Question

Explain what enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Outline several of their key characteristics. Describe in reasonable detail how a company leverages an ERP system and how its operations are improved after installing an ERP system like SAP. Explain how a supply chain management system helps an organization make its operations more efficient What is Upstream and Downstream management of the supply chain? Explain the concept of “Supply Network”, its benefits, and how technology made this concept available Explain the difference between Push-based supply chain model, and pull-based supply chain model. Explain the concept of PLM, and the difference phases of Product Lifecycle management. Explain how a customer relationship management (CRM) system help organizations achieve a competitive advantage What is the difference between Operations and analytical CRM? Why organization offer customer loyalty do programs such as air miles, or Points? How does a CRM system enable this? What is electronic data interchange (EDI)? Give a detailed example of how it would be used. What are the benefits of EDI? What are two types of EDI? Describe each type. What are five common features of an Executive Information System? Explain clearly with an example what drill-down reporting means in an EIS. How does a Decision Support System differ from a management information system? What are main components of a typical DSS? What are the types of decisions such a system supports? Give a clear example of a DSS. What is Artificial Intelligence? List the branches of AI Why is an expert system considered an “Explanation” system? Explain Identify some of the tools and technologies used for Knowledge Management in an organization Outline the knowledge Management Process Explain: “knowledge base” and “decision rules”. Why would an organization want to develop an expert system? Provide an example of an expert system Who are the participants in Expert System Development and use? Why is a computer referred to as a “system”? What internal hardware components make up the architecture of a computer system? What is the job of the central processing unit? What are the roles of the control unit and the ALU? What are the basic properties of main memory? What is the microprocessor chip? At the level of CPU workings, what is a machine language instruction? How is a program consisting of several machine language instructions executed in the CPU? What is the sequence to process an instruction on the CPU? How do you measure the speed of a CPU? What does that represent? What does it mean that all machine language instructions and data for these instructions must be stored in electronic form? How can numbers be stored electronically? What is a bit, a byte? What is "Kilo byte", “Megabyte", Gigabyte? What is the difference between "hardware" and "software"? Although all programs, when they are executed in the CPU, must be in machine language, programs are not normally written in machine language. What is assembly language? How does it relate to machine language? What makes it possible to store "real world" characters other than numbers in electronic form? How did this help in the invention of assembly language? What is a third-generation, or high-level language? How does it relate to machine language? What is a compiler? What is its function? What is a fourth-generation language? How does it differ from a third-generation language? Why is a 4GL appealing to people who are not computer specialists? What is the difference between procedural and non-procedural computing? What are the main differences between mainframes, minicomputers, microcomputers, and supercomputers? Explain why processing in a CPU is considered a “bottleneck” and how the issue can be overcome. Why, in addition to main memory (primary storage), do we need "secondary" storage? What are primary characteristics of tape storage? What is a disadvantage of using tape? What is storage as a service? Identify different types of output and input devices How is data stored on magnetic disk? What is the advantage of a CD over a magnetic disk? What is the difference between "system software" and "application software"? Identify different types of Utility Programs What is the difference between Proprietary and off-the-shelf software? What is an "operating system"? What are some of its main functions within a computer? Explain: RAM, ROM, motherboard, CD-ROM, ports, buses, power supply, USB What is a Data Centre? What is a virtual Machine? How does it work? What is a Network Topology? Identify three common types of Network Topologies. What is a "network" of computers? What is a file server? What is the function of a modem? Describe what a Local Area Network (LAN) is. What components do we need to connect several computers into a network? What is a “server” and what are “clients”? Identify five types of transmission media that may be involved in connecting networked computers What are the basic features of a value Added Network (VAN)) What is the "Internet"? Explain how the Internet uses packet switching. What is TCP/IP? What is a network Domain? List at least five applications of the internet that are different than the web Explain the structure of the World Wide Web. Explain the difference between a web address and an Internet e-mail address Outline an overview of a web session Explain what a “hyperlink” is. What is HTML, what is http? Explain intranets and extranets. What are some of the three e-commerce strategies? What is M-commerce? Why has it become so popular? What are the different types of e-commerce? What is a Control? Why are those required in IT? How are controls classified? What are the three main categories of controls? What is a data back-up? What type of a control is it? How does it relate to disaster recovery? Explain the terms: identity theft, denial of service, spyware, viruses, cookies and spam. How does an internal auditor differ from an external auditor? What is an "internal control"? What is the main job (mandate) of an internal auditor? Outline, in order, the four stages of any audit. What is the purpose of an information systems audit? Outline thoroughly TWO risks, TWO control procedures, for a) overall security; b) data files (data storage); c) program development and acquisition; d) program modification; and e) source data input Identify 3 access control practices What is the WebTrust Service and why was it developed? What is a WebTrust seal? What is a revenue model in e-commerce? Outline four different revenue models. What are two main options as to where an e-business can place its web server(s)? Describe the stages of the Software Development Life Cycle Why would an organization NOT develop system internally, and what alternatives does it have? Discuss clearly several advantages and disadvantages of using a web hosting service for an e-business. Point out three e-business security issues. Describe what is meant by a denial of service attack Describe main activities of system analysis and of system design and the difference between these two stages Describe what work is still left for system builders after the detailed design is finished. What are main steps in acquiring an information system externally (one that has already been built by some vendor)? What is a Request for Proposal? From whom is it sent and to whom is it sent? What are some benefits of having the end-users of some systems build their own systems by themselves? Explain what is meant by "cloud computing"?

