IBS555 – IT for Managers - I

Part – A

Q. Which of the following is not considered as resource for MIS

a. Data
b. Hardware
c. People
d. Money
e. Software

Q. The stage of systems development life cycle that give recommendations for a better system
process is
a. Problem definition
b. System analysis
c. System design
d. Coding
e. Testing

Q. An error discovered in which phase proves to be costlier.

a. Design phase
b. Requirements Analysis
c. Implementation
d. Testing
e. Maintenance

Q. Prototyping is used in developing an application

a. In a phased manner
b. Rapidly
c. Incrementally
d. Systematically
e. In a structured manner

Q. In what situation does an organization go in for a wireless LAN

a. Frequent change of the location of the offices where the LAN has to be established
b. When the organization is located in remote area
c. To decrease the cost of establishing the LAN
d. To improve the data transfer rates
e. None of the above
Q. Information systems, for cash management, investment management, capital budgeting and
financial forecasting

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 a. Accounting information systems
b. Financial information system
c. Financial planning system
d. Financial control systems
e. Cross functional information system

Q. A _________ is a unique identifier that can be a combination of two or more attributes.

a. Secondary Key
b. Composite key
c. Multivalued key
d. Primary key
e. Unique key

Q. Enterprise resource planning system is an example of

a. TPS
b. Knowledge Base
c. MIS
d. Expert System
e. Robotics

Q. If a decision is based on a rule or a method it is said to be a ______ decision

a. Semi programmed
b. Programmed
c. Non programmed
d. Ad-Hoc programmed
e. Set

Q. __________System helps manager to keep track of appointments, changes in the environment,

political news and organizational information:
a. DSS
b. MIS
c. EIS
d. GIS
e. TPS

Q. __________ documents serve as confirmation to their recipients that certain actions have
occurred

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 a. Action
b. Information
c. Confirmation
d. Turnaround
e. Reply

Q. Which of the following is an alternative to building a system in-house?

a. External acquisition
b. End-user development
c. Outsourcing
d. All the above
e. None of the above

Q. Older, traditional information systems are called

a. Legacy systems
b. Old systems
c. Analysis systems
d. Business systems
e. None

Q. In MIS context data is processed or analyzed to reach decisions with the help of a set of tools
called
a. Information systems
b. Data warehousing
c. Decision models
d. Data base
e. Data mining

Q. Budget analysis is an example of

a. Structured problem
b. Unstructured problem
c. Semi structured problem.
d. Can’t be defined.
e. Depends on the managerial level.

Q. Which of the following will act like a consultant to Users.

a. Expert system

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 b. Integrated information system
c. Strategic information system
d. Executive information system
e. End user computing

Q. An information system is capturing employee data and produces paycheck every month. This
comes under
a. Process control system
b. Integrated information system
c. Transaction processing system
d. Decision support system
e. Enterprise collaboration systems

Q. Which of the following is “system design”

a. Study in detail the information needs of users and any information system presently used
b. The process that results in specifications for the hardware,software, people, network,
software, people network, and data resources and information products needed by a
proposed system
c. An interactive and iterative process of developing and refining information system prototypes.
d. Determine the organizational, economic feasibility of a proposed information system.
e. Analyzing a reliable hardware and software to implement a proposed system.

Q. Intranets and extranets that can use their network fire walls and other security features to
establish secure internet links within an enterprise or with its trading partners is called:
a. Inter networked enterprise
b. Extra nets
c. Intranets
d. Virtual private networks
e. Wide area network

Q. Spreadsheets are very useful in business because

a. Making charts and tables is very simple
b. Single change can be reflected in all instances instantly
c. Long and complicated mathematical calculations can be done
d. It is user-friendly
e. All the above.

Q. To be part of a LAN a computer should be equipped with

a. Backbone

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 b. Workstation
c. Network interface card
d. Node
e. IP Protocol

Q. Which of the following is not important to consider before taking up a VPN service.
a. Reliability
b. Capacity and scalability
c. Reach
d. Interoperability
e. Distance

Q. Which of the following is not a valid function in MS-Excel?

a. Sum
b. Average
c. Sort
d. Sqrt
e. Max

Q. Which of the following represents a valid range in MS-Excel?

a. B1:B7
b. 1B:7B
c. B1::B7
d. All the above are valid.
e. None of the above is valid.

Q. A sheet once deleted from a work book in MS-Excel

a. Can be retrieved as and when required
b. Can never be retrieved
c. Can be pasted in other work book
d. A sheet can never be deleted
e. Both a) and c) can be done.

Q. Which of the following is not a user interface control in MS-Access?

a. Text Boxes
b. Radio Buttons

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 c. Check boxes
d. Data grid
e. Combo box.

