Bec Study Unit 11 It 1

Front 1

1. What is the definition of Business Information Systems (BIS)?

Back 1

DEFINITION is any combination of people, procedures, and computing equipment employed to pursue an organizational objective. STAKEHOLDERS - get output from system. (can be outside organization)

Front 2

2. The Four Major Tasks of any Information System is?

Back 2

The 4 elements are:
a. Input
b. Transformation
c. Output
d. Storage

Front 3

3. What is the definition of a Transaction Processing System (TPS)?

Back 3

DEFINITION is it captures the fundamental data that reflect the economic life of an organization.

Front 4

4. What is the definition of a Management Information System (MIS)?

Back 4

DEFINITION is it typically receives information from a TPS, aggregates it, then reports it in a format useful to middle management in running the business.

Front 5

5. What is a Data Warehouse?

Back 5

DEFINITION is it is a central database for transaction-level data from more than one of the organization's TPSs. The ability of the data warehouse to relate data from multIple systems makes it a very powerful tool for ad hoc queries.

Front 6

5.a What is a Data mart?

Back 6

DEFINITION is it is a subset of an enterprise-wide data warehouse.

Front 7

5.b Data Mining - What is it?
What enables it?

Back 7

DEFINITION is it is the search for unexpected relationships between data.

It is enabled by a Data Warehouse.

Front 8

6. What is a Decision Support System (DSS)?

Back 8

DEFINITION is it is an interactive system that is useful in solving structured and semistructured problems, that is, those requiring a management decision maker to exercise his or her insight and judgement.

Front 9

6.a Does a DSS automate a decision?

Back 9

No.

Front 10

7. What is an Expert System (ES)?

Back 10

DEFINITION is it is an interactive system that attempts to imitate the reasoning of a human expert in a given field. It is useful for addressing unstructured problems when there is a local shortage of human experts.

Front 11

8. What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

Back 11

DEFINITION is it attempts to imitate human decision making, which hinges on a combination of knowledge and intuition. It is more sophisticated than (ES). It is designed to perceive, reason, and understand.

Front 12

9. What is Business Intelligence (BI)?

Back 12

DEFINITION is it is what gives upper management the information it needs to know where the organization is and how to steer it in the intended direction. It gives an executive immediate information about an organization's critical success factors.

Front 13

10. What is Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)?

Back 13

DEFINITION is it is the latest phase in the development of computerized systems for managing organization resources. It is intended to integrate IS's all over the organization by creating one database linked to all of an organization's applications.

Front 14

11. What is Office Automation Systems (OASs)

Back 14

DEFINITION is it is the word processing, spreadsheet, digital document storage, and desktop publishing applications familiar to most office workers, that are part of any organization's IS environment.

Front 15

12. Does it matter for a BIS if it is manual or computer-based?

Back 15

The goals of BIS are the same. The risks are different.

Front 16

13. List typical IT Personnel titles

Back 16

What are these?
a. DBA
b. Network Tech
c. Webmaster
d. Computer Operators
e. Librarians
f. System Programmers
g. Application Programmers
h. Help Desk

Front 17

14. What is the most common method for building new IS?

Back 17

SDLC Approach.

Front 18

15. What is Systems Development Life-Cycle (SDLC)?

Back 18

DEFINTION is it is highly structured and if properly followed it can be helping an organization deploy maintainable, well-documented systems with the functionality that was intended.

Front 19

16. What are the SDLC Steps?

Back 19

Steps are:
a. Project Definition Phase
b. Feasibility Study
c. Cost Benefit Analysis
d. Project initiation Phase
e. Systems Analysis
f. Systems Design
g. Physical Database Design
h. Program Development
i. Procedure Development
j. Installation & Operation
k. System Maintenance

Front 20

17. What functions need to be segregated with IT?

Back 20

List includes:
a. Information Security
b. Systems Development and Maintenance
c. Computer Operations
d. Data Administration
e. End Users

Front 21

18. What function does an IT Security Officer perform?

Back 21

Function performed is:
Responsible for formulation and enforcing a formal IS policy for all employees and outside parties who access the organization's systems.

Front 22

19. What is the purpose of Systems Development and Maintenance?

Back 22

The purpose is due to the users of an organization requesting new systems created & changes and enhancements to existing systems.

Front 23

20. What is the function of Computer Operations?

Back 23

The function is for the smooth running of medium & large-scale computers.

ex) Job scheduling and out production

Front 24

21. What is the function of Data Administration?

Back 24

The function is the determination of how the organization's data should be stores and what relationships about the data best achieve the organization's business objectives.

