Ca Exb ms2

Information Systems Strategy [MS2] Examination Blueprint
2012/2013
Purpose
The Information Systems Strategy [MS2] examination has been constructed using an examination blueprint. The blueprint, also referred to as the test
specifications, outlines the content areas covered on the examination and the weighting allotted to each content area. This document also lists the topics,
the level of competence for each topic, and the related learning objectives and competencies. In addition, information is provided on the proportion of
each question type presented in the examination (that is, multiple choice, quantitative problems, and so on).
Use
Students should use the examination blueprint to prepare for the course examination. The blueprint may not include all the topics listed in the course
materials; however, students are still responsible for acquiring a broad-based knowledge of all topics not listed in the blueprint since these topics will be
tested in assignment and review questions. The topics not listed in the blueprint will also provide students with a greater depth of understanding of
Management Information Systems concepts.
Examination Objectives
The objective of the four-hour comprehensive examination is to test CGA students on the prerequisite knowledge that is required for advancement into
PA1: Issues in Professional Practice and PA2: Strategic Financial Management, so as to ensure that the students have the broad-based knowledge in
Management Information Systems needed to function properly in the Associations capstone courses.
Examination Guidelines for Questions
i)
Question Type
The following are guidelines on the type of questions and their approximate weightings:
Question Item
Description
Multiple-choice questions
Questions may take a conceptual basis or they may

require technical or analytical skills to derive the
correct solution.
Questions may focus on technical or analytical aspects
of the material. Short, integrative cases may be used to
pull together related issues. For example, a problem
may require students to outline alternatives, supporting
their recommendations with numerical analysis.
Short-answer and/or short

case-type problems of both a
qualitative and quantitative
nature.
Percentage
Weighting
20% 30%
70% 80%
ii) Question Content

The following table is organized according to content area and provides information on topics, learning objectives, weighting, competencies and
levels of competence. The competencies applicable to a particular module are identified independent of the learning objectives.
Examination sessions: March 2013; June 2013
Page 1 of 12
Table 1.
Information Systems Strategy [MS2] Examination Blueprint
Note: Competency codes (such as PK:FN:11) have been added to the Module Competencies column for all Level 4 and PACE examination blueprints. These
codes are used to identify the competencies. They do not affect students use of the blueprint. Please see the CGA Competency Framework for more information.
Content
Topics
Area
1. Strategic importance of IS
Learning Objectives
Levels of
Competence
Weighting
(%)
8 12
1.1 IS as an integral part of

strategic planning
Evaluate the role of an IS strategy as part

of an organizations overall strategic plan.
Level 1
1.2 IS for competitive

advantage
Evaluate a company or industry using

Porters five forces and Barneys resourcebased view of the firm, and formulate
several strategies that allow an organization
to develop competitive advantage.
Identify the types of strategies that produce
a competitive advantage for an
organization.
Recommend how to leverage and use IS to
create and maintain a competitive
advantage.
Level 1
1.3 IS to achieve business

transformation
Recommend applications and processes

through which IS can contribute to
organizational and business transformation.
Level 1
1.4 IS and globalization
Evaluate the benefits and limitations of IS

in relation to the globalization of business.
Level 1
1.5 Managing IS human

resources
Explain the structure of the IS function and

the kinds of people that work in a typical IS
department.
Explain the challenges in managing people
who design and operate information
systems and support the firm in using them.
Discuss the human resource challenges in
IS management and how these affect IS
planning.
Discuss the role of the CIO and understand
its strategic significance.
Level 2
Assess the implications of managing rapid

change.
Level 1
1.6 ISs rapid pace of change
Module Competencies
Level 1
Level 1
Level 2
Level 2
Level 2
PK:IT:01: Advises on the development of IT

