ITEC54 Flashcards
1
Q
An array of components designed to accomplish a particular objective according to plan.
A
System
2
Q
Many sub-systems may be designed which later on are combined together to form a system which is intended to achieve a specific objective which may be set by the Project manager.
A
System
3
Q
Is a way of understanding an entity in terms of its purpose.
A
Systems Thinking
4
Q
The three major steps followed in systems thinking
A
Identify a containing whole (system), of which the thing to be explained is a part.
Explain the behavior or properties of the containing whole.
Explain the behavior or properties of the thing to be explained in terms of its role(s) or function(s) within its containing whole (Ackoff, 1981)
5
Q
Is the combination of inter-related elements to achieve a common objective (s).
A
System Integration
6
Q
The architecture of a system defines its high-level structure, exposing its gross organization as a collection of interacting components.
A
System Architecture
7
Q
Elements needed to model a software architecture include:
A
Components
Connectors
Systems
Properties
Styles
8
Q
a system developer and architects cannot do anything without first establishing various projects. These ________ may be new or existing.
A
Project
9
Q
it is inevitable to first understand what a ___________ is, factors that influence the __________, which the owners are and many more as discussed below.
A
Project
10
Q
Where do information Systems Projects Originate (Sources of Projects)?
A
Problems
Opportunity
Directive
11
Q
may either be current, suspected, or anticipated. ____________ are undesirable situations that prevent the business from fully achieving its purpose, goals, and objectives (users discovering real problems with existing IS).
A
Problems
12
Q
is a chance to improve the business even in the absence of specific problems. This means that the business is hoping to create a system that will help it with increasing its revenue, profit, or services, or decreasing its costs.
A
Opportunity
13
Q
is a new requirement that is imposed by management, government, or some external influence i.e. are mandates that come from either an internal or external source of the business.
A
Directive
13
Q
______________ cannot be run in isolation.
A
Projects
14
Q
__________ must operate in a broad organizational environment
A
Projects
15
Q
____________ need to take a holistic or systems view of a project and understand how it is situated within the larger organization
A
Project managers
16
Q
_____________ are the people involved in or affected by project activities
A
Stakeholders
17
Q
Stakeholders include:
A
the project sponsor and project team
support staff
customers
users
suppliers
opponents to the project
18
Q
________________ must take time to identify, understand, and manage relationships with all project stakeholders
A
Project managers
19
Q
Using the __________________________ can help meet stakeholder needs and expectations
A
four frames of organizations
20
Q
___________________ are very important stakeholders
A
Senior executives
21
Q
What Helps Projects Succeed?
According to the Standish Group’s report “CHAOS 2001: A Recipe for Success,” the following items help IT projects succeed, in order of importance:
A
Executive support
User involvement
Experienced project manager
Clear business objectives
Minimized scope
Standard software infrastructure
Firm basic requirements
Formal methodology
Reliable estimates
22
Q
Focuses on roles and responsibilities,
coordination and control. Organizational
charts help define this frame.
A
Structural Frame
23
Q
Focuses on providing harmony between needs of the organization and needs of people.
A
Human Resources Frame
24
Assumes organizations are coalitions composed of varied individuals and interest
groups. Conflict and power are key issues.
Political Frame
25
Focuses on **symbols** and meanings related to events. Culture is important.
Symbolic Frame
26
4 basic organizational structures
Functional
Project-based
Matrix
Divisional
27
_________________ depends on the company and/or the project.
Organizational structure
28
The **structure** helps define the **roles and responsibilities** of the members of the **department, work group, or organization**
Basic Organizational Structures
29
It is generally a **system of tasks** and reporting policies in place to give members of the group a direction when completing projects.
Basic Organizational Structures
30
A good organizational structure will allow people and groups to work effectively together while developing hard work ethics and attitudes.
The four general types of organizational structure are functional, divisional, matrix and project-based.
Basic Organizational Structures
31
People who **do similar tasks**, **have similar skills and/or jobs** in an organization are grouped into a ___________________.
Functional Structure
32
The advantages of this kind of structure include **quick decision making** because the group **members are able to communicate easily with each other**.
Functional Structure
33
People in ________________ can learn from each other easier because they **already possess similar skill sets and interests**.
functional structures
34
In a ____________________ , the company will **coordinate inter-group relationships to create a work team that can readily meet the needs of a certain customer** or group of customers.
divisional structure
35
The **division of labor in this kind of structure will ensure greater output** of varieties of similar products.