Q. Which of the following is FALSE With respect to reports in MS-Access?

a. Pages in a report can be given numbers.
b. Summary report can’t be created using report wizard
c. A report can be given a header and footer
d. A report once created through wizard can be altered later.
e. A report can be created based on a query.

Q. Which of the following is TRUE with respect to MS-Access?

a. A relation once set between two tables can’t be altered.
b. The initial value for an auto number field can be set at the time of column definition.
c. Input mask describes how value of a field is displayed on the screen.
d. MS-Access doesn’t allow to create a table without primary key.
e. A column in a MS-Access table can be deleted.

Q. ________ consists of hardware or software designed to keep unauthorized users out of network
system.
a. Encryption system
b. Firewall
c. Router
d. Network server
e. Alarm system

Q. A code that usually does not destroy files but spreads rapidly throughout networked computers
and eventually bringing computers to a halt simply by clogging memory space.
a. Virus
b. Worm
c. Encryption
d. Digital divide
e. None of the above.

Part B
Problems, Conceptual Understanding, Analytical Ability and Situational Analysis

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 1. a. Discuss the need for e-commerce in today’s business and write about electronic payment
and security.
(6 marks)
Suggested Answer:
Electronic commerce is defined as “doing business over interconnected networks using web
based technologies. It encompasses the entire online process of developing marketing selling
delivering, servicing, and paying for products and services. The Internet’s web browser and
client/server architecture, and networks of hypermedia databases on the World Wide Web serve
as the technology platform for electronic commerce among networked communities of
customers and business partners. The electronic payments process presents a vital and
complex challenge to business and financial institutions to develop efficient flexible, and secure
payment system for electronic commerce. A variety of payment system have evolved for
electronic funds transfers, including several major ways to provide security for transactions and
payments over the internet. Electronic funds transfer systems are a major form of electronic
commerce system in banking. They include credit cards, charge cards, electronic checks, debit
cards, etc.

b. Write a short note on network topologies.

(4 marks)
Suggested Answer:
The answer should contain the description of Bus, Ring and Star topologies.

2. Answer the following questions, in not more than 4 lines each.

a.Mention any 4 reasons for failure of Information system implementation.
(2 marks)
Suggested Answer:
 Lack of user input
 Incomplete requirements and specifications
 Changing requirements and specifications
 Lack of executive support
 Technical incompetence

b.Attributes of information quality.

(2 marks)
Suggested Answer:
The answer should contain related attributes in time dimension, content dimension and form
dimension.

c. Batch processing Vs Real-time processing in TPS context.

(3 marks)
Suggested Answer:

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 Batch processing:
Transactions are accumulated over a period of time and processed periodically.
It is economical method when large volumes of transactions data must be processed.
The disadvantage is master files are frequently out of date between scheduled processing as
are the periodic scheduled reports that are produced.
Real-Time Processing: Also called online transaction processing. In this transaction data is
processed immediately after they are generated and can provide immediate output to end users.
Responses to end users’ inquiries are immediate since information stored on direct access
devices ca be retrieved almost instantaneously.

d.In what way EIS is different from DSS.

(3 marks)
Suggested Answer:

EIS
EIS is not model based
No Problem solving subsystems exists
Manager’s information system
Alerts are in built
DSS
Model based
Problem solving subsystems exists.
Manager’s tool for decision making
No alerts are designed

3. a. Briefly describe System Development Life cycle.

(6 marks)
Suggested Answer:
SDLC phases are
Systems Investigation, Systems Analysis, Systems design, Systems Implementation and
Systems maintenance
Preliminary investigation - determining the problem. The preliminary investigation - often
called the feasibility study, or system survey - is the initial investigation, a brief study of the
problem.
Analysis - understanding the existing system. In order to understand the existing system, you
must gather all the data about it, then organize and analyze the data. Common data sources are
written documents, interviews, questionnaires, observation, and sampling. A variety of tools
such as data flow diagrams and decision tables are used to analyze the data.
Design - planning the new system.
Systems design involves designing the new system, and is broken down into two sub phases:
preliminary design, and detailed design. Preliminary design often involves alternative plans and
often makes use of devices such as prototyping and CASE tools.
Development - doing the work to bring the new system into being.
Development phase involves Scheduling of the development. That is often accomplished using
Gantt charts and bar charts to depict schedule deadlines and milestones. Programming is
begun after detailed design specifications are established. Testing is done on the program to

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 ensure it does what it is supposed to do.
Implementation - converting to the new system. Implementation activities include Acquisition,
Software Development, Training, Testing, Documentation and Conversion

b. What do you understand by Prototyping? Answer briefly.

