Revision Questions sorted to Chapter 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 Stephen Doyle "Information Systems for You"

	A school is introducing a new computerised system for attendance registration. Describe the main stages gone through before the system is fully operational.
	A school is introducing a new computerised system for students paying for their dinner (using chipcards). Describe the main stages gone through before the system is fully operational.	System analasys (what is the proble to solve) / Feasibility study (cost-benefit) / Project approval / System design (flowchart / pseudocode) / System Programming (Programming language) / Testing (Find and eliminate bugs) / Implementation (Install + training) / Evaluation (Options for improvements)
	Describe a computer system suitable for a school's library.	It will consist of / Hardware: / a networked system (LAN) with several computers. They could be PC's or Workstations. They will all be connected to the Database file server. / a network printer (laser quality) / a Barcode scanner (to scan students ID and Book labels) / a Receipt printer (for confirmation of borrowed items and paid fees) / Software: / a Central database system. It can be tailor made or bought ready-from-the-shelve / a Backup system (to make regular data backup's) /
	Fill in the missing word: / Computers in a network share data by making use of a . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	File Server
	Fill in the missing word: / For computers to communicate with each other they must share the same . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	Protocol (like TCP/IP)
	Please write down your e-mail address that we can use for school purposes. (Mr. Ideler's is marcel_id@hotmail.com ) Please write in PRINT letters (so I can read :-) !) / / . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	marcel_id@hotmail.com
	Put the following in order (it starts with investigate): / investigate / review / analyse / implement / design	investigate / analyse / design / implement / review / It's called the 'programming life cycle'
	What is "Direct Implementation"? / What are the disadvantages compared to "Phased Implementation"?
	What is "Parallel running"? / What are the advantages compared to "Phased Implementation"?
	What is "Phased Implementation"? / What are the advantages compared to "Parallel running"?
	What is the advantage of using ISDN compared to a Modem dial-up for connecting to the Internet?	Fast Connection (less than a second) / Can use the Phone / Fax at the same time
	What is the best way to ensure that data transfer via a network (LAN or WAN) is secure (against crackers)?	Use data encryption (with public / private keys)
Algorithms / Programming / Pseudo-Code	A tourist can buy tickets at a fixed value of 25 units to travel on the underground railway represented in the diagram. / / For example, a journey form F to C costs 11 units. / Each ticket has an electronic record of the number of units remaining. At the start and the end of each journey the tickets are entered into an automatic machine. At the starting point a machine records the code identifying the station. / / / At the destination the machine calculates the number of units used and calculates the number of units left on the ticket. / / As long as there are any units remaining, the passengers can travel any distance, as far as they like. Machines retain tickets which have no units remaining. / / Write an algorithm to describe what the ticket machine does at the end of a journey. /	* tourist inserts the ticket at start point * / Input - ticket / Output - Write start-position-code on the ticket / * tourist inserts the ticket at destination point * / Input - Read number-of-units-on-card / * calculate price of journey * / If start-position-code = "A" and end-destination = "B" / Then cost-journey = 3 / If start-position-code = "D" and end-destination = "F" / Then cost-journey = 3 / etc. etc. / If cost-journey > number-of-units-on-card / Then keep card / Else subtract cost-journey from number-of-units-on-card / write (new) number-of-units-on-card / * end program *
Algorithms / Pseudo-Code	An algorithm is needed to input the heights of 15 students in centimetres and print out the height of the tallest student in metres and centimetres. / / Write a detailed algorithm to do this.	Pseudo Code solution / / Height-of-Student = 0 (Initialise the Variable Height to the Start Value 0) / Tallest-Student = 0 (Initialise the Tallest one with 0 as well) / / For Counter = 1 to 15 (The Loop needs to run exactly 15 times) / Input (Read) Height-of-Student / If Height-of-Student > Tallest-Student / Then Tallest-Student = Height-of-Student / (ONLY If that student is the tallest, we need to swap and update) / End-For / / Output (Write) "The longest Student is: " Tallest-Student "centmtr. tall" / Lenght-in-Metres = Tallest-student / 100 (divide centimetres by 100) / Output (Write) "The longest Student is: " Tallest-Student "metres tall" / / / /
