| A | B |
|---|
| distributed database | A database where data is spread across several databases at different locations. |
| management information system | An information system that helps individuals and organizations achieve their goals by providing reports and information to make better decisions. |
| file | A collection of related records, sometimes called a table. |
| primary key | A field that uniquely identifies each record in a database file. |
| digital certificate | A type of electronic business card that is attached to Internet transaction data to verify the sender of the data. |
| ecommerce | Systems that support electronically executed business transactions. |
| ecommerce host | A company that takes on some or all of the responsibility of setting up and maintaining an e-commerce system for a business or organization. |
| electronic cash | Web service that provides a private and secure method of transferring funds from a bank account or credit card to online vendors or individuals. |
| electronic data interchange | Networking technology that uses private communications networks called value-added networks (VANs) to transmit standardized transaction data between business partners and suppliers. |
| encryption | A security technology that uses high-level mathematical functions and computer algorithms to encode data so that it is unintelligible to all but the intended recipient. |
| mobile commerce | A form of e-commerce that takes place over wireless mobile devices such as handheld computers and cell phones as well as emerging technologies such as dashtop computers embedded in automobile dashboards. |
| smart cards | Credit cards or ID cards with embedded microchips that can store and process data; can be used as electronic wallets, storing account information and balances and calculating new balances after being used for purchases. |
| business intelligence | Technologies that are used to gather and report information that supports intelligent business decision making. |
| decision making | A process that takes place in three stages: intelligence, design, and choice. |
| geographic information system | An information system capable of storing, manipulating, and displaying geographic or special information, including maps of locations or regions around the world. |
| groupware | Software that helps with joint work group scheduling, communication, and management. |
| heuristics | Often referred to as “rules of thumb” (commonly accepted guidelines or procedures that usually find a good solution, but not necessarily the optimal solution); often used in the decision-making process. |
| informatics | Combines traditional disciplines, like science and medicine, with computer systems and technology. |
| knowledge management system | System that assists an organization in capturing, storing, and distributing knowledge for use and reuse by the organization, and sometimes its partners and customers. |
| field | The components of a database record, which may be a name, number, or combination of characters that in some way describes an aspect of an object. |
