A glossary of information and communication technology (ICT) and public sector terms to help suppliers more credibly engage with government.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Access Control and Management | The set of policies, procedures, and technologies used to manage and restrict access to digital resources or assets. Access control and management systems are designed to ensure that only authorised users are granted access to resources or information, while preventing unauthorised access, theft, or damage. Access control and management systems can include passwords, biometric identification, and encryption. |
| Acoustic Imaging | The process of producing visual images from sound waves. It involves using specialised equipment to transmit sound waves into an object or body, and then measuring the echoes that bounce back. The resulting data is then processed and transformed into an image or 3D model. |
| Across Government | The process of acquiring goods, services or construction works by a central agency on behalf of multiple government agencies or departments within a jurisdiction. This approach aims to achieve economies of scale, improve value for money, and streamline procurement processes across government entities. It typically involves the establishment of common procurement frameworks or panels, which are accessible by multiple government agencies and departments, and are based on a set of agreed specifications and standards. |
| Administration | A range of support services provided to organisations to help manage and streamline administrative tasks and processes. These services can include activities such as document management, data entry, record-keeping, appointment scheduling, travel arrangements, and other administrative duties. |
| Advance Notice | A notification issued by a government agency to the market, indicating its intention to conduct a procurement activity in the near future. Advance notices provide potential suppliers with an opportunity to prepare for the upcoming procurement, including conducting market research and determining their interest and capacity to bid for the contract. |
| Advisory Service | Professional services provided to organisations or individuals to help them make informed decisions and achieve their goals. Advisory services include management consulting, financial advisory, risk management, and strategic planning. Advisory services are typically provided by specialised consulting firms or individual consultants with expertise in a specific area who present findings, conclusions, and recommendations for client consideration and decision-making. |
| Agile Methodology | A flexible and iterative approach to software development that emphasises collaboration, rapid prototyping, and adaptability to changing requirements. Agile methodology was developed as an alternative to traditional, linear development methods that were seen to be inflexible and non-responsive to changes in user needs or market conditions. Agile methodology involves breaking development projects into smaller deliverables, with frequent testing and feedback loops to ensure that the final product meets user requirements. Agile teams are typically cross-functional and self-organising, with a focus on continuous improvement and collaboration between developers, testers, and other stakeholders. |
| API | Application Programming Interface (API) is a set of protocols, tools, and standards that enable different software applications to communicate with each other. An API specifies how software components should interact and defines the types of requests that can be made, the format of the responses, and the rules for authentication and access control. APIs can be used to share data and functionality between different applications, allowing developers to build new applications that leverage existing software components. |
| App | App (application), refers to a software program designed to perform a specific function or set of functions on a computer, mobile device, or other electronic device. |
| Application and Integration Middleware | Application and Integration Middleware (AIM) software acts as an intermediary between different applications or software components, enabling them to communicate and share data with each other. AIM provides functions such as data transformation, message routing, application integration, and transaction management. AIM can be implemented as on-premises software or as cloud-based services, and it is widely used in enterprise architecture, service-oriented architecture (SOA), and microservices-based architectures. |