Algorithms / Pseudo-Code / Programming	A shop sells items, all have an unique number. When a customer buys an item, the article barcode number is scanned and the price is looked up in a database. If a "#" is entered, the terminal at the cash counter will show the total to pay, read the amount given and display the change money to give back. / Write an algorithm to produce a till (receipt) which will show the name of the articles, the price of each, the total cost, the money given, the change due to the customer.	Put zero into Total-Price / / Repeat until article number = "#" / Read Article number (from terminal) / If article is found in the database (find record in database-file) / Then print Article-Name, Article-Price / add Article-price to Total-Price / Else display on terminal "type error, type again" / End Repeat / / Print "Total price= " Total-Price / Read Money-Given / Calculate Money-Given minus Total-Price = Change / Print Change / Print "Thank you, goodbye" /
Applications	Why is weather forecast a typical data logging application?	The data involved (measured with the help of sensors) is recorded automatically and non-stop. All this information needs to be stored and sent to a connected computer. The computer then will process the recorded data. No manual data input is needed.
Networking	a. What is the difference between EDI and E-Mail? / b. Who uses EDI? / c. What is it used for?	E-mail is unstructured mail (electronic mail), that can be sent by anyone to anyone (for example connected to the internet). It could be anything from a love letter to a business reply. / / EDI is structured mail (Electronic Data Interchange), that for example is used by companies. It might be used to send orders, or to make payments. EDI needs to be written exactly according detailed descriptions (as confirmed by the partners involved).
Networking	Describe 2 advantages of a STAR LAN network compared to a BUS LAN network.	1. More stable - if one computer link fails, only that computer is affected, none of the others / 2. Faster data transfer - all computers can communicate directly to each other (peer-to-peer) / 3. More flexible - you can easily add computers, just hook them up (with own cable) to the central point
Networking	Describe 4 advantages of using computer networks in a company.	1. Share expensive hardware like printers, fax and scanner / 2. Share data, like addresses in a common database / 3. Allow security by providing passwords and access rights / 4. Allow easy back-up of important information (saved on a server) / 5. Allow communication between users of the computers (e-mail, file sharing) / 6. Software for a network is usually cheaper as buying many single software licenses / 7. Local networks can be shared
Networking	Mention 2 advantages of a Bus LAN network compared to a STAR LAN network.	1. You will need less cable - less installation costs / 2. You don't need a central computer (or HUB), the network is cheaper as a star-network / 3. You wouldn't need a central HUB
Networking	What are the 3 main parts of the Internet?	1. Electronic Mail (E-Mail) / 2. World Wide Web (WWW) - the graphical part of the net / 3. Usenet - discussion / news groups
Networking / Hardware	A police station has installed a ring network with five terminals. / / (a) Name two other items of hardware that would be attached to the network and describe their purpose / (b) A ring network was chosen in preference to a star network. Give one reason why	1. A printer - to print out letters, reports, pictures and / or fingerprints maybe / 2. A modem - allowing to communicate with other police stations / 3. A scanner - to scan pictures , fingerprints etc. / 4. A fax - alowing people to send faxes from their computer directly / / A Ring network will be the cheapest way! You will need not too much cable and there is no need for a so-called HUB
Networking / Hardware / Telecommunication	a. What does WAN mean? / b. What is a WAN? / c. Describe the main features of a WAN. / d. Describe 2 possible ways of connecting to a WAN	A WAN is a wide area network. It can be as wide as the whole earth. A good example of such a network is the INTERNET. All countries of the world are connected via Sea-cables, satellite connections, Micro wave transmitters etc. / / You can connect your own Computer to a WAN by making use of a MODEM. You can then dial into the telephone network and connect to the desired WAN. / / If you want to connect your LAN (local area network) to a WAN, you will need also a MODEM, but sometimes it's better to make use of a GATEWAY. This will be a special computer, allowing the data transfer between 2 different networks. / / You should draw / mention most of the following devices: / Network Printer / Fileserver / Cables (wiring system) / Workstation / VDU / Terminal / Telephone network system / Router / Gateway / Modem / Satellite / /
