CIS 1100 test 1: chapters 1,2,3

130?’s: 50T/F, 75 MC, 5 Essays 5 pts each.

Value of info + characteristics (table ch. 1): The value of information is directly linked to how it
helps decision makers achieve the organization’s goals. Knowing the potential impact of
information systems and having the ability to put this knowledge to work can result in a
successful personal career and organizations that reach their goals. Characteristics;
· Accessible: info should be easily accessible by authorized users so they can obtain
it in the right format and at the right time to meet their needs.
· Accurate: accurate info is error free. In some cases, inaccurate info is generated b/c
inaccurate data is fed into the transformation process. (aka garbage in, garbage out).
· Complete: complete info contains all the important facts. For ex. an investment
report that does not include all important costs is not complete.
· Economical: info should also be relatively economical to produce. Decision makers
must always balance the value of info w/ the cost of producing it.
· Flexible: flexible info can be used for a variety of purposes. For ex, info on how
much inventory is on hand for a particular part can be used by a sales rep in closing a
sale, by a production manager to determine whether more inventory is needed and by a
financial executive to determine the total value the company has invested in inventory.
· Relevant: relevant info is important to the decision maker. Info showing that
lumber prices might drop might not be relevant to a computer chip manufacturer.
· Reliable: reliable info can be depended on. In many cases, the reliability of the info
depends on the reliability of the data-collection method. In other instances, reliability
depends on the source of the information. A rumor from an unknown source that oil
prices might go up might not be reliable.
· Secure: info should be secure from access by unauthorized users.
· Simple: info should be simple, not overly complex. Sophisticated and detailed info
might not be needed. In fact, too much info can cause info overload, whereby a
decision maker has too much info and is unable to determine what is really important.
· Timely: timely info is delivered when it is needed. Knowing last week’s weather
conditions will not help when trying to decide what coat to wear today.
· Verifiable: info should be verifiable. This means that you can check it to make sure
it is correct, perhaps by checking many sources for the same info.

Knowledge workers: are people who create, use, and disseminate knowledge, and are usually
professionals in science, engineering, business and other areas. Knowledge is the awareness and
understanding of a set of info and ways that info can be made useful to support a specific task or
reach a decision.

Information system department + how function: is a set of interrelated components that collect,
manipulate, store, and disseminate data and info and provide a feedback mechanism to meet an
objective.

What supports input/output processing: [feedback mechanism–The component that helps

organizations achieve their goals, such as increasing profits or improving customer service]
supports input/output processing.
· Input: the activity of gathering and capturing raw data.
· Processing: converting or transforming data into useful outputs.
 · Output: production of useful info, usually in the form of documents and reports.
· Feedback: output that is used to make changes to input or processing activities.
· Forecasting: predicting future events to avoid problems.
Input devices: devices are the gateways to the computer system, you use them to provide data
and instructions to the computer and receive results from it. Input and output devices are part of
a computers UI which includes hardware devices and software that allows you to interact with a
computer system.
• Personal computers, speech-recognition technology, digital camera, touch-sensitive
screens, optical data readers, magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) devices, pen
input devices, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID).
Output devices: computer systems provide output to decision makers at all levels of
organizations so they can solve a problem. Output from on computer system can provide input
into another computer system. Whatever the outputs content or form, output devices are
designed to provide the right info to the right person in the right format at the right time
• Display monitors (Cathode Ray Tube), Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs), Organic Light-
Emitting Diodes (OLED), Printers and Plotters, Digital Audio Player.
○ (OLED): based on LCD technology, LCD screens contain a fluorescent backlight
and the LCD acts as a shutter to selective block that light, OLEDs directly emit
light. B/c they don’t require a backlight the displays can be half as thick as
LCDs and can create three-dimensional video displayers by taking a traditional
LCD monitor and then adding layers of transparent OLED films o create the
perception of depth w/out the need for 3-d glasses or laser optics.

