1. Application Software
2. System Software

1. used for specific information processing needs
• including payroll, CRM, Project mgmt, training, etc.
• solves specific problems/ tasks
• Types:
• Browser - navigate WWW (Internet Expl)
• Communication - transmitting data to and recieving date from other computers
• Data Management - tools for data retrieval, modification, deletion, and insertion (access)
• Desktop Publishing - publishign workstation (adobe)
• Email (microsoft outlook)
• Groupware - increases cooperation and joint productivity of small groups of co-workers
• Presentation Graphics - creates and enhances charts/graphis so visually appealing and easy to understand (Microsoft PPT)
• Programming - artificial language of fixed vocabulary and set of rules(SYNTAX) to write comp. programs
• Spreadsheet - simulates accountant's workshet and lets users embed hidden formulas (Excel)
• Word Processing - tool for creating, editing, proofreading, formatting, and printing documents (word) 
2. controls how the vartious technology tools work together along with the application software 
• includes bot operating system software AND utility software
   
• Operating System software:controls the application software and manages how the hardware devices work together
• Linux - open sources operating system (source code available for use or modification)
• Mac OS X - operating system of Macintosh computers
• Microsoft Windows - variosu operating systems in Microsfot window family (windows xp/vista/NT/ME/etc)
• MS-DOS - standard, single-user operating system of IBM; 
• command lind operating system that requires uses to enter commands, arguments and syntax
• UNIX - 32 bit multitasking and multiuser operating system that originated at bell lavs - from mainframes to PDA's
   
• Utility Software: provides additional functionality to the operating system - includes antivirus software, screen savesrs, and anti-spam software
• Crash-proof - saves info
• Disk image for data recovery
• Disk optimization
• Encrypt Data
• File and Data recovery
• Text protect 

1. Define: Transaction Processing system (TPS)
    
2. Define: Decision Support Systems (DSS)
    
3. Define: Enterprise Information Systems (EIS)

1. basic business system that serves the operational level(analysts) and assists in making structured decisions
• most common: operational accounting system such as payroll or an order-entry system
   
2. model informatioin using OLAP (Online Analytical Processing - manipulation of info to create BI in support of strategic decision making)  which provides assitance in evaluating and choosing amoung different course actions
• manipulates large amounts of detailed data
   
3. specialized DSS that supports senior-level executives and unstructered, long-term, nonroutine decisions requiring judgement, evaluation and insight
• decisions do not have to be right or wrong answer

Excel

1. Define: What-if Analysis 
2. Define: Senistivity Analysis
3. Define: Goal-Seeking Analysis
4. Define: Optimization Analysis

1. checks the impact in a variable OR assumption on the model
   
   
2. case of what-if analysis: study of the impact on other vaiables when one variable is changed repeatedly   
• useful when users are uncertian about assumptions made in estimating value of key variables
   
3. finds inputs necessary to achieve a goal such as a desired level of output - until target value is achieved
   
   
4. Extension of Goal-seeking analysis: finds optimum value for a target variable by repeadely changing other variables, subject ot specified constraints
    

1. Define: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
   
   
2. Define:  Software as a Service (SaaS)
    
3. Define: Platform as a Service (PaaS)

1. service that delivers hardware networking capabilities, including: use of servers, networking, and storage over the cloud Using a Pay-per-use revenue model
• customer rents own hardware and provides its own custom applications/programs
• dynamic selling: (MIS Infrastructure that can be automatically scaled up or dwon based on need) cost-effective solution for companies that need their computing resources to Grown and Shrink as business demand changes
   
2. delivers applications ove the cloud using pay-per-use revenue model 
• cost savings, no upfront costs
• ex: salesforce.com
  
  
3. supports the deployment of entire systems, including hardware, netwroking, and applicatinos using a pay-per-use revenue model
• access to info anywehere any time
• centralized info mgmt
• easy collaboration
• increased speed to market
• increased security

1. Mashups - compined applications taht depend on high-speed data networks, universal comunication standards, and open-source code (idea is to produce a new product that is greater than the sum of its parts)
    
2. Downloadable and Open Source Software - not in a box
    
3. Distributed computing - ex: google
    
4. Widgit - apple dashboard
    
5. Autonomic computing - industry-wide effoort to develop system that can:
• configure themselfs
• optimize and tune themselfs
• heal themselves when broken
• Protect themselves from outside intruders and self-destruction

1. Define: MIS Infrastructure
   
   
2. 3 primary elements Supporting Operations of a MIS Infrastructure 

1. includes the plans for how a firm will build, deploy, use and share its data, processes, and MIS assets
   
   
2. Information MIS Infrastructure  
• backup (exact copy of systems info) 
• recovery plan (ability get a system up and running in teh event of a system crash or failure)
• Fault Tolerence - 
• ability for a system to respond to unexpected failures or system crashes as the back up system immediately and automatically takes over with no loss of service
• Fail over
• specific type of fault tolerance - occurs when a redundant sotrage server offers an exact replica of the real-time data
• if primary server crashes, users are automatically directed to secondary server or backup server
• Failback - 
• when primary machine recovers and resumes operations 
• taking over the secondary server 
• disaster recovery plan
• able to recover the information or systems in the event of a catastrophe disaster such as fire or flood
• Warm Sites: 
• separate facility with computer equip. that requires installation and configuration
  
•  Cold Sites:
• separate facility that does not have any computer equip., but is aplace where employees can move after a disaster 
  
• Hot Sites: 
  
• separate and fully equipped facility where the company can move immediately afer a disaster and resume business
  
  
• business continutity plan
• creates a way for a company to recoer and restore partially or completely interrupted critical functions within a predtermind time afer a disaster or extended disruption
• Katrina Disaster 

1. Define: Moore's Law
    
2. 7 Characteristics of Agile MIS Infrastructure

1. Refers to the computer chip performance per dollar doubling every 18 months 
    
2. - Accessiblity
   - Availabiltity
   - Maintainability
   - Portability 
   - Reliability
   - scalability
   - Usability 

1. Define: Capacity Planning
    
2. Define: Sustainable MIS (MIS and the Environment)

1.  Determines future environmental infrastructure requirements to ensure high-quality system performance
   
   
2.  Describes the production, management, use, and disposal of technology in a safe way. The components of a sustainable MIS infrastructure include:
• Grid computing -A collection of computers, often geographically dispersed, that are coordinated to solve a common problem
• Cloud computing
• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
• Software as a Service (SaaS)
• Platform as a Service (PaaS)  
• Virtualized computing
• Creates multiple “virtual” machines on a single computing device

1. 6 Reasons for Databases

1. database advantages from a business perspective include
    
2. Increased flexibility
• A well-designed database should
• Handle changes quickly and easily
• Provide users with different views
• Have only one physical view
• Physical view – Deals with the physical storage of information on a storage device
• Have multiple logical views
• Logical view – Focuses on how individual users logically access information to meet their own particular business needs
   
3. Increased scalability and performance
• A database must scale to meet increased demand,  while maintaining acceptable performance levels
• Scalability – Refers to how well a system can adapt to increased demands
• Performance – Measures how quickly a system performs a certain process or transaction
• •  
4. Reduced information redundancy
• The duplication of data or storing the same information in multiple places 
   
5. Increased information integrity (quality)
• Information integrity – measures the quality of information
• Integrity constraint – rules that help ensure the quality of information
• Relational integrity constraint
• Business-critical integrity constraint 
   
6. Increased information security
• Information is an organizational asset and must be protected
• Databases offer several security features 
• Password – Provides authentication of the user
• Access level – Determines who has access to the different types of information 
• Access control – Determines types of user access, such as read-only access