Networking / Hardware / Telecommunication	Describe a LAN (make a labeled diagram showing all possible devices that might be needed / used)	You should draw / mention most of the following devices: / Network Printer / Network Fax / Fileserver / Cables (wiring system) / HUB / Workstation / VDU / Terminal / Router / Gateway / Modem / Bus-topology / Star-topology
Networking / Hardware / Telecommunication	What are the functions of the operating system (the network software) of a LAN?	- It will check if a certain user is entitled to use a specific program. / - It will check if a certain user is entitled to use a specific printer. / - It will store special files on a fileserver (e.g. user's personal data, like in our lab) / - It will scan for virusses on the network. / - It will store user passwords, user rights, user privileges etc. / - It will allow users to share recoures (hardware like printer, fax etc.) or software (e.g. mail folder or certain programs). / - It will allow a network administrator (or operator) to check network use, change passwords and priviliges etc. /
Networking / Office	Using a diagram or otherwise, describe / a) in detail the hardware and software configuration of a networked electronic office / b) describe one advantage of such a system for the manager and one advantage for the office worker.
Networking / Telecommunication	What is a computer network?	It is a cabling system connecting computers and other resources like printers. By doing so, they can exchange data to each connected device. / / The standard nowadays is Ethernet (mind: not the same as Internet). Ethernet is a norm, describing which cables to use and how the computers will communicate to each other (using a special communication protocol) / / There are 2 main types of networks: LAN and WAN
Programming	Explain, using examples if appropriate. / technical documentation
Programming / Pseudo-Code	What is a Dry-Run?	It is the testing of an Algorithm by using test-data. You fill in a table the input data, you calculate the inbetween results and you write down the calculated output. / / By doing so, you will be able to test if your algorithm works well.
Programming / Pseudo-Code / Algorithms	A Vending Machine sells hot and cold drinks. The hot drink costs 60, cold drinks 75cents. You have coins of 50, 20 and 5 cents. Write the algorithm for this machine.	Input Type-of-Drink / / If Type-of-Drink = "HOT" / Then Charge = 60 / ELSE Charge = 75 / / Display Charge / / While Charge > zero Do / Input Coin / Charge = Charge - Coin / Display Charge / End-While / / Deliver Drink
Programming / Pseudo-Code / Algorithms	A Vending Machine sells hot and cold drinks. They cost 75 or 60 cents. You have coins of 50, 20 and 5 cents. Write the algorithm for this machine, that can display a message if you try to pay too much!!	Input Type-of-Drink / / If Type-of-Drink = "HOT" / Then Charge = 60 / ELSE Charge = 75 / / Display Charge / / While Charge > zero Do / Input Coin / Charge = Charge - Coin / Display Charge / Repeat / Display "Wrong Coin, Try again" / Until Coin < or = Charge / End-While / / Deliver Drink
Programming / Pseudo-Code / Algorithms	A Vending Machine sells hot and drink drinks. They cost 75 or 60 cents. You have coins of 50, 20 and 5 cents. Write the algorithm for this machine, that can display a message if you try to pay too much!!	Input Type-of-Drink / / If Type-of-Drink = "HOT" / Then Charge = 60 / ELSE Charge = 75 / / Display Charge / / While Charge > zero Do / Input Coin / If Coin > Charge / Then Reject Coin / Display "Wrong Coin, Try again" / Charge = Charge - Coin / Display Charge / End-While / / Deliver Drink
Programming / Pseudo-Code / Algorithms	A Vending Machine sells hot and drink drinks. They cost 75 or 60 cents. You have coins of 50, 20 and 5 cents. Write the algorithm for this machine, that can display a message if you try to pay too much!!	Input Type-of-Drink / / If Type-of-Drink = "HOT" / Then Charge = 60 / ELSE Charge = 75 / / Display Charge / / While Charge > zero Do / Input Coin / While Coin > Charge Do / Display "Wrong Coin, Try again" / End-While / Charge = Charge - Coin / Display Charge / End-While / / Deliver Drink
Pseudo-Code	A shop has 3 employees. They earn each 10$ the hour. Overtime (more than 40 hours) is paid 5$ extra. Calculate the (weekly or monthly) wages for each worker.	wages = 0 / hours-worked = 0 / counter = 0 / hourly-pay = 10 / extra-pay = 15 / / For counter = 1 to 3 / read hours-worked / if hours-worked < 41 / then wages = hours-worked * hourly-pay / else wages = (hours-worked - 40) * extra-pay / + (40 * hourly-pay) / write wages / End For
System Design	A feasibility report has been accepted by a company. / / Describe two items that would be stated in the feasibility report. /	1. A Cost-Benefit analisys of the desired new system. / 2. Some scenarios (including a cost overview) describing other possible solutions / 3. A list of Hardware and Software requirements fro the new system / 4. A list of Facilities needed, like network cables, storage, server room, airconditioning etc.
