Download Content Management System (CMS) Definition

Content Management System (CMS) Definition
A content management system is what allows company employees to publish new content to
their web sites. These systems eliminate the need for content writers to be concerned with
the technical details. And while at first glance, content publishing might not seem like it
should be difficult, more detailed examination reveals some of the complexity. First, consider
that content comes in many forms:
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articles and white papers
press release and company news
pictures
products information
frequently asked questions/answers
email archives and newsgroups
Flash presentations and online demos
streaming audio and video
With all these different types of content, there is a need for systems to first create (author)
the content, then describe it (metadata tagging), and eventually update it. On top of these
basic tasks, the system should also:
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let several people collaborate and edit content together
provide workflow to let the right people do the right things at the right time
have security measures to stop the wrong people from manipulating the content
keep track of changes to the content through the use of versioning
provide scheduling to control when content is displayed
use templates to publish the content in a standard format so that a certain look and
feel is maintained across the site
personalize the content so user's can customize the viewing experience
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Definition
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is an information industry term for
methodologies, software, and usually Internet capabilities that help an enterprise manage
customer relationships in an organized and efficient manner. In many cases, an enterprise
builds a database about its customers. This database describes relationships in sufficient
detail so that management, salespeople, and customer service reps can access information;
match customer needs with product plans and offerings; remind customers of service
requirements; know what other products a customer had purchased; etc.
eBusiness Definition
eBusiness (electronic business) is, in its simplest form, the conduct of business on the
Internet. It is a more generic term than eCommerce because it refers to not only buying and
selling but also servicing customers and collaborating with business partners.
IBM, in 1997, was one of the first to use the term when it launched a campaign built around
the term. Today, many corporations are rethinking their businesses in terms of the Internet
and its capabilities. Companies are using the Web to buy parts and supplies from other
companies, to collaborate on sales promotions, and to do joint research. Exploiting the
convenience, availability, and global reach of the Internet, many companies, both large and
small have already discovered how to use the Internet successfully.
If it's time for your business to move online or to improve it's existing online infrastructure,
then I invite you to review my work with ebusiness solutions to see how I can help you.
eCommerce Definition
eCommerce (electronic commerce) is the buying and selling of goods and services on the
Internet, especially the World Wide Web. In practice, this term and a newer term, ebusiness, are often used interchangeably.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Definition
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is the industry term used to describe a broad set of
activities supported by multi-module application software that helps a manufacturer or other
business manage the important parts of its business. These parts can include product
planning, parts purchasing, maintaining inventories, interacting with suppliers, providing
customer service, and tracking orders. ERP can also include application modules for the
finance and human resources aspects of a business.
Some of the bigger players in the ERP outsourcing market are SAP, Peoplesoft, and J. D.
Edwards. New comers include Oracle, IBM, and Microsoft.
HTML Definition
Short for Hypertext Markup Language, HTML is what web designers and developers write
when they create web pages. HTML isn't really a programming language as it is missing
many of the standard features associated with programming languages. It is more a way to
describe how things should appear in a web browser. With it you can make sections of text
bold or make the typeface bigger.
Purists believe that HTML shouldn't be used to specify content layout. They feel that the
content should flow freely and fill the screen in whatever way best suits the end-user.
However, in practice, most web designers do attempt to control layout, feeling that
expressing their message in a specific and controlled manner is a worthwhile pursuit.
To build features such as forums, shopping carts, and registration forms requires
technologies other than HTML. It is best to think of HTML as the glue that binds all this
functionality in to something that a web browser can interpret and display for the end-user.
Extranet Definition
An extranet is a private network that uses the Internet protocol and the public
telecommunication system to securely share part of a business's information or operations
with suppliers, vendors, partners, customers, or other businesses. An extranet can be viewed
as part of a company's intranet that is extended to users outside the company. Think of an
extranet as being a private portion of the Internet. If you were to remove the secure aspects
of an extranet then you would in effect have just another piece of the Internet.
An extranet requires security and privacy. These require firewall server management, the
issuance and use of digital certificates or similar means of user authentication, encryption of
messages, and the use of virtual private networks (VPN) that tunnel through the public
network.
Companies can use an extranet to:
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Exchange large volumes of data using Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) or XML
Share product catalogs exclusively with wholesalers or those "in the trade"
Collaborate with other companies on joint development efforts
Jointly develop and use training programs with other companies
Provide or access services provided by one company to a group of other companies,
such as an online banking application managed by one company on behalf of
affiliated banks
Share news of common interest exclusively with partner companies
Related Terms
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Internet
Intranet
Blog Definition
A blog is a lot like a journal except it is generally intended to be read by others. The topics
for blogs vary greatly; some being about day to day activities and others taking a more
corporate or political slant. There is no defined or widely accepted format and so blogs range
from one liners that the author adds every few hours to relatively long, well thought out
arguments for or against a topic of interest.
