Business Information System Chapter 10

BIS Chapter 10

1.      Match the following key terms and concepts with the brief examples or definitions that follow.

Question Correct Match Application Development Management. Managing the creation and implementation of new business applications. Business / IT Planning Process. Focuses on discovering innovative approaches to satisfying a company's customer value and business value goals with the support of IT. Centralisation or Decentralisation of IT. Many organisations have both centralised and decentralised IT unit. IT Architecture. A conceptual design, or blueprint, of an organisation's IS/IT functions, hardware, and software created by a strategic business / IT planning process. IS Operations Management. Concerned with the use of hardware, software, network, and IS personnel resources within the corporate or business unit. Managing Information Technology. Managing business / IT planning and the IS function within a company. User Services. End users need liaison, consulting, and training services. IT Staff Planning. Involves recruiting, training, and retaining qualified IS and TI personnel.   Data Centre Corporate location or computer system operations.  Technology Management Rapidly changing technological developments must be anticipated, identified, and implemented.

2.      Match the following key terms and concepts with the brief examples or definitions that follow.

Question Correct Match Chargeback Systems. The cost of IS services may be allocated back to the end user. Chief Information Officer. The executive responsible for strategic business / IT planning and IT management (where IT includes IS and TI). Chief Technology Officer. The executive in charge of researching and implementing new information technologies System Performance Monitor. The software that helps monitor and control computer systems in a data center. Manager Involvement. Business managers should oversee IT decision making and projects that are critical to their business unit's success.

3.      What is the difference between a "personal computer" and a server? 

·         Most computers these days are powerful enough to run either personal or server software.  However, personal computers and servers are designed to do different things, and thus are more suitable for their specific tasks.

·         A personal computer in business is primarily for individual use (e.g. personal productivity applications like email, word processing, web browsing) and also has a focus on graphics capabilities (e.g. to display the graphical user interface).  It is designed to be used by one person at a time and the focus is usually on running a few applications at the same time.  Personal computers are seen as a commodity in business, like water and electricity, and are relatively cheap.  

·         A server computer usually runs one or more server applications (e.g. the Web server, file server, or a business application) that server many users.  Most servers don't even have a display that is connected to them, they are controlled remotely.  A server usually has a lot of memory and a focus on disk and network speed rather than central processing unit (CPU) speed (although some server applications require a fast CPU).  Servers may also have redundant (backup) power supplies and other components, so that they can keep working in the event of something failing. It is usually important that servers keep on working because often a lot of people are dependent on them.  

4.      What is a local area network (LAN) and what, generally speaking, are routers, switches and hubs used for, as well as wireless networks (also commonly referred to as "wifi").

A local area network is the computer network in one particular area or building.  Routers, switches, and hubs are used to connect computers and other network devices (like printers) within the local network and to connect the local area network to other networks (i.e. other local area networks or wide area networks).  Most computer networks are wired, that is the devices are connected by wires (somewhat like telephone wires).  These days, however, it is also common to have wireless networks, where the computers are connected to to the network using radio waves.  

5.       

Question	Correct Match
Web Server.	A server computer or the software it runs which returns a web page to a web browser (running on another computer on the network) when the web browser requests it. Examples are the Apache Web Server or Microsoft's Internet Information Server (IIS).   Note: sometimes for smaller businesses one server computer may run a number of services (e.g. the Web server and the print server or database server).
Application Server.	A server computer or the software that it runs that provides business applications to other computers on the network.  An application server can also be the middleware software that supports the business applications.   Note: sometimes for smaller businesses one server computer may run a number of services (e.g. the application server and the print server or database server).
Database Server.	A server computer or the software it runs to provide database services to other programs or computers on the network.  The software is often called a "Database Management System (DBMS)" and examples are Oracles (commercial) and MySQL (open source).   Note: sometimes for smaller businesses one server computer may run a number of services (e.g. the database server and the print server or database server).
Print Server.	A server computer or the software it runs that provides print services (like queuing and control of printing to various network printers) to other computers on the network. Note: sometimes for smaller businesses one server computer may run a number of services (e.g. the Web server and the print server or database server)..
File Server.	A server computer or the software it runs that stores and shares files to other computers on the network. Note: sometimes for smaller businesses one server computer may run a number of services (e.g. the Web server and the print server or database server)..

