wk1 - digital tech

Question 1

digital tech (def)

Answer 1

Digital technologies are electronic tools, systems, devices and resources that generate, store or process computerised data and turn them into useful information or perform other tasks for their intended user

Question 1

types of ICT’s

Answer 1

Computer hardware (e.g. mainframe, desktop computers, tablets, smartphones, etc.)
– Computer software (e.g. an operating system, a piece of accounting software, a mobile app, etc.)
– Telecommunications facilities and networks (e.g. your router connecting you to the Internet)

Question 2

information system (def)

Answer 2

“A set of interrelated components that collect (or retrieve), process, store, and distribute information to support decision making and control in an organisation” (Laudon & Laudon)
* “Any organised combination of people, hardware, software, communications networks, and data resources that collects, transforms, and disseminates information in an organisation” (O’Brien)

Question 3

types of data processing

Answer 3

classification - Transaction data may be classified as invoice data, payment data, order data

rearranging/ sorting - Data on employees may be ordered according to ascending employee number

summarising - Employee performance data may be aggregated to arrive at a summary of performance per department

performing calculations - Data on the total hours worked by an employee may be multiplied by the hourly wage rates to arrive at a gross wage

selection -Total yearly turnover data on customers may be used to select high-spending customers for special treatment by sales personnel

Question 4

transaction processing systems

Answer 4

Transaction Processing Systems (TPS):
* Systems that keep track of the organisation’s basic operations and produce information for performing them (purchasing, production, sales, invoicing, …)
* Input: Transactions, events
* Processing: Sorting, listing, merging, updating
* Output: Detailed reports, lists, summaries
* Users: Operations personnel, supervisors
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Question 5

management information systems

Answer 5

Serve management level; provide reports and access to company data
* Input: Summary transaction data, high-volume data, simple models
* Processing: Routine reports, simple models, low-level analysis
* Output: Summary and exception reports
* Users: Middle managers

Question 6

decision supports systems

Answer 6

Serve management level with data analysis for making decisions
* Input: Low-volume data or massive databases, analytic models, and data analysis tools
* Processing: Interactive, simulations, analysis
* Output: Special reports, decision analyses, responses to
queries
* Users: Professionals, staff managers

Question 7

executive support systems

Answer 7

Provide communications and computing environment that serves the organisation’s strategic level
* Input: External and internal aggregate data
* Processing: Graphics, simulations, interactive
* Output: Projections, responses to queries
* Users: Senior managers

Question 8

enterprise resource planning (ERP)

Answer 8

Single information system for organisation-wide coordination and integration of
many business processes
* “Off-the-shelf” modules based on best practices
* “Plain vanilla” ERP vs. customisation
* Vendors: SAP, Oracle/PeopleSoft, Sage Group (UK), …