8/8/2019 891-MIS

1/25

8/8/2019 891-MIS

2/25

Management Information Systems

CODE NO # (891)

Submitted to

BY

Fazal Haq

Roll No # AD 511979

ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD

8/8/2019 891-MIS

3/25

Q. 1 (a) Describe the three vital roles that Information Systems perform for a

business enterprise? Support your answer with examples.

1. Finance

2. Marketing

3. Production & Operation

4. Human Resource Management Department?

1. Finance:

Financial Executives are transforming their organizations from focusing primarily on

regulatory reporting to most effectively providing the information that internal management

needs to more effectively "run" the business. As the economy continues to evolve, so does

the role of the finance function within an organization? Driven by investments in enterprise

resource planning, shared services and changes in its reporting role, most finance functions

are becoming more efficient requiring fewer resources to manage them and closely aligning

with the company's business structure. This is especially true in the area of transaction

processing where improved automation of financial transactions has enabled finance staff to

expand their role and spend more time supporting decision-making processes, rather than just

processing and reconciling transactions. More and more global organizations are integrating

and standardizing their business processes and systems, allowing end users with both finance

and non-finance functions to update and obtain financial information from any geographic

location.

2. Marketing:

Marketing is an ongoing process of planning and executing the marketing mix (Product,

Price, Place, and Promotion) for products, services or ideas to create exchange between

individuals and organizations. Marketing is a Canadian business magazine about marketing,

advertising and media. Marketing tends to be seen as a creative industry, which includes

advertising, distribution and selling. It is also concerned with anticipating the customers'

future needs and wants, which are often discovered through market research. Sales are the

activities involved in providing products or services in return for money or other

compensation. Essentially, marketing is the process of creating or directing an organization

to be successful in selling a product or service that people not only desire, but are willing to

buy.

Therefore good marketing must be able to create a "proposition" or set of benefits for the end

customer that delivers value through products or services.

8/8/2019 891-MIS

4/25

3. Production and Operation:

As IT investment is increasingly directed toward organizational transformation rather than

simple automation, new computers may become less of a substitute for other production

inputs. Multi skilled, empowered production workers may be less likely to be replaced by a

new computer than a file clerk would have been; "intelligent" machines linked together in a

computer integrated manufacturing system (CIM) may be more valuable than these machines

operated in isolation. Instead of being substitutes for traditional factors of production ,

computers may increasingly be complements, at least in some types of organizations and for

some types of factors.

4. Human Resource Management Department:

HR MS allow enterprises to automate many aspects of human resource management, with the

dual benefits of reducing the workload of the HR department as well as increasing theefficiency of the department by standardizing HR processes. The field of human resources is

one that is often overlooked in enterprise management. This situation is aided by the fact that

an efficient Human Resources department should function without fanfare. For example,

when a project team successfully launches a product on time and within budget it is hailed as

a great success. When the HR department manages the administration of the enterprise

successfully it can go virtually unnoticed after all, the Human Resources department is

simply expected to work, only attracting attention when there are problems. The reality,

however, is very different. The HR department plays a vital role in ensuring the smoothrunning of an enterprise most importantly by tracking and analyzing the timekeeping and

work patterns of the workforce, allowing management better information on which to form

strategies.Q. 1 (b) Define the following and give an example for each:

i. Batch processingii. Online (real-time) Processing

iii. System

iv. Procedures

i. Batch processing

A batch processing system is one where programs and data are collected together in a batch

before processing starts.

8/8/2019 891-MIS

5/25

Each piece of work for a batch processing system is called a job. A job usually consists of a

program and the data to be run.

Jobs are stored in job queues until the computer is ready to process them.

There is no interaction between the user and the computer while the program is being run.

Computers which do batch processing often operate at night.

Example: Payroll - when a company calculates the wages for its workforce and prints pay slips.

ii. Online (real-time) Processing

Data processing that appears to take place, or actually takes place, instantaneously upon data

entry or receipt of a command.

In a real time processing, there is a continual input, process and output of data. Data has to be

processed in a small stipulated time period (real time), otherwise it will create problems for the

system.

Example: assembly line robots and radar system.

Real-time processing is an e-business term used to describe the situation whereby a user sends in

transactions and awaits a response from a distant computer before continuing. Response time on

the data communications facility is crucial when a customer is utilizing a voice call to obtain

information requiring a quick response, i.e. booking an airline flight or obtaining stock details.

iii. System

Definition: Management Information Systems (MIS) is the term given to the discipline focused

on the integration of computer systems with the aims and objectives on an organization.