Usually, users that are interested in a particular blog can subscribe to the blog and receive
updates automatically through the use of an RSS feed aggregator (also known as a news
aggregator). Unlike mailing lists, you do not need to provide an e-mail address and if nothing
else, blog subscriptions protect your e-mail address from spam.
Business Process Outsourcing Definition
Business process outsourcing (BPO) is the act of giving a third-party the responsibility of
running what would otherwise be an internal system or service. For instance, an insurance
company might outsource their claims processing program or a bank might outsource their
loan processing system.
Typically, companies that are looking at business process outsourcing are hoping to achieve
cost savings by handing the work to a third-party that can take advantage of economies of
scale by doing the same work for many companies. Or perhaps the cost savings can be
achieved because labor costs are lower due to different costs of living in different countries.
In exchange for the potential cost savings, the company in question must relinquish control
over an aspect of their business which explains why business process outsourcing is often
reserved for non-critical, non-core type of work.
Client/Server Definition
The term client/server describes one possible relationship between two software applications
in which the client makes a service request from the server. The client/server relationship
can apply to two programs running on a single computer or two programs running over a
network. In the case of a network, the client/server model provides a convenient way to
interconnect programs that are distributed efficiently across different locations. Computer
transactions using the client/server model are very common and it is likely you are involved
with such transactions almost daily.
For example, to check your e-mail from your computer, a client program on your computer
forwards your request to a server program at your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Once the
server program has retrieved your e-mail, it forwards them to the client on your computer,
which then allows you to read the e-mail.
The client/server model has become one of the central ideas of network computing. Most
business applications being written today use the client/server model. A distinction used to
be made between client/server applications and internet-based applications. However, that
distinction is being blurred such that even internet-based applications are beginning to make
use of the client/server model.
Using Visual Basic and SQL Server (or Oracle), I've built complex and highly-scalable
client/server based systems for well-known international companies. Read more about the
software I wrote and my role as a computer programmer for MasterCard International.
Internet Definition
The Internet, sometimes called simply "the Net," is a worldwide system of computer
networks - a network of networks in which users at any one computer can, if they have
permission, get information from any other computer (and sometimes talk directly to users
at other computers). It was conceived by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) of
the U.S. government in 1969 and was first known as the ARPANET. The original aim was to
create a network that would allow users of a research computer at one university to be able
to "talk to" research computers at other universities. A side benefit of ARPANet's design was
that, because messages could be routed or rerouted in more than one direction, the network
could continue to function even if parts of it were destroyed in the event of a military attack
or other disaster.
Today, the Internet is a public, cooperative, and self-sustaining facility accessible to
hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Physically, the Internet uses a portion of the total
resources of the currently existing public telecommunication networks. Technically, what
distinguishes the Internet is its use of a set of protocols called Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Two recent adaptations of Internet technology, the
intranet and the extranet, also make use of the TCP/IP protocol.
Using the Web, you have access to millions of pages of information. Web browsing is done
with a Web browser, the most popular of which are Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape
Navigator.
Intranet Definition
An intranet is a private network that is contained within an enterprise. It may consist of
many interlinked local area networks and also use leased lines in the Wide Area Network.
Typically, an intranet includes connections through one or more gateway computers to the
outside Internet. The main purpose of an intranet is to share company information and
computing resources among employees. An intranet can also be used to facilitate working in
groups and for teleconferences.
An intranet uses TCP/IP, HTTP, and other Internet protocols and in general looks like a
private version of the Internet. With tunneling, companies can send private messages
through the public network, using the public network with special encryption/decryption and
other security safeguards to connect one part of their intranet to another.
Typically, larger enterprises allow users within their intranet to access the public Internet
through firewall servers that have the ability to screen messages in both directions so that
company security is maintained. When part of an intranet is made accessible to customers,
partners, suppliers, or others outside the company, that part becomes part of an extranet.
Title Definition
Supply chain management (SCM) is the oversight of materials, information, and finances as
they move in a process from supplier to manufacturer to wholesaler to retailer to consumer.
Supply chain management involves coordinating and integrating these flows both within and
among companies. It is said that the ultimate goal of any effective supply chain management
system is to reduce inventory (with the assumption that products are available when
needed). As a solution for successful supply chain management, sophisticated software
systems with Web interfaces are competing with Web-based application service providers
(ASP) who promise to provide part or all of the SCM service for companies who rent their
service.
