Information Systems Final

List and explain five (5) banking services available via the Internet.

- Accessing customer service by e-mail around the clock - Viewing current and old transactions - Online mortgage applications - Paying bills and credit card accounts - Transferring funds

In the context of business continuity planning, list and explain at least five (5) of the procedures for keeping an organization operational in the event of a disaster.

- Back up all files. - Document all changes made to hardware and software. - Check sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, and halon gas systems. - Keep a copy of the disaster recovery plan off-site. - Go through a mock disaster to assess response time and recovery procedures.

List and explain four (4) disadvantages of e-commerce.

- Bandwidth capacity problems (in certain parts of the world) - Security and privacy issues - Accessibility (not everybody is connected to the Web yet) - Acceptance (not everybody accepts this technology)

Discuss at least five (5) advantages of a database over a flat file system.

- Complex requests can be handled more easily. - More information can be generated from the same data. - Data management is improved. - More sophisticated security measures can be used. - Storage space is reduced.

List eight (8) questions or statements that a knowledge worker should consider before making a work-related decision in order to avoid ethical issues.

- Does this decision comply with my organization's values? - How will I feel about myself after making this decision? - If I know this decision is wrong, I must not make it. - If I am not sure about this decision, I must ask my supervisor before making it. - Is the decision right? - Is the decision fair? - How will I feel if somebody else makes this decision on my behalf? - Is the decision legal? - Would I want everyone to know about this decision after I make it?

List and discuss the five (5) major dimensions of a feasibility study.

- Economic Feasibility - Technical Feasibility - Operational Feasibility - Scheduling Feasibility - Legal Feasibility

Discuss (with detailed examples) at least two (2) of the future uses of nanotechnology.

- Energy (reduction of energy consumption, increase in the efficiency of energy production, more environmentally friendly energy systems) - Information and communication (larger and faster storage devices, faster and cheaper computers, display monitors with low energy consumption) - Heavy industry (aerospace, construction, refineries, vehicle manufacturing)

Using an example, discuss an application of intelligent agents that is in use today.

Personal agents perform specific tasks for a user, such as remembering information for filling out Web forms or completing e-mail addresses after the first few characters are typed.

Discuss two (2) advantages and at least one (1) disadvantage that an expert system has over humans.

advantages - It never becomes distracted, forgetful, or tired. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for monotonous tasks that human workers might object to. - It duplicates and preserves the expertise of scarce experts and can incorporate the expertise of many experts. disadvantage - lacks empathy/emotion

List and discuss at least four (4) of the guidelines for improving a firewall's capabilities.

- Identify what data must be secured, and conduct a risk analysis to assess the costs and benefits of a firewall. - Compare features of packet-filtering firewalls, application-filtering firewalls, and proxy servers to determine which of these types addresses your network's security needs the best. - Examine the costs of firewalls, and remember that the most expensive firewall is not necessarily the best. Some inexpensive firewalls might be capable of handling everything your organization needs. - Compare the firewall's security with its ease of use. Some firewalls emphasize accuracy and security rather than ease of use and functionality. Determine what is most important to your organization when considering the trade-offs.

Describe three (3) ways in which managers can use an executive information system (EIS) to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of decision making.

- Increase managers' productivity by providing fast and easy access to relevant information. - Convert information into other formats, such as bar charts or graphs, to help managers analyze different business scenarios and see the effect of certain decisions on the organization. - Spot trends and report exceptions, such as gathering data on profitability and production costs at a manufacturing plant to determine whether closing the plant is more beneficial than keeping it open.

Describe five (5) advantages of prototypes.

- It provides a method for investigating an environment in which the problem is poorly defined and information is difficult to gather. - It reduces the need to train information system users because the users are involved in developing the system. - It reduces costs because building a model is less expensive than building the complete system. - It increases the system's chance of success by encouraging users' involvement. - It is easier to modify a prototype than a complete system.

Describe three (3) ways by which e-marketplaces help businesses maintain a competitive edge in the supply chain.

- It will expand sourcing opportunities. Organizations will have a broad selection of workers, materials, and products. This could lead to higher-quality products with lower cost. - It will enhance and increase access to new customers in new markets and possibly with new needs. This will improve the organization's top line as well as bottom line. - It will extend growth opportunity as a result of accessing new markets.

Explain how the lack of skilled analysts and programmers can hinder the success of a global information system (GIS).

- Lack of standardization (including differences in time zones, taxes, language, and work habits) - Cultural differences - Diverse regulatory practices - Poor telecommunication infrastructures - Lack of skilled analysts and programmers

Discuss the following as it relates to the advantages and disadvantages of a cloud-based enterprise system: - possible downtime - lack of customization - increased mobility

- Possible downtime: Cloud platforms sometimes go down and this is a major disadvantage. Service outages are always a possibility and can occur for many reasons, although cloud platforms are increasingly becoming more reliable. - Lack of customization: The adapting organization has to accept the standard offering of the cloud provider and it may not meet the specific needs of a particular organization. For this reason, some specific manufacturing operations are still using on-premise ERP systems that are best suited for that specific operation. - Increased mobility: Employees can access information wherever they are, rather than having to remain at their desks. It offers true portability for both data and application.

Outline four things that an organization's social media policy should include and do.

- Protect the company's reputation. - Eliminate legal issues. - Protect the privacy of all impacted individuals. - Raise brand awareness.

What are five (5) of the causes of health issues related to information technology? Explain solution options.

- Teen tendonitis: Too much texting and poor posture cause pain in the hands, back, and neck. - Stress: Too much time spent on handheld devices causes stress and fatigue. - Accidents: Some teens use their smartphones while driving for answering calls or texts; this may cause accidents. - Increased anxiety: Delays in response or no response causes anxiety for teens. - Sleep loss: Because most teenagers (and many adults) keep their smartphones nearby while sleeping, sleep interruption and sleep deprivation may result.

List and explain the two (2) basic components of a global information system (GIS).

- a global database - information-sharing technologies.

Describe financial planning and accounting software.

- financial planning: analyses including present value, future value, rate of return, cash flow, depreciation, retirement planning, and budgeting - accounting software: performs many sophisticated tasks including general ledgers, A/R, A/P, payroll, balance sheets, and income statements

Explain the main difference between an intranet and the Internet.

- internet: home to all information, available to everyone - intranet: limited to people within organization/those who have access (suppliers, partners)

Discuss two (2) examples of how information technology has created concerns about privacy in the workplace.

- leaks of important information/authentication information

List and describe the major types of networks.

- local area network (LAN) connects workstations and peripheral devices that are in close proximity - wide area network (WAN) can span several cities, states, or even countries, and it is usually owned by several different parties - metropolitan area network (MAN), is designed to handle data communication for multiple organizations in a city and sometimes nearby cities as well

List and explain at least two (2) risks that can be avoided by using an Internet use policy.

- phishing (emails) - malware (file or code that infects, steals, explores, etc)

Explain how organizations use social networking sites.

- promotion - advertising - customer service - links to online stores/websites

Briefly explain the role of business analytics (BA) in decision making and compare it to business intelligence (BI).

BA is more forward looking, telling the user what is going to happen rather than what has already happened, which is what BI does