Answer 1

ERP acronym for Enterprise Resource Planning is a process used by various companies to handle different parts of their businesses. Integration of certain parts like the planning, sales, finance, resource allocation, human resources management is done by the ERP. Few examples like product life cycle management, supply chain management etc can be considered.

There are two main characteristics. They are: (i) Flexibility(adaptability) and Openness(evolutionary)

Traditionally, ERPs are for big companies. Nowadays, it can be implemented on small-scale businesses too. By leveraging ERPs, business managers can boost their companies' productivity, and hence efficiency, in real time by making small or large changes as desired. Hence, installing ERP tools like SAP increases productivity

Supply Chain Management includes the systems, structures and processes to plan the flow of goods and services from supplier to the end user/customer. Company costs and profits of the companies are evaluated to maintain a path to sustained critical improvement to business operations.

Upstream in Supply Chain Management includes everything that comes into the company (mostly raw materials) from the suppliers. Downstream includes everything that goes out from the company, like finished products and services available to its customers.  

Supply networks include all the processes involve in the supply chain management, the relationship between the suppliers and the company, and also the relationship between the company and its customers. Benefits include generating values by improving collaboration with suppliers, higher efficiency, lower cost effects, increase in output, decreases delays in processes, boost cooperation level.

A company's supply chain stretches from the factory where its products are made to the point the products are in customer hands. In pull supply chain, actual customer short-term demand drives the process. In push supply chain, long-term projections of customer demand drives the process.

PLM acronym to Product Life-cycle Management is the management of the overall stages of a product (or lifecycle) from the concept building to the manufactured product. The 5 different phases of PLM include development, introduction, growth, maturity, and decline phase.

CRM (Customer Relationship Management) identifies the needs and wants of customers. The feedbacks from customers are analysed and further implemented and upgraded. Hence, CRM provides competitive advantages.

Organisations offer specific customers loyalty do programs to hold them in their market, when certain products have reached the maturity phase. By doing so, companies can compete in the market.

EDI acronym to Electronic Data Interchange is the electronic interchange of business information using a standardized format; a process which allows one company to send information to another company electronically rather than with paper. Company A may buy goods from Company B. Company A sends orders to Company B. Company A and Company B are business partners. Two types are: Direct EDI/Point-to-Point and EDI Network Services Provider.

5 characteristic features of Executive Information Systems are: 1)Informational characteristics 2)Orientation characteristics 3)Managerial/Executive characteristics 4)Executive Support System Capabilities 5)Executive Information System

A drill down report is a report which allows users to navigate to a different layer of data granularity by navigating and clicking a specific data element on a web page or in an application. Drill down allows users to explore multidimensional data by navigating from one level down to a more detailed level

Decision support systems consists of three main components, namely database, software system and user interface. Example may be that a DSS may be used to project a company's revenue over the upcoming six months based on new assumptions about product sales.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ability of a computer program or a machine to think and learn.

Basic properties of Main Memory: semiconductor devices, volatile memory meaning data is lost in case power is switched off. It is the working memory of the computer, faster than secondary memories.

Software development Life-cycle consists of the following stages: planning, analysis, design, development & implementation, testing & deployment and maintenance.

A request for proposal (RFP) is a document that solicitsproposal, often made through a bidding process, by an agency or company interested in procurement of a commodity, service, or valuable asset, to potential suppliers to submit business proposals.​​

Cloud computing is a technology wherein computational tools and resources are pooled in the cloud storage, Data are computed and stored in the cloud. Rather than having applications installed on our system, we are temporarily accessing online applications and working on it.

(Sorry I could give all answers in 2 hours, most questions are basics, google them out ​)​​​​