Week 1

Question 1

Different Types of Analytics

Answer 1

Descriptive
Diagnostic
Prescriptive
Predictive

Question 2

Moore’s Law

Answer 2

Moore (Intel) noted that number of transistors on a microchip doubles every two years, which implied that computer speed would double every 2 or 3 years while they got cheaper as well.

Question 3

What is Information?

Answer 3

– data that have been processed so that they are
meaningful
– data that have been processed for a purpose
– data that have been interpreted and understood by
the recipient

Question 4

Transaction Processing Systems

Answer 4

– output used for business operations
– less use for business decision making.

Question 5

Office Automation Systems

Answer 5

– transfer of information
– co-ordination of work

Question 6

Management Information System

Answer 6

– systematic organisation of information
– summary reports
– exception reports
– simple models for business activity

Question 7

Decision Support Systems

Answer 7

– Data Subsystem -data needed for a problem.
– Model Subsystem
– Interface Subsystem
– no single solution, helps explore solutions.
- used by domain experts: finance, engineering, logistics etc

Question 8

Executive Information Systems (EIS)

Answer 8

– are a form of user-friendly MIS
– allow executives manipulate info
- used by general manager MBA type people

Question 9

Expert Systems

Answer 9

– not used by experts – use expert knowledge
– a limited form of artificial intelligence.
- not used by experts, rather used by people who lack the expertise to make the decision
- named because the store the expertise of experts on a system

Question 10

Why use Management Support Systems? (MSS)

Answer 10

– Speedy computations
– Improved data management
– Problem visualisation
– Improved communication and collaboration

Question 11

What is a computer System?

Answer 11

Interrelated components
including hardware and software, that work
together to convert data into information.

Question 12

Hardware: physical components system:

Answer 12

– central processing unit (CPU)
– memory
– output devices
– input devices
– storage devices
* Fast/temporary
* Slow/permanent storage

Question 13

Mainframe Computers

Answer 13

– Powerful computers for large-scale data processing
– Considered as legacy systems in many orgs.

Question 14

Minicomputer midsize

Answer 14

– Typically used as servers

Question 15

Microcomputer (powerful and low cost)

Answer 15

– Client Desktop
– PC is the market leader, with a significant
proportion of Apple Macs