Computer based info system (know components): a single set of hardware, software, database,
telecommunications, people, and procedures that are configured to collect, manipulate, store, and
process data into information. Technology infrastructure includes all the CBIS.
· Hardware: consists of computer equipment used to perform input, processing, and
output activities. Input devices include keyboards, mice/other pointing devices,
automatic scanning devices, and equipment that can read magnetic ink characters.
· Software: consists of the computer programs that govern the operation of the
computer.
o System software: This controls basic computer operations, including start up
and printing, ex. Microsoft windows vista.
o Application software: This allows you to accomplish specific tasks. Ex.
Microsoft Office 2007 allows users to word process, or create spreadsheets.
· Database: is an organized collection of facts and information, typically consisting
of two or more related data files.
· Telecommunications: is the electronic transmission of signals for communication,
which enables organization to carry out their processes and tasks through effective
computer networks
o Networks: computers and equipment that are connected in a building, around
the country, or around the world to enable electronic communications.
o Internet: is the world’s largest computer network, actually consisting of
thousands of interconnected networks, all freely exchanging information.
o Intranets vs. extranets:
§ Intranet allows network based on web technologies that allow people
within an organization to exchange information and work on projects.
 Ex. companies often use intranets to connect its employees around the
globe.
§ Extranet allows a network based on web technologies that allow
selected outsiders, such as business partners and customers, to access
authorized resources of a company’s intranet. Ex going to fedex.com to
track a package is extranet.
· People: can be the most important element in most computer-based info systems.
People can make difference between success and failure. Info systems personnel
include all the people who manage, run, program, and maintain the system. IS
personnel are usually hired to speed the development of computer-related projects.
People manage, run, program and maintain the system.
o Users (definition + ultimate goal): are people who work with info systems to
get results.
· Procedure: includes the strategies, policies, methods, and rules for using the CBIS,
including the operation, maintenance, and security of the computer. ex. some
procedures describe when each program should be run, others describe who can access
facts in the database, or what to do if a disaster, such as fire, earthquake, or hurricane
renders the CBIS unusable.

Business information systems: most common types of info systems used in business
organizations are those designed for electronic and mobile commerce, transaction processing,
management info, and decision support. In addition, some organizations employ special-purpose
systems, such as virtual reality, that not every organization uses. Together, these systems help
employees in organizations accomplish routine and special tasks--from recording sales,
processing payrolls, and supporting decision in various departments, to providing alternatives for
large-scale projects and opportunities.

E-business vs. E-commerce:

· E-commerce: involves any business transaction executed electronically between
companies (business-to-business, B2B), companies and consumers (business-to-
consumer, B2C), consumers and other consumers (consumer-to-consumer, C2C),
business and the public sector, and consumers and the public sector. Ex. web shopping,
and the above business transactions.
o M-commerce: mobile commerce refers to transactions conducted anywhere,
anytime. M-commerce relies on wireless communications that managers and
corporations use to place orders and conduct business w/handheld computers,
portable phones, laptop computers connected to a network, and other mobile
devices.
· E-business: goes beyond e-commerce by using information systems and the
internet to perform all business-related tasks and functions, such as accounting, finance,
marketing, manufacturing, and human resource activities. E-business also includes
working with customers, suppliers, strategic partners, and stakeholders. e-busn. strategy
is flexible and adaptable compared to traditional business strategy.

Transaction processing systems: An organized collection of people, procedures, software,

databases, and devices used to record completed business transactions. TPS manages the large
volume of business transactions that occur daily within an organization
 · Transaction: is any business-related exchange such as payments to employees,
sales to customers, or payments to suppliers.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system: is a set of integrated programs that manages the
vital business operations for an entire multisite, global organization.
· Enterprise system: help organizations perform and integrate important tasks, such
as paying employees and suppliers, controlling inventory, sending invoices, and
ordering supplies.

