final exam Flashcards
Enterprise architecture definition
The plans for how a business will build, deploy, use and share its data, processes and IT assets.
Enterprise architecture principles
- Ease of use
- Speed and quality
- Buy over build
- Flexibility (ability to change) and agility (how fast the change can be)
- Innovative
- Data security
Common architectures
- Centralised / mainframe architecture
- Decentralised / server-based architecture
- Service oriented / web-based architecture
Issues in enterprise architecture
- Understanding existing architecture
- Designing for scalability
- Designing for security
- Assessing strategic timeframe
- Designing for standardisation
- Cost
- Designing for adaptability
- Designing for maintainability
Databases
Store operational / transactional information which is then transformed into analytical information
Causes of bad data
Garbage in => Garbage out
- Innacurate information
- Different standards around the world
- Abbreviations
- bad sources or fabricated data
Lenses to judge high-quality information
- Accuracy
- Timeliness
- Completeness
- Uniqueness
- Consistency
Databases definition
A database is an organised collection of logically related data (not necessarily electronic)
The data hierarchy
Database; then below
Table; then below
Record; then below
Field
Relational databases
The most popular way to store information is to use a relational database - can be represented using an Entity Relationship Diagram
Database management systems
A software system that is used to create, maintain, and provide controlled access to user databases
To use data for internet of things:
- Integrate isolated systems together
2. Get insight from that data
A data warehouse
A logical collection of information gathered from many different operational databases, that support business analysis activities and decision-making tasks. This gives you a single version of truth.
How to create a data warehouse:
ETL (Extract, Transform (cleanse), Load)
General characteristics of a data warehouse
- Subject oriented - when we create a data warehouse we generally want to improve something so for example we might collect all our sales data in one place
- Integrated between systems
- Time variant (i.e. has historical dividers)
- Non-volatile (the data doesn’t change)
Categories of data analysis for insights:
- OLAP (online analytical processing) tools to slice and dice data - kind of like a pivot table
- Data mining - the process of analysing data to extract information not offered by the raw data alone.
- Data visualisation
Data mining tools to uncover business intelligence - unsupervised learning
- Cluster analysis - a technique used to divide an information set into mutually exclusive groups such that the members of each group are as close together as possible to one another and the different groups are as far apart as possible.
- Association detection - reveals the degree to which variables are related and the nature and frequency of these relationships in the information e.g. shopping cart
Hardware, software, networks definitions
Hardware = the physical components of the systems that physically enable it to operate Software = the intangible element of the system or the brain of the system Networks = the communication of the physical hardware components
Naming of software
SEE TUTORIAL
Moore’s law
The number of transistors on a chip will double approximately every two years (exponentially more powerful)
Networks
A communication mechanism created by:
- Linking two or more devices
- Establishing a protocol by which they can exchange data (protocol means communication language)
Wired links vs wireless links
Note that all links are physical - even if using radiowaves
Wired: faster, more reliable, better safety and security - broadcasting through the air makes it vulnerable to hacking
Wireless: more flexibility and ability to connect from wherever
Sustaining vs Disruptive technologies
Sustaining: the technology is faster, more stable, better features - the competitive advantage of the businesses that use this technology stays the same
Disruptive: Creates a new way of doing things that initially may not meet needs of existing customers e.g. smartphones. they 1) redefine the competitive playing fields of their markets and 2) tend to open new markets and destroy old ones
Internet of things
The network of physical objects that contain embedded technology to communicate and interact with their internal states or the external environment
Include: 1. Things e.g. sensors 2. Gateway or smartphone 3. Cloud or internet
Business applications of IoT
1) Automation and Control
a) Process optimisation - automated control of closed systems e.g. temperature control
b) Optimised resource consumption
c) Complex autonomous systems - open environments
2) Information and Analysis
a) Tracking behaviour
b) Enhanced situational awareness
c) Sensor driven decision analytics (assisting human decision making through deep analysis and data visualisation)
Challenges for IoT
1) Scale
2) Security
3) Ethical issues
e.g. Addressing - IP addresses
Bulk data collection / storage
Connectivity
