ITM 100 Class 1 (1.1) Key Terms 2025/2026

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.