Divisional Structure
36
An example of a ____________________ is **geographical**, where **divisions are set up in regions to work with each other** to produce similar products that meet the needs of the individual regions.
divisional structure
37
____________________ are more **complex** in that they group people in two different ways:
**by the function they perform and**
**by the product team they are working with.**
Matrix structures
38
the team members are **given more autonomy** and **expected to take more responsibility for their work**.
matrix structure
39
This **increases the productivity of the team**, **fosters greater innovation and creativity**, and allows managers to cooperatively solve decision-making problems through group interaction.
Matrix Structure
40
the **teams are put together** based on the number of members needed **to produce the product or complete the project**.
project-organizational structure
41
The numbers of significantly **different kinds of tasks are taken into account** when structuring a project in this manner, **assuring that the right members are chosen** to participate in the project.
Project Organization Structure
42
It is a **process of collecting and interpreting facts**, **identifying the problems**, and **decomposition of a system into its components**.
System Analysis
43
It is a **process of planning a new business system** or replacing an existing system by defining its components or modules to satisfy the specific requirements.
Before planning, you need to understand the old system thoroughly and determine how computers can best be used in order to operate efficiently.
Systems Design
44
System Analysis and Design (SAD) mainly focuses on −
Systems
Processes
Technology
45
Constraints of a System
A system must have three basic constraints
A system must have some **structure and behavior** which is designed to achieve a predefined objective.
**Interconnectivity and interdependence** must exist among the system components.
The **objectives of the organization** have a higher priority than the objectives of its subsystems.
46
Properties of a System
A system has the following properties −
Organization
Interaction
Interdependence
Integration
Central Objective
47
__________________ implies structure and order.
Organization
48
It is the arrangement of components that helps to achieve predetermined objectives.
Organization
49
It is defined by the manner in which the components operate with each other.
For example, in an organization, purchasing department must interact with production department and payroll with personnel department.
Interaction
50
________________________ means how the components of a system depend on one another.
Interdependence
51
For proper functioning, the components are coordinated and linked together according to a specified plan.
Interdependence
52
The output of one subsystem is the required by other subsystem as input.
Interdependence
53
________________ is concerned with how a system components are connected together.
Integration
54
It means that the parts of the system work together within the system even if each part performs a unique
Integration
55
The objective of system must be central.
Central Objective
56
It may be real or stated.
Central Objective
57
It is not uncommon for an organization to state an objective and operate to achieve another.
Central Objective
58
The users must know the main objective of a computer application early in the analysis for a successful design and conversion.
Central Objective
59
The main aim of a system is to produce an output which is useful for its user.
Outputs and Inputs
60
________ are the information that enters into the system for processing.
Inputs
61
______________ is the outcome of processing.
Output
62
The ____________ is the element of a system that involves the actual transformation of input into output.
processor
63
It is the operational component of a system.
Processor(s)
64
_______________ may modify the input either totally or partially, depending on the output specification.
Processors
65
As the output specifications change, so does the ____________.
processing
66
In some cases, input is also modified to enable the _____________ for handling the transformation.
processor
67
The _____________ element guides the system.
control
68
It is the decision–making subsystem that controls the pattern of activities governing input, processing, and output.
Control
69
The behavior of a computer System is controlled by the __________________ and _______________.
Operating System and software
70
In order to keep system in balance, what and how much input is needed is determined by __________________________.
Output Specifications
71
provides the control in a dynamic system.
Feedback
72
is routine in nature that encourages the performance of the system.
Positive feedback
73
is informational in nature that provides the controller with information for action.
Negative feedback
74
the “supersystem” within which an organization operates.
Environment
75
It is the source of external elements that strike on the system.
Environment
76
77
It determines how a system must function.
For example, vendors and competitors of organization’s environment, may provide constraints that affect the actual performance of the business.
Environment
78
A system should be defined by its ___________________.
boundaries
79
______________ are the limits that identify its components, processes, and interrelationship when it interfaces with another system.
Boundaries
80
Each system has boundaries that determine its sphere of influence and control.
Boundaries and Interface
81
The knowledge of the boundaries of a given system is crucial in determining the nature of its interface with other systems for successful design.
