Support systems

Question 1

Executive support system

Answer 1

Subset of DSS, designed for forecasting and making long range strategic designs, and they place a greater emphasis on EXTERNAL data. Focuses on STRATEGIC levels of the org and NONROUTINE questions and include external scanning capabilities. Most likely to include external data.

Question 2

Transaction processing system (TPS)

Answer 2

supports the day-to-day activities of the business (purchasing of G/S, payroll, cash collections, sales to customers, manufacturing activities)

Question 3

Decision support system (DSS)

Answer 3

provides info to mid and upper level mgmt to assist them in managing non routine problems and with long range planning. DSSs include external data in addition to summarized info from the TPS and include significant analytical and statistical capabilities.

Question 4

Mgmt Info system

Answer 4

most resembles a managerial acct, budgeting system. Takes planning info (budgets, forecasts) data and compares it to actual results in periodic mgmt reports (summary reports, variance reports, and exception reports)

Question 5

What are examples of nonfinancial transaction types?

Answer 5

placing orders for G/S, accepting orders

Question 6

Knowledge Work Systems

Answer 6

facilitate the work activities of pro-level employees by providing info relevant to their day to day activities and/or automating some of their routine funcitons.

Question 7

Data warehouse

Answer 7

Database of archived operational transactions.
database for organizational decision making. Data from the live databases are copied to the warehouse so that data can be queried without reducing the performance or stability of the live system. Data from over a period of years.

Question 8

Data mart

Answer 8

a specialized version of a data warehouse that contains data that is preconfigured to meet the needs of specific depts. Contains only info specific to that objective

Question 9

Flat file systems

Answer 9

Bad (outdated)
Separates programs and data sets.
A lot of data redundancy.
Poor cross-functional availbility 
Contain program independence
Multiple programs must be used to read, access, and process the data.

Question 10

Knowledge mgmt systems

Answer 10

endeavor to create a competitive advantage through use of shared info

Question 11

Small Business Environment - controls

Answer 11

Spreadsheets should be reviewed and tested by an independent 3rd party.
Backup procedures important.
Additional supervision of computing may be necessary

Question 12

What is the least detrimental combination of functions in a small business?

Answer 12

authorization and review/auditing

Question 13

What is an important managing security over mobile systems

Answer 13

View only access - controls the ability to make changes to data

Question 14

What acct function is most likely to be missing from a SBE?

Answer 14

authorization - there is a great need for 3rd party review and testing withing the SBE

Question 15

Data Manipulation language

Answer 15

allows the user to add new records, delete old records, and update existing records

Question 16

Data Definition language

Answer 16

Allows the definition of tables and fields and relationships among tables

Question 17

Data query language

Answer 17

allows the user to extract info from the database

Question 18

List from low to high the hierarchy of data in a system

Answer 18

Bits
Bytes
Data values
Fields
Records
Files

Question 19

Database mgmt system

Answer 19

Controls the storage and retrieval of info maintained in the database and is responsible for maintaining referential integrity of the data.
Considered software and MIDDLEWARE

Question 20

CD ROM best for what kind of data?

Answer 20

large volume of data, that does not change often

Question 21

Microcomputers

Answer 21

Better suited to frequent screen updating and graphical user interfaces.
More cost effective than mainframes for data entry and presentation

Question 22

What burns data onto a surface?

Answer 22

optimal disc recorder

Question 23

CPU includes…

Answer 23

ALU
RAM
Control Unit

Question 24

List secondary storage devices

Answer 24

Flash drives
Optical discs
Magnetic disk

Question 25

Mainframe computers

Answer 25

Input/output intensive

Question 26

Supercomputers

Answer 26

support processor-intensive activities (small number of highly complex calc

Question 27

Magnetic disks

Answer 27

Most common form of 2nd storage.
Random access devices
Data can be stored on and retrieved from in any order.
Most efficient way to store and retrieve individual records

Question 28

RAM

Answer 28

Random access memory

Temp storage for info in process