Business Information Systems Revision Questions 2005
SYSTEMS IN AN ORGANISATION
Intensive use of I.T since mid-1990s, coupled with significant organizational redesign, has created the
conditions for a new phenomenon in industrial society—the fully digital firm. Discuss the changes
that have altered the business environment and the main characteristics of the digital firm.
OR
An understanding of the effective and responsible use and management of information systems and
technologies is important for managers and other business knowledge workers in today global
information society. Discuss.
Information systems have become an essential tool in business today. Discuss.
Why has the need for information systems become an essential tool for management in an
organisation?
Information systems support an organisations business operations, managerial decision-making, and
strategic advantage. Discuss.
IS play a critical role in contemporary organizations and managers cannot afford to ignore them!
Discuss.
What are the key management challenges involved in building, operating, and maintaining information
systems today?
Information Systems have become integral, on-line, interactive tools deeply involved in the minute-tominute operations and decision making of large organisations. Discuss the changing role of systems in
Organisations and how it has been shaped by the interaction of Organisations and IT.
In order to deliver genuine benefits, information systems must be built with a clear understanding of
the organisation in which they reside and of exactly how they can contribute to managerial decision
making. Give an overview of the main organisational factors (features) to consider when planning new
systems.
What characteristics should IS builders include in systems they are designing.
Discuss what is meant by the term information architecture and information technology infrastructure?
Why are they important concerns for managers?
Discuss the main positive and negative effects of Information Systems.
Discuss the importance of preparing for Global information Systems.
Global Information Systems help companies share information freely across boundaries, discuss some
of the problems they help address.
In relation to the introduction of global information systems there are a number of points that are
critical to Global Success. Discuss.
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Business Information Systems Revision Questions 2005
An understanding of the effective and responsible use and management of information systems and
technologies is important for managers and other business knowledge workers in today’s global
information society. Discuss.
Give a brief outline of the functions of an information system?
What are the major types of Information Systems? What level do each support.
Give examples of the systems used in the functional areas of marketing and sales, manufacturing and
production, finance and accounting, human resource management etc.
Define structured and unstructured decisions? Give 3 examples of each.
What are the 4 stages of decision-making described by Simon (1960)?
Explain how different types of information systems help decision makers. (DSS, ESS, MIS, KWS,
TPS etc)
Information systems can help firms achieve their quality goals. Discuss.
SYSTEMS FOR COMPETITIVE STRATEGY
What is a Strategic Information System?
Give an explanation of each of the following and discuss how they are used to benefit the organization.

Strategic Level Information System?

Strategic Information System?
What is the value chain?
Draw and label each part of the value chain.
Give example of systems that support each primary and secondary activity of the value chain.
How have the value chain and competitive forces models changes as a result of the Internet and the
emergence of the digital firm.
How can systems be used to gain a competitive/strategic advantage (that is what strategies can IS
support – differentiation, low cost provider etc…) (covered in section 2 and after the DSS section Feb
(last 3 slides)
In Counteracting Competitive Forces, firms can employ IT in a variety of ways to provide ‘an edge’.
Examine 3 of the following strategies, describing both the strategy and how IT might provide support
in implementing the strategy:
 Product Differentiation;
 Focused Differentiation;
 Developing Tight Linkages to Suppliers and Customers;
 Becoming the low cost provider.
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Business Information Systems Revision Questions 2005
Discuss CRM. Why are organisations now turning to CRM software to support their business?
Discuss how information systems facilitate Supply Chain management.
How can the introduction of an enterprise system change the operations of an organisation? What are
the main benefits and challenges to an ERP system?
DATABASES
Discuss the importance of the Database Administration Function in an organization placing emphasis
on the main elements of this function and the fundamental principles of data administration. And
discuss the role of the database administrator within this function.
What are the main problems with the traditional file based environment?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a DBMS? Discuss DBMS? Name and briefly describe
the 3 components of DBMS?
Discuss each of the following:
 Data Warehousing,
 Data Mining,
 Data Administration,
 Logical View of Data,
 Physical View of data.
 Data Administrator
 Data Dictionary
Discuss the benefits organisations can gain from using data warehousing and data mining software
tools.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a database approach to storing data?
DEVELOPING INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR THE ORGANISATION
What are the limitations of the traditional System Development Lifecycle (SDLC) approach to
developing a computer system?
What are the Limitations of the traditional SDLC approach to developing a computer system?