strategy
LD:SO:02: Evaluates the organization's strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
LD:SO:03: Develops, implements, and updates
the organization's strategic plan
LD:SO:04: Evaluates and advises on the impact of
specific changes in strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities, and threats
PK:IT:03: Aligns financial and related
information systems with the organization's
strategic and business plans
LD:OE:04: Conducts business process reviews of
existing systems, processes, and controls within
the organization
PK:MA:07: Recommends organizational
improvements based on results from management
accounting systems
PK:BE:02: Advises on business decisions in the
context of larger economic and geopolitical
conditions
the organization's operational plan in alignment
with the strategic plan
PK:BE:10: Advises on organizational structure
LD:IT:01: Builds and motivates high-performance
individuals and teams to achieve goals and
objectives
LD:IT:09: Aligns organizational goals and
objectives with individual and team goals through
the use of a performance management system
LD:IT:10: Provides career planning, coaching,
training and development opportunities to facilitate
staff retention and succession planning
PK:IT:04: Evaluates and advises on the impact of
new technologies on business processes
LD:SO:05: Manages change in the organization
Page 2 of 12
Content
Area
Topics
Learning Objectives
1.7 The ethics of information

provision for CGAs
Explain how competencies in ethics and

professionalism equip CGAs to help make
ethical strategic choices in business.
Identify the ethical value added by
accountants working in the IS area.
Relate the role of accountants as
information producers, analysts, and
distributors to work in the IS and IT areas.
Levels of
Competence
Level 1
Module Competencies
Weighting
(%)
caused by internal and external factors

PR:ET:04: Protects the public interest
Level 1
Level 2
Page 3 of 12
Content
Topics
Learning Objectives
Area
2. Information technology governance: Organization and planning for IS
Levels of
Competence
Level 1
Assess the principal drivers of hardware

and software decisions in organizations.
Identify the specific issues in hardware
and software planning.
Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages
of centrally determined technology
standards.
Level 1
2.3 Data and information

management issues
Relate the issues of data integrity, security,

and integration as they apply to IS
planning.
Level 2
2.4 IS economics
Assess the business value of an

information system from a financial
perspective.
Identify the four elements that make up the
total cost of ownership of IS, and defend
the importance of considering non-capital
costs when evaluating IS acquisitions.
Relate the relevance of Moores Law and
Metcalfes Law to IS management.
Level 1
Evaluate the issues associated with IS

planning and developing an IS strategic
plan.
Compare the scenario planning approach
to more traditional approaches of
structuring the planning process.
Level 1
2.2 Short- and long-range

technology planning
2.5 Developing an IS
strategic plan
Weighting
(%)
8 12
Evaluate the critical decisions about IT

that organizations make, and the different
governance arrangements for making those
decisions.
Identify the roles of the financial manager
and other stakeholders in IT governance.
Assess the challenges of taking an IS plan
from theory to practice.
2.1 IT governance
Module Competencies
Level 1
Level 1
Level 1
Level 1
Level 2
Level 2
PK:IT:01: Advises on the development of IT

strategy
LD:OE:03: Advises on issues of corporate
governance
PK:BE:10: Advises on organizational structure
PK:IT:02: Selects and uses appropriate business
technology tools in the workplace
PR:IA:03: Evaluates implications and assesses
the appropriateness of solutions beyond the
immediate or short term
PR:SF:01: Anticipates and meets the needs and
expectations of internal and external stakeholders
PK:IT:07: Evaluates and advises on the
safeguarding of IT assets to ensure organizational
ability to meet business objectives
PR:ET:06: Ensures confidentiality of
stakeholder information
LD:OE:02: Designs, evaluates, and reports on
internal control systems to ensure organizational
effectiveness
PR:IA:02: Evaluates the interrelationship of an
issue on different functions of the organization
and applies concepts and approaches within and
across functional areas to develop integrative
solutions
PK:MA:03: Identifies, assesses, and advises on
information required for management decision
making
Level 1
Page 4 of 12
Content
Topics
Area
3. Systems development overview and issues
3.1 Systems development
3.2 Systems development

methods and techniques
3.3 Make, buy, or subscribe

decisions
3.4 Acquisition of software and

hardware
3.5. Vendor selection and

contractual issues
3.6 Project management
3.7 Feasibility and cost-benefit

analyses
Learning Objectives
Levels of
Competence
Module Competencies
Weighting
(%)
9 12
Identify and describe the six activities of
systems development.
State the factors that influence the success
or failure of systems development.
Level 1
State the importance of systems