Management information systems (MIS): is an organized collection of people, procedures,

software, databases, and devices that provides routine information to managers and decision
makers. An MIS focuses on operational efficiency, (MIS) uses the information from a TPS to
generate information useful for management decision making.
· Decision support systems (DDS): an organized collection of people, procedures,
software, databases, and devices used to support problem-specific decision making.
The focus of DSS is on making effective decisions, whiles MIS helps organizations "do
things right," a DSS helps a manager "do the right thing."

Artificial Intelligence: a field in which the computer system takes on the characteristics of human
intelligence.

Virtual reality: the simulation of a real or imagined environment that can be experienced visual
in three dimensions.

????System intelligence (diff steps): -> system investigation (understanding problem) -> system
analysis (understand solutions) -> system design (select and plan best solution) -> system
implementation (place solution into effect) -> systems maintenance and review (evaluate results
of solution) ->

Organizations change: the responses that are necessary so that for-profit and nonprofit
organizations can plan for, implement, and handle change.
· why?: can be causes by internal factors, such as those initiated by employees at all
levels, or external factors, such as activities wrought by competitors, stockholders,
federal and state laws, community regulations, natural occurrences (such as hurricanes),
and general economic conditions. Also when two or more organizations merge.
o Sustaining change: can help an organization improve the supply of raw
materials, the production process and the products and services it offers.
o Disruptive change: often harms an organizations performance or even puts it
out of business, in general, disruptive tech might not originally have good
performance, low cost, or even strong demand. over time however they often
replace existing tech, they can cause good stable companies to fail when they
don’t change or adopt the new tech.

User Satisfaction + related to/depends on:

· User satisfaction w/a computer system and the info it generates often depends on
the quality of the system and the info. A quality info system is usually flexible,
efficient, accessible, and timely. Quality info is accurate, reliable, current, complete,
and delivered in the proper format.
 · Technology acceptance model (TAM): specifies the factors that can lead to better
attitudes about the info system, along w/higher acceptance and usage of the system in
an organization. These factors include the perceived usefulness of the technology, the
ease of its use, the quality of the info system, and the degree to which the organization
supports its use.
· you can determine the actual usage of an info system by the amount of Tech
diffusion vs. tech infusion:
o Technology diffusion: a measure of how widely technology is spread
throughout the organization. ex. busn uses CIS in most busn functions such as
marketing, purchasing, and billing.
o Technology infusion: the extent to which technology is deeply integrated into
an area or department. ex. architectural firm uses CIS only for designing
buildings from drafting to blue prints only, but doesn’t use it for other business
functions such as marketing, purchasing or billing.
· (TOE) framework. Diffusion and Infusion depend on the tech available now and in
the future, the size and type of the organization, and the environmental factors that
include the competition, government regulation, suppliers, and so on. The technology,
organization, and environment framework.

5 forces model, threat of new market entrance widely accepted model that identifies five key
factors that can lead to attainment of competitive advantage, including [1] the rivalry among
existing competitors, [2] the threat of new entrants, [3] the threat of substitute products and
services, [4] the bargaining power of buyers, [5] the bargaining power of suppliers.

Threats, (they exist):

Market share: is the % of sales that a product or service has in relation to the total market.

System operators: primarily run and maintain IS equipment, and are typically trained at technical
schools or through on-the-job experience. they are responsible for starting, stopping, and
correctly operating mainframe systems, networks, tape drives, disk drives, printers, etc.

Info systems departments + how they function:

• operations: system operators and tend to focus more on the efficiency of IS functions
rather than their effectiveness.
• systems development: focuses on specific development projects and ongoing
maintenance and review. System analysts and programmers, for ex. address these
concerns to achieve and maintain IS effectiveness.
• support: provides user assistance in hardware and software acquisition and use, data
administration, user training and assistance, and web administration.

Info center vs. development center:

• information center: a support function that provides users with assistance, training,
application development, documentation, equipment selection and setup, standards
technical assistance, and troubleshooting.
○ information service unit: a miniature IS department attached and directly
reporting to a functional area in a large organization.
Local Area Network Administrators job duties: set up and manage the network hardware,
software, and security processes. they manage the addition of new users, software, and devices to
the network. they also isolate and fix operations problems. LAN admin are high demand and
often solve both technical and nontechnical problems.

