Business information systems - Module 1

computer

is a machine that accepts data as input, processes data without human intervention by using stored instructions, and outputs information.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

the heart of a computer. It is divided into two components: the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and the control unit.

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

performs arithmetic operations (+, −, *, /) as well as comparison or relational operations (<,>, 5); the latter are used to compare numbers.

control unit

tells the computer what to do, such as instructing the computer which device to read or send output to

bus

a link between devices connected to the computer. It can be parallel or serial, internal (local) or external.

disk drive

a peripheral device for recording, storing, and retrieving information.

CPU case

also known as a computer chassis or tower. It is the enclosure containing the computer's main components.

motherboard

is the main circuit board containing connectors for attaching additional boards. It usually contains the CPU, Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), memory, storage, interfaces, serial and parallel ports, expansion slots, and all the controllers for standard peripheral devices, such as the display monitor, disk drive, and keyboard.

input devices

send data and information to the computer. Examples include a keyboard and mouse

output devices

is capable of representing information from a computer. The form of this output might be visual, audio, or digital; examples include printers, display monitors, and plotters.

main memory

stores data and information and is usually volatile; its contents are lost when electrical power is turned off. It plays a major role in a computer's performance.

secondary memory

is nonvolatile, holds data when the computer is off or during the course of a program's operation. It also serves as archival storage.

random access memory (RAM)

is volatile memory, in which data can be read from and written to; it is also called read-write memory.

cache RAM

resides on the processor. Because memory access from main RAM storage takes several clock cycles (a few nanoseconds), cache RAM stores recently accessed memory so the processor is not waiting for the memory transfer

read-only memory (ROM)

is nonvolatile; data cannot be written to ROM.

magnetik disk

made of Mylar or metal, is used for random-access processing. In other words, data can be accessed in any order, regardless of its order on the surface.

magnetic tape

made of a plastic material, resembles a cassette tape and stores data sequentially.

optical discs

use laser beams to access and store data. Examples include CD-ROMs, WORM discs, and DVDs.

Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID)

is a collection of disk drives used for fault tolerance and improved performance, and is typically found in large network systems.

cloud storage

Used for online storage and backup, involves multiple virtual servers that are usually hosted by third parties. Customers buy or lease storage space from third parties based on their current or future needs.

storage area network (SAN)

is a dedicated high-speed network consisting of both hardware and software used to connect and manage shared storage devices, such as disk arrays, tape libraries, and optical storage devices.

network-attached storage

is essentially a network-connected computer dedicated to providing file-based data storage services to other network devices.

server

is a computer and all the software for managing network resources and offering services to a network.

software

all the programs that run a computer system. It can be classified broadly as system software and application software

operating system

is a set of programs for controlling and managing computer hardware and software. It provides an interface between a computer and the user and increases computer efficiency by helping users share computer resources and by performing repetitive tasks for users.

application software

can be commercial software or software developed in house and is used to perform a variety of tasks on a personal computer.

machine language

the first generation of computer languages, consists of a series of 0s and 1s representing data or instructions. It is dependent on the machine, so code written for one type of computer does not work on another type of computer.

assembly language

the second generation of computer languages, is a higher-level language than machine language but is also machine dependent. It uses a series of short codes, or mnemonics, to represent data or instructions.

high-level languages

are machine independent and part of the third generation of computer languages. Many languages are available, and each is designed for a specific purpose.

fourth-generation languages

use macro codes that can take the place of several lines of programming. The commands are powerful and easy to learn, even for people with little computer training.

fifth-generation languages

use some of the artificial intelligence technologies, such as knowledge-based systems, natural language processing (NLP), visual programming, and a graphical approach to programming. These languages are designed to facilitate natural conversations between you and the computer.

computer liyteracy

is skill in using productivity software, such as word processors, spreadsheets, database management systems, and presentation software, as well as having a basic knowledge of hardware and software, the Internet, and collaboration tools and technologies.

information literacy

is understanding the role of information in generating and using business intelligence.

business intelligence

provides historical, current, and predictive views of business operations and environments and gives organizations a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

transaction processing systems (TPS)

focus on data collection and processing; the major reason for using them is cost reduction.

Management Information Systems (MIS)

is an organized integration of hardware and software technologies, data, processes, and human elements designed to produce timely, integrated, relevant, accurate, and useful information for decision-making purposes.

data

consists of raw facts and is a component of an information system.

database

A database is a collection of all relevant data organized in a series of integrated files.

process

The process component of an information system generates the most useful type of information for decision making, including transaction-processing reports and models for decision analysis.

information

consists of facts that have been analyzed by the process component and is an output of an information system.

information technologies

support information systems and use the Internet, computer networks, database systems, point of sale (POS) systems, and radio-frequency-identification (RFID) tags.

five forces model

Michael Porter's Five Forces Model analyzes an organization, its position in the marketplace, and how information systems could be used to make it more competitive. The five forces include buyer power, supplier power, threat of substitute products or services, threat of new entrants, and rivalry among existing competitors.