development methodologies.
Compare and contrast the waterfall
method for developing systems with
prototyping, rapid application
development, end-user development,
purchased applications, and outsourcing.
Level 1
Evaluate the factors to consider when

choosing whether to make or buy an
information system.
Level 1
Prepare a basic request for quotations and

a basic request for proposal, and evaluate
vendor proposals.
Level 1
Determine the challenges in selecting

vendors for information systems and
approaches to minimizing problems in
vendor relationships.
Plan the contract negotiation process, and
explain the key clauses in a hardware or
software contract.
Level 2
Evaluate the issues and challenges in

managing IS projects.
Compare the techniques of PERT and
Gantt charts and define their role in
project management.
Design simple PERT and Gantt charts
Level 1
Support a decision to continue or abandon

a project using feasibility and cost-benefit
analysis.
Level 1
Level 1
Level 1
PK:IT:05: Advises on the design, development,

and implementation of IT projects including
specific applications software
LD:SO:08: Assumes leadership at various
phases of planning, implementation, and
evaluation
PK:IT:06: Advises on implications of IT
acquisitions and vendor selection
PK:MA:06: Analyzes and evaluates information
from management accounting systems, and
makes decisions
PR:CM:07: Facilitates resolution between
differing viewpoints
PK:BE:05: Prepares and advises on contract
structure and enforcement policies
Level 2
Level 1
Level 1
Page 5 of 12
Content
Topics
Area
4. Systems analysis and design
Learning Objectives
Levels of
Competence
Level 1
Plan the requirements-gathering phase of

systems analysis.
Assess situational factors and choose
between the different approaches to
requirements gathering.
Level 1
4.3 Process modelling: Data

flow diagrams
Justify process modelling.

Design a simple data flow diagram
(DFD).
Level 1
Level 1
Identify the way entity relationship (ER)

diagrams can be used in data modelling.
Design a simple entity relationship
diagram.
Level 1
4.4 Data modelling: Entity

relationship diagrams
Represent processing flow using

Structured English.
Construct decision tables to document the
processing logic of a set of procedures.
Level 2
Design a simple use case to support

systems design.
Level 2
Analyze the primary decisions and

activities in the systems design phase.
Evaluate and discuss user interface in
terms of design.
Level 2
Differentiate between the systems

analysis and design phases of small and
large projects.
Level 2
Assess the ethical issues of situations that

arise during systems analysis and design.
Level 2
4.2 Systems analysis:

Requirements gathering
4.5 Logic modelling: Structured

English
4.6 Use case analysis
4.7 Systems design
4.8 Systems analysis and design

in smaller organizations
Weighting
(%)
7 12
Distinguish between logical and physical
models.
Evaluate the steps in developing a system
in particular the phases of analysis and
design.
4.1 Analysis and design

overview
Module Competencies
Level 1
Level 1
Level 1
Level 2
Level 2

PR:CM:02: Prepares information in formats
appropriate for specific purposes
PR:PS:01: Defines the scope of the problem
PR:PS:02: Collects, selects, verifies, and
evaluates information relevant to the problem
expectations of internal and external
stakeholders
PR:IA:01: Aggregates information from a
variety of sources and perspectives to assess the
impact of issues on the organization
PR:IA:02: Evaluates the interrelationship of an
issue on different functions of the organization
and applies concepts and approaches within and
across functional areas to develop integrative
solutions
PR:CM:05: Follows up to ensure that
communications are clearly understood
PR:PS:03: Integrates and analyzes data for
patterns, relationships, and trends
PR:ET:01: Applies professional ethical
standards
PR:ET:02: Exercises integrity and a high level
of professional judgment
PR:ET:06: Ensures confidentiality of
stakeholder information
4.9 Ethical issues in systems

development
Page 6 of 12
Content
Topics
Area
5. Systems implementation, testing, and support
Learning Objectives
Levels of
Competence
Level 1
5.2 Testing in systems

