Glossary

batch processing
A method of updating a database in which data are collected over some time period and processed together.
data mart
Special subset of a data warehouse that deals with a single area of data and is organized for quick analysis.
data warehouse
An information technology that combines many databases across a whole company into one central database that supports management decision-making.
decision support system (DSS)
A management support system that helps managers make decisions using interactive computer models that describe real-world processes.
executive information system (EIS)
A management support system that is customized for an individual executive; provides specific information for strategic decisions.
expert system
A management support system that gives managers advice similar to what they would get from a human consultant; it uses artificial intelligence to enable computers to reason and learn to solve problems in much the same way humans do.
management support system (MSS)
An information system that uses the internal master database to perform high-level analyses that help managers make better decisions.
online (real-time) processing
A method of updating a database in which data are processed as they become available.
transaction processing system (TPS)
An information system that handles the daily business operations of a firm. The system receives and organizes raw data from internal and external sources for storage in a database using either batch or online processing.