IT in Business
Urooj Azhar
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Computer: An electronic system that can be
instructed to accept, process, store, and present
date and information.
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Computer System: A computer and all the
hardware interconnected with it.
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Hardware
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Programs
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Information
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People
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Procedures
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Hardware (computer hardware or devices): The
computer and its associated equipment.
▪ Input devices
▪ Processors
▪ Output devices
▪ Secondary storage devices
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Input: The data or information entered into a computer
or the process of entering data or information into the
computer for processing, storage and retrieval, or
transmission.
▪ Keyboards
▪ Point-of-sale terminals
▪ Mouse
▪ Image scanners
▪ Bar code scanners and wands
▪ Microphones
▪ Prerecorded sources
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Processor/Central Processing Unit (CPU): A set of
electronic circuits that perform the computer’s
processing actions.
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Microprocessor: The smallest type of processor,
with all of the processing capabilities of the
control unit and ALU located on a single chip.
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Chip: A collection of electronic components in
a very small, self-contained package.
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System Board (Mother Board): The system unit in a
microcomputer, located on a board mounted on
the bottom of a computer base.
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Primary Storage (Main Memory): Storage within the
computer itself. Primary memory holds data
only temporarily, as the computer executes
instructions.
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Output: The results of inputting and processing
data and information returned by the computer,
either directly to the person using the system or
to secondary storage.
▪ Control a printer
▪ Direct a display
▪ Control another device
▪ Generate sounds
▪ Initiate transmission of information
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Secondary Storage (Auxiliary Storage): A storage
medium that is external to the computer, but
that can be read by the computer; a way of
storing data and information outside the
computer itself.
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
Diskettes
Zip Disks
Hard Disks
Optical Disks (CD/DVD)
Magnetic Tape
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Magnetic Disks: A general term referring to two
types of storage disk: the flexible/floppy disk
and the hard disk.
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Zip Disks: Similar to diskettes, but housed in a
hard plastic case. These disks can store 70 to
175 times more and can store and retrieve data
more quickly than diskettes.
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Read Only: A type of disk that information can
be read from but not written onto.
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Peripheral Equipment: A general term used for any
device that is attached to a computer system.
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Software: The general term for a set of instructions that
controls a computer or a communications network.
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Program: A set of instructions that directs a computer
to perform certain tasks and produce certain results.
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Communication Program: A program that manages the
interaction between a computer system and a
communications network and the transmission of data,
programs, and information over the network.
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Software Package: An application that focuses on a
particular subject, such as word processing, and
is sold to businesses and the general public.
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Documentation: An instruction manual that
accompanies software. Also, a technical, detailed
written description of the specific facts of a
program.
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Spreadsheet: A table of columns and rows used
by people responsible for tracking revenues,
expenses, profits, and losses.
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Word-processing (WP) Program: A program that
allows the user to enter, change (edit), move,
store, and print text information.
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Desktop Publishing (DTP) Program: A program
that combines text and image-handling features
with document-design capabilities.
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Graphics Presentation Program: A program that translates
data into visual representations using charts, graphs,
and map.
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Photo Editing Program: A program used to touch up,
remove, or add features to a digital version of
photographs.
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Illustration Program: A program in which the computer
screen becomes a drawing board on which artists
translate their ideas into visual form.
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Database Management Program: A program that
makes it possible for users to manage the data
in ways that increase accessibility and
productivity.
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Database: A collection of data and information
describing items of interest to an organization.
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Browser: Client computer program designed to
locate and display information on the World
Wide Web.
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Information System or Management Information System (MIS):
A business information system designed to produce
the information needed for successful management of
a structured problem, process, department, or business.
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Computer Programming Language: A series of commands
or codes that a computer can translate into the
electronic pulses that underlie all computing activities.
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Custom Software: Software written specially for a
particular business.
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Data: Raw facts, figures, and details.
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Information: An organized, meaningful, and useful
interpretation of data.
▪ Data
▪ Text
▪ Sound
▪ Images
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User (End User): The people who uses IT in their
jobs or personal lives.
▪ Hands-on users
▪ Indirect end users
▪ User managers
▪ Senior managers
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Information Technology Professional: A person who is
responsible for acquiring, developing, maintaining, or
operating the hardware associated with computers and
communications networks.