System Design	A supermarket has decided to change from a manual order processing system to a computerised one. / / (a) Describe three methods of fact finding that should be used. [3] / (b) The new computerised system has been installed. Describe two ways in which the training of staff to use the new system might be done. [2] /	A. / Observation / Interviewing / Investigation / Questionaires / B. / Hire trainers from outside, have them train the users / Send workers to training facilties / centers / Train key persons, ask them to then train fellow colleagues later / Provide CD-Rom training facilities (CAI - Computer Aided Instruction) / Provide distance training (via Internet maybe) /
System Design	A systems analyst has to investigate an existing system in detail to find out how it works. Describe two methods of fact-finding that should be used. /	1. Interviewing workers and employers / 2. Observing people working, make notes about their performance / 3. Investigate the job and requirements of the company, e.g. list and examine all paper forms used in the daily work
System Design	Jane owns her own store and she sells many articles. She asks a systems analyst to help her to decide whether to computerize her business. / Mention 3 questions the analyst could / should ask her.	Question 1 - how much money can you invest? / Question 2 - how many items do you sell? / Question 3 - how often (and how) does she order new articles? / Question 4 - does she want to know daily financial figures? / Question 5 - does she want to know daily stock figures? / Question 6 - what else should the system be able to do (e.g. wordprocessing, printing) etc.) / Question 7 - will other people have to use the system as well? (Network!) / Question 8 - does she prefer easy data input, e.g. bar codes with a bar code scanner? / Question 9 - does she want to know how other sales people perform?
System Design	List the main stages in systems analysis and explain briefly what happens at each stage.
System Design	What 2 different strategies are there to implement (and test) a new system in a company?	1. Parallel running of the new system / 2. Piloting of the new system / / 1 / Adv.: You can compare old and new system / Disadv.: People need to work on 2 systems simultaneously / / 2. / Adv.: Small is beautiful, less work for employers / Disadv.: You cannot compare results so well, it might take more time
System Design	What is the last step in systems design (and often forgotten)	The testing of the program. This needs to be done during the programming itself and also later when the system is implemented in the company. / All mistakes (bugs) need to be reported (in a log book / file) so that they can be traced and removed. / The evaluation of the whole system (done after the implementation at the company) is also often forgotten. It is essential to keep the program running and the users satisfied. That is why a regular evaluation is good to do (and it will ensure the system designers that they can eventually can take up other new jobs too!)
System Design	What is the purpose of a feasibility study?	The purpose is to see if the problem can be solved by a computerised solution. Here it is checked if such a solution makes sense and is wort implementing. The costs (e.g.) might be too high!
