Glossary Archive

A confidential cryptographic key that is known only to the owner and used for decrypting data or signing digital transactions.

The mechanism through which the data are transformed, manipulated and created into output such as a report, a decision etc. A series of activities that need to be carried out to accomplish some sort of organizational goal. A sequence of events or activities that are triggered by something happening and results in something being achieved.

A method of visually documenting the stages involved in performing a certain business procedure. A type of process flow popular among business managers might take the form of flow charts that show inputs or information requests, followed by each of the steps required to create deliverable outputs such as products or services from the inputs. Process flows are usually cross-functional and use the Swim Lane format.

A workflow diagram to bring forth a clearer understanding of a process or series of parallel processes. Mapping illustrates pictorially, through graphs and charts, how certain business processes flow into others. This allows an observer to 'walk-through' the whole process and see it in its entirety.

The analysis and redesign of work flow to improve an organizations efficiency and effectiveness.

A company that provides outsourcing of payroll, workers' compensation, human resources and employee benefits administration.

The centralized coordinated management of a several related projects or products as a single program to achieve the strategic objectives and benefits.

A method of analyzing the tasks involved in completing a given project, the tie needed to complete each task and the minimum time needed to complete the total project. The graphical drawing that is created to perform the analysis is called a PERT Chart. A similar methodology, the Critical Path Method (CPM), was developed for project management in the private sector at about the same time.

An interrelated set of tasks with a beginning and an end that is bounded by time, resources, costs and desired results.

A planning document that defines the scope of and provides a basic foundation for the completion of a software implementation project.