The development and management of information technology tools assists executives and the

8/8/2019 891-MIS

6/25

general workforce in performing any tasks related to the processing of information. MIS and

business systems are especially useful in the collation of business data and the production of

reports to be used as tools for decision making.

Applications of MIS

With computers being as ubiquitous as they are today, there's hardly any large business that does

not rely extensively on their IT systems.

However, there are several specific fields in which MIS has become invaluable.

Strategy Support

While computers cannot create business strategies by themselves they can assist management in

understanding the effects of their strategies, and help enable effective decision-making.

MIS systems can be used to transform data into information useful for decision making.

Computers can provide financial statements and performance reports to assist in the planning,

monitoring and implementation of strategy.

MIS systems provide a valuable function in that they can collate into coherent reports

unmanageable volumes of data that would otherwise be broadly useless to decision makers. By

studying these reports decision-makers can identify patterns and trends that would have remained

unseen if the raw data were consulted manually.

MIS systems can also use these raw data to run simulations hypothetical scenarios that answer

a range of what if questions regarding alterations in strategy. For instance, MIS systems can

provide predictions about the effect on sales that an alteration in price would have on a product.

These Decision Support Systems (DSS) enable more informed decision making within an

enterprise than would be possible without MIS systems.

Data Processing

Not only do MIS systems allow for the collation of vast

amounts of business data, but they also provide a valuable

time saving benefit to the workforce. Where in the past

business information had to be manually processed for filing

and analysis it can now be entered quickly and easily onto a

computer by a data processor, allowing for faster decision

making and quicker reflexes for the enterprise as a whole.

8/8/2019 891-MIS

7/25

Management by Objectives

While MIS systems are extremely useful in generating statistical reports and data analysis they

can also be of use as a Management by Objectives (MBO) tool.

MBO is a management process by which managers and subordinates agree upon a series of

objectives for the subordinate to attempt to achieve within a set time frame. Objectives are set

using the SMART ratio: that is, objectives should be Specific, Measurable, Agreed, Realistic and

Time-Specific.

The aim of these objectives is to provide a set of key performance indicators by which an

enterprise can judge the performance of an employee or project. The success of any MBO

objective depends upon the continuous tracking of progress.

In tracking this performance it can be extremely useful to make use of an MIS system.

Benefits of MIS

The field of MIS can deliver a great many benefits to enterprises in every industry. Expert

organisations such as the Institute of MIS along with peer reviewed journals such as MIS

Quarterly continue to find and report new ways to use MIS to achieve business objectives.

Core Competencies

Every market leading enterprise will have at least one core competency that is, a function they

perform better than their competition. By building an exceptional management information

system into the enterprise it is possible to push out ahead of the competition. MIS systems

provide the tools necessary to gain a better understanding of the market as well as a better

understanding of the enterprise itself.

Enhance Supply Chain Management

Improved reporting of business processes leads inevitably to a more streamlined production

process. With better information on the production process comes the ability to improve the

management of the supply chain, including everything from the sourcing of materials to the

manufacturing and distribution of the finished product.

Q. 2 (a) Read the following scenario and answer the questions below:

The owner of a chain of five leather goods stores has decided to install acomputerized information system to support the accounting, sales, operations,and human resource functions for the stores. Located in small suburbanshopping centers, these stores carry an assortment of luggage, briefcases, wallets,and other leather products as well as travel accessories and small electronicproducts. So far, each store in the chain has operated independently, with asingle personal computer to support store functions at the managers discretion.

8/8/2019 891-MIS

8/25

Some stores use it to record transactions; others maintain inventory records onit; still others use it for primitive payroll systems.

1. Diagnose the situation critically and list the types of information each storemanager requires.

2. Discuss which information can be part of computerized information systems?

TYPES OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS

An information system is a collection of hardware, software, data, people and procedures that

are designed to generate information that supports the day-to-day, short-range, and long-range

activities of users in an organization. Information systems generally are classified into five

categories: office information systems, transaction processing systems, management information

systems, decision support systems, and expert systems. The following sections present each of

these information systems.