Technical certifications (importance): a process for testing skills and knowledge, which results in
a statement by the certifying authority that states an individual is capable of performing a
particular kind of job.

Software engineers:

Computer system hardware (components): include devices that perform the functions of input,
processing, data storage, and output.
• the ability to process (organize and manipulate) data is a critical aspect of a computer
system, in which processing is accomplished by an interplay between one or more of
central processing units and primary storage.
○ central processing unit (CPU): part of the computer consists of three primary
associated elements, the arithmetic/logic unit, the control unit, and register areas.
 arithmetic/logic unit (ALU): part of the cpu that performs mathematical
calculations and makes logical comparisons.
 control unit: part of the cpu that sequentially accesses program
instructions, decodes them, and coordinates the flow of data in and out of
the ALU, the registers, primary storage, and even secondary storage and
various output devices.

Clock speed processers: each CPU produces a series of electronic pulses at a predetermined rate,
called the clock speed, which affects machine cycle time. the control unit executes an instruction
in accordance with the electronic cycle, or pulses of the cpu "clock." each instruction takes at
least the same amount of time as the interval between pulses. the shorter the interval between
pulses, the faster each instruction can be executed. clock speed for personal computers is
multiple gigahertz (GHz), or billions of cycles per second, range.

ROM vs. Ram chips:

• Random Access Memory (RAM): a form of memory in which instructions or data can
be temporarily and volatile stored. RAM chips lose their contents if the current is turned
off or disrupted (power outage). Chips are mounted directly on the computers main
circuit board or in chips mounted on peripheral cards that plug into main circuit board.
they consist of millions of switches that are sensitive to changes in electric current.
• Read-only memory (ROM): a non volatile form of memory. the combination of circuits
states is fixed, and therefore contents are not lost if power is removed. Rom provides
permanent storage for data and instructions that do not change, such as programs, and
data from the computer manufacturer, including instructions that tell the computer how
to start up when the power is turned on.

Grid computing: the use of a collection of computers, often owned by multiple individuals or
organizations, to work in a coordinated manner to solve a common problem. (low cost approach
to parallel processing.
 • parallel processing: another form of multiprocessing is called parallel processing, speeds
processing by linking sever processors to operate at the time, or in parallel. The
simultaneous execution of the same task on multiple processors in order to obtain results
faster.

Secondary Storage and input/output devices:

• Sequential access storage devices (SASD) device used to sequentially access secondary
storage data.
○ sequential access: retrieval method in which data must be accessed in the order
in which it is stored. ex. data stored in part numbers 100, 101, 102, if you want to
retrieve data on part 125, need to read and discard all data relating to parts 001
through 124.
• Direct access storage device (DASD): device used for direct access of secondary storage
data.
○ direct access: retrieval method in which data can be retrieved w/out the need to
read and discard other data. ex. w/ direct access it is possible to go directly to and
access the data that is need, such as part number 125. w/out reading through parts
001-124. DASD are faster than SASD 4this reason.
• Access storing magnetic tape: secondary storage medium; Mylar film coated w/iron
oxide w/portions of the tape magnetized to represent bits. magnetic tape is slower but
usually less expensive than disk storage. The U.S. Fed. Govt. is largest user of magnetic
tape in world, buying over 1 million reels a year for organizations like IRS, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Fed. Reserve Bank, Military branches, etc...
• Magnetic Disk: are also coated with iron oxide; they can be thin metallic platters (hard
disks), or Mylar film (diskettes).same as magnetic tape, magnetic disks represent bits
using small magnetized areas. Magnetic disks are direct-access storage devices that
enable fast data retrieval.
• RAID + data redundancy: Redundant array of independent/inexpensive disks; method of
storing data that generates extra bits of data that generates extra bits of data from
existing data, allowing the system to create a "reconstruction map," so that if a hard
drive fails, the system can rebuild lost data. W/this approach data is stored redundantly
on different physical disk drives using a technique called stripping to evenly distribute
the data.
• SAN: storage area network; technology that provides high-speed connections between
data storage devices and computers over a network.
• Optical disk: CD-ROM (CD-R, CD-RW) compact disks hold 740 MB of data. DVD
(Digital video disk) has ability to store 135 minutes of digital video or (DVD[-/+]R/RW,
a single sided DVD can hold 4.7 GB, w/ double sided holding 9.4 GB. Blu-ray high
definition video-discs are based on blue-laser technology and stores at least 3 times as
much data as a DVD now holds.
• Flash memory: a silicon computer chip that, unlike RAM, is nonvolatile and keeps its
memory when the power is shut off.