Boundaries and Interface
82
Types of Systems
The systems can be divided into the following types −
Physical or Abstract Systems
Open or Closed Systems
Adaptive and Non Adaptive System
Permanent or Temporary System
Natural and Manufactured System
Deterministic or Probabilistic System
Social, Human-Machine, Machine System
Man–Made Information Systems
83
________________ are tangible entities. We can touch and feel them.
Physical systems
84
may be static or dynamic in nature.
Physical System
85
For example, desks and chairs are the physical parts of computer center which are static.
A programmed computer is a dynamic system in which programs, data, and applications can change according to the user's needs.
Physical or Abstract Systems
86
_______________ are non-physical entities or conceptual that may be formulas, representation or model of a real system.
Abstract systems
87
An _____________ must interact with its environment.
open system
88
It receives inputs from and delivers outputs to the outside of the system.
For example, an information system which must adapt to the changing environmental conditions.
Open System
89
A _________________ does not interact with its environment.
closed system
90
It is isolated from environmental influences. A completely closed system is rare in reality.
closed system
91
responds to the change in the environment in a way to improve their performance and to survive.
For example, human beings, animals.
Adaptive System
92
the system which does not respond to the environment.
For example, machines.
Non Adaptive System
93
_________________ persists for long time.
For example, business policies.
Permanent System
94
____________________ is made for specified time and after that they are demolished.
For example, A DJ system is set up for a program and it is dissembled after the program.
Temporary System
95
______________ are created by the nature.
For example, Solar system, seasonal system.
Natural systems
96
_____________________ is the man-made system.
For example, Rockets, dams, trains.
Manufactured System
97
operates in a predictable manner and the interaction between system components is known with certainty.
For example, two molecules of hydrogen and one molecule of oxygen makes water.
Deterministic system
98
shows uncertain behavior. The exact output is not known.
For example, Weather forecasting, mail delivery.
Probabilistic System
99
________________ is made up of people.
For example, social clubs, societies.
Social System
100
both human and machines are involved to perform a particular task.
For example, Computer programming.
Human-Machine System
101
where human interference is neglected. All the tasks are performed by the machine.
For example, an autonomous robot.
Machine System
102
It is an interconnected set of information resources to manage data for particular organization, under Direct Management Control (DMC).
Man–Made Information Systems
103
This system includes hardware, software, communication, data, and application for producing information according to the need of an organization.
Man–Made Information Systems
104
Man-made information systems are divided into three types −
Formal Information System
Informal Information System
Computer Based System
105
It is based on the flow of information in the form of memos, instructions, etc., from top level to lower levels of management.
Formal Information System
106
This is employee based system which solves the day to day work related problems.
Informal Information System
107
This system is directly dependent on the computer for managing business applications.
For example, automatic library system, railway reservation system, banking system, etc.
Computer Based System
108
a 2-D chart that shows system elements and their linkages.
schematic model
109
Different arrows are used to show information flow, material flow, and information feedback.
Schematic Models
110
shows the orderly flow of the material, energy, and information that hold the system together.
flow system model
111
______________________ and _______________________, for example, is used to abstract a real world system in model form.
Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
112
They represent one pair of relationships such as activity–time or cost–quantity.
Static System Models
113
The ________________ , for example, gives a static picture of an activity-time relationship.
Gantt chart
114
Business organizations are ____________________.
dynamic systems
115
A ________________ approximates the type of organization or application that analysts deal with.
dynamic model
116
It shows an ongoing, constantly changing status of the system.
Dynamic System Models
117
Dynamic System Models
It consists of −
Inputs that enter the system
The processor through which transformation takes place
The program(s) required for processing
The output(s) that result from processing.
118
There are three categories of information related to managerial levels and the decision managers make
Strategic Information
Managerial Information
Operational Information
119
This information is required by topmost management for long range planning policies for next few years.
For example, trends in revenues, financial investment, and human resources, and population growth.
Strategic Information
120
This type of information is achieved with the aid of Decision Support System (DSS).
Strategic Information
121
This type of Information is required by middle management for short and intermediate range planning which is in terms of months.
For example, sales analysis, cash flow projection, and annual financial statements.
Managerial Information
122
It is achieved with the aid of Management Information Systems (MIS).
Managerial Information
123
This type of information is required by low management for daily and short term planning to enforce day-to-day operational activities.
For example, keeping employee attendance records, overdue purchase orders, and current stocks available.
Operational Information
124
It is achieved with the aid of Data Processing Systems (DPS).
Operational Information
