Key Terms business functions Specialized tasks performed in a business organization, including manufacturing and production, sales and marketing, finance, accounting, and human resources. business processes The unique ways in which organizations coordinate and organize work activities, information, and knowledge to produce a product or service. communications technology Physical devices and software that link various computer hardware components and transfer data from one physical location to another. computer hardware Physical equipment used for input, processing, and output activities in an information system. computer literacy Knowledge about information technology, focusing on understanding how computer-based technologies work. computer software Detailed, preprogrammed instructions that control and coordinate the work of computer hardware components in an information system. computer-based information systems (CBIS)