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BUS0117 Information Systems for Business

2022

Section A

Question 1 (25 marks) 

Ms John Lee, the CEO of M&N Health Pro Private Ltd, has employed you to work in the Information Technology Department. John has decided to purchase an Inventory Management System for tracking of inventory and automating the procurement processes. An important objective of the system is to reduce inventory write-off. The system is linked to three point-of-sale terminals located at three sales outlets.  The point-of-sale terminals are used for accepting payments from customers, keep track of sales and update the inventory.

(a) Discuss how the Inventory Management System can help the company to reduce inventory write-off in reference to daily business processes and operations, decision making and strategies for competitive advantage.

Daily Business Process and Operation Level

By linking to the point-of-sale system, the system will capture the basic daily sales data for the different products. The system will also track the inflow and outflow of products from the inventory.

Decision Making

With the basic sales and inventory data collected, the management will be able to make decision on the products to be replenished and promote the slow-moving products. The management can provide discount for products closer to expiry date to reduce inventory write-off.

Strategies for Competitive Advantage

The company would be able to compete more effectively if the management can effectively manage the procurement of popular products and source for new products that can generate better sales to replace the slow-moving products.

(6 marks)

(b) John would like to purchase a custom-built desktop computer for his Inventory Management System. He has selected a computer with the following configurations:

Row	Computer Specifications
1.	11th Generation Intel Core i5-11400 Processor (12MB Cache, up to 4.4GHz)
2.	8 GB DDR4 memory
3.	1 TB, 3.5-inch, SATA, HDD

(i) Explain why the CPU performance can be affected by the cache memory and 4.4 GHz measurement stated in Row 1. (6 marks)                         

Cache memory Is a small unit of fast memory built into the processor to improv performance. CPU performance can be affected by cache memory because it is used to anticipate data requests by keeping data that are most frequently being

           accessed

(ii) State the name of the hard disk component measured by the “3.5-inch” stated in Row 3 and explain how the data are stored and organised on it. (7 marks) 

Rigid Platter

-The data are stored a rigid platter coated with magnetic oxide.

- It is divided into concentric bands called tracks. Tracks are divided into

sectors and two or more sectors is a cluster.

- Access arm moves read/write head over particular location.

-Read/write head hovers a few millionths of an inch above platter. 

(iii) The salesperson has advised John to increase the memory stated in Row 2 from 8GB to 16 GB. Explain why larger memory can improve the performance of the computer.

Larger RAM will allow more instructions and data to be stored on

the fast volatile memory before they are being processed by the

 CPU.

(2 marks)

(c) State TWO (2) other components within the system casing and explain how each component can affect the performance of the desktop computer.

                   Cooling Fan that can reduce the heat generated by the CPU and improve

                  The speed of the CPU

                    Expansion Slots that can allow the insertion of graphic card that can

                   Speed up the processing of graphical output.

(4 marks)

 Question 2 (25 marks)  

(a)   John decided that he needs an application software for carrying out his word processing and spreadsheet tasks. Instead of buying the popular Microsoft Office software suite, he has decided to use Apache Open Office which is classified as an open-source office document productivity suite.  

(i) State THREE (3) key characteristics of open-source software. 

Three key characteristics of open source:

-It is a variation of freeware,

-Author retains copyright but source codes are made available.

-Other programmers can modify and redistribute the programs freely

(3 marks) 

(ii) Explain the meaning of a software suite. 

Software suites are integrated software packages bundle together to lower the cost of purchase. The different applications in a software suite are designed to work together with common graphical user interface. A good example of a software suite is Microsoft Office.

(2 marks) 

(iii) State ONE (1) advantage of installing a software suite.

            A software suite refers to the bundling of a variety of general-purpose software

                  application as a package.

           One advantage is that the different software can work together seamlessly

(1 mark)

 (b) State TWO (2) similarities and TWO (2) differences between open-source and shareware software.

Similarities

Both open source and shareware software can be installed by users for free.

- The copyrights for both software are retained by the authors.

Differences

- The source codes for open source software are made available to the others

whereas the source codes for shareware are not shared with others.

- The open source is free to use without time limit whereas users can only use

shareware for a limited period of time.

(1 marks)

(c) John would like to archive all his old data on his hard disk. Provide an example of a utility software and explain how it can help to save storage space.

