Chapter 15 (HL only): IT Systems in Organizations

acceptance testing

Testing performed by the client and users as part of the handover process.

adaptive maintenance

Maintenance that changes software to make it work with a new software environment.

agile development

Development method that focuses on creating small, working parts of a project at regular intervals.

alpha testing

Initial testing of an IT system.

analyst

In project development, person who documents the current system, finding its problems and areas for improvement

attributes

Component of an Entity Relationship Diagram.

beta tester

Person who attempts to find bugs in software before it is released to customers.

beta testing

Testing of an IT system once all features have been added and only bugs need to be worked out.

bug tracking system

Used to track and manage bugs in a piece of software.

bugs

Errors in a computer program or system, hopefully found during testing.

business case

Analysis of the benefits and problems of a proposed IT project.

Capability Maturity Model Integration

Quality assurance method that describes an organisation's level of maturity.

cardinality

Property of a relationship in an Entity Relationship Diagram.

changeover

Moving from an old system to a new IT system.

client

Person or organisation who commissions an IT project.

CMMI

Quality assurance method that describes an organisation's level of maturity.

constraints

Limitations within which an IT system must work.

corrective maintenance

Maintenance that fixes bugs in software.

CP

Longest (slowest) path through a project's development, as determined by using a PERT chart.

Critical Path

Longest (slowest) path through a project's development, as determined by using a PERT chart.

Custom / bespoke software

Software created specific for an individual or organisation.

data collection

Used to find information about an existing system during the development of a new system.

Data Flow Diagram

Shows processes in a system and the flows of data between them.

data structure

The way the data within an IT system is organised and related.

database administrator

The person in an organisation who is responsible for setting up, maintaining, and monitoring the organisation's database(s).

delivery

Installing a new IT system at the client's premises.

deployment

Stage in the SDLC where the system is deployed at the client's site.

development manager

In project development, person who oversees programmers as they create the system specified in the design.

DFD

Shows processes in a system and the flows of data between them.

direct changeover

Immediate removal of an old system and complete replacement with a new IT system.

emulator

A computer program which simulates another type of computer, so that it can run programs designed for it.

end-user

Person who will use an IT project one it is finished.

entities

Component of an Entity Relationship Diagram.

entity relationship diagram

Shows the items of data stored in a system and the relationships between them.

ERD

Shows the items of data stored in a system and the relationships between them.

feasibility study

Examination of a proposed system to see if its creation is possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

A list of common problems that users experience, and their answers.

functional requirements

Specific features and functions that a proposed IT system must have.

Gantt chart

Used to chart the stages of a planned IT project and the people responsible for each stage.

handover

Point at which the developers of a system formally pass it to the client.

IDE

Set of programs used by system developers to create IT systems.

implementation

Stage in the SDLC where the system is created (programmed).

incident escalation

Moving a problem with an IT project to a higher level if it cannot be solved.

Incident management system

Used to keep track of problems and difficulties encountered in an IT system.

incident tracking system

Used to keep track of problems and difficulties encountered in an IT system.

information system (IS) managers

Person responsible for all IT purchases, deployments, and systems within an organisation.

installation

Installing a new IT system at the client's premises.

Integrated Development Environment

Set of programs used by system developers to create IT systems.

internal support

Support for an IT system provided within an organisation.

legacy system

An old, out of date IT system which is still used because it is essential to an organisation.

load testing

Testing of an IT system with the amount of work it can be expected to process in real world conditions.

maintenance

Alterations made to a system after it has been formally handed over.

milestones

Key points during project development, such as the completion of a stage.

network manager

The person responsible for the installation, configuration, and monitoring of an organisation's network.

non-functional requirements

Conditions that a proposed IT system must meet, such as working on certain hardware or giving results within a certain time.

off-the-shelf software

Software which is widely available and can be bought by anybody.

online lessons

A form of training delivered online.

organisational IT policies

Policies governing the appropriate use of IT, data integrity, security procedures, and other aspects of IT use with an organisation.

outputs

During analysis, a list of the results that a system must produce.

parallel running

Running the old system and the new system side by side.

perfective maintenance

Maintenance that changes software to incorporate new user requirements (or changed requirements).

PERT chart

Charting system to show the inter-dependencies in projects.

phase out

Gradually removing an old IT system from use.

phased changeover

One part of an organisation switches to a new IT system to test it, while others remain using the old system.

PMBoK

Project Management Body of Knowledge. A project management methodology.

preventative maintenance

Maintenance that changes software to avoid possible future problems.

PRINCE2

PRojects IN Controlled Environments 2. A project management methodology.

processes

During analysis, a list of the procedures a system must implement.

procurement

The act of acquiring the necessary items (software, hardware, staff) to develop an IT system.

programmer

A person who writes computer programs by following a design document.

project goals

Clear statement of the intentions of a proposed IT project.

project initiation document

Document used in PRINCE2 to describe the key features of an IT project.

project management methodology

Systems and techniques designed to encourage successful projects and avoid project failure.

project management software

Software to help plan, manage, and guide the process of IT project development.

project manager

Person with overall responsibility for an IT project.

project plan

Clear definition of the goals, scope, and schedule of a proposed IT project.

prototype interface

Early version of a user interface to get feedback about its effectiveness.

prototypes

An early version of a project, designed to get feedback from the client and users.

quality assurance methods

In project development, used to ensure the whole development team are following standardised best practises.

quality control processes

Processes to ensure code produced by programmers followed accepted best practices.

regression testing

Testing to ensuring changes to an IT system did not break any previously working functionality.

relationships

The links between separate items of data.

requirements specification

Clear list of the functional and non-functional requirements for a proposed IT project.

scope

Clear definition of the boundaries of an IT project.

SDLC

The stages in the life time of an IT system, from its first proposal, through its design and creation, to its eventual phasing out.

software testers

People who perform alpha, beta, and acceptance testing.

source code

Instructions that make up the software, entered by the programmer using a programming language.

SSADM

Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method. A project management methodology.

support

Staff who help users with problems they encounter while using an IT system.

support staff

Staff who train users and help them with problems as they occur

SWOT

Analysis method sometimes used when creating a business case.

system context diagram

High level DFD of a system.

System development lifecycle

The stages in the life time of an IT system, from its first proposal, through its design and creation, to its eventual phasing out.

technical documentation

Documentation intended for programmers and developers of an IT system.

test plan

List of all tests and test data that should be tried with a system.

training

Ensuring that users will be able to work with a new IT system.

tutorial

A document which explains how to perform key tasks, step by step.

user acceptance testing

Tests performed by a client before formally accepting an IT system from the developers.

user acceptance testing

Testing performed by the client and users as part of the handover process.

user documentation

Documentation intended for users of an IT system, helping them understand and use it.