Question Paper
Information Technology & Systems (MB231) : April 2004
Section A : Basic Concepts (30 Marks)
• This section consists of questions with serial number 1 - 30.
• Answer all questions.
• Each question carries one mark.
• Maximum time for answering Section A is 30 Minutes.
1. Tasks like printing a block of the worksheet, copying functions and formulae into a new row, etc. can be
saved as
(a) Micros (b) Macros (c) Templates (d) Functions (e) Cell
references.
2. How does the Operating System manage memory?
(a) By dividing memory into regions which are dedicated to a single application, preventing other
programs from overwriting other program's data
(b) By moving infrequently-accessed portions of memory out to disk, and only bringing them back in
when they are used
(c) By checking the contents of memory, to make sure that a process is not wasting it
(d) Both (a) and (b) above
(e) None of the above.
3. Which of the following is/are characteristic(s) of high-level language?
(a) It is a procedural language that tells the computer what to do and how to do it
(b) It is usually compiled or interpreted
(c) It enables programmers to create programs at a higher level of abstraction, compared to machine
and assembly language
(d) It is user-friendly
(e) All of the above.
4. Which of the following is/are disadvantage(s) of indexing a field in a database?
(a) It requires a great deal of time to generate the index at first
(b) It is slower than direct access
(c) Indexed files require more storage space than other types of files
(d) Only (a) above (e) Both (b) and (c) above.
5. Why don't computers just use the much faster DRAM instead of hard disk to store all data, although
DRAM is cheaper?
(a) DRAM is volatile (b) The hard disk is less prone to error
(c) "Refreshing" DRAM is expensive
(d) Information can be read from a DRAM chip and can also be written into it
(e) None of the above.
6. What is the programming term for a place in memory where data can be stored?
(a) Constant (b) Class (c) Variable (d) Method
(e) Data type.
7. Which of the following best describes an RDBMS?
(a) A database with an index on every field
(b) A database with an object-oriented structure
(c) A database where related fields are kept separately, but can be used together
(d) A database designed for high-speed transaction processing
(e) All of the above.
8. What is the term for a set of rules which computers must follow when communicating?
(a) Protocol (b) Packet (c) Frame (d) Interface (e)
Header.
9. Which of the following information systems gives top management immediate and easy access to
selective information related to the firm's critical success factors?
(a) Transaction Processing System (b) Management Information System
(c) Decision Support System (d) Executive Information System
(e) Artificial Intelligence System.
10. Which of the following functions enables the computer to execute more than one task in a single
program?
(a) Cooperative Multitasking (b) Preemptive Multitasking
(c) Multithreading (d) Multiprocessing
(e) Both (a) and (b) above.
11. Which of these is an example of an object-oriented programming language?
(a) C (b) C++ (c) Ada (d) Fortran (e)
Basic.
12. Which of these is not usually a characteristic of the "Physical Layer" of a network?
(a) Lack of high-level knowledge of data (b) Routing capability
(c) Minimal error correction (d) Physical communication
(e) Specification of mechanical, electrical, procedural and functional characteristics of transmission.
13. Which of the following is a concentrator that forms the center of a star-configured hierarchical wiring
scheme?
(a) Router (b) Repeater (c) Redirector (d) Hub (e)
Bridge.
14. Which of the following refers to a small amount of extra high-speed memory that stores frequently used
data?
(a) Cache (b) FAT (c) ROM (d) DRAM
(e) Hard disk.
15. Which of these connection types best describes the Internet?
(a) Frame switching (b) Packet switching (c) Call circuit
(d) Switched circuit (e) Both (c) and (d) above.
16. A purchase indent is an example of which of the following types of reports?
(a) Information Document (b) Turnaround Document
(c) Action Document (d) Transaction Log (e) Edit Report.
17. In which of the following operations, OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) moves in the reverse
direction and automatically displays detailed data that comprise consolidated information?
(a) Consolidation (b) Drill down (c) Slicing and dicing
(d) Abstraction (e) Encapsulation.
18. Which of the following controls are developed to identify errors in arithmetic calculations and logical
operations?
(a) Input controls (b) Output controls
(c) Processing controls (d) Procedural controls (e) Facility controls.
19. In which of the following levels of data abstraction, each record is described by a type definition and the
interrelationship among these record types is defined?
(a) Physical (b) Data link (c) Session (d) Logical (e)
View.
20. What is the term used when multiple frequencies are combined in a single physical transport?
(a) Multitasking (b) Multiplexing (c) Multiprocessing (d) Circuit switching
(e) Packet switching.