Front 25

22. What is the purpose of a DBA?

Back 25

Purpose is to keep the databases running efficiently

Front 26

23. Who or what function is an end user?

Back 26

Function:
Data BELONGS to their department.

Front 27

What is INPUT

Back 27

DEFINITION is that the system must acquire (capture) data from within or outside of the entity.

Front 28

What is TRANSFORMATION

Back 28

DEFINITION is that raw materials (data) are converted into knowledge useful for decision making (information).

Front 29

What is OUTPUT

Back 29

DEFINITION is that the ultimate purpose of the system is communication for results to internal or external users.

Front 30

What is STORAGE

Back 30

DEFINITION is that before, during, and after processing, data must be temporarily or permanently stored in files or databases.

Front 31

What is a TRANSACTION?

Back 31

DEFINITION is it is a single, discrete event that can be captured by an information system.

Front 32

MIS are often classified by function or activity. What are common activiites?

Back 32

1. Accounting
2. Finance
3. Manufacturing
4. Logistics
5. Marketing
6. Human Resources

Front 33

For function ACCOUNTING, what are the activities?

Back 33

Activities for function are:
General Ledger
Accounts Receivable
Accounts Payable
Fixed Assets Management
Tax Accounting

Front 34

For function FINANCE, what are the activities?

Back 34

Activities for function are:
Capital budgeting
Operational budgeting
Cash Management

Front 35

For function MANUFACTURING, what are the activities?

Back 35

Activities for function are:
Production Planning
Cost Control
Quality Control

Front 36

For function LOGISTICS, what are the activities?

Back 36

Activities for the function are:
Inventory Management
Transportation Planning

Front 37

For function MARKETING, what are the activities?

Back 37

Activities for the function are:
Sales Analysis
Forecasting

Front 38

For function HR, what are the activities?

Back 38

Activities for the function are:
Projecting payroll
Projecting benefits obligations
Employment-level planning
Employee Evaluation tracking

Front 39

What is a STOVEPIPE SYSTEM?

Back 39

DEFINITION is it is a single-focus system like most MIS that are classified by function or activity.

Front 40

What is an INTEGRATED SYSTEM?

Back 40

DEFINTION is it links multiple business activities across the enterprise.

Front 41

What do data warehouses require?

Back 41

THEY require transaction records be converted to a standard format. They are very large repositories.

Front 42

What is ONLINE ANALYTICAL PROCESSING (OLAP)?

Back 42

It is when data warehouses are accessed using analytical and graphics tools.

Front 43

What is an important component of OLAP?

Back 43

Component is drill down analysis.

Front 44

What is DRILL DOWN ANALYSIS?

Back 44

DEFINITION is when the user is first presented with the data at an aggregate level and then can display successive levels of detail for a given date, region, product, etc. until finally reaching the original transactions.

Front 45

What a QUERY-AND-REPORTING-SYSTEM?

Back 45

A data warehouse. It gets input from various TPS. However, it does not carry on the operations of the enterprise. DW's are optimized for retrieval and reporting. TPS is for data entry.

Front 46

What are 3 components of the DSS?

Back 46

Components are:
Database
Model
Dialog

Front 47

What is a DATABASE?

Back 47

DEFINITION, it consists of raw data that are relevant to decisions. Can come from inside or outside organization.

Front 48

What is a MODEL?

Back 48

DEFINITION, it is the set of equations, comparisons, graphs, conditions, assumptions into which the data will be fed.

Front 49

What is a DIALOG?

Back 49

DEFINITION, it consists of the user interface which allows the user to specify the particular set of data to which the model should be applied.

Front 50

What is a GROUP DSS?

Back 50

DEFINITION, it aids in the colloborative solution of unstructured problems. Users in separate areas of the organization can specify parameters pertinent to their functions.

Front 51

What are the components of an Expert System?

Back 51

Components are:
Knowledge database
Inference engine
Dialog

Front 52

What is an ES KNOWLEDGE DATABASE?

Back 52

DEFINITION, It consists of facts and the relationships among those facts.

Front 53

What is an ES INFERENCE ENGINE?

Back 53

DEFINITION, It is often a series of if/then decisions.

Front 54

What is an ES DIALOG?

Back 54

DEFINITION, It allows the user to input data relevant to the current problem which are then filtered through the inference engine and used to query the knowledge database. Optimal solution is suggested to the user - output.