implementation
Distinguish between the different

methods of testing in systems
implementation and formulate strategies
to mitigate the limitations of testing.
Level 1
5.3 Quality assurance in

system development
Identify the different characteristics of

systems quality.
Distinguish between quality assurance
and quality control.
Level 1
Explain the basic tasks of systems

maintenance.
Defend the need for sufficient systems
maintenance
Level 2
5.5 Systems enhancement and

reengineering
Assess a non-IT managers role in

evaluating systems enhancements.
Level 2
5.6 Legacy system issues
Relate the issues that surround legacy

systems to the challenges of replacing
them.
Level 1
5.7 Measuring system benefits
Assess the possible benefits of a new

system and evaluate some strategies for
measuring those benefits.
Level 1
5.4 Systems maintenance
Weighting
(%)
8 12
Recommend and defend a strategy for

converting from an existing system to a
new system, based on situational factors.
Assess the advantages and disadvantages
of the four different conversion
strategies.
5.1 Systems installation and

conversion
Module Competencies
Level 1
Level 1
Level 2

PK:BE:06: Identifies, analyzes, and evaluates
enterprise risk factors
PK:BE:08: Implements and advises on measures
to mitigate enterprise risk
PR:PS:04: Generates and evaluates alternative
solutions
PK:FA:06: Ensures the preparation of timely,
reliable, and relevant financial information
safeguarding of IT assets to ensure
organizational ability to meet business objectives
LD:OE:04: Conducts business process reviews
of existing systems, processes, and controls
within the organization
PK:IT:04: Evaluates and advises on the impact
of new technologies on business processes
Page 7 of 12
Content
Topics
Learning Objectives
Area
6. Networks of networks: Internet, extranet, intranet, and Web 2.0
Levels of
Competence
Weighting
(%)
5 10
6.1 The Internet as a business

tool
Evaluate the use of the Internet as a

business tool for organizations.
Level 1
6.2 Use of the Internet to

streamline operations
Analyze the ways in which the Internet

streamlines business operations.
Level 2
6.3 Technologies to support

decisions and virtual
meetings
Identify the different types of decision

support technologies used by businesses
and the situations they support.
Level 1
6.4 Intranet and extranet
Distinguish between an intranet and an

extranet and assess the advantages and
disadvantages of each.
Level 1
6.5 Strategic uses of Internet

technologies
Evaluate how the Internet contributes to

cost reduction, differentiation, customer
lock-in, and strategic alliances, and how
it supports the value chain of an
organization.
Level 1
6.6 Web 2.0
Evaluate recent Internet and Web trends

and their impact on the organization,
using Web 2.0 as an example.
Level 1
Module Competencies

LD:SO:09: Evaluates the social costs and
benefits of securing resources to meet the
organizations objectives
LD:OE:04: Conducts business process reviews
of existing systems, processes, and controls
within the organization
PR:CM:01: Selects an appropriate medium to
convey information, ideas, and results
considering the need for confidentiality and
privacy
Page 8 of 12
Content
Topics
Area
7. Electronic commerce and EDI
Learning Objectives
Levels of
Competence
Level 1
7.2 E-business opportunities

and challenges
Evaluate the principal challenges and

opportunities presented by the Internet
for incumbent and new businesses, and
explain their relevance to managers
making e-business decisions.
Level 1
7.3 Planning e-commerce

operations
Analyze the strategic and tactical

decisions that form the core of
e-commerce planning.
Level 2
7.4 Funding issues
Compare the different approaches to

pricing and paying for goods and services
on the Internet.
Distinguish between the typical methods
of securing the initial financing for
e-commerce ventures.
Level 1
Explain the importance of security for ebusiness operations and the key issues in
assuring secure transaction processing.
Outline the taxation and other
jurisdictional issues presented by the
spread of e-business.
Level 2
7.6 Electronic data interchange

and XML
Explain the importance of XML to

facilitating EDI.
Level 2
7.7 Web-based reporting and

XBRL
Define and explain XBRL.
Level 2
7.5 Security, privacy, taxation,

and jurisdictional issues
Weighting
(%)
10 15
Distinguish between e-business,
e-commerce, Internet commerce, Web
commerce, and electronic data
interchange (EDI).
Evaluate the rationale for e-business and
distinguish between the different business
models for e-business.
7.1 E-business, e-commerce,

