P SC
MIS
5170
Due:
Exam
January 11, 2004
Close of business Monday, January 13, 2004
e-mail a copy of your exam before noon and deliver a paper copy to the OU office by c.o.b. Monday. E-mail
address is aschwarz@ou.edu .
Name ________________________________ Phone ______________
Address
_________________________________
_________________________________
E-mail
_________________________________
I understand that this is an open book exam. I may use any book magazine or similar reference. I may use any
material produced during class, but I may not use other class members after I start this exam. I may not use other
people, except for the instructor, to help me complete the answers on this exam. If I have questions, I will contact
the instructor for clarification.
_____________________
Signed
Al Schwarzkopf
Division of Management Information Systems
The University of Oklahoma
307 Adams Hall
Norman, OK 73019
405/325-5703 (w)
FAX 405/325-1957
405/364-3893 (h)
E-mail aschwarz@ou.edu
Please word-process your responses. Diagrams can be hand drawn.
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P SC 5170: Final Exam
I. PROJECT (70%)
Select an IT project that would be of value in your professional environment. You may use the project you
suggested in class or pick another one.
A. Business Justification (25%)
Develop a business justification for your project. Follow the outline below.
 Describe the proposed IT solution.
 Identify a potential sponsor organization. What is the mission of this organization?
 Indicate one or more mission objectives of this sponsor organization that the proposed IT solution would
impact.
 Conduct a value chain analysis of one of these mission objectives to pinpoint one stage where the proposed
solution would contribute to this objective.
 What is the primary function of your proposed solution?
 Write a summary statement of the reasons that the proposed solution should be implemented.
B. Functional Decomposition (10%)
 Describe each of the basic functions of the system you propose in a narrative. Use at least one paragraph for
each function.
 Use a graphical modeling tool to specify these (IPO chart, data flow diagram, Web map).
C. Cost-Benefit Analysis (10%)
 Identify major costs and benefits for your solution.
 Produce a payback period analysis for your project. You may make up numbers but explain your assumptions.
D. Sourcing (10%)
Discuss advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing this project (development, operation or both). What are
critical performance factors that you should measure?
What kind of relationship would you need with the outsourcer? Why? How would you establish that?
E. Request for Proposal (15%)
Prepare a Request for Proposal to implement either a purchase or outsourcing option for your project. Focus on
the user needs; don’t worry about “boilerplate” components such as legal requirements and caveats. Do include:
 Introduction
o Project Summary
o Vendor Qualifications
 Instructions
o Project Description & Objectives
o Contacts
o Timetable
 System Requirements
o Mandatory Requirements
o Desirable Features
 Evaluation Method
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o
o
Evaluation Approach
Validation Expectation
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II. Terminology (30%)
Answer any 3 questions (10 points each).
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Define each of the following.
a) Data communication
b) Voice communication
c) Video (one way) communication
d) Discuss the different communication needs among Data, Voice and Video.
e) What is the primary traffic you expect from your project?
f) How would your provide for the communication needs of your project (LAN, dedicated WAN (T-1 or
VPN, rated data service (ATM or Frame Relay), or regular Internet.
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Discuss information systems.
a) What is a functional information system? Give an example.
b) What is an ERP system? Why do organizations install them?
c) What is a data warehouse?
d) What are disadvantages of an ERP approach?
e) What are the advantages and disadvantages of internal hosting of a Web site?
f) Assume that OU wants a Web site for advanced programs. How should they host it and why?
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Motivation
a) What is McClelland’s model of motivational profile.
b) Define each of the motivational profiles nAch, nPow, nAff.
c) What are indications of an individual with high nPow motivation profile?
d) What are rewards that an individual with high nAch needs would value?
e) Do a motivational needs analysis of a well-known public figure (for example President Bush). Describe
what you think is the primary motivator. Explain how you came to your conclusion.
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Define each of the following terms.
a) Firewall
b) Network address translation
c) Public key encryption
d) What is the role of organizational administration in supporting security?
e) Discuss the security needs of your project. How would you recommend providing for them?
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