In order to develop a computerised information system it is necessary for the process of development
to pass through a number of distinct stages. Discuss.
What are DFD’s and what role do they play in the software development process.
An ERD supplements the DFD. Explain.
What are the main benefits of turning to an Application Service Provider when considering a new
Information System for the Organisation?
Discuss the main competing approaches to the systems development lifecycle.
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Business Information Systems Revision Questions 2005
Describe three ways in which new IT applications might be developed.
Give an overview of outsourcing as a way of providing new IT systems for an organization. What are
the main advantages and disadvantages of this method?
Discuss the main characteristics of competing approaches to the Systems Development Lifecycle.
(Should mention prototyping; Object-oriented etc)
Discuss end user development.
Briefly discuss each of the following in the context of the developing a new computer system for an
organisation: Computer Aided Software Engineering
 RAD
 End-user computing;
 Prototyping;
 Outsourcing;
 Application Service Provider – Leasing software;
SYSTEMS IN AN ORGANISATION AND SYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT DECISION MAKING
IN AN ORGANISATION DSS/GDSS/ESS
Write a note on the following, give an overview of how each support decision making at different
levels in the organisation, the main characteristics of each and advantages and disadvantages of
implement such systems. Give examples of companies using each:
 Enterprise Resource Planning (Enterprise Systems)
 Customer Relationship Management Systems
 Systems that support Supply Chain Management
 Decision support systems
 Group decision Support Systems
 Management Information Systems
 Executive Support Systems.
What is a DSS? How does it differ from a MIS?
What is the difference between a data driven DSS and a model driven DSS? Give examples.
What are the components of a DSS?
What is a GDSS? How does it differ from a DSS?
What are the underlying problems in group decision making that have led to the development of
GDSS?
What are the benefits of ESS? How do these systems enhance managerial decision-making?
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Business Information Systems Revision Questions 2005
HARDWARE/SOFTWARE
What is a computer system?
Give a brief explanation of each of the following:
 Primary Storage,
 Secondary Storage,
 Input devices,
 Output devices,
 Communication Devices.
A computer has a series of specialised operating system capabilities? Discuss. (Multiprogramming,
Multi-Tasking, Virtual Storage, Timesharing, Multiprocessing)
What is Storage Area Networks (SAN)?
Briefly discuss the main function of each of the following:
 CPU
 RAM
 Hard Drive
 Graphics Card
 Sound Card
 Modem
 DVD Driver
 Motherboard
What considerations must be made when selecting software for the organisation?
Discuss each of the main PC Operating Systems?
functions of the Operating system.
What is software?
Define operating systems and discuss the
What are the major types of software?
A computer has a series of specialised operating system capabilities? Discuss.
Give an explanation of the following:
 A Computer System;
 A network Computer;
 Distributed Processing;
 Centralised Processing.
Computers represent and process data the same way, but there are different classifications or
categories. Discuss each.
SECURITY AND ETHICS
What exactly is intellectual property law? Give an example.
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Business Information Systems Revision Questions 2005
Explain why information systems are vulnerable to security breaches. How can a company protect
their IT systems against Hackers?
In terms of Information Systems what are the main controls a company can introduce to ensure that
they have an effective Security procedures in place?
As well as legislation new Technical Solutions are being developed to protect user privacy. Discuss.
What are the main security concerns related to electronic commerce? How can a company tackle these
concerns?
Why are information systems so vulnerable to destruction, error, abuse, and system quality problems?
What types of controls are available for information systems?
Why are information systems so vulnerable to destruction, error, abuse, and system quality problems?
Describe the role of firewalls, intrusion detection systems and encryption systems in promoting
security.
Why are digital signatures and digital certificates important for e-commerce?
What are the main security concerns related to electronic commerce?
How can a company tackle these concerns? What are the key technological trends that heighten ethical
analysis?
How can a company improve the climate for ethical behaviour on the job? (Devise a code of ethics)
Why are computer systems more vulnerable than manual system to destruction, fraud, error and
misuse? Name some of the key areas where systems are most vulnerable.
What the steps in an ethical analysis?
When confronted with a situation that seems to present ethical issues, how should you analyse and
reason about the situation?
Why has it become so important for a company to develop a code of ethics?
Why does a company need to consider Computer Ethics?
Four Ethical Principles that can serve as guidelines in the implementation of any form of technology.
Discuss.
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