Information Systems & Databases

Question 1

What are the 7 information processes?

Answer 1

• Collecting
• Organising
• Analysing
• Storing // Retrieving
• Processing
• Transmitting // Receiving
• Displaying

Question 2

What is a ‘Flat File Database’?

Answer 2

A flat file database organises data into a single table through structures call files, records, fields and characters.

Question 3

What are the 5 ‘Keys’ used in a Relational Database?

Answer 3

• Single Key
• Composite Key
• Primary Key
• Secondary Key
• Foreign Key

Question 4

What are the 3 ‘Relationship’ types in a Relational Database?

Answer 4

• One-To-One
• One-To-Many
• Many-To-Many

Question 5

What are the 4 types of Storyboards?

Answer 5

• Linear
• Hierarchical
• Non-linear
• Combination

Question 6

What are the 2 types of Encryption?

Answer 6

• Asymmetric Encryption

- Symmetric Encryption

Question 7

How is data accessed from a database?

Answer 7

• Database Management System

Question 8

What is ‘Batch Processing’ / what is it used for?

Answer 8

Batch Processing collects the transaction-data in a group and processes it later. It is used for ‘Transaction Processing Systems’.

Question 9

What is ‘Real-time Processing’ / what is it used for?

Answer 9

Each transaction is immediately processed in a ‘Transaction Processing System’.

Question 10

What is a ‘Decision Support System?’

Answer 10

A ‘Decision Support System’ (DSS) assists people to make decisions by providing information, models and analysis tools.
- Allows a manager to ask ‘What if’ questions.

Question 11

What is an ‘Expert System?’

Answer 11

• Type of DSS
• Provide information and solve problems that would otherwise require a person experienced in that field (expert).
• Asks users a set of questions and compares their answers to a knowledge base (A set of general facts & if-then rules supplied by an expert).
• Solutions are not always correct, up to the user to accept or reject the solution.

Question 12

What is ‘Meta data’?

Answer 12

Information about data.

Question 13

What are the 5 types of information systems?

Answer 13

• Transaction processing systems
• Decision support systems
• Expert Systems
• Management information systems
• Office automation systems

Question 14

What is a ‘schema’?

Answer 14

The data definition for a database. It is an organised plan of the entire database showing how and where the data is found, descriptions of the data, and the data’s logical relationships.

Question 15

What are ‘Schematic Diagrams’?

Answer 15

Schematic diagrams are graphical tools that help define the database and develop a schema. e.g. Entity-relationship diagram.

Question 16

What are the methods of accessing data?

Answer 16

• Sequential Access

- Direct Access

Question 17

What is ‘Sequential Access’?

Answer 17

Sequential Access occurs when data is accessed in a sequence. It processes data in the order it was stored.

Question 18

What is a ‘Distributed Database’?

Answer 18

A distributed database is a database located at more than one site. It acts as a single collection of data but is geographically dispersed.

Question 19

What is the purpose of ‘Structured Query Language’ (SQL)?

Answer 19

A query language used to access and manipulate data in a relational database.