1. Office Information Systems

An office information system, orOIS (pronounced oh-eye-ess), is an information system that

uses hardware, software and networks to enhance work flow and facilitate communications

among employees. Win an office information system, also described as office automation;

employees perform tasks electronically using computers and other electronic devices, instead of

manually. Example: a registration department might post the class schedule on the Internet and

e-mail students when the schedule is updated. In a manual system, the registration department

would photocopy the schedule and mail it to each students house.An office information system supports a range of business office activities such as creating and

distributing graphics and/or documents, sending messages, scheduling, and accounting. All

levels of users from executive management to nonmanagement employees utilize and benefit

from the features of an OIS.

The software an office information system uses to support these activities include word

processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentation graphics, e-mail, Web browsers, Web page

authoring, personal information management, and groupware. Office information systems use

communications technology such as voice mail, facsimile (fax), videoconferencing, and

electronic data interchange (EDI) for the electronic exchange of text, graphics, audio, and video.

An office information system also uses a variety of hardware, including computers equipped

with modems, video cameras, speakers, and microphones; scanners; and fax machines.

2. Transaction Processing Systems

8/8/2019 891-MIS

9/25

A transaction processing system (TPS) is an information system that captures and processes

data generated during an organizations day-to-day transactions. A transaction is a business

activity such as a deposit, payment, order or reservation.

Clerical staff typically perform the activities associated with transaction processing, which

include the following:

1. Recording a business activity such as a students registration, a customers order,

an employees timecard or a clients payment.

2. Confirming an action or triggering a response, such as printing a students

schedule, sending a thank-you note to a customer, generating an employees paycheck or issuing

a receipt to a client.

3. Maintaining data, which involves adding new data, changing existing data, or

removing unwanted data.

Transaction processing systems were among the first computerized systems developed to process

business data a function originally called data processing

Today, most transaction processing systems use online transaction processing. Some routine

processing tasks such as calculating paychecks or printing invoices, however, are performed

more effectively on a batch basis. For these activities, many organizations still use batch

processing techniques.

3. Management Information Systems

While computers were ideal for routine transaction processing, managers soon realized that the

computers capability of performing rapid calculations and data comparisons could produce

meaningful information for management. Management information systems thus evolved out of

transaction processing systems. A management information system, orMIS (pronounced em-

eye-ess), is an information system that generates accurate, timely and organized information so

managers and other users can make decisions, solve problems, supervise activities, and track

progress. Because it generates reports on a regular basis, a management information system

sometimes is called a management reporting system (MRS).

An MIS generates three basic types of information: detailed, summary and exception. Detailed

information typically confirms transaction processing activities. A Detailed Order Report is an

8/8/2019 891-MIS

10/25

example of a detail report. Summary information consolidates data into a format that an

individual can review quickly and easily. To help synopsize information, a summary report

typically contains totals, tables, or graphs. An Inventory Summary Report is an example of a

summary report.

Exception information filters data to report information that is outside of a normal condition.

These conditions, called the exception criteria, define the range of what is considered normal

activity or status.

Example: Exception report is an Inventory Exception Report is an Inventory Exception Report

that notifies the purchasing department of items it needs to reorder. Exception reports help

managers save time because they do not have to search through a detailed report for exceptions.

Instead, an exception report brings exceptions to the managers attention in an easily identifiable

form. Exception reports thus help them focus on situations that require immediate decisions or

actions.

4. Decision Support Systems

Transaction processing and management information systems provide information on a regular

basis. Frequently, however, users need information not provided in these reports to help them

make decisions. A sales manager, for example, might need to determine how high to set yearly

sales quotas based on increased sales and lowered product costs. Decision support systems help

provide information to support such decisions.

A decision support system (DSS) is an information system designed to help users reach a

decision when a decision-making situation arises. A variety of DSSs exist to help with a range

of decisions.

A decision support system uses data from internal and/or external sources.

Internal sources of data might include sales, manufacturing, inventory, or financial data from

an organizations database. Data from external sources could include interest rates, population

trends, and costs of new housing construction or raw material pricing. Users of a DSS, often

managers, can manipulate the data used in the DSS to help with decisions.

Some decision support systems include query language, statistical analysis capabilities,

spreadsheets, and graphics that help you extract data and evaluate the results. Some decision

support systems also include capabilities that allow you to create a model of the factors affecting

a decision. A simple model for determining the best product price, for example, would include

8/8/2019 891-MIS

11/25

factors for the expected sales volume at each price level. To store all the necessary decision-

making data, DSSs or EISs often use extremely large databases, called data warehouses. A data

warehouse stores and manages the data required to analyze historical and current business

circumstances.