Information systems operate by different influences (enterprise vs. personal):

• personal sphere of influence: serve the needs of an individual user. these info systems
enable users to improve their personal effectiveness, increasing the amount of work that
can be done and its quality. such software is often referred to as personal productivity
software.
 • enterprise sphere of influence: supports the firm in its interaction w/its environment. the
surrounding environment includes customers, suppliers, shareholders, competitors,
special-interest groups, the financial community, and government agencies.
• workgroup sphere of influence: supports a workgroup in the attainment of a common
goal. users of such applications must be able to communicate, interact, and collaborate
to be successful.
○ workgroup: is two or more people who work together to achieve a common goal.
(may be large, formal, permanent organization entity such as a section or
department, or a temporary group formed to complete a specific project.

Role of an Operating System: is an interface or buffer between users and application software
and hardware. operates functions that complete a computer system.
• performing common computer hardware functions, providing a user interface and
input/output management, proving a degree of hardware independence, managing
system memory, managing processing tasks, providing networking capability,
controlling access to system resources, managing files.

Activities capturing raw data, ex. Input:

Mainframe vs. server vs. supercomputer:

• mainframe computer: large, powerful computer often shared by hundred of concurrent
users connected to the machine via terminals (a network). the new role of the mainframe
is as a large info-processing and data-storage utility, storing files and databases, storing
backups of files and databases, which are all too large to be stored elsewhere.
• server: a computer server is a computer used by many users to perform specific task,
such as running network or internet net applications. servers typically have large
memory and storage capacities, along w/fast and efficient communication abilities. A
web server is used to handle internet traffic and communications. An enterprise server
stores and provides access to programs that meet the needs of an entire organization. A
file server stores and coordinates program and data files. A transaction server is used to
process busn transactions. server systems consist of multiuser computers including super
computers, mainframes, and servers.
• supercomputers: the most powerful computer system w/ the fastest processing speeds
and highest performance. they are special-purpose machines designed for applications
that require extensive and rapid computational capabilities.

Linux + who developed: Linux is an OS developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991 as a student in

Finland. Linux is distributed under GNU (general public license), and its source code is freely
available to everyone, it is therefore called an open source OS. linus is actually the kernel of an
OS, the parts that control hardware, manages files, separates processes, and so forth. several
combinations of Linux are available w/ various sets of capabilities and applications to form a
complete OS. Each combination is called a distribution of Linux, many are free to download.

Netware + supports them: Netware: is a network OS sold by Novell that can support users on
windows, Mac, and UNIX platforms. NetWare provides directory software to track computers,
programs, and people on a network, helping large companies to manage complex networks.
NetWare users can log on from any computer on the network and use their own familiar desktop
w/ all their applications, data, and preferences.
IBM mainframes + supports them: z/OS is IBMs first 64-bit enterprise OS. it supports IBM's
z900 and z800 lines of mainframes that can come w/up to sixteen 64-bit processors. The OS
provides several new capabilities to make it easier and less expensive for users to run large
mainframe computers. the OS has improved workload management and advance e-commerce
security. z/os also allows partitions to run a version of the Linus OS, means that the company
can upgrade to a Linux OS mainframe.