Legacy Infrastructure
Social computing
Social computing combines social behaviour and information systems to create value. - users manage the content via interactive communications and collaboration
e.g. social marketplaces, social media, social marketing as well
Crowdsourcing
Outsourcing business functions to an undefined group of people in the form of an open call e.g. Work like Mechanical Turk or Funding like crowdfunding
Issue: Quality control
Issue with social computing
Privacy “the age of privacy is over” Mark Zuckerberg
Sustainability, sustainable development, sustainable business
Sustainability: the capacity to endure
Sustainable development: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
Sustainable business: A business that generates profit while improving societal and environmental conditions
Ethics definition and four frameworks
Ethics: The standards of right and wrong
Utilitarian approach
Rights approach
Fairness approach
Common good approach
Making ethical decisions:
Recognise the issue => get the facts => evaluate alternatives (this is where we use the ethical frameworks above) => make a choice => reflect on your decision
The pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility
Philanthropic responsibilities; then below
Ethical responsibilities; then below
Legal responsibilities; then below
Economic responsibilities
Information security definition
The protection of information systems from accidental or intentional misuse by persons inside or outside an organisation
Four threats:
1) Hackers (white and black hat)
2) Viruses (Denial of service attack; Trojan horse virus; backdoor programs; polymorphic virus, stuxnet)
3) Social engineering
4) Phishing
Risk management responses
1) Mitigate (internal controls)
2) Accept
3) Transfer (insurance)
4) Avoid (do not engage in the activity that produces the risk)
Security controls
Confidentiality (only authorised people can view the information)
Availability (data cannot be modified without notification)
Integrity (data has to be available and useful at all times)
Security controls
Confidentiality (only authorised people can view the information)
Availability (data cannot be modified without notification)
Integrity (data has to be available and useful at all times)
Effective authentication
Uses at least two of the following:
1) Something the user Knows
2) Something the user Has
3) Something that is Part of the user
e.g. two factor authentication uses two of these (has and knows)
Systems development lifecycle
Business need; then Systems investigation; then Systems analysis; then Systems design; then Programming and testing; then Implementation; then Operations and maintenance
Systems development methodology
Traditional: Waterfall - sequential
Modern: Agile
Agile methodology
1) Rapid Application Development
2) RUP
3) Scrum (small teams and sprints)
Successful software quality evaluation
FURPS
Functionality (what the system actually does)
Usability (ease of use, attractiveness)
Reliability
Performance (lag and speed)
Supportability (maintenance - how easy is it to upgrade software or fix bugs?)
General vs Narrow AI
Narrow AI: can only do specific tasks
general AI would be able to solve general problems - not possible at the moment
AI characteristics
1) Narrow AI
2) Imitation
3) Adaptive
4) Autonomous
note: complexities of quantity of data and ethical issues (e.g. self driving cars)
Project
Temporary endeavour with a defined beginning and end, undertaken to meet unique goals and objectives, typically to bring about added value
Successful project
A project that is On-time, Within budget, meets Business requirements, and Satisfies the customer’s needs
Project management
The application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements
Deliverable
Any measurable, tangible, verifiable outcome, result or item that is produced to complete a project
Milestone
Represents key dates when a certain group of activities must be performed
Project manager
An individual who is an expert in project planning and management
Project management process
1) Initiation (high level)
2) Planning and design (detail)
a) Executing
b) Monitoring and controlling
c) perhaps more planning and design depending on a and b
3) Closing (success or kill)
Project management techniques
1) Draw up project plan
2) Balance triple constraints
3) Manage soft issues
Draw up project plan
A project plan is a formal approved document used to manage and control project execution. should:
a) Be easy to understand and read
b) Communicated to all key participants (including stakeholders)
c) Appropriate to project’s size, complexity and criticality
d) Prepared by the team (rather than individual project manager)
Balancing triple constraints on quality
1) Time
2) Money
3) Scope (functional requirements)
they can substitute each other to some extent
Balancing triple constraints on quality
1) Time
2) Money
3) Scope (functional requirements)
they can substitute each other to some extent
The soft issues
1) Managing people
2) Managing communications
3) Managing charge
Outsourcing benefits
1) Cutting costs
2) Access to new resources
3) Expertise
4) Flexibility