5. Expert Systems

An expert system is an information system that captures and stores the knowledge of human

experts and then imitates human reasoning and decision-making processes for those who have

less expertise. Expert systems are composed of two main components: a knowledge base and

inference rules. A knowledge base is the combined subject knowledge and experiences of the

human experts. The inference rules are a set of logical judgments applied to the knowledge

base each time a user describes a situation to the expert system.

Expert systems are one part of an exciting branch of computer science called artificial

intelligence. Artificial intelligence (AI) is the application of human intelligence to computers.

AI technology can sense your actions and, based on logical assumptions and prior experience,

will take the appropriate action to complete the task. AI has a variety of capabilities, including

speech recognition, logical reasoning, and creative responses.

Integrated Information Systems

With todays sophisticated hardware, software and communications technologies, it often is

difficult to classify a system as belonging uniquely to one of the five information system types

discussed. Much of todays application software supports transaction processing and generates

management information

Q. 2 (b) What is prototyping approach of system development? Explain the process ofprototyping in detail and discuss the advantages of using prototyping approach.

Software prototyping, an activity during certain software development, is the creation of

prototypes, i.e., incomplete versions of the software program being developed.

A prototype typically simulates only a few aspects of the features of the eventual program, and

may be completely different from the eventual implementation.

The conventional purpose of a prototype is to allow users of the software to evaluate developers'

proposals for the design of the eventual product by actually trying them out, rather than having to

interpret and evaluate the design based on descriptions. Prototyping can also be used by end

8/8/2019 891-MIS

12/25

users to describe and prove requirements that developers have not considered, so "controlling the

prototype" can be a key factor in the commercial relationship between solution providers and

their clients

Dimensions of prototypes

Horizontal Prototype

A common term for a user interface prototype is the horizontal prototype. It provides a broad

view of an entire system or subsystem, focusing on user interaction more than low-level system

functionality, such as database access. Horizontal prototypes are useful for:

Confirmation of user interface requirements and system scope

Demonstration version of the system to obtain buy-in from the business

Develop preliminary estimates of development time , cost and effort.

Vertical Prototype

A vertical prototype is a more complete elaboration of a single subsystem or function. It is

useful for obtaining detailed requirements for a given function, with the following benefits:

Refinement database design

Obtain information on data volumes and system interface needs, for network sizing

and performance engineering

Clarifies complex requirements by drilling down to actual system functionality

Not exactly the same as Throwaway Prototyping, but certainly in the same family, is the usage of

storyboards, animatics or drawings. These are non-functional implementations but show how the

system will look.

Types of prototyping

Software prototyping has many variants. However, all the methods are in some way based on

two major types of prototyping: Throwaway Prototyping and Evolutionary Prototyping.

Throwaway prototyping

Also called close ended prototyping. Throwaway or Rapid Prototyping refers to the creation of amodel that will eventually be discarded rather than becoming part of the final delivered software.

After preliminary requirements gathering is accomplished, a simple working model of the system

is constructed to visually show the users what their requirements may look like when they are

implemented into a finished system.

8/8/2019 891-MIS

13/25

Rapid Prototyping involved creating a working model of various parts of the system at a very

early stage, after a relatively short investigation. The method used in building it is usually quite

informal, the most important factor being the speed with which the model is provided. The

model then becomes the starting point from which users can re-examine their expectations and

clarify their requirements. When this has been achieved, the prototype model is 'thrown away',

and the system is formally developed based on the identified requirements.

The most obvious reason for using Throwaway Prototyping is that it can be done quickly. If the

users can get quick feedback on their requirements, they may be able to refine them early in the

development of the software. Another strength of Throwaway Prototyping is its ability to

construct interfaces that the users can test. The user interface is what the user sees as the system,

and by seeing it in front of them, it is much easier to grasp how the system will work.

