Students' Guide to Business Computing

Preface1: The Business Enterprise Objectives The Three Main Business Sectors Organization within Business The Hierarchy of Personnel and Responsibilities The Information Needs of the Business Business Information Systems2: The Business Computer Objectives What is an Information System Information Processing Why are Computers Useful for a Business A Simple Computer-Based Information System Expertise Needed to Produce Software Packages and Tailored Software Communication Links Computing Needs of a Large Business Organization Structure of a Large Computer Department Computing Needs of a Small Business3: Initiating the Systems Development Life Cycle Objectives The Concept of Systems Systems Problems The Systems Development Life Cycle Starting the Systems Development Process The Preliminary Investigation4: Determination of System Requirements Objectives Organization Charts Determination of Requirements Developing a Systems Profile Fact-Finding Techniques Interviewing Structured and Unstructured Interviews Conducting an Interview Fact-Finding Techniques Questionnaire Fact Finding Techniques Observation Fact-Finding Techniques Record Inspection Determining User Requirements Describing Data Elements5: Systems Design Objectives Phases of Systems Design Design of the Outputs from the System Major Features of Printed Output and Paper as a Medium Design of Computer Input The Design of the Data Filing Methods File Storage Media Methods of File Organization and Processing Business Databases Design of Data Controls and Security Systems Buying Packaged Software6: Choosing and Using a Programming Language Objectives What is a Programming Language Assembly Languages High-Level Languages Fourth Generation Languages (4GL) Development of Programming Expertise Database Packages Expert Systems7: Applications Software Objectives Why Use a Computer for Accounting Integrated Accounting Packages Stock Control Purchase Ledger Nominal Ledger Payroll Interrelations between the Accounting Ledgers Contract Accounting Fires, Floods and Other Disasters Useful Standard Packages Other Applications Specialist Applications8: Systems Testing and Implementation Objectives Program and Systems Testing The Use of Prototyping in Systems Development and Testing Using 4GLs Training Changing over to the New System File Conversion Conversion to Live Files Estimating Time Requirements Bar Charts PERT Charts9: Selecting Business Computing Hardware and Software Objectives Sizing the Computer Assessing Computer Performance IBM Computers and Compatibles Paying for the Computer Selecting Software Where can You Buy Computers Rules to Follow in Making a DecisionIndex