities, including customer satisfaction and customer conversion rates.

efficiency MIS metrics

Measure the performance of MIS itself, such as throughput, transaction speed, and system availability.

executive information system (EIS)

A specialized DSS that supports senior-level executives within the organization.

granularity

Refers to the level of detail in the model or the decision-making process.

histogram

A graphical display of data using bars of different heights.

infographic (information graphic)

A representation of information in a graphical format designed to make the data easily understandable at a glance.

key performance indicators (KPIs)

Quantifiable metrics a company uses to evaluate progress toward critical success factors.

managerial decisions

Concern how the organization should achieve the goals and objectives set by its strategy. They are usually the responsibility of mid-level management.

managerial level

Employees are continuously evaluating company operations to hone the firm’s abilities to identify, adapt to, and leverage change.

market share

The proportion of the market that a firm captures.

metrics

Measurements that evaluate results to determine whether a project is meeting its goals.

model

A simplified representation or abstraction of reality.

online analytical processing (OLAP)

The manipulation of information to create business intelligence in support of strategic decision making.

online transaction processing (OLTP)

The capturing of transaction and event information using technology to (1) process the information according to defined business rules, (2) store the information, and (3) update existing information to reflect the new information.

operational decisions

Affect how the firm is run from day to day; they are the domain of operations managers, who are the closest to the customer.

operational level

Employees develop, control, and maintain core business activities required to run the day-to-day operations.

pie chart

A type of graph in which a circle is divided into sectors that each represents a proportion of the whole.

project

A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service.

return on investment (ROI)

Indicates the earning power of a project.

semistructured decision

Occurs in situations in which a few established processes help to evaluate potential solutions, but not enough to lead to a definite recommended decision.

source document

Describes the original transaction records. It includes the details such as date, purpose, and amount spent and includes cash receipts, canceled checks, invoices, customer refunds, employee time sheet, etc.

sparkline

A small embedded line graph that illustrates a single trend.

strategic decisions

Involve higher-level issues concerned with the overall direction of the organization; these decisions define the organization’s overall goals and aspirations for the future.

strategic level

Managers develop overall business strategies, goals, and objectives as part of the company’s strategic plan.

structured decision

Involves situations in which established processes offer potential solutions.

time-series chart

A graphical representation showing change of a variable over time.

transaction processing system (TPS)

The basic business system that serves the operational level (analysts) in an organization.

transactional data

Encompasses all of the data contained within a single business process or unit of work, and its primary purpose is to support the performing of daily operational tasks.

unstructured decision

Occurs when no procedures or rules exist to guide decision makers toward the correct choice.

visualization

Produces graphical displays of patterns and complex relationships in large amounts of dat

actor

An entity that is capable of participating in an action or a network.

As-Is process model

Represents the current state of the operation that has been mapped, without any specific improvements or changes to existing processes.

automation

Involves computerizing manual tasks, making them more efficient and effective and dramatically lowering operational costs.

bad actor

An entity that is participating with ill intentions.

business-facing processes

Invisible to the external customer but essential to the effective management of the business; they include goal setting, day-to-day planning, giving performance feedback and rewards, and allocating resources.

business process improvement

Attempts to understand and measure the current process and make performance improvements accordingly.

business process model

A graphic description of a process, showing the sequence of process tasks, which is developed for a specific purpose and from a selected viewpoint.

Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN)

A graphical notation that depicts the steps in a business process.

business process modeling (or mapping)

The activity of creating a detailed flowchart or process map of a work process, showing its inputs, tasks, and activities in a structured sequence.

customer-facing process

Results in a product or service that is received by an organization’s external customer.

digitization

The automation of existing manual and paper-based processes and workflows to a digital format.