21. Which of the following databases must support the ability to retrieve documents based on links, and to
query documents based on their structure?
(a) Computer-Aided Design (CAD) (b) Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE)
(c) Multimedia (d) Office Information System
(e) Hypertext Database.
22. Which of the following networks is available for use on a fee per-byte-transmitted and assures high
security and bandwidth?
(a) Public Data Network (PDN) (b) Local Area Network (LAN)
(c) Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) (d) Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
(e) Internet.
23. The link between a member and a variable in a C Structure is established using which of the following
operators?
(a) Logical operator (b) Increment operator (c) Dot operator
(d) Conditional operator (e) Bitwise operator.
24. The feature of Internet which allows messages about any subject to be posted and other people on the
Internet can reply to them is known as
(a) Internet Paging (b) Internet Fax (c) Internet Telephony
(d) Internet Relay Chat (e) Usenet.
25. Which of the following technologies include(s) calendaring and scheduling tools, task and project
management, workflow systems and knowledge management systems?
(a) Audio/Video Teleconferencing (b) Electronic Meeting Systems
(c) Workgroup Support Systems (d) Collaborative Work Management Tools
(e) Data Conferencing.
26. The Vi editor of UNIX has the facility of prefixing a number to any command so as to enable the
command to repeat the instructions many times. This prefixing number is called
(a) Preceding count (b) Succession count
(c) Word count (d) Number count (e) Character count.
27. Which of the following blocks in UNIX is not used by file systems other than the main file system?
(a) Super block (b) Boot block (c) Data block (d) I-node block
(e) Indirect block.
28. Which of the following is false with respect to Integer Constant in C programming language?
(a) It should have at least one digit (b) It may be either positive or negative
(c) It may have a decimal point (d) No commas or blanks are allowed
(e) It is assumed to be positive if no sign precedes the integer.
29. Which of the following tasks is carried out by 'for' loop in C programming language?
I. Initializing the loop counter.
II. Testing the loop counter to determine whether its value has reached the number of
repetitions desired.
III. Incrementing the value of the loop counter each time the segment within the loop has been
executed.
(a) Only (I) above (b) Only (II) above
(c) Both (I) and (II) above (d) Both (II) and (III) above
(e) All (I), (II) and (III) above.
30. Which of the following statements is not true regarding System Administration in Unix?
(a) System Administration involves management of the entire system, ranging from maintaining
security, performing backups, providing reliable services to all users etc.
(b) The task of System Administration is entrusted to a person called System Administrator or Super
User, as he is named in Unix
(c) System Administrator functions are handled by a software known as 'sysadm'
(d) The System Administrator operates using the root account
(e) The root account has to be created separately.
END OF SECTION A
Section B : Caselets (50 Marks)
• This section consists of questions with serial number 1 – 7.
• Answer all questions.
• Marks are indicated against each question.
• Detailed explanations should form part of your answer.
• Do not spend more than 110 - 120 minutes on Section B.
Caselet 1
Read the caselet carefully and answer the following questions:
1. Briefly describe Structured Query Language (SQL).
What advantages would BRI gain by using an SQL relational database system to build the new information
system?
(9 marks)
2. What data was transferred by the TCP/IP-based network?
Describe the TCP/IP Reference Model in detail.
(10 marks)
3. BRI has shifted to Online Processing from traditional batch processing. What are the advantages provided by
Online Analytical Processing (OLAP)?
(6 marks)
Brewers Retail Inc.
In
Inc. (BRI). BRI is regulated by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario and the Liquor Licensing Board of Ontario. Until
1994, it was not difficult to operate the local stores, in large part because BRI was only allowed to sell beers that were
produced in
in
inventory levels and distribution schedules.
BRI had a batch-oriented computer system to record orders and shipments. Basic statements were produced monthly,
with some weekly data available on paper reports.
Everything changed in 1994, when the North America Free Trade Agreement took effect. The
forced to change its distribution policy and allow BRI to stock any product from
faced with a much more challenging problem. Pompi Malik, the systems development manager, noted that: "The influx
of new beers and related merchandise hasn't changed inventory size, but the number of different brands has risen
considerably. This requires managing a much more complex inventory distribution – we now have to replenish dozens
of different products in places where we previously had to restock only a few."
Unfortunately, the batch system with monthly reports did not produce timely information, and managers could not track
changes fast enough to react to them. They ran the risk of having too much of one brand and watching it go stale,
whereas customers complained about being out-of-stock of their favourite