Off the shelf vs. proprietary vs. standalone software:

• proprietary software: one-of-a-kind program developed for a specific application,
• off-the-shelf software: an existing software program that can be purchased.
• standalone software:

Application service provider: a company that provides software, support, and the computer
hardware on which to run the software from the user's facilities.

DBMS: Database Management Systems is a group of programs that manipulate the database and
provide an interface between the database and the user of the database and other application
programs.

Database structures: at the highest level of this hierarchy is a database, a collection of integrated
and related files. together, bits, characters, fields, records, files, and databases form the hierarch
of data. characters are combined to make a field, fields are combined to make a record, records
are combined to make a file, and files are combined to make a database. A data base houses not
only all these levels of data but also the relationships among them.
• when building a database, an organization must carefully consider these questions:
○ content: what data should be collected and at what cost?
○ access: what data should be provided to which users and when?
○ logical structure: how should data be arranged so that it makes sense to a given
user?
○ physical structure: where should data be physically located?

Database, record vs. file, entity + composed:

• a bit (binary digit) represents a circuit that is either on or off. bits can be organized into
units called bytes. a byte is typically eight bits. Each byte represents a character. ->
• character: a basic building block of info, consisting of uppercase letters, lowercase
letters, numeric digits, or special symbols. ->
• field: typically a name, number, or combination, of characters that describes an aspect of
a business object or activity. ->
• record: a collection of related fields. ->
• file: a collection of related records. ->
• database: files are combined to make a database.
Data Entities, attributes and keys:
• entity: a generalized class of people, places, or things for which data is collected, stored,
and maintained. ex. employees, inventory, customers.
• attribute: a characteristic of an entity. ex. employee number, last name, first name, hire
date, department # are attributes of an employee entity.
○ data item: a specific value of an attribute.
 • key: a field or set of fields in a record that is used to identify the record.
• primary key: a field or set of fields that uniquely identifies the record.

Different data (logical [Visio] vs. physical [access]) + characters:

• logical design: of a database is an abstract model of how the data should be structured
and arranged to meet an organizations info needs. the logical design involves identifying
relationships among the data items and grouping them in an orderly fashion. b/c
database provide both input and output for info systems throughout a business, users
from all functional areas should assist in creating the logical design to ensure that their
needs are identified and addressed.
• physical design: starts from the logical database design and fine-tunes it for performance
and cost consideration (such as improved response time, reduce storage space, and lower
operating cost). the person who fine tunes the physical design must have an in-depth
knowledge of the DBMS.

Data model entity relationship diagram, know function/process:

• data model: a diagram of data entities and their relationships. data modeling usually
involves understanding a specific business problem and analyzing the data information
needed to deliver a solution.
○ enterprise data modeling: is an approach that starts by investigating the general
data and information needs of the organization at the strategic level, and then
examines more specific data and information needs for the various functional
areas and departments w/in the organization.
○ entity-relationship (ER) diagrams: data models that use basic graphical symbols
to show the organization of and relationships between data.
• relational database modeling: a database model that describes data in which all data
elements are placed in two-dimensional tables, called relations, which are the logical
equivalents to files. data is organized in rows and columns, simplifying data access and
manipulation. in the relational, each row (or record) of a table represents a data entity,
with the columns (or fields) of the table representing attributes.
○ domain: the allowable values for data attributes. ex. the domain for an attribute
such as gender would be limited to male or female.

SQL +DML + DDL: (schema: a description of the entire database).

