| Mainframe
Computer |
A
very large and expensive
computer capable of supporting
hundreds, or even thousands of
users simultaneously. The
distinction between the smaller
types of mainframes and Minicomputers
is difficult to define. It
really depends on how the
manufacturer chooses to market
its machines. |
|
|
| Maintainability |
The
ability of a component or an IT
service, under stated conditions
of use, to be retained in, or
restored to, a state in which it
can perform its required
functions. Maintainability
also describes maintenance being
performed under stated
conditions and using prescribed
procedures and resources. |
|
|
| Major
Incident |
An
Incident where the impact on the
business is extreme. |
|
|
| Management
by Process and Facts |
Organisations
perform more effectively when
all inter-related activities are
understood and systematically
managed and decisions concerning
current operations and planned
improvements are made using
reliable information that
includes stakeholder
perceptions. |
|
|
| Management
Information |
Simplistically,
exactly what it says.
However, true MI is used, indeed
needed, to make informed
decisions and much of what is
produced and referred to as MI
is useless for that
purpose. The repetitive
production of data that appears
to meet no specific management
need should therefore always be
vigorously questioned. |
|
|
| Management
System |
The
framework of processes and
procedures used to ensure that
the organisation can fulfill all
tasks required to achieve its
objectives. |
|
|
| Manual
Back-up |
See
Clerical
Back-up. |
|
|
| Manual
Workaround |
A
temporary, non-IT based,
resolution to an Incident or
Problem. |
|
|
| Marginal
Cost |
The
cost of producing one more unit
of output after the production
system has been
established. For example,
the cost of generating one
printed sheet, i.e. paper and
toner, after a laser printer has
been purchased and
commissioned. See also Cost. |
|
|
| Market
Price |
The
price is the same as that which
would normally be charged by an
(another) external supplier. |
|
|
| Maturity
Level |
An
identifiable stage, defined in
terms of process features,
towards achieving a mature
process. |
|
|
| Mean
Time Between Failures |
MTBF
is the mean elapsed time from
the time an IT service or
component is fully restored
until the next occurrence of a
failure in the same service or
component. |
|
|
| Mean
Time Between System / Service
Incidents |
MTBSI
is the mean elapsed time between
occurrence of one system or
service failure and the next. |
|
|
| Mean
Time To Fix |
A
term occasionally used to denote
the average elapsed time from
the occurrence of an Incident to
the repair of the failed
component (the service will
possibly still not be available
to Users). |
|
|
| Mean
Time To Repair |
MTTR
is the mean elapsed time from
the occurrence of an Incident to
the restoration of service. |
|
|
| Method |
A
way of doing things in a
regular, systematic and orderly
fashion. |
|
|
| Metric |
Measurable
element of a service, process or
function. The real value
of metrics is seen in their
change over time. Reliance
on a single metric is not
advised, especially if it has
the potential to affect User
behaviour in an undesirable way. |
|
|
| Minicomputer |
A
mid-sized computer, perhaps
capable of supporting from 4 to
about 200 simultaneous
Users. In terms of size
and power, minicomputers lie
between Workstations and Mainframes. |
|
|
| Mission |
A
statement that explains the
'raison d'être' of an
organisation. It describes
why the business or function
exists. It is quite
distinct from the organisation's
objectives, which will indicate
how the mission is to be
achieved and that achievement
measured. |
|
|
| Modelling |
A set
of tools and techniques used to
predict the performance of a
specified system under a given
volume and variety of
work. Modelling is used to
predict the availability and
performance of services.
See also Analytical
Modelling, Simulation
Modelling. |
|
|
| Multivoting |
A
Problem Management technique
used to help reduce a large
number of items (e.g. a list of
themes or the results of Brainstorming)
to a manageable few (usually
three to five). The
technique allows the 'list
reduction' to be accomplished
quickly and with a high degree
of group agreement and
eliminates any individuals' with
close identification with
particular items. |
