Glossary

Apache (HTTP web server)

Most widely used Open Source web server, developed by the Apache Software Foundation. Supported by Unix, Linux, Win32, NetWare and many more operating systems. Because of its modular nature it can be supplemented with modules to perform and/or to support additional tasks like encryption, proxy functions and dynamic contents by scripting.

Basel II

Equity regulations compiled by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS). The regulations will become legally effective in the EU as of January 1, 2008. Considerable efforts have already been made to comply with them in daily business practice. The main objectives are outlined within three so-called „pillars“: 1. improved risk sensitivity, 2. a framework for regulatory responses with regard to risk sensitivity, 3. extended disclosure regulations.

BPM (Business Process Management)

Design, identification, management, documentation and optimization of business processes. Central to BPM is the question: „who does what, when, and how?“. Business process information helps to better realize company objectives and to enhance customer orientation. Process controlling and optimization is based on key indicators. Business process management proceeds in recurrent cycles complementing each other:

Planning, design and ongoing optimization
Performing and monitoring everyday tasks according to defined processes
Results of monitoring influence planning, design, and optimization

Proper documentation of these cycles is a prerequisite (and also a legal directive) for successful business process optimization. For the definition of process chains and nested processes proper interface specifications are necessary.

Catalyst

Method deployed in the reference model developed by CSC Inc., used by process4.biz for the implementation of Work Management solutions. The Catalyst methodology takes into consideration the whole enterprise life cycle. It differentiates six domains relevant for business change: Business Process, Organization, Location, Application, Technology, Data.

CobiT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology)

Internationally accepted IT Governance framework that defines IT-related task requirements. IT tasks are classified either as „Process“ or as „Control Objective“. CobiT had been developed 1993 by ISACA. Since 2000 it has been further refined by the IT Governance Institute. Originally developed as a tool for IT auditors only, CobiT today is a comprehensive enterprise-wide tool for IT Governance.

„concurrent user“ license

License for a predefined number of users in a LAN who may access databases in one SQL server by means of one general user identification/password-combination. The software may be installed on any number of computers.

Dynamics AX

Microsoft’s ERP software (formerly called „Damgaard Axapta“), competes with SAP in medium-sized companies. The software supports Microsoft Sharepoint Services, utilizes Web Services for communication and uses the SQL Server Version 2005 reporting services. Users access the software through an enterprise portal. Components of the AX Suite include process oriented modules for supply chain control, production planning, sales organization, customer care, human resources, financial management, etc.

EAM (Enterprise Architecture Management)

Planning and management of organizational and technical structures and processes pertaining to enterprise architecture. IT processes and structures supporting organizational structures and operational processes play an eminent role for EAM.

EPC (Event-driven Process Chain)

Semiformal modeling language for the graphic representation of work processes. It helps to arrange processes in a systematic way, allowing for subsequent streamlining measures. Objects are arranged in vector graphs, and interrelated by connecting operators. EPC is frequently used for Business Process Analysis and Optimization.

ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)

Totality of software-supported information and planning systems, encompassing all resources that are relevant for business operation processes. Purchasing, Warehousing, Product Master Data and Customer Care are primary ERP categories. In a wider sense Accounting, Cost Accounting, Controlling and Personnel Administration are also included. ERP as a concept arose when the first database supported software solutions for storage and analysis of enterprise data had been developed. Most ERP systems are of modular nature, and can be customized according to customer requirements.

IIS (Internet Information Services)

Web Publishing functions included in Microsoft Windows server solutions. IIS provides web server, FTP, SMTP, POP3, WebDAV functions and Indexing Services. Windows 2000 Professional and Windows XP Professional provide limited IIS services.

Inheritance

Within object oriented programming, a way to form or derive new classes using (the attributes of) classes that have been defined previously. Attributes of a previously defined class are passed down to/inherited by a class to be created. In process4.biz, inheritance applies to objects/classes within the hierarchical database structure and helps to avoid redundancy.

ISACA (Information Systems Audit and Control Association)

World-wide acknowledged control organization for IT-Governance, Controlling, IT Security and IT Assurance with more than 47 thousand members in over 140 countries. ISACA supports international conferences, publishes periodicals, develops audit and control standards and issues officially acknowledged certificates („Certified Information Systems Auditor“ (CISA) and „Certified Information Security Manager“ (CISM)).

ISV – Royalty (ISV=Independent Software Vendors)

Licensing program designed for software vendors who incorporate Microsoft technology into their software business solutions for commercial distribution to their customers. The program is suitable for companies who generate a sales volume of more than 10,000 $ for Microsoft, and are at the same time also “Microsoft Certified Partner” or “Gold Certified Partner”. From about 40,000 Microsoft Partners in German-speaking countries about 300 are also Royalty Partners.

IT Audit

Methodical examination of the controls within a company’s information technology infrastructure by external experts. Evidence of an organization's information systems, processes and operations is collected and evaluated in order to ensure that the organization's information systems are operating effectively and efficiently.

IT Governance

A subset discipline of Corporate Governance focused on controlling IT systems especially with regard to Performance and Risk Management. The main objective is better compliance with the overall business strategy. IT governance has become a strategic asset because of the growing significance of IT processes for all business information systems. Powerful tools and world-wide accepted standards (ISO 2000, CobiT, ITIL) provide the means for successful implementation. IT Governance focuses on:

Strategic Alignment: constant alignment of IT processes and structures with strategic enterprise objectives
Resource Management: responsible and sustainable use of IT resources
Risk Management: identification, evaluation and management of IT-related risks
Performance Management: effectivity measurement of IT processes and services
Value Delivery: monitor and evaluate IT contributions

ITIL (IT Infrastructure Library)

Framework containing best practice approaches intended to facilitate the delivery of high quality IT services. ITIL describes a set of management procedures with the intention to support businesses in achieving excellent quality and value for money in IT operations. These procedures are based on a process model-oriented view of controlling and managing operations. ITIL is a standard framework for planning and delivery of IT services and for IT infrastructure optimization measures.

