Graphics and Pictures. Graphs, graphic images, and presentations in bit mapped
formats such as GIFF and TIFF.
Multimedia. Video images including audio in a format such as QuickTime.
Local Area Network (LAN). LANs are clusters of workstations, printers, file
servers, and communications devices operating together that support a work group.
The equipment is wired using special cabling (that has a finite length on the order of
thousands of feet) and a networking program is run on all equipment that routes in-
formation among the devices. Each device on the network has its own network ad-
dress. A network protocol, such as Ethernet that runs at 100M–1G bytes of data per
second, is used to break a message up into data packets and to place the packet on the
network. The device receiving the data packet acknowledges receipt. If the sending
device does not receive a receipt within a certain period of time it retransmits the data.
Wide Area Network (WAN). WANs are networks composed of devices or other
networks, often LANs, tied together by communications services provided by tele-
coms or PTTs. A firm with a number of locations at which LANs are running may
want to interconnect these LANs into a single network so that information can be sent
easily to any employee.
Operating System.^32 The operating system is a special purpose program, often
provided by the manufacturer of a workstation, that makes the resources of the work-
station available to the user. It consists of a file system, resource management, and
task management. Application programs use the facilities of the operating system
when using system resources.
SOURCES AND SUGGESTED REFERENCES
Alavi, M., and G. Young. “Information technology in an international enterprise: an organiz-
ing framework,” in S. Paluia, P. Paluia, and R. Zigli (eds.), The Global Issues of Information
Technology Management. Harrisburg, PA: Idea Publishing, 1992.
Bartlett, C. A., and S. Ghoshal. Managing Across Borders: The Transnational Solution. Cam-
bridge, MA: Harvard Business School Press, 1987.
Center for Research on Information Technology and Organization (CRITO). “Globalization of
E-Commerce.” University of California at Irvine, 2002.
DeLuca, R., P. Clark, J. Gricar, T. Imai, D. McCubbrey, and P. Swatman. “The International
Significance of Electronic Data Interchange,” in S. Paluia, P. Paluia, and R. Zigli (eds.), The
Global Issues of Information Technology Management. Harrisburg, PA: Idea Publishing,
1992.
Clemmons, E., and M. Row. “McKesson Drug Company.” MIS Quarterly, Vol. 5, No. 1, 1988.
Deans, P. C. and M. Kane. International Dimensions of Information Systems and Technology.
Boston: PWS-Kent Publishing Company, 1992.
Drucker, P. F. “The Coming of the New Organization.” Harvard Business Review, Janu-
ary–February 1988, pp. 45–53.
SOURCES AND SUGGESTED REFERENCES 28 • 25(^32) The major operating systems for workstations are Microsoft Corporation’s Windows, Apple Com-
puter Corporation’s OSX, and the Open Source Linux. The major operating systems for servers are Sun
Computer Corporation’s Solaris (UNIX), Microsoft Corporation’s NT, and Open Source Linux.