Week 1

Question 1

Information System

Answer 1

A system integrating IT, BUSINESS & PEOPLE

brings business functions and information modules -> effective communication channels => timely and accurate decisions -> organisational productivity and competitiveness

Question 2

What does an Information System Consists Of

Answer 2

Interrelated computer components for

• collecting
• storing
• processing
• analysing data

to produce information to meet business needs

Question 3

Why Use Information System

Answer 3

Manage information for an organisation

-> provides functionalities
better systems = more productive = more profits

Question 4

What is to be considered when designing a system

Answer 4

Information

Functions

Question 5

Actions perform by the system on data

Answer 5

CRUD
Create
Read
Update
Delete

Question 6

Deep structure

Answer 6

Core representation of the world in the system

Objects represented by data and state transitions and managed through system functions

Question 7

Surface structure

Answer 7

Information presented at the surface or interface of the system

i.e. printed report versus display on smartphone

User interface

Question 8

Physical structure

Answer 8

Physical elements of technology (hardware)

Question 9

3 Levels of Representation

Answer 9

Deep, surface and physical

Question 10

Logical separation of Information system (architecture)

Answer 10

Resource management (data layer)

Business application (logic layer)

Presentation (user interface) layer

Separated as tiers

Question 11

1 Tier

Answer 11

3 layers running in one machine i.e. mainframes

• centralised (no distribution)
• layers tightly connected
• difficulty with scalability and portability

Question 12

2 Tier

Answer 12

Client server architecture

presentation layer runs on client machine

data layer on the server

Thick/Thin client

Question 13

3 Tier

Answer 13

Each layer almost independent and running on a separate tier

-Middleware platforms supporting access through the WEb aka application servers

Question 14

N-tier architecture

Answer 14

Incorporating web servers

scalable, portable, easy to manage

Question 15

System Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

Answer 15

Includes detailed plan of all the activities needed for building, developing, modifying and maintaining an information sys

Question 16

Stages in the SDLC

Answer 16

1. Planning
2. Analysis
3. Design
4. Implementation

Question 17

SDLC: Planning

Answer 17

Feasibility study
Project plan
Structure
Timeline 
Budge
Why?

Question 18

SDLC: Analysis

Answer 18

Understanding the business needs and requirements and documenting the requirements using a set of models and specifications

Identifying solution to the problem

Question 19

SDLC: Design

Answer 19

Design database (database structure, internal properties, security and encryption, distribution and fragmentation, intergration)

Design application architecture and software (partitioning software into subsystems, infrastructure, layers and distribution, detailed desing)

Design user interfaces (prototypes)

Design system interfaces (the interface that enables a new IS to share information with others)

Design the environment (all technology, hardware, software, operating systems, DBMS, communication protocols, software applications)

Design system controls and security (limiting access to authorised users

Question 20

SDLC: Implementation

Answer 20

Testing, deployment, intergration and maintenance of the developed system

Question 21

Methodologies

Answer 21

Guidelines for carrying out all of the activities of each core process of the SDLC

Includes

Models, techniques & tools

Modelling approaches (structure (ER) or object oriented (UML)

Question 22

Thick Client

Answer 22

2 tier architecture

Presentation needs additional software

Question 23

Thin Client

Answer 23

2 tier architecture

Presentation is done lightly