IT platform The set of hardware, software, communications,
and standards an organization uses to build and operate its infor-
mation systems.
IT portfolio management A disciplined approach to managing
IT investments to best align with the current and anticipated needs
of a business for not only the short term but also the long term.
The typical IT investment portfolio includes investments in
hardware, custom software, packaged software, and communica-
tions networks.
ITIL An acronym for Information Technology Infrastructure
Library, a process-based IS management approach—first devel-
oped by a branch of the British government—that documents a
set of 12 processes for deploying and operating information
systems and services.
J2EE SeeJava 2 Enterprise Edition.
JAD SeeJoint application design.
Java 2 Enterprise Edition A platform for application
development on the Web, using the OOP paradigm, created by an
alliance of companies led by Sun Microsystems. J2EE pro-
gramming is done in Java, and the programs will run on any
platform. J2EE is a collection of Java-based technologies for Web
application development; popular J2EE products are WebSphere
from IBM and WebLogic from BEA.
JCL SeeJob control language.
Job control language (JCL) The specialized computer
language by which computer users communicate with the operat-
ing system. The term “JCL” is used primarily in the context of
IBM mainframe computers.
Joint application design (JAD) A technique in which system
requirements are defined by a team of users and IS specialists
during an intensive effort led by a trained facilitator. JAD
sessions are often held at special facilities with CASE tool
support.
Keychain drive Another name for a flash drive. Keychain
drive is perhaps the most descriptive name for a flash drive,
because the device is not much larger than the average car key.
See alsoFlash drive.
KM SeeKnowledge management.
KMS SeeKnowledge management system.
Knowledge management (KM) The sharing and transferring of
knowledge in an organization in order to enhance learning and
improve performance; in other words, the strategies and processes
of identifying, creating, capturing, organizing, transferring, and
leveraging knowledge to help individuals and firms compete.
Knowledge management system (KMS) A system for
managing organizational knowledge that enables individuals and
organizations to enhance learning, improve performance, and,
hopefully, produce long-term sustainable competitive advantage.
LAN SeeLocal area network.
Laptop computer The type of personal computer that can
easily be carried by a user and used on the user’s “lap.” A laptop
Glossary 679PC is the size of a small briefcase and weighs less than 10 pounds.
The terms “laptop” and “notebook” PC are now used almost
interchangeably, although the notebook PC originally was a
smaller machine than a laptop.
Legacy system A term used to refer to a system that has
already been deployed in an organization, especially one that was
initially deployed several years ago.
Lewin/Schein change model A 3-stage model for planning
and managing change in an organization: unfreezing, moving,
and refreezing.
Life-cycle process SeeSystems development life cycle.
Listserv An Internet application, or tool, that is essentially a
mailing list such that members of a group can send a single
electronic mail message and have it delivered to everyone in the
group.
Local area network (LAN) A local data-only network, usually
within a single organization and generally operating within an
area no more than two or three miles in diameter, that contains a
number of intelligent devices (usually microcomputers) capable
of data processing. LANs usually follow one of five designs:
contention bus, token bus, token ring, Wi-Fi wireless, and
WiMAX wireless. See alsoContention bus, Token bus, Token
ring, Wi-Fi LAN, WiMAX LAN, Wireless LAN.
Location intelligence The application of spatial technologies
to identifying where someone or something is in real time; the
technology most responsible for achieving location intelligence
is the Global Positioning System (GPS).
Logic bomb A program that is introduced into a computer and
set to take action at a certain time or when a specified event
occurs.
Logical system or model A depiction of the function and
purpose (the what) of a system without reference to, or impli-
cations for, how the system is implemented; includes both As-Is
and To-Be models. See alsoPhysical system or model.
Long Term Evolution (LTE) A new cellular technology that
is being used to develop very high-speed 4G cellular telephone
networks by wireless carriers, including both AT&T and
Verizon Wireless—the two largest cellular providers in the
United States.WiMAX is a competing 4G technology. See also
WiMAX LAN.
LT E SeeLong Term Evolution.
M-commerce Shorthand for mobile e-commerce; the utiliza-
tion of electronic applications and communications via handheld
devices and wireless technologies for e-commerce.
Machine language The form of a computer program that the
control unit of the computer has been built to understand. In
general, each machine language instruction consists of an opera-
tion code that tells the control unit what basic machine function is
to be performed and one or more addresses that identify the specific
memory cells whose contents will be involved in the operation.
Magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) A computer
input method used for check processing in the United States.