SUMMARY:-In this approach the prototype is constructed with the idea that it will be discarded

and the final system will be built from scratch. The steps in this approach are:

1. Write preliminary requirements

2. Design the prototype

3. User experiences/uses the prototype, specifies new requirements

4. Repeat if necessary

5. Write the final requirements

6. Develop the real products

Advantages of prototyping

There are many advantages to using prototyping in software development some tangible, some

abstract

Reduced time and costs: Prototyping can improve the quality of requirements and specifications

provided to developers. Because changes cost exponentially more to implement as they are

detected later in development, the early determination ofwhat the user really wants can result in

faster and less expensive software

Improved and increased user involvement: Prototyping requires user involvement and allows

them to see and interact with a prototype allowing them to provide better and more complete

feedback and specifications. The presence of the prototype being examined by the user prevents

many misunderstandings and miscommunications that occur when each side believe the other

understands what they said. Since users know the problem domain better than anyone on the

8/8/2019 891-MIS

14/25

8/8/2019 891-MIS

15/25

Excessive development time of the prototype: A key property to prototyping is the fact that it

is supposed to be done quickly. If the developers lose sight of this fact, they very well may try to

develop a prototype that is too complex. When the prototype is thrown away the precisely

developed requirements that it provides may not yield a sufficient increase in productivity to

make up for the time spent developing the prototype. Users can become stuck in debates over

details of the prototype, holding up the development team and delaying the final product.

Expense of implementing prototyping: the start up costs for building a development team

focused on prototyping may be high. Many companies have development methodologies in

place, and changing them can mean retraining, retooling, or both. Many companies tend to just

jump into the prototyping without bothering to retrain their workers as much as they should.

A common problem with adopting prototyping technology is high expectations for productivity

with insufficient effort behind the learning curve. In addition to training for the use of a

prototyping technique, there is an often overlooked need for developing corporate and project

specific underlying structure to support the technology. When this underlying structure is

omitted, lower productivity can often result.

Q. 3 (a) Select any functional area (e.g. finance, human resources, marketing, etc.) withinany large organization (such as the government or a bank) and then describe thebusiness functions and the major processes and procedures within thatfunctional area. Also discuss what MIS exist to support these areas.

The Functions of Management

Clearly, information systems that claim to support managers cannot be built unless one

understands what managers do and how they do it. The classical model of what managers do,

espoused by writers in the 1920's, such as Henry Fayol, whilst intuitively attractive in itself, is of

limited value as an aid to information system design. The classical model identifies the following

5 functions as the parameters of what managers do:

1 Planning

2 Organizing

3 Coordinating

4 Deciding

5 Controlling

Such a model emphasises what managers do, but not how they do it, or why. More recently, the

stress has been placed upon the behavioural aspects of management decision making.

8/8/2019 891-MIS

16/25

Behavioural models are based on empirical evidence showing that managers are less systematic,

less reflective, more reactive and less well organized than the classical model projects managers

to be. For instance, behavioural models describe 6 managerial characteristics:

High volume, high speed work

Variety, fragmentation, brevity

Issue preference current, ad hoc, specific

Complex web of interactions, contacts

Strong preference for verbal media.

Such behavioural models stress that managers work at an unrelenting pace and at a high level of

intensity. This is just as true for managers operating in the developing world as in the developed

world. The nature of the pressures may be different but there is no evidence that they are any lessintense. The model also emphasises that the activities of managers is characterised by variety,

fragmentation and brevity. There is simply not enough time for managers to get deeply involved

in a wide range of issues. The attention of managers increase rapidly from one issue to another,

with very little pattern. A problem occurs and all other matters must be dropped until it is solved.

Research suggests that a manager's day is characterised by a large number of tasks with only

small periods of time devoted to each individual task.

Managers prefer speculation, hearsay, gossip in brief, current, up-to-date, although uncertain

information. Historical, certain, routine information receives less attention. Managers want to

work on issues that are current, specific and ad hoc.

Managers are involved in a complex and diverse web of contacts that together act as an

information system. They converse with customers, competitors, colleagues, peers, secretaries,

government officials, and so forth. In one sense, managers operate a network of contacts

throughout the organisation and the environment.

Several studies have found that managers prefer verbal forms of communication to written

forms. Verbal media are perceived to offer greater flexibility, require less effort and bring a

faster response. Communication is the work of the manager, and he or she uses whatever tools

are available to be an effective communicator.

Managerial Roles

Mint berg suggests that managerial activities fall into 3 categories: interpersonal, information

processing and decision making. An important interpersonal role is that of figurehead for the

organisation. Second, a manager acts as a leader, attempting to motivate subordinates. Lastly,

8/8/2019 891-MIS

17/25

managers act as a liaison between various levels of the organisation and, within each level,

among levels of the management team.

A second set of managerial roles, termed as informational roles, can be identified. Managers act

as the nerve centre for the organisation, receiving the latest, most concrete, most up-to-date

information and redistributing it to those who need to know.