LAN (Local Area Network)

Network that connects computers within a limited local area (e.g. a company LAN, home LAN). The most frequent underlying technology is IEEE 802.3 Ethernet.

Modeling

Abstract representation of a specific part of reality by means of graphical visualization methods. Modeling methods/langauges are for example:

Event Driven Process Chains (EPC)
Entity-Relationship models (ERM): hihg-level conceptual description of data structures
organizational charts: represent the structure of an organization in terms of hierarchical relationships
Unified Modeling Language (UML): general-purpose modeling language for object modeling

MSDE (Microsoft SQL Desktop Engine)

Free developers' edition of Microsoft's full SQL Server, from SQL server version 2005 on renamed to SQL Server 2005 Express Edition. MSDE is an upward compatible SQL server with restrictions as to database size and administration GUI.

multi-user mode

Concurrent software access and separate working environments for multiple users. Process4.biz is a multi-user system because more than one user may log in to the same database in order to access one and the same model. A role based access control system ensures that no update conflicts occur.

named user license

Licensing form based on the combination of a user identification and a password for one specific computer (client) accessing the database in a LAN. Each named user may have an unlimited number of concurrent sessions, cf. concurrent user license.

.NET (Microsoft Dot Net)

Framework containing a large body of pre-coded solutions to common program requirements, and managing the execution of applications written specifically for the framework. .NET is included in Windows Server 2003 and in Vista. It consists of a runtime environment, class libraries and further services satisfying common programming needs. The main objective is to support the development of comprehensive, secure and device independent solutions.

RACI/DEMI

A special form of responsibility matrix describing the roles and responsibilities of teams or team members when working together in a project. The German version of RACI is called DEMI. The matrix is based on four types of competency:

Responsible: those who work to achieve the task
Accountable: those who are accountable for the achievement of the task
Consulted: those whose opinion is a crucial factor
Informed: those who have to be informed about task progress

Redundancy (free)

Redundancy means in general to have exceeding (=more than necessary) information. A feature is redundant, if it could be omitted without loss of meaning. While redundancy is normal for some areas (for example: language), as far as information technology and especially database design is concerned, redundancies should be eliminated, because they cost resources and may lead to inconsistencies. To maintain redundancy free structures is a basic principle for database design.

Reference model

Recommended organization models that have a certain degree of universal validity in a variety of contexts. Reference models describe best practices for organizational structures. Because of their model character, they have to be adapted to the specific project when deployed. Using a reference model minimizes the risks and saves the costs of a design process from scratch.

Replication (database replication)

Process for duplication of data in a way that source (primary) data and target data (replicas) are identical. Replication provides access to data at distant locations without online connection. Matching data by duplicating (=merge) is suitable for databases on mobile devices (notebooks) without permanent network connection. Concurrent updates may cause inconsistencies that have to be resolved manually.

Repository

Directory structure or database in a broad sense containing project data. It guarantees redundancy free access despite of partially decentral storage on file or web servers. Data may be checked out when loaded to a local computer for updates, and checked in again upon completion of the update process. The changes are recorded in the database.

single user license

Simplest license type without limitations as to number and/or duration of access. Client and server software are both installed on one computer. If more than one user should have access to the software and to one or more database/s in a LAN (cf. multi user mode), an appropriate number of named user licenses or concurrent user licenses has to be purchased.

„smart tags“

Visual marks indicating relationships between components by underlying hyperlinks. Smart tags technology automatically adds hyperlinks to selected items and has originally been developed by Microsoft for enhanced website navigation.

SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley Act)

United States federal law for the enhancement of corporate accounting and reporting practices, passed 2002 in response to accounting scandals. It establishes new or enhanced standards for company boards, management, and public accounting firms. The main objective is to reestablish public and investor trust in companies and their leaders. The law is named after US Senator Paul Sarbanes and Representative Michael G. Oxley and applies to US and foreign companies and subsidiaries listed on US stock exchange. Paragraph 404 prescribes the description of business processes including fiscal report data.

SQL Server

Relational database management system (RDBMS) produced by Microsoft. It has a significant market share among commercial database solutions.

SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)

XML markup language describing two-dimensional vector graphics. SVG is open standard created by the W3 Consortium. Most modern web browsers support SVG. However, Internet Explorer needs the Adobe SVG Plugin. The SVG format is associated with the file extensions .svg/.svgz.

Visio (Microsoft Visio)

Diagramming software for Windows, part of the Microsoft Office product family. It uses vector graphics to visualize complex structures as diagrams. It is easier for users to comprehend and communicate complex processes by means of a graphic representation. The process4.biz software integrates the original Visio graphical user interface.

WSS (Windows Sharepoint Services)

Free add-on component of Microsoft’s Windows Server 2003, offering basic web portal and intranet functionalities. WSS is a digital platform suitable for virtual teams who want to set up a knowledge base for an expert system. Data, applications and the persons using them are integrated by means of a web user interface. It includes team, document, and project sub-sites, version controlled document storage, and a basic search functionality. Windows SharePoint Services ist not identical with, but underlies the more powerful SharePoint Portal Server.

* Parts of this glossary were compiled on the basis of Wikipedia