and e-service
Module Competencies
Level 1
Level 1

PK:BE:03: Anticipates and recognizes market
factors and stakeholders' interests, and adapts
business decisions and processes
PK:FN:01: Advises on financing to meet the
organization's goals
safeguarding of IT assets to ensure organizational
ability to meet business objectives
PK:TX:01: Determines and advises on taxpayer's
regulatory requirements and exposure
PK:BE:04: Advises on business decisions in the
context of the legal framework
Level 2
Page 9 of 12
Content
Topics
Area
8. Managing telecommunications and networks
Learning Objectives
Levels of
Competence
Level 1
8.2 Strategic uses of

telecommunications
Analyze the strategic importance of

telecommunications to the organization.
Level 2
8.3 Network basics
Distinguish between the different ways of

classifying networks and the kinds of
networks that these approaches describe.
Assess the benefits and limitations of a
networked system.
Level 1
8.4 Trends in network

management
Evaluate the implications of the major

trends in network management.
Level 2
8.5 Network security issues
Evaluate the key security challenges that

relate to organizational networking.
Level 1
8.6 Planning and managing

wireless networks
Assess the benefits and limitations of WiFi networking.

Compare three technological approaches
to wireless networking in the
organization and briefly explain their
application.
Level 1
Evaluate the social costs and benefits,

management, and maintenance of remote
computing and telecommuting.
Level 1
8.7 Remote computing

management issues
Weighting
(%)
10 15
Compare the different channels used in

telecommunications networks.
Justify the purpose of communication
protocols, and list the most common
protocols in use today.
8.1 Overview of
telecommunications
Module Competencies
Level 1
Level 1

Level 2
Page 10 of 12
Content
Topics
Area
9. IS operational and security issues
Learning Objectives
Levels of
Competence
Weighting
(%)
8 11
Evaluate the advantages and
disadvantages of outsourcing information
systems, and assess different outsourcing
models.
Evaluate the key factors to address when
considering an outsourcing arrangement.
Level 1
9.2 IS security: Threats and

vulnerability
Assess the different threats to information

systems security, including physical and
electronic threats and intentional and
unintentional threats.
Level 1
9.3 Dealing with security

threats
Assess an organizations IS risks using

the risk assessment framework.
Design the critical elements of an
organizations security plan.
Justify the purpose and scope of a
disaster recovery plan.
Level 1
9.4 Role of auditing in IS

security
Evaluate the role of auditing in a security

plan.
Level 2
9.5 Ethical issues
Identify the five key ethical challenges

related to information technology and
interpret different ethical principles,
including the CGA-Canada Code of
Ethical Principles and Rules of Conduct,
in guiding decision making about these
challenges.
Assess the importance of stakeholder
analysis and involvement in ethical
decision making
Level 1
9.1 Outsourcing and

outsourcing models
Module Competencies
Level 1
Level 1
Level 1
PK:IT:06: Advises on implications of IT

acquisitions and vendor selection
PR:SE:02: Knows when and how to refer to
other professionals and experts
PK:BE:05: Prepares and advises on contract
structure and enforcement policies
PK:BE:08: Implements and advises on measures
to mitigate enterprise risk
development of IT disaster recovery plans
PK:BE:09: Advises on the development of
business continuity planning
PK:AS:01: Evaluates and consults on the
organization's internal and external reporting
needs and related assurance requirements
PR:ET:01: Applies professional ethical
standards
PR:ET:02: Exercises integrity and a high level
of professional judgment
LD:IT:01: Builds and motivates highperformance individuals and teams to achieve
goals and objectives
Level 1
Page 11 of 12
Content
Area
Topics
Learning Objectives
Levels of
Competenc
e
Module Competencies
Weighting
(%)
7 12
10. Human side of IS management