A more familiar set of managerial roles is that of decisional roles. Managers act as entrepreneurs

by initiating new kinds of activities; they handle disturbances arising in the organisation; they

allocate resources where they are needed in the organisation; and they mediate between groups in

conflict within the organisation.

In the area of interpersonal roles, information systems are extremely limited and make only

indirect contributions, acting largely as a communications aid in some of the newer office

automation and communication-oriented applications. These systems make a much largercontribution in the field of informational roles; large-scale MIS systems, office systems, and

professional work stations that can enhance a manager's presentation of information are

significant. In the area of decision making, only recently have decision support systems and

microcomputer-based systems begun to make important contributions.

Decision Making

Decision making is often seen as the centre of what managers do, something that engages most

of a managers time. It is one of the areas that information systems have sought most of all to

affect (with mixed success). Decision making can be divided into 3 types: strategic, managementcontrol and operations control.

Strategic decision making: This level of decision making is concerned with deciding on the

objectives, resources and policies of the organisation. A major problem at this level of decision

making is predicting the future of the organisation and its environment, and matching the

characteristics of the organisation to the environment. This process generally involves a small

group of high-level managers who deal with very complex, non-routine problems.

Management control decisions: Such decisions are concerned with how efficiently and

effectively resources are utilised and how well operational units are performing. Management

control involves close interaction with those who are carrying out the tasks of the organisation; it

takes place within the context of broad policies and objectives set out by strategic planners.

Operational control decisions: These involve making decisions about carrying out the "

specific tasks set forth by strategic planners and management. Determining which units or

individuals in the organisation will carry out the task, establishing criteria of completion and

8/8/2019 891-MIS

18/25

resource utilisation, evaluating outputs - all of these tasks involve decisions about operational

control.

Stages in the Decision Making Process

Stage of Decision Making Information Requirement

1 Intelligence Exception reporting

2 Design Simulation prototype

3 Choice "What-if simulation

4 Implementation Graphics, charts

Components of a marketing information system

A marketing information system (MIS) is intended to bring together disparate items of data into

a coherent body of information. An MIS is, as will shortly be seen, more than raw data or

information suitable for the purposes of decision making. An MIS also provides methods for

interpreting the information the MIS provides. Moreover, as Kotler's1 definition says, an MIS is

more than a system of data collection or a set of information technologies:

"A marketing information system is a continuing and interacting structure of people, equipment

and procedures to gather, sort, analyse, evaluate, and distribute pertinent, timely and accurate

information for use by marketing decision makers to improve their marketing planning,

implementation, and control".

Figure 9.1 illustrates the major components of an MIS, the environmental factors monitored by

the system and the types of marketing decision which the MIS seeks to underpin.

The marketing information systems and its subsystems

Q. 3 (b) Differentiate between information technology (IT) and information systems (IS)

Information Systems is a large umbrella referring to systems designed to create, store,

manipulate, or disseminate information. Example of an information system is a pencil and a

piece of paper. The two objects themselves are just tools, but together they create a system for

8/8/2019 891-MIS

19/25

writing (information). The term Information systems has been around a lot longer than the

computer, or the term information technology. These days the two are sometimes thought to be

synonymous, but that, in most cases, is a misconception.

Information technology falls under the information systems umbrella, but has nothing to do

with systems per say. IT deals with the technology involved in the systems themselves, e.g. an

information system like wiki.answers.com contains many information technologies. Servers,

server operating systems, web-server software (IIS, Apache, et al), and code written for the web-

server software (PHP, C#, VB, PERL, Ruby, et al). Even your computer and browser make up

part of this information system. Like the pencil and paper example, each one of the mentioned

parts of this information system in itself is an information technology.

Q. 4 Write notes on the followings:

1. Input Technologies

2. Types of Telecommunications Networks.

1. Input Technologies

Input Devices

Input is any data or instructions entered into the memory of a computer. An input device is any

hardware component that allows a user to enter data and instructions into a computer. Thefollowing is a list of the most common input devices which are nowadays found in a computer

system.

Keyboard

A keyboard contains keys that allow a user to enter data and instructions into the computer. All

computer keyboards have a typing area that includes the letters of the alphabet, numbers,

punctuation marks, and other basic keys.

Many desktop computer keyboards also have a numeric keypad located on the right side of the

keyboard. On notebook and many handheld computers, the keyboard is built into the top of the

system unit. A standard computer keyboard is called a QWERTY keyboard because of the

layout of its typing area which is similar to that of a typewriter.