6.      Information system to backup corporate information is an essential part of the ICT infrastructure and backup is an important responsibility of the IT department."  True

7.      Legacy (software) systems are older information systems that may still be used for a particular business function but plans are in place (and may already be in action) to replace them with a new software system (usually using newer technology).  Examples of legacy systems are mainframe accounting or other business software that could now be easily run on a regular server. 

Why would these older information systems not just be turned off or replaced immediately?

Legacy systems often cannot be replaced until another information systems is available to take over or replace the functionality.  Often the computer code written for a legacy system will not run on a new computer and the software needs to be rewritten or a new system purchased.  Also, legacy software systems often become embedded in, and somewhat define, the business and business processes.  Changing them is somewhat like "open-heart surgery" - not something you want to do without good reason and without a good plan or replacement procedure.

8.      Three-Tier Software Application / System.

·         Web Email (like Google Mail).

·         Desktop Email (like MS Outlook)

·         Google docs Spreadsheet Program

·         Web-Based ERP software like Open ERP

Standalone (One-Tier) Software Application / System

·         Desktop Version of Microsoft Excel.

Client Server (One-Tier) Software Application / System

·         A static Web site (i.e. one that doesn’t use a database and is not data-drive).

9.       

	·         The client software that runs on the user's personal computer is usually a Web browser.  It sends requests and receives responses over the LAN, WAN or Internet to:
	·         The Web server that runs on a server in the business.  It passes on application requests and responses that it cannot itself handle, (usually) over the LAN, to:
3.	·         The business application that runs on a server in the business.  It may need to access some information or save some information, (usually) over the LAN to:
4.	·         The database server which runs on a server in the business and saves new information, retrieves information, updates previous information, and deletes information as requested.

10.    Internet-based phone calls are very cheap compared to traditional phone calls. Most calls to anywhere in the country and a number of other countries are fixed price (i.e. not per minute).  How would the use of the Internet for phone calls (VoIP) most likely effect a business' income and expenses in the long run?

Decrease the bottom line (expenses) and possibly contribute to an increase in the top-line (profits) through innovative use of telephone communications.

E s

Skype was initially for calls only on the Internet between different Skype users - these are free.  Skype also introduced calls to regular phones (which is called Skype OUT) and calls from regular phones to Skype (which is called Skype IN).  Both are not free.

Skype works primarily with a soft phone (that is, software that runs on a PC or PDA that works like a phone - you dial a number and a phone call is made using the speakers and microphone in the PC or with a headset).

Skype uses a proprietary protocol whereas regular VoIP uses the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) which is a standard.  Hence, it is easy for many different vendors to make products that interact using VoIP, whereas Skype has a secret way of doing things.

The standard VoIP / SIP approach is the best approach for business because standards encourage inter-operability between systems made by different manufacturers, and standards promote competition.

11.    Identify and discuss some of the issues involved when deciding to upgrade to a new version of a word processor software in a business (e.g. from MS Word 2003 to MS Word 2007).

Issues to consider:

1. Can the current hardware run the new word processor ok?

2. How much training will be needed for the new word processor?

3. What are the added benefits of the new processor?

4. Do we need those new benefits?.

13. Identify and discuss some of the issues involved when deciding to upgrade to a new version of an operating system for personal computers in a business (e.g. from Windows XP to Windows 7).

Issues to consider include:

1. Do we need the features in the new operating system?

2. Will the current PCs be able to run the new operating system ok?

3. Will all our software still run on the new operating system?

4. Is the new operating system "ready for action."

14. For each of the following give one example of an investment in IT for the business that fits that category:

1) Mandatory

2) Return on Investment

3) Option-Creating 

1) Mandatory

Investment in IT to ensure that all the IS and TI was safe for the Year 2000 bug, or updated for the introduction of the GST, are examples of mandatory investments in IT.

2) Return on Investment

Investment in VoIP would be an example where the investment is based on "return on investment" (ROI) calculations.  VoIP usually pays for itself in a short time and there-after provides a real return on the investment (in terms of reduce cost of telephony).

3) Option-Creating 

An option-creating investment for Curtin would be an investment in a learning management system (LMS) and e-learning technologies (like video recording, electronic white-boards).  These investments are not mandatory and do not provide a return on investment themselves, but they enable Curtin to build its e-learning and distance education (external) student numbers, and thus hopefully to increase profits with satisfied external students.

]]]\\\