Ch. 3 Managing the IS Infrastructure and Services

Question 1

IS infrastructure

Answer 1

businesses rely on IS infrastructure (digital infrastructure) consisting of hardware, system software, storage, networking, and data centers
needed to support analytics and decision making, business processes, and competitive strategy

Question 2

3 ways digital infrastructures have profound influence on businesses and individuals

Answer 2

new systems are built on top of prior systems, refine and extend capabilities
digital infrastructures are provided by companies
allows for platform based models that permeate almost every aspect of our daily lives

Question 3

Programme logic Controllers. (PLC)

Answer 3

hardware used to automate machines and control everything from manufacturing processes to ski lifts

Question 4

input devices

Answer 4

hardware such as computer mouse, touch screens, cameras (IOT related)

Question 5

output devices

Answer 5

hardware like monitors, printers, speakers (IOT related)

Question 6

RFID

Answer 6

Radio Frequency Identification: hardware, IOT technology that helps monitor product flow
replaces barcodes
eliminates need for line-of-sight reading of codes

Question 7

storage

Answer 7

key to organisational success, to efficiently store and retrieve data
storage requirement is growing at an increasing rate

Question 8

3 types of data that you need to be able to store

Answer 8

operational data: used for managing business processes and analysis
backup data: short term copies of organisational data
archival data: long term copies of organisational data

Question 9

intranet

Answer 9

all pages are behind a firewall with secure data, a sort of website that is business specific and only employees can access
connect safely through VPNs

Question 10

extranet

Answer 10

a private part of the internet that is cordoned off from ordinary users, enables 2 or more firms to use the internet to do business together
ex. supplier portal for retailer

Question 11

key drivers for evolving the IS infrastructure

Answer 11

rapid obsolescence and shorter IT cycles
big data and rapidly increasing storage needs
demand fluctuations
increasing energy needs (for cooling)
lean startups and need for agility

Question 12

rapid obsolescence and shorter IT cycles

Answer 12

IS infrastructure is a must for competitive advantage

Question 13

big data and rapidly increasing storage needs

Answer 13

continuous cycle of newer and more powerful hardware being made

Question 14

lean startups and need for agility

Answer 14

must make sure startups are able to be flexible and handle IS, whilst also making it affordable and accessible for startups

Question 15

cloud computing characteristics

Answer 15

• on demand self service
• rapid elasticity: can be scaled up or down instantly
• broad network access: accessible from anywhere
• resource planning: multiple resources that are assigned to multiple customers based on needs
• measured service: pay only what you use

Question 16

types of clouds

Answer 16

• public cloud: any party can use it on a pay-per-use basis (amazon)
• private cloud: internal to an organisation

Question 17

ways to manage the cloud

Answer 17

• availability/reliability: needs to be available and reliable to org.
• scalability
• viability: able to work successfully, stable
• security
• diversity of offerings: offer IaaS, SaaS
• openness: match their system
• costs

Question 18

advances cloud applications

Answer 18

• service oriented architecture
• grid computing
• content delivery networks
• edge computing
• converging computing and telecommunications

Question 19

service-oriented architecture (SOA)

Answer 19

business processes are broken down into individual components or services designed to achieve the desired results
3 main principles: reusability, interoperability, compensation

Question 20

grid computing

Answer 20

computing infrastructure that combines computer resources from different locations to achieve a goal
dedicated grid: a large number of homogenous computers that help overcome problems (cost effective)

Question 21

content delivery networks

Answer 21

the more geographical distance, the longer it takes to transmit the content, help to reduce this latency by providing a network of servers in various locations which store copies or websites

Question 22

edge computing

Answer 22

the evolution of content delivery networks

Question 23

green computing

Answer 23

replacing hundreds of individual servers with a few more powerful mainframe computers, replacing tech with more green equipment to decrease energy usage and energy costs