Supply chain management flows can be divided into three main flows:
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The product flow
The information flow
The finances flow
The product flow includes the movement of goods from a supplier to a customer, as well as
any customer returns or service needs. The information flow involves transmitting orders and
updating the status of delivery. The financial flow consists of credit terms, payment
schedules, and consignment and title ownership arrangements. There are two main types of
SCM software: planning applications and execution applications. Planning applications use
advanced algorithms to determine the best way to fill an order. Execution applications track
the physical status of goods, the management of materials, and financial information
involving all parties.
Some SCM applications are based on open data models that support the sharing of data both
inside and outside the enterprise (this is called the extended enterprise, and includes key
suppliers, manufacturers, and end customers of a specific company). This shared data may
reside in diverse database systems, or data warehouses, at several different sites and
companies.
By sharing this data "upstream" (with a company's suppliers) and "downstream" (with a
company's clients), SCM applications have the potential to improve the time-to-market of
products, reduce costs, and allow all parties in the supply chain to better manage current
resources and plan for future needs.
Increasing numbers of companies are turning to Web sites and Web-based applications as
part of the SCM solution. A number of major Web sites offer e-procurement marketplaces
where manufacturers can trade and even make auction bids with suppliers.
Utility Computing Definition
Utility computing refers to the ability of companies to access computing services, business
processes, and applications from a utility-like service over a network. The idea being that if
a company has to pay only for what it is using then it will be able to save money. While the
company offering utility computing services can benefit from economies of scale by using
the same infrastructure to service multiple clients.
The alternative is to buy hardware that can handle peak loads, but is often using only 15%
of available resources. Utility computing is the evolutionary step up from Application
Service Providers.
Web Services Definition
Web services (sometimes called application services) are services (usually including some
combination of programming and data, but possibly including human resources as well) that
are made available from a business's Web server for Web users or other Web-connected
programs. Providers of Web services are generally known as application service providers.
Web services range from such major services as storage management and customer
relationship management (CRM) down to much more limited services such as the furnishing
of a stock quote and the checking of bids for an auction item. The accelerating creation and
availability of these services is a major Web trend.
Users can access some Web services through a peer-to-peer arrangement rather than by
going to a central server. Some services can communicate with other services and this
exchange of procedures and data is generally enabled by a class of software known as
middleware. Services previously possible only with the older standardized service known as
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) increasingly are likely to become Web services. Besides
the standardization and wide availability to users and businesses of the Internet itself, Web
services are also increasingly enabled by the use of the Extensible Markup Language (XML)
as a means of standardizing data formats and exchanging data. XML is the foundation for the
Web Services Description Language (WSDL).
As Web services proliferate, concerns include the overall demands on network bandwidth
and, for any particular service, the effect on performance as demands for that service rise. A
number of new products have emerged that enable software developers to create or modify
existing applications that can be "published" (made known and potentially accessible) as
Web services.
Web Portal Definition
A web portal is a term, often used interchangeably with gateway, for a World Wide Web site
whose purpose is to be a major starting point for users when they connect to the Web. There
are general portals and specialized or niche portals. Some major general portals include
Yahoo, CNET, AOL, and MSN. Examples of niche portals that are accessible to the public
include Garden.com (for gardeners), Fool.com (for investors), and DPReview.com (for
photographers). Private niche portals are those that are used by employees of a company.
Companies such as IBM and MasterCard use portals to help disseminate information to their
employees in a timely and efficient manner.
A number of large access providers offer portals to the Web for their own users. Most portals
have adopted the Yahoo style of content categories with a light-weight, text-based page that
loads quickly. Companies with portal sites have attracted much stock market investor
interest because portals are viewed as able to command large audiences which in turn
translates to a large number of advertising viewers.
Typical services offered by public portal sites include a directory of Web sites, a facility to
search for other sites, news, weather information, e-mail, stock quotes, phone and map
information, and sometimes a community forum. Private portals often include access to
payroll information, internal phone directories, company news, and employee
documentation.
World Wide Web Definition
A technical definition of the World Wide Web is: all the resources and users on the Internet
that are using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).
A broader definition comes from the organization that Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee helped
found, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C):
"The World Wide Web is the universe of network-accessible information, an embodiment of
human knowledge."
Custom Software & Web Site Development
Your business software requirements are unique. The off-the-shelf products won't do - or
they don't even exist. You need a reliable, usable, custom software solution.
But how do you choose the developer? How can you be sure that the time and money you
invest will be well-spent? How do you make sure that your key business objectives are met?
The success of your custom software development effort depends on the caliber of your
project team. Reliable, easy-to-use applications come only from experienced professionals.
It's that simple.
I'm based in New York and have over 10 years of experience solving business problems
through the use of effective design practices, on-time development cycles, and seamless
deployment of custom software and web sites.
My clients have benefited from my software development expertise and are now able to do
more while spending less. They chose, from the beginning of their projects, to use a team of
professionals and haven't looked back since.
It's that simple.