Mouse

8/8/2019 891-MIS

20/25

A mouse is the most widely used pointing device with a GUI environment on personal

computers. A mechanical mouse has a rubber ball on its underside to detect movement of the

mouse. An optical mouse uses devices that emit and sense light to detect the mouse's movement.

A cordless mouse (either mechanical or optical) transmits data using wireless technology such

as radio waves or infrared light waves.

A trackball is a stationary pointing device with a ball mechanism on its top.

Touchpad

Is a small pressure- and motion-sensitive area on a portable computer that you can use

to move the mouse pointer. When you move your finger across the pad, the mouse pointer on the

screen moves in the same direction. A touch pad is an alternative to a mouse.

Touchscreen

A touch screen is an input/output touch-sensitive display. Touch screens are often used for

information kiosks located in department stores, hotels, airports, and museums. Touch screens

are also used for ATM machines to allow easy access of bank accounts.

Joystick

A joystick is a pointing device with a vertical lever mounted on a base. The lever usually

includes buttons called triggers, which activate certain events when pressed. Joysticks are mainly

used for computer games and ultrasound scanners in hospitals.

Bar code reader

A bar code reader uses laser beams to read bar codes. A bar code reader reads a bar code by

using light patterns that pass through the bar code lines. Bar code readers are widely used in a

POS e.g. supermarkets, department stores, libraries, etc.

Magnetic Ink Characther Reader

A magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) reader can read text printed with magnetized

ink. Magnetic ink character recognition is used most exclusively by the banking industry for

processing checks. The characters represent the check number, the bank number, and the account

number of customers.

Image Scanner

A scanner is a light-sensing input device that converts printed text and graphics into a digital

form that can be further processed by the computer. Two popular types of scanners are:

A flatbed scanner works like a copy machine except

8/8/2019 891-MIS

21/25

that it creates a file of the document rather than a paper

copy.

A handheld scanner can be manually passed over the image to be scanned.

OCR

Most OCR readers include a small optical scanner for reading characters and

sophisticated OCR software for analysing what is read.

Graphics Tablet

A graphics tablet is a flat, rectangular, electronic plastic board, on which a stylus writes or

draws. It is mainly used for computer-aided design and drafting by architects, mapmakers,

artists, and designers. Each location on the graphics tablet corresponds to a specific location on

the screen. A graphics tablet can be used to digitise drawing with great accuracy.

Digital Camera

A digital camera takes pictures and stores the images digitally, rather than on traditional film.

Digital cameras use different media to store images, which include flash memory card, floppy

disk and compact disc.

Light Pen

A light pen is a pointing device that can detect the presence of light. Light pens are used by

health care professionals (such as doctors and dentists) and design work.

Pen Computingglossary pg.

A computer that utilizes an electronic pen (called a stylus) rather than a keyboard for input. Pen

computers generally require special operating systems that support handwriting recognition so

that users can write on the screen or on a tablet instead of typing on a keyboard. Most pen

computers are hand-held devices, which are too small for a full-size keyboard.

Pen Computingglossary pg.

A computer that utilizes an electronic pen (called a stylus) rather than a keyboard for input. Pen

computers generally require special operating systems that support handwriting recognition so

that users can write on the screen or on a tablet instead of typing on a keyboard. Most pen

computers are hand-held devices, which are too small for a full-size keyboard.

Handwriting Recognition

Handwriting recognition is a technique which allows a computer system to recognize characters

and other symbols written by hand in natural handwriting. The technology is used for

8/8/2019 891-MIS

22/25

identification and also on devices such as PDA and tablet PCs. After one writes on a screen with

a stylus, the computer turns that persons handwriting into digital text.

2. Types of Telecommunications Networks.

A telecommunications network is a collection of terminals, links and nodes which connect

together to enable telecommunication between users of the terminals. Networks may use circuit

switching or message switching. Each terminal in the network must have a unique address so

messages or connections can be routed to the correct recipients. The collection of addresses in

the network is called the address space.

The links connect the nodes together and are themselves built upon an underlying transmission

network which physically pushes the message across the link.

Examples of telecommunications networks are:

Computer network the Internet Network

the telephone network

the global Telex network

the aeronautical ACARS network

Example of a Telecommunication Network: the TCP/IP data network

The data network is used extensively throughout the world to connect individuals and

organizations. Data networks can be connected together to allow users seamless access to

resources that are hosted outside of the particular provider they are connected to. The Internet is

the best example of many data networks from different organizations all operating under a single

address space.