• Data Definition Language (DDL): a collection of instructions and commands used to
define and describe data and relationships in a specific database. a DDL allows the
database creator to describe the data and relationships that are to be contained in the
schema. In general a DDL describes logical access paths and logical records in the
database.
• Data Manipulation Language (DML): the commands that are used to manipulate the data
in a database. This specific language provide with DBMS , allows managers and other
database users to access, modify, and make queries about data contained in the database
to generate reports.
• Structured Query Language (SQL): a standard data manipulation language created by
D.D. Chamberlain and others at the IBM Research Laboratory in San Jose, CA in the
1970s. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) adopted SQL as the standard
query language for relational databases. ex of commands, average->AVG, largest value-
> MAX, smallest value-> MIN, to select-> SELECT.
 ○ Selecting: manipulating data to eliminate rows according to certain criteria.
○ Projecting: manipulating data to eliminate columns in a table.
○ Joining: manipulating data to combine two or more tables.
○ Linking: data manipulation that combines two or more tables using common data
attributes to form a new table with only the unique data attributes.
Meaning of SQL commands (table ch.3)
SQL – deff statement, selecting, recording, joining:

Data dictionary vs. warehouse:

• data dictionary: a detailed description of all the used in the database. data dictionary
contains the following data;
○ Name of the data item, Aliases or other names that may be used to describe the
item, Range of values that can be used, Type of data (such as alphanumeric or
numeric), Amount of storage needed for the item, Notation of the person
responsible for updating it and the various users who can access it, and a List of
reports that use the data item.
○ A data dictionary can also include a description of data flows, the way records
are organized, and the data-processing requirements.
• Data warehouses: is a database that hold business info from many sources in the
enterprise, covering all aspects of the companies processes, products, and customers. the
data warehouse provides business users w/a multidimensional view of the data they need
to analyze business conditions. data warehouses allow managers to drill down to get
more detail or roll up to take detailed data and generate aggregate or summary reports. a
data warehouse is designed specifically to support management decision making, not to
meet the needs of transaction processing system. a data warehouse stores historical data
that has been extracted from operational systems and external data sources. this
operational and external data is "cleaned up" to remove inconsistencies and integrated to
create a new information database that is more suitable for a business analysis.
○ data marts: a subset of a data warehouse, can be deployed with less powerful
hardware and storage devices and may contain more information for the specific
subset than a warehouse would, usually making it more cost effective.
○ data mining: an information-analysis tool that involves the automated discovery
of patters and relationships in a data warehouse to find valuable info.

Predictive analysis: a form of data mining that combines historical data w/assumptions about
future conditions to predict outcomes of events, such as future product sales or the probability
that a customer will default on a loan.

Distributive database: a database in which the data can be spread across several smaller
databases connected via telecommunications devices.

Object-Oriented database: a database that stores both data and its processing instructions.
• OODBMS- object-oriented database management system: a group of programs that
manipulate an object oriented database and provide a user interface and connections to
other application programs.
• ORDBMS- object-relational database management system: a DBMS capable of
manipulating audio, video, and graphical data.
database vs. centralized database:

IT importance of data, 4 steps transforming data + importance: wisdom-->

Electronic Medical Systems + 4 hurdles: trying to move all EMR online to a centralized
database.
1. The landscape of electronic medical information is fragmented.
2. Not many doctors use electronic health records.
3. Technical standards vary, as do the use of medical terms for different data.
4. Who controls the data, and how can we protect patients’ privacy?

Data modeling – cardinality- types of entity relationships:

• cardinality
○ 0< zero to many
○ |< one to many
○ || one and only one
○ 0| zero and one
• entity relationship
○ 1:1
○ 1:M
○ M:M

Wal-Mart’s well developed IT system giving them advantage (hurricane Ivan): has the industries
best IS, Retail Link. which allows the merchandiser to share masses of data on a nearly real-time
basis with its suppliers. its data center tracks more than 60,000 stock-keeping units and
maintains a data warehouse consuming more than 570 terabytes of digital storage. WMT uses its
data to track demand and set inventory targets for specific products, and also correlates
purchasing data w/ "factors that contribute to increasing demand for a particular product."
weather is one such factor, you might expect to sell more bottled water, tarps, flashlights,
batteries, and food basics like milk and eggs w/ a storm on the way. last year’s annual report
mentions that WMT it gurus were able to correctly predict how the approach of hurricane Ivan
would dramatically boost demand for strawberry pop-tarts in the Florida panhandle.