10.1 Managing internal and
external resources
Assess the challenges in managing external

partners, and describe the critical skills and
activities managers must master to
successfully manage internal and external
resources.
Level 1
10.2 Change management
Assess the importance of change

management to the development and
implementation of information systems.
Identify issues of change management in
projects using the Lewin-Schein and
Leonard-Barton models of change.
Assess why people resist change and
interpret how resistance to change is
manifested.
Evaluate the critical elements required to
successfully manage change and reduce
resistance.
Level 1
Distinguish between end-user computing

and end-user development.
Evaluate the different outcomes of user
training and end-user support, and explain
their importance to new and ongoing IS
initiatives.
Evaluate the different sources and methods
of IS training and the process by which
effective IS training in organizations is
developed and implemented.
Level 1
10.4 Managing expectations
Compare the different types of expectations

users may have about information systems
and the importance of the expectation gap,
and evaluate how an expectation gap can
be minimized.
Level 1
10.5 Social responsibility
Assess the social responsibilities associated

with developing and implementing
information systems.
Level 1
10.3 End-user computing and

training issues
Level 1
Level 1
Level 1
Level 1
Level 1
PR:SE:02: Knows when and how to refer to

other professionals and experts
PR:CM:03: Communicates information in a
timely, clear, and concise manner
PR:CM:04: Projects a professional image in
communications
LD:SO:05: Manages change in the organization
caused by internal and external factors
LD:SO:08: Assumes leadership at various
phases of planning, implementation, and
evaluation
LD:IT:06: Communicates need for changes in
the way things are done
LD:IT:04: Solicits and acts on input from
individuals and teams in order to optimize
individual and team effectiveness
expectations of internal and external stakeholders
PR:CM:07: Facilitates resolution between
differing viewpoints
LD:IT:01: Builds and motivates highperformance individuals and teams to achieve
goals and objectives
LD:IT:02: Leads and empowers individuals and
teams to achieve the organizations goals and
objectives
LD:IT:10: Provides career planning, coaching,
training and development opportunities to
facilitate staff retention and succession planning
PR:ET:04: Protects the public interest
Page 12 of 12

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Information Systems Strategy [MS2] Examination Blueprint

Questions may take a conceptual basis or they may

Short-answer and/or short

ii) Question Content

Information Systems Strategy [MS2] Examination Blueprint

1.1 IS as an integral part of

Evaluate the role of an IS strategy as part

1.2 IS for competitive

Evaluate a company or industry using

1.3 IS to achieve business

Recommend applications and processes

1.4 IS and globalization

Evaluate the benefits and limitations of IS

1.5 Managing IS human

Explain the structure of the IS function and

Assess the implications of managing rapid

1.6 ISs rapid pace of change

Examination sessions: March 2013; June 2013

PK:IT:01: Advises on the development of IT

1.7 The ethics of information

Explain how competencies in ethics and

Examination sessions: March 2013; June 2013

caused by internal and external factors

Assess the principal drivers of hardware

2.3 Data and information

Relate the issues of data integrity, security,

Assess the business value of an

Evaluate the issues associated with IS

2.2 Short- and long-range

Examination sessions: March 2013; June 2013

Evaluate the critical decisions about IT

PK:IT:01: Advises on the development of IT

3.2 Systems development

3.3 Make, buy, or subscribe

3.4 Acquisition of software and

3.5. Vendor selection and

3.6 Project management

3.7 Feasibility and cost-benefit

State the importance of systems

Evaluate the factors to consider when

Prepare a basic request for quotations and

Determine the challenges in selecting

Evaluate the issues and challenges in

Support a decision to continue or abandon

Examination sessions: March 2013; June 2013

PK:IT:05: Advises on the design, development,

Plan the requirements-gathering phase of

4.3 Process modelling: Data

Justify process modelling.

Identify the way entity relationship (ER)

4.4 Data modelling: Entity

Represent processing flow using

Design a simple use case to support

Analyze the primary decisions and

Differentiate between the systems

Assess the ethical issues of situations that

4.2 Systems analysis:

4.5 Logic modelling: Structured

4.6 Use case analysis

4.7 Systems design

4.8 Systems analysis and design

4.1 Analysis and design