Terminals attached to TCP/IP networks are addressed using IP addresses. There are different

types of IP address, but the most common is IP Version 4. Each unique address consists of 4

integers between 0 and 255, usually separated by dots when written down, e.g. 82.131.34.56.

TCP/IP are the fundamental protocols that provide the control and routing of messages across the

data network. There are many different network structures that TCP/IP can be used across to

efficiently route messages, for example:

wide area networks (WAN)

metropolitan area networks (MAN)

local area networks (LAN)

Campus area networks (CAN)

virtual private networks (VPN)

8/8/2019 891-MIS

23/25

There are three features that differentiate MANs from LANs or WANs:

1. The area of the network size is between LANs and WANs. The MAN will have a physical

area between 5 and 50 km in diameter.

2. MANs do not generally belong to a single organization. The equipment that interconnects the

network, the links, and the MAN itself are often owned by an association or a network provider

that provides or leases the service to others.

3. A MAN is a means for sharing resources at high speeds within the network. It often provides

connections to WAN networks for access to resources outside the scope of the MAN.

Q. 5 Read the following scenario and answer the questions below:

Bankers Trust believes it has saved up to 50 percent of potential development time byrewriting its internally developed global risk management system, using object-

oriented technology rather than basing it on the relational model.

The investment bank began developing its new system, based on Objects DesignsObject-store database, in March and delivered the first phase of the project inAugust, when it was rolled out to 25 traders in the firms offices in London andNewyork. The second phase, supporting a further 25 Newyork traders, is due tofollow by the end of the year. The software will be deployed across the organizationworld wide over the next two years. Thousands of support staff are expected to use it.

Colin Savery, Bankers Trusts vice president of technology, said, We needed a lot offlexibility because a risk management application is a complex thing. Its also a verydynamic industry, so we needed the ability to extend, change, and evolve over time,and to do it fast. Object technology is the clear paradigm to meet those

requirements.He added that if he had based the object-oriented application on a relationaldatabase, it would have taken 25 percent more programming time to code persistenceinto it and 25 percent extra time to test the end result. This would have added sixmonths to the development.

But the risk involved in choosing an object database led the organization to developits application in the C++ language rather than use an object-based fourth-generationlanguage. Object-oriented databases are not employed widely and we werent inR&D mode this is a production systems, Savery explained. We felt, we had enoughrisk with the database, so we went for C++, which also offered better performance.

1. Why did Colin Savery reject a relational database solution? Explain.

Colin Savery, Bankers Trusts vice president of technology, said, We needed a lot

of flexibility because a risk management application is a complex thing. Its also a very

8/8/2019 891-MIS

24/25

dynamic industry, so we needed the ability to extend, change, and evolve over time, and to

do it fast. Object technology is the clear paradigm to meet those requirements.

He added that if he had based the object-oriented application on a relational database, it

would have taken 25 percent more programming time to code persistence into it and 25

percent extra time to test the end result. This would have added six months to the

development.

2. How did the selection of an object-oriented DBMS address Bankers Trusts information

needs?

Bankers Trust believes it has saved up to 50 percent of potential development time by

rewriting its internally developed global risk management system, using object-oriented

technology rather than basing it on the relational model.

3. What are the advantages and risks of an object database design?

The main benefit of creating a database with objects as data is speed. OODBMS

are faster than relational DBMS because data isnt stored in relational rows and columns

but as objects.

The advantages of DBMS are as follows:

-Controlling redundancy

-Providing storage structure for efficient query processing.

-Restricting unauthorized users.

-Providing concurrency.

-Providing backup and recovery.

-Enforcing integrity constraints.

The disadvantages are as follows:

-Centralization:That is use of the same program at a time by many user sometimes lead to

loss of some data.

-High cost of software. technical expertise are required

4. How did Bankers Trust minimize the risks of using an object DBMS for its new

system?

Bankers Trust believes it has saved up to 50 percent of potential development time by rewriting

its internally developed global risk management system, using object-oriented technology rather

8/8/2019 891-MIS

25/25

than basing it on the relational model. The investment bank began developing its new system,

based on Objects Designs Object-store database, in March and delivered the first phase of the

project in August, when it was rolled out to 25 traders in the firms offices in London and

Newyork. The second phase, supporting a further 25 Newyork traders, is due to follow by the

end of the year. The software will be deployed across the organization world wide over the next

two years. Thousands of support staff are expected to use it.