Accounting Information Systems Information systems that record and report business transactions, the flow of funds through an organization, and produce financial statements. This provides information for the planning and control of business operations, as well as for legal and historical record-keeping. Accounts Payable A record of purchases from suppliers. Accounts Receivable A record of amounts owed by customers. Batch Processing A category of data processing in which data is accumulated into "batches" and processed periodically. Business Information Systems Information systems within a business organization that support one of the traditional functions of business such as marketing, finance, or production. Business information systems can be either operations or management information systems. Collaborative Manufacturing Networks Collaborative manufacturing networks involves using the Internet, intranets, extranets, and other networks to link the workstations of engineers and other specialists with their colleagues at other sites. Computer-Aided Design (CAD) The use of computers and advanced graphics hardware and software to provide interactive design assistance for engineering and architectural design. Computer-Aided Engineering The use of computers to simulate, analyze, and evaluate models of product designs and production processes developed using computer-aided design methods. Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) The use of computers to automate the production process and operations of a manufacturing plant. Also called factory automation. Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) An overall concept that stresses that the goals of computer use in factory automation should be to simplify, automate, and integrate production processes and other aspects of manufacturing. Control Listing A detailed report that describes each transaction occurring during a period. Cross-Functional Information Systems Information systems which are integrated combinations of business information systems, thus sharing information resources across the functional units of an organization. Edit Report A report that describes errors detected during processing. Fault Tolerant System Computers with multiple central processors, peripherals, and system software that are able to continue operations, even if there is a major hardware or software failure. Financial Information Systems Information systems that support financial managers in the financing of a business and the allocation and control of financial resources. Includes cash and securities management, capital budgeting, financial forecasting, and financial planning. General Ledger A collection of financial records of a firm. Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) Information systems that support human resource management activities such as recruitment, selection and hiring, job placement and performance appraisals, and training and development. Inquiry Processing Computer processing which supports the realtime interrogation of online files and databases by end users. Interactive Marketing A dynamic collaborative process of creating, purchasing, and improving products and services that builds close relationships between a business and its customers, using a variety of services on the Internet, intranets, and extranets. Inventory Control The activity of monitoring and controlling the inventory. Machine Control The technology of controlling machine tools by computers. Manufacturing Information Systems Information systems which support the planning, control, and accomplishments of manufacturing processes. This includes concepts such as computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) and technologies such as computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) or computer-aided design (CAD). Manufacturing Execution Systems MES are performance monitoring information systems for Factory floor operations. They monitor, track, and control the five essential components involved in a production process: materials, equipment, personnel, instructions and specifications, and production facilities. Marketing Information Systems Information systems which support the planning, control, and transaction processing required for the accomplishment of marketing activities, such as sales management, advertising and promotion. Material Requirements Planning The activity of planning the types and quantities of materials needed to meet a production schedule. Online Accounting Systems Online accounting information systems are using the Internet, intranets, extranets, and other networks to be directly involved in the processing of transactions between a business and its customers and suppliers. Online HRM Systems Online HRM systems are using the Internet to actively recruit for employees through recruitment sections of their corporate web sites and commercial recruitment services and databases on the World Wide Web. Online Investment Systems Online investment systems are using the Internet and other networks in order to make buying, selling, or holding decisions for each type of security so that an optimum mix is developed that minimizes risk and maximizes investment income for the business. Online Transaction Processing A realtime transaction processing system. Order Processing The activities involved in processing orders from customers. Payroll A record of the employees to be paid and the amount due to each. Process Control The use of a computer to control an ongoing physical process such as petrochemical production. Realtime Processing Data processing in which data is processed immediately rather than periodically. Also called online processing. Robotics The technology of building machines (robots) with computer intelligence and human like physical capabilities. Sales Force Automation The use of computers to automate sales recording and reporting by sales people, as well as communications and sales support. Source Data Automation The use of automated methods of data entry that attempt to reduce or eliminate many of the activities, people, and data media required by traditional data entry methods. Source Document A document that is the original formal record of a transaction, such as a purchase order or sales invoice. Strategic TPS Networks Firms are using the Internet, extranets, and other networks that tie them electronically to their customers or suppliers for realtime or online transaction processing (OLTP). Targeted Marketing Targeted marketing has become an important tool in developing advertising and promotion strategies for a company's electronic commerce web sites. Targeted marketing includes five targeting components: community, content, context, demographic/psychographic, and online behaviour. Traditional Data Entry Traditional method of data entry that relies on end users to capture data on source documents, which then have to be transferred to machine readable form. Transaction An event that occurs as part of doing business, such as a sale, purchase, deposit, withdrawal, refund, transfer, payment, and so on. Transaction Documents A document produced as part of a business transaction, e.g., a purchase order, paycheck, sales receipt, or customer invoice. Transaction Processing Cycle A cycle of basic transaction processing activities including data entry, transaction processing, database maintenance, document and report generation, and inquiry processing. Transaction Processing System An information system that processes data arising from the occurrence of business transactions. Turnaround Document Output of a computer system (such as customer invoices and statements) that is designed to be returned to the organization as machine-readable input.