System Design	What items should be included in the feasibility study?	- a list of all things that the new system is required to do / - a description of all solutions that are eventual possible / (alternatives / scenarios) / - estimated costs of each solution / - a timeschedule for each solution / - a comparison of costs against profits (cost/benefit) / - references to existing solutions (somewhere else maybe) / - a list of all human, technical and economical factors / - a conclusion of what seems to be the best strategy to continue / - a list of requirements (hardware and software) / - a list of facilities (training, extra manpower for testing etc.) / - cost-benefit balances for all solutions
System Design / Programming	Several years ago the owner of a small shop bought a computer system. The owner did not ask a systems analyst for advice and, when the business increased, the computer system became unsuitable. / / The owner has now consulted a systems analyst. Give a reason why the systems analyst will do a feasibility study.	1. To find out why the system is not adequate anymore. / - Is the software not up-todate? / - Is the system not performing fast enough? / - Is the system not able to fulfill all tasks needed? / - Is the system not stable anymore, are there bugs in the software? / 2. To propose options for improvement (up date old or install new) / 3. To roughly estimate the costs of all proposals, so the owner can make a profound decision how to go on.
System Design / Software	A systems analyst is concerned about future maintenance of a new developed system. Give two ways that sensible choice of software and suppliers could help with future maintenance. /	1. Make sure the supplier is a well-known company, that can guarantee full support, also for many years in the future / 2. Look for a supplier that has experience with the system. They might be specialised. / 3. Look for software that fulfils standards. There are many standards (e.g. ISO)
System Design / Software / Programming	Explain why parallel running can be a suitable method of implementation a shop's new payroll system.	1. It allows to compare the old and new solution next to each other, so it's easier to see if the new system is performing right and fast enough (compare the output of both systems) / 2. To allow a slow but steady implementation. Not all workers have to be trained right away, only the ones using the new system. / 3. If the new system doesn't perform the way it should, the old system can still be used, business can go on!
System Design / Software / Programming	Two types of documentation must be written after a new program has been developed for a company. Name the two types and explain why each one is needed. /	User manual / It shows the users how to use the system (how to input data, how to print / see results). It will show examples of screens and describes all help facilities etc. / / Technical documentation / It is not for the user, but for the programmers that need to change / update / repair the system. It usually contains flowcharts, pseudocode and a list of all computercode (e.g. in Pascal or Cobol). Also all input and output data and methods are listed.
System Design / Software / Programming / Pseudo-Code	The top-down design method is used to design a new program. Give two advantages of using top-down design. /	You analyse the problem step by step, beginning very roughly ending with detailed programming. / / Advantages: / 1. It is likely that you make less mistakes / 2. You will analyse all requirements (of all concerned) / 3. Better to control the development
Telecommunication / Hardware	There are an increasing number of electronic mail systems in use. Subcribers to these systems can communicate messages to each other via a centralised computer system. / - State what hardware a subscriber must have to access to in order to use such a system / - State what software a subscriber must have to access to in order to use such a system.	A user will need to have: / 1. / A modem in order to connect to his electronic mail provider. Some well-known providers are Compuserve and America On-Line. The Internet is probably the most used e-mail system world-wide. / 2. / A computer system (likely with a printer attached), that offers him the mail-software (communication software.) / 3. / In order to be able to store, print, file and organise, send, forward etc. the mail, the user will have to obtain special e-mail software (like Microsoft Mail or Eudora) / 4. / A provider (for his mail services) and a PASSWORD. The user will also receive an unique mail-address.
Telecommunication / Networking / Hardware / Office	What is the function of a file server in a local area network? /	In a computer network, the file server is the computer responsible for storing and retrieving the files used by all the computers connected to the network. / Let's say your computer at work is on a network (connected to other computers), and you want to look up the name of a customer in the company database. The information you need will be located in database files on the file server's hard disk. Database software running the server opens the necessary files and the information comes back to your screen over the network wires. / You can even run programs on your own computer that are stored on the file server's hard disk. Other people on the network can use the same files and programs. There is software running on the file server that controls who gets to use which files, and how many people get to do it at the same time. / Often, the file server is dedicated, meaning all it does is dish out files to the other computers on the network, and no one sits at the computer and actually uses it. In other cases, the file server also gets used as a working computer.