▪ Programmers
▪ Systems Analysts
▪ System Designers
▪ Web Designers
▪ Project Managers
▪ Network Specialists
▪ Trainers
▪ Computer Operators
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Programmer/Analyst: A person who has joint
responsibility
for
determining
system
requirements and developing and implementing
the systems.

Data Center (Computer Center): A facility at which
large and midrange computer systems are
located. These systems are shared by many users
who are interconnected with the system through
communications links.
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Computer Engineer: An IT professional who
designs,
develops,
and
oversees
the
manufacturing of computer equipment.
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Systems Engineer: An IT professional who installs
and maintains hardware.
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Procedure: A step-by-step process or a set of
instructions for accomplishing specific results.
▪ Operations
▪ Backup and Recovery
▪ Security
▪ Development
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Operations Procedure: A procedure that describes how
a computer system or application is used, how often it
can be used, who is authorized to use it, and where the
results of processing should go.
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Backup Procedure: A procedure that describes how and
when to make extra copies of information or software
to protect against losses.
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Recovery Procedure: An action taken when information or
software must be restored.
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Security Procedure: A procedure designed to safeguard
data centers, communications networks, computers,
and other IT components from accidental intrusion or
intentional damage.
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Security Software: Software that is designed to protect
systems and data.
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Development Procedure: A procedure that explains how IT
professionals should describe user needs and develop
applications to meet those needs.
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System: A set of components that interact to
accomplish a purpose.
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Single-User System (Personal Computer): An IT
system used by only one person. A system that
stands alone and is not interconnected with
other companies or shared by other people.
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Multi-user System: A communication system in
which more than one user share hardware,
programs, information, people, and procedures.
▪ To share a computer
▪ To share hardware
▪ To share software
▪ To share information
▪ To share communications
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Information Processing Activities Associated with
Information-handling Functions;
▪ Capture
▪ Input
▪ Upload/Download
▪ Uploading: The process by which information is sent from
a PC to a mainframe.
▪ Downloading: The transfer of information from a central
system to a desktop computer.
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Information Processing Activities Associated with
Information-handling Functions;
▪ Processing
▪ Compute
▪ Update
▪ Batch Processing: The grouping and processing of all
transactions at one time.
▪ Real-time Processing: The processing of each transaction as
it occurs.
▪ Classify
▪ Sort
▪ Summarize
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Information Processing Activities Associated with
Information-handling Functions;
▪ Generate
▪ Output
▪ Issue
▪ Storage and Retrieval
▪ Inquire
▪ Store
▪ Retrieve
▪ Transmit
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Computer Data is coded, manipulated and stored by use of an
exclusive two-state condition
▪ in English such two-state forms of information can include yes/no,
on/off, open/closed, hole/no hole
▪ in simple electronic terms this two-state condition can be translated for
the computer into "switch open/switch closed", meaning that "there is
electricity passing through the circuit/there is no electricity passing
through the circuit"
▪ note that one of the two exclusive states always exists
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If one switch provides two different datum, how much data can
we obtain from two switches?
▪ four - there are four combinations of open and closed switches
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In computer terminology, this two state condition is represented
in binary notation by the use of 1s and 0s
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
Two switches produce four codes : 00, 01, 10, 11
Three switches produce eight codes:
000, 001, 010, 011, 100, 101, 110, 111
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In mathematical terms:
▪ 1 binary digit provides 21 = 2 alternatives
▪ 2 binary digits provide 22 = 4 alternatives
▪ 3 binary digits provide 23 = 8 alternatives
▪ 8 binary digits provide 28 = 256 alternatives
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Binary System
▪ base 2
▪ valid digits = 0, 1
Octal System
▪ base 8
▪ valid digits = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Decimal System
▪ base 10
▪ valid digits = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Hexadecimal System
▪ base 16
▪ valid digits = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F
▪ A refers to decimal 10, B refers to decimal 11, etc.
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Bin
00000000
00000001
00000010
00000011
00000100
00000101
00000110
00000111
00001000
00001001
00001010
00001011
00001100
00001101
00001110
00001111
Oct
000
001
002
003
004
005
006
007
010
011
012
013
014
015
016
017
Dec
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
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Hex
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
A
B
C
D
E
F
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A computer stores data in units called bits and bytes. Computer
chips called integrated circuits (ICs) have one of two states, off
or on. Therefore, a system was developed that used only two
numbers, 0 and 1. Zero representing off and 1 representing on.
