Week 3 Tutorial 2 Questions

Tech Guide 1


Question One. What is computer hardware and what are the major hardware components?

Hardware is the physical equipment used for the input, output and storage activities of a computer system. Its components include a CPU (central processing unit), primary and secondary storage, input and output technologies as well as communication technologies.

Question Two. What is Moore's Law and what does it mean in relation to computers?

Moore'e Law stated that microprocessor complexity would double every two years. In relation to computers this means that every 2 years the speed of a computer processor would increase.


Question Three. In basic terms, describe how a microprocessor functions.

A microprocessor or CPU (central processing unit) functions by interpreting program instructions and processing data.

Question Four. What factors determine the speed of the microprocessor?

microprocessor speed was predicted by Moore to double around every two years. This was such because of the increase in miniturisation of transistors, the compact and more efficient nature of the physical layout of a chip, the use of materials that improve conductivity of electricity and by targeting the amount of basic instructions programmed into the chip.


Question Five. What are the four main types of primary storage?

Registers

RAM

ROM

Cache Memory

Question Six. What are the main types of secondary storage?

Magnetic tape

Magnetic Disks

Thumb drives/USB drives

Hard Drives

optical storage devices



Question Seven. How Does Primary storage differ from Secondary storage in terms of speed, cost and capacity?

Primary storage is faster because it is closer to or intergrated into the CPU; it is also more expensive and has a smaller capacity. Secondary storage is cheaper and larger however because it connects to the CPU externally.

Question Eight. What are enterprise storage systems?

Enterprise storage systems an independent, external system with intelligence that includes two or more storage devices. e.g. storage area network.

Question Nine. Distinguish between human data input devices and source data automation.

human data-entry devices include keyboards, mouse, trakball, joystick, touchscreen, stylus and voice recognition while source data automation devices are input devices with little human intervention.

Week 2 Tutorial 1 Questions (Part II)

Chapter Two Questions

Question One. What is the difference between an 'application' and a computer-based information system?

A computer-based information system (CBIS) is an information system that uses computer technology to perform some or all of its intended tasks while an 'application' is a program designed to support a specific task or business process. Hence the ultimate difference is that a CBIS is designed to complete multiple tasks while an application is designed for a specific intended purpose.

Question Two. What are strategic information systems?

Strategic information systems are systems that provide a competitive advantage by helping an organisation implement its strategic goarls and increase its performance/productivity.

Question Three. According to Porter, what are the five forces that endanger a firm's position in its industry or marketplaces?

1. The threat of entry of new competitors

2. The bargaining power of suppliers

3. The bargaining power of customers (or buyers)

4. The threat of substitute products or services

5. The rivalry among existing firms in the industry

Question Four. In relation to Porter's value chain model, what is it meant by primary activities and support activities, and how does IT support these activities?

Primary Activities - activities that relate to the production and distribution of the firm;s products and services, creating value for which customers are willing to pay. including inbound logistics, operations, outbound logistics, marketing and sales and services.

Support Activities - do not add value directly to the firm's product or service, they contribute to the firms competitive advantage through the firms infrastructure, human resource management, product and technology development and procurement.


Question Five. Discuss the logic of building information systems in accordance with the organisational hierarchical structure

There is logic in a hierarchical structure because it establishes a clear order of channels in which people should follow. It provides a structure for queries to be dealt with in order of importance which is reflected by the level of the hierarchy.

Question Six. How has the Internet affected each of the five forces in Porter's competitive forces model?

The Internet has affected the five forces in Porter's forces model by developing a new market which allowed increased competitors, given suppliers and customers more buying/selling power because there are more options available, increased the number of products and services available particularly substitute products and has increased rivalry from between existing companies because it has introduced a new medium for them to compete within.

Week 2 Tutorial 1 Questions

Chapter One Questions


Question 1. What are the characteristics of the modern business environment?


The characteristics of the modern business environment relate to recent developments in relation to globalisation. According to Freidman's 3rd stage of globalisation which he describes as Globalisation 3.0, today's global business environment which is based on individuals and groups.


Question 2. What is meant by a web-based, global platform, what does it provide, and how has it affected business?

The web-based global platform has emerged as a result of Friedman's "Globalisation 3.0
". The platform allows individuals to "connect, compute, communicate, collaborate and compete everywhere and anywhere, anytime and all the time; to access limitless amounts of information,, services and entertainment to exchange knowledge; and to produce and sell goods and services" (Rainer and Turban, 2009). Hence in general terms means that the web-based, global platform is a forum for people to use the internet to obtain and share information.


Question 3. What are the main pressures that characterise the modern global business environment?

The main pressures that characterise the modern global business environment are divided into three categories:- market, technology and societal/political/legal pressures.


Market pressures include: the global economy and strong competition, the changing nature of the workforce and powerful customers

Technology pressures include: technological innovation and obsolescence and information overload

Societal/Political/Legal pressures include: social responsibility and compliance with goverment regulations and deregulation

Question 4. What are/discuss some of the common, IT oriented organisational responses to these pressures?
Organisational responses to the modern global business pressures include
strategic systems: these provide organisations with advantages that enable them to increase their market share and/or profits, to better negotiate with suppliers or to prevent competitors from entering their markets
customer focus: provides superb customer service can make the difference between attracting and keeping customers on the one hand and losing them to competitors on the other
make-to-order and mass customisation: make-to-order is a strategy of producing customised products and services. this requires a shift away from mass production, to mass customised production which is efficient and at a reasonably low cost
e-business and e-commerce: involves doing business electronically

Question 5. How are IT architecture and IT infrastructure are interrelated.

IT architecture is a high-level map or plan of the information assets in an organisation. it is both a guide for current operations and a blueprint for future directions. IT infrastructure is the physical facitilities, IT components, IT service, and IT personnel that support the entire organisation. IT architecture and IT infrustructure are interrelated because one cannot work without the other.



Question 6. Is the Internet an infrastructure, an architecture, or an application program? or something else? why?

The Internet is a type of infrastructure because it is made of Internet Protocols with Internet Service Providers.