Front 55

What are inference procedures based on?

Back 55

The procedures are symbolic processing based on heuristics rather than algorithms.

Front 56

What is a HEURISTIC PROCEDURE?

Back 56

DEFINITION, it is based on exploratory problem-solving technique that uses self-education methods (feedback evaluation) to improve performance. Systems are interactive and provide explanations of their problem-solving behavior.

Front 57

What are FUZZY LOGIC SYSTEMS?

Back 57

DEFINITION, is a form of AI that deals with imprecise data and problems with multiple solutions.

Front 58

When are fuzzy logic systems useful?

Back 58

They are useful in the design of industrial controls.

Front 59

What does fuzzy logic use?

Back 59

It can use linguistic system variables rather than binary decisions.

Front 60

What is fuzzy set theory?

Back 60

It allows object to belong partly to multiple sets. It is useful for the vagueness of real world items where they belong to a set only to a degree.

Front 61

What do fuzzy rule based systems apply?

Back 61

They apply methods to solve real-world problems where a system is difficult to model and controlled by a human operator and ambiguity is common.

Front 62

Benefits of Fuzzy Logic Systems?

Back 62

They are:
1. Simplified, reduced development cycle.
2. Ease of Implementation.
3. User-friendly, efficient performance.

Front 63

What are NEURAL NETWORKS?

Back 63

DEFINITION, A collection of processing elements working together to process information much like the human brain, including learning from previous situations and generalizing concepts.

Front 64

What are CASE-BASED REASONING SYSTEMS?

Back 64

DEFINITION, use a process similar to that used by humans to learn from previous, similar situations.

Front 65

What are RULE-BASED EXPERT SYSTEMS?

Back 65

DEFINITION, function on the basis of set rules to arrive at an answer. Cannot be changed by the system itself and must be changed by an outside source aka programmer.

Front 66

What are INTELLIGENT AGENTS?

Back 66

DEFINITION, programs that apply a built-in or learned knowledge base to execute a specific, repetitive, and predictable task.

Front 67

What is the purpose of BI - Business Intelligence?

Back 67

It gives executives immediate information about critical success factors for the organization.

Front 68

What is a DIGITAL DASHBOARD?

Back 68

DEFINITION, it can be displays of bar charts, graphs, other formats etc..grouped by a particular executive's needs.

Front 69

Traditional ERP system does what?

Back 69

Subsystems share data and coordinte their activities. These are BACK OFFICE functions (aka Internal to the organization). Comprehensively, this includes materials requirement planning, manufacturing resource planning, supply chain mgt, and customer relationship mgt.

Front 70

What is ERP II?

Back 70

DEFINITION, Current generation has added front office function to connect organization with customers, suppliers, owners, creditors, etc.. Allows for supply chain mgt, customer relationship mgt, and partner relationship mgt.

Front 71

What is the major disadvantage of an ERP?

Back 71

It is complex and extensive so it is costly and difficult to implement. Only largest organizations can.

Front 72

What is Information Resource Management?

Back 72

DEFINITION, includes the mgt of all the forms of IS (WP, Spreadhseet, digital docs, desktop publishing) and needs of users for the information holdings of the organziation. (OAS)s

Front 73

What is the purpose of Financial Reporting systems?

Back 73

1. Generate information for external users (investors, regulators, creditors).
2. Form of Financial Statements.
3. Backward looking at historical data.

Front 74

General Steps of the Accounting Cycle - included in the audit trail!

Back 74

Cycle includes:
1. Entry of source data and file documents (can be electronic)
2. Make entries in general and special journals.
3. Post entry to GL and subsidiary ledgers accounts.
4. Prepare Trial Balance
5. Prepare Financial Statements for external reporting.

Front 75

What is the purpose of Management Reporting systems?

Back 75

Purpose is:
1. Internal focus on planning, control, and decision making.
2. Forward looking - forecasting.
3. Internal uses (no need for GAAP)
4. Nonfinancial and financial data in flexible formats.
5. Major element = cost accounting and budgeting.

Front 76

BIS risks - please list?

Back 76

Include:
1. System availability
2. Volatile transaction trails.
3. Decreased human involvement.
4. Uniform processing of transactions,
5. Unauthorized access.
6. Data Vulnerability
7. Reduced segregation of duties.
8. Reduced individual authorization of transactions.
9. Specialized knowledge.