IT management

IT career paths

• What is a data architect?

  A data architect is an IT professional responsible for defining the policies, procedures, models and technologies used in collecting, organizing, storing and accessing company information.

• healthcare CIO (healthcare chief information officer)

  A healthcare CIO (healthcare chief information officer) is an executive at a healthcare organization that oversees the operation of the information technology department and consults with other C-level personnel on technology-related needs and purchasing decisions.

• What is upskilling and why is it important for your career?

  Upskilling is a workplace trend that provides training programs and development opportunities to expand an employee's abilities and minimize skill gaps.

IT Operations

Terms related to the processes and services implemented and managed by an organization’s information technology (IT) department. Topics covered include systems management, configuration management, API management and DevOps, as well as real-time performance monitoring and management.

• What is the law of diminishing returns?

  The law of diminishing returns is an economic principle stating that as investment in a particular area increases, the rate of profit from that investment, after a certain point, can't continue to increase if other variables remain at a constant.

• What is labor arbitrage?

  Labor arbitrage is the practice of searching for and then using the lowest-cost workforce to produce products or goods.

• What is an uninterruptible power supply (UPS)?

  An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is a device that allows a computer to keep running for at least a short time when incoming power is interrupted.

Personal computing

Terms related to personal computers, including definitions about computers sold as consumer products and words and phrases about laptops, tablets and smartphones.

• What is an uninterruptible power supply (UPS)?

  An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is a device that allows a computer to keep running for at least a short time when incoming power is interrupted.

• What is an inbound call?

  An inbound call is typically initiated by a customer to a call center or contact center.

• search operator

  A search operator -- sometimes referred to as a search parameter -- is a character or string of characters used in a search engine query to narrow the focus of the search.

Project management

Terms related to project management, including definitions about project management methodologies and tools.

• What is a startup company?

  A startup company is a newly formed business with particular momentum behind it based on perceived demand for its product or service.

• product development (new product development)

  Product development -- also called new product management -- is a series of steps that includes the conceptualization, design, development and marketing of newly created or rebranded goods and services.

• scope creep

  Scope creep in project management is the gradual expansion of functions or adding features, functions or other deliverables beyond a project's original parameters.

Technical support

Terms related to computer fundamentals, including computer hardware definitions and words and phrases about software, operating systems, peripherals and troubleshooting.

• What is parity in computing?

  In computers, parity (from the Latin paritas, meaning "equal or equivalent") is a technique that checks whether data has been lost or written over when it is moved from one place in storage to another or when it is transmitted between computers.

• What is the blue screen of death (BSOD)?

  The blue screen of death (BSOD) -- also known as a stop error screen, blue screen error, fatal error or bugcheck -- is a critical error screen that can be displayed by Microsoft Windows operating systems (OSes).

• What is first call resolution (FCR)?

  First call resolution (FCR) is when contact center agents properly address a customer's needs the first time they call so there is no need for the customer to follow up with a second call.