You can think of this as a sort of light switch. Each switch is
called a bit.
Each binary digit is called a bit
▪ the complexity of computer circuitry is described in terms of the number
of bits that can be transmitted simultaneously
▪ this is determined by the number of wires that run parallel to one another
on the circuit-boards
▪ current PCs use 8, 16, 32 and 64 bit paths
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Bits are grouped together in sets of eight. Each set of eight bits
is called a byte. Setting different combinations of those eight
"on and off" combinations can be developed to stand for letters
numbers, spaces, and symbols.
A unit of four bits, or half an octet, is often called a nibble (or
nybble). It can encode 16 different values, such as the numbers 0
to 15.
For practical purposes, think of a byte as one character. When
computers refer to memory or storage they refer to terms using
the following forms of measurement.
8
bits
=
1
byte
1024 bytes = 1 Kilobyte (KB)
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Value
Term
10241 K
kilo-
10241Bytes
1 Kilobytes
10242 M mega- 10242 Bytes
1024 Kilobytes
10243 G giga-
10242 Kilobytes 1024 Megabyte
10244
T
tera-
10245
P
peta-
10246
E
exa-
10247
Z zetta-
10248
Y yotta-
10243 Bytes
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1 Megabyte
1 Gigabyte
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Short for American Standard Code for Information
Interexchange, ASCII is an industry standard, which assigns
letters, numbers and other characters within the 256 slots
available in the 8-bit code.
The ASCII table is divided in 3 sections:
▪ Non printable, system codes between 0 and 31.
▪ Lower ASCII, between 32 and 127. This part of the table (as shown
below) originates from older, American systems, which worked on 7-bit
character tables. Foreign letters, like and were not available then.
▪ Higher ASCII, between 128 and 255. This part is programmable, in that
you can exchange characters based on language you want to write in.
Foreign letters are placed in this part and an example is shown below.
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If someone says they want your CV however in ASCII format,
all this means is they want 'plain' text with no formatting such as
tabs, bold or underscoring - the raw format that any computer
can understand. This is usually so they can easily import the file
into their own applications without issues. Notepad.exe creates
ASCII text, or in MS Word you can save a file as 'text only'
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As people gradually required computers to understand
additional characters and non-printing characters the ASCII set
became restrictive. As with most technology, it took a while to
get a single standard for these extra characters and hence there
are few varying 'extended' sets.
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Extended ASCII Characters
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When referring to a computer, the bus also known as the address
bus, data bus, or local bus is a data connection between two or
more devices connected to the computer. For example, a bus enables a
computer processor to communicate with the memory or a video card
to communicate with the memory. A bus is capable of being parallel
or a serial bus.
 Today all computers utilize two types of buses, an internal or local
bus and an external bus. An internal bus enables a communication
between internal components such as a computer video card and
memory and an external bus is capable of communicating with
external components such as a scanner, printers etc.
 A computer or devices bus speed or throughput is always measured in
bits per second or megabytes per second.

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Also called clock rate, the speed at which a microprocessor
executes instructions. Every computer contains an internal clock
that regulates the rate at which instructions are executed and
synchronizes all the various computer components or data is
processed.
Clock speed refers to the number of pulses per second
generated by an oscillator that sets the tempo for the processor.
Clock speed is usually measured in MHz (megahertz, or millions
of pulses per second) or GHz (gigahertz, or billions of pulses
per second).
Computer clock speed has been roughly doubling every year.
Intel 8088, year 1990, ran at 4.77 MHz. The 1 GHz mark was
passed in the year 2000
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Clock speed is one measure of computer "power," but it is not always
directly proportional to the performance level. If you double the
speed of the clock, leaving all other hardware unchanged, you will not
necessarily double the processing speed. The type of microprocessor,
the bus architecture, and the nature of the instruction set all make a
difference.
 Some processors execute only one instruction per clock pulse. More
advanced processors can perform more than one instruction per clock
pulse. The latter type of processor will work faster at a given clock
speed than the former type. Similarly, a computer with a 32-bit bus
will work faster at a given clock speed than a computer with a 16-bit
bus. For these reasons, there is no simplistic, universal relation among
clock speed, "bus speed," and millions of instructions per second
(MIPS).
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