File compression utility like 7-zip that can be used to decrease the size

of archives by storing files in a special format

(2 marks)

(d) John would like to understand more about the functions of Windows 11. Explain the FOUR (4) basic functions performed by an operating system.

The four functions of an operating system are as follows:

- User Interface - how the user communicates with the computer

- Resource Management - manages the hardware and network resources

• File Management - controls the creation, deletion, and access of files of the

data and programs.

Task Management - manages which tasks are performed and when

multitasking (or Multiprogramming/Timesharing) programs take turns using

the processor

                                                                                                                          (8 marks) 

(e) John would like to use a free open-source operating system for his network server.  

(i) State one possible open-source operating system that he can use for his server.

Linux

(1 mark) 

(ii) State ONE (1) advantage and ONE (1) disadvantage of an open-source operating system as compared to a proprietary server operating system like Windows Server 2022.

Linux or any other appropriate answer.

Advantage:

The source code of open-source operating system is available for free as

compared to Windows Server 2022 is not free.

Disadvantage:

The source code for open-source operating system is less secure compared to

Windows Server 2022 as hackers can have access the source codes.

(1 marks) 

(f) John intends to do a regular weekly backup using his 2TB external hard disk. Explain the difference between doing a full back up and an incremental backup.         (2 marks)

Full back up will include the backing up of all files and data whereas

incremental back up includes only those files changed or added since the

previous backup.

 

SECTION B 

Question 3 (25 marks) 

Case: Network for Inventory Management System 

M&N Health Pro Private Ltd wanted to create a network for the Inventory Management System that will connect the main sales outlet at Westgate Mall with two other sales outlets at IMM Mall and Clementi Mall.  You are required to design a network to connect all the devices required by the system for all three branches.

The network will connect the following requirements using the Internet:

• The company has a server that will host the Inventory Management System at the outlet in Westgate Mall.

• Each sales outlet will have a storeroom. Each storeroom will have one desktop computer equipped with a barcode reader to track the inflow and outflow of stocks.  

• A laptop computer will be given to each sales outlet manager for monitoring the sales and inventory of the outlet.

• There is a Point-of-Sale terminal in each outlet for customers to make payment for their purchases.

• All the desktop computers, laptop computers and point-of-sale terminals in the three outlets will be linked by a network to the server located at Westgate Mall outlet.

You are required to write a brief proposal to discuss how such network can be created. Your proposal should cover the following areas:

(a) Provide a list of essential computer equipment, network devices and network services required to set up the entire network infrastructure.  

(6 marks) 

(b) Draw a simple network diagram and describe your proposed network infrastructure by including discussion related to the type of network you will be creating. You should indicate the computer equipment, network devices and services required clearly to show how they are connected. State the security measures to be implemented to protect the different parts of the network infrastructures and explain how Intranet, Extranet and Client/Server network are being implemented.  

(14 marks)

 (c) Explain the protocol and best communication media to be used for connecting the corporate network to the Internet.

(5 marks)

Question 4 (25 marks) 

Case:  Inventory Management Database

The consultant of the Inventory Management System has decided to create a database to capture the required data using Microsoft Access database.  The purpose of the database is to manage the inventory of various health products sold by the company.

(a) You are required to design and show the three basic tables with the relevant fields. Show the data view of the three tables in your answer file (Do not create the tables using Microsoft Access). For each table below, you should specify the appropriate MS Access data type for each field. You should also define the relevant primary key and foreign keys (if any) for the three tables below.  

  (i) Daily Transaction Table  

The purpose of this table is to store information relating to each transaction captured by the point-of-sale system. Some key fields are Record No, Transaction ID, Transaction Date, Product Code, Quantity. You should show the data view of minimum five records by creating your own data. Your data should show how a transaction can have more than one product.

(6 marks)

(ii)  Inventory Table  

The purpose of this table is to show the product available in the inventory.  The key fields are Product Code, Product Description, Price, Stock Quantity and Supplier ID. You should show the data view of minimum five records with your own data.  

(6 marks) 

(iii) Additional Table

 Proposed an additional table with relevant fields that can provide relevant data for this system. Show the data view with at least three records.

(6 marks)

 (b)   Explain the reasons for having both the Record No and Transaction ID fields in the Daily Transaction Table.

(3 marks)

 (c) Provide TWO (2) reasons for not including the Product Description and Price field in the Daily Transaction Table.  

(4 marks)