<company> A multinational I.T. group based in Europe with 21,000 people and operations in more than 85 countries. In 1997, Bull earned revenues of over $4 billion, including over 65% outside of France, its country of origin. The company is ranked as the third largest systems integrator in Europe. http://bull.com/. (1998-07-02)

<application> (GIS) A computer system for capturing, storing, checking, integrating, manipulating, analysing and displaying data related to positions on the Earth's surface. Typically, a GIS is used for handling maps of one kind or another. These might be represented as several different layers where each layer holds data about a particular kind of feature (e.g. roads). Each feature is linked to a position on the graphical image of a map. Layers of data are organised to be studied and to perform statistical analysis (i.e. a layer of customer locations could include fields for Name, Address, Contact, Number, Area). Uses are primarily government related, town planning, local authority and public utility management, environmental, resource management, engineering, business, marketing, and distribution. {GIS dictionary (http://geo.ed.ac.uk/root/agidict/html/welcome.html)}. Information Systemngraphic/wotzagis.html">http://ncl.ac.uk/Geographic Information Systemngraphic/wotzagis.html. (1995-12-21)

<application> (MIS) A computer system, usually based on a mainframe or minicomputer, designed to provide management personnel with up-to-date information on an organisation's performance, e.g. inventory and sales. These systems output information in a form that is useable by managers at all levels of the organisation: strategic, tactical, and operational. A good example of an MIS report is an annual report for a stockholder (a scheduled report). [Que's Computer User's Dictionary Second Edition, 1992]. (2001-04-01)