(4 marks)
Suggested Answer:
A prototype is a limited working system - or a subset of a system that is developed quickly so
users can see how the system will work before it is fully developed.
Prototyping exploits advances in computer technology and uses powerful high-level software
tools. This technique is adopted when the requirements are not clear to the users. This
sometimes called as rapid application design. The following steps best describe the process of
prototyping.
1. Identify an end user’s information requirements
2. Develop information system prototypes
3. Revise the prototypes to better meet end user requirements: If the system developed in
step 2 is not acceptable to end user then recommendations form end users are taken and
step 2 will be done again.
4. Use ad maintain the accepted system

4. What are the tools for data analysis in Excel? Discuss how each of them supports the business
decision making.
(10 marks)
Suggested Answer:
The answer should describe the following analysis tools provided in Excel and their use in
business.
 What-if analysis
 Goal seek analysis
 Sensitivity analysis
 Solver

Part C
Problems, Conceptual Understanding, Analytical Ability and Situational Analysis

5. Write short answers for the following:

a. How do you store time in MS-Access?
b. Define Entity, attribute and relationship. Give an example.
c. What is the purpose of normalization,
d. How do you protect information systems?

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 e. Information systems in Marketing.
(2 x 5 = 10 marks)
Suggested Answer:
a. The date/time data type in MS-Access accepts date. By setting the format in field
properties window time can be entered.
b. Entity: An entity is something you collect data about such as persons or places.
Attribute: An attribute is the property of an entity such as name, population
Relationship: A relationship is an association among several entities. For ex we can
associate person Mr. Anil with place Hyderabad.
c. Normalization is a technique to make complex databases more efficient and more easily
handled by the DBMS. Elimination of data redundancy is a major goal and benefit of using
data normalization technique.
d. Like any other vital business assets, the resources of information systems hardware,
software networks and data need to be protected by built in controls to ensure their quality
and security. The answer should contain 1 or 2 lines description of the following points.
 Information system control
 Procedural control
 Facility controls
e. Marketing information systems provide information technologies that support major
components of the marketing function. The following components should be discussed
 Interactive marketing
 Sales force automation
 Advertising and promotion
 Sales management
 Market research and forecasting
 Customer service and support
 Product management.

Case Analysis / Applied Theory

6. Read the following case and answer the following questions:

The US Army often enters into agreements for long term leasing or even for building appropriate
housing facilities close to or on military bases. The decision about where, what, when and how
to build or lease is a complex one and it requires a formal segmented housing market
analysis(SHMA) that costs about $50,000 to prepare and whose purpose is to justify the
decisions. The SHMA must meet not only the available budget but also the requirements of
several auditing agencies. Furthermore, the analysis takes into account the economy around
each base and the existing housing market. The problem is even more complex because there
are 20 military ranks. Housing is available in sizes ranging from a studio to a five bedroom unit.
A family size is also a determining factor. The SHMA uses several quantitative models, including

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econometric models. The execution of such computations for each of the 200 military
installations is lengthy and is subject to errors, especially when done manually.
A DSS was created to support SHMA, consisting of the following components
i. Off-Post data: Economic characteristics of the area around the military installations
ii. On-post data: Profiles of the military personnel seeking housing.
iii. Regional Econometric Model was created, which uses variables like consumer price index,
value of housing, median per capita income, and military allowances.
iv. Modified segmented housing market analysis model was created that uses both off- post
and on-post data
Three major outputs are produced.
i. Housing reports as described by army managers (Ex. Market conditions)
ii. Housing deficit forecasts (Demand over supply)
iii. Cross-leveled and re designated deficit forecasts
The DSS provides what-if analysis and goal seeking capabilities. When there is a change in the
situation being examined, what-if questions are posed to the model. If targeted goals are
required, they are performed with goal seeking.
The system provides both monetary and managerial benefits. The tedious manual procedures
that often resulted in inaccurate, incomplete and redundant data have been eliminated. The
decision making process has been considerably improved by quicker analysis of the housing
market impact analysis, error free computation and rapid sensitivity analysis. In addition, the
auditing process has been standardized, and it is done faster, resulting in an earlier release of
funds and the alleviation of housing shortages in many locations.
Questions:
a.Why was this DSS needed?
b.Discuss the role of forecasting in this DSS
c. Discuss the role sensitivity analysis which may play in this DSS
(7 + 7 + 6 = 20 marks)

Suggested Answer:
a. The department has to do a sort of analysis before going for building/leasing housing
complex for military base. The analysis requires lot of departmental data and also the
demographic data. A computer based tool is required to them to arrive at right decision with
the complexity of the analysis that involved in it.
b. With the help of tool the department could foresee the housing deficit and cross leveled
and re designated deficit. This definitely improves the efficiency of the department in
providing the facilities to the officers and other ranks.
c. Sensitivity analysis attempts to assess the impact of a change in the input data or
parameters on the proposed solutions. Any change in the off post data and on post data or
a change in the situation being examined can be taken the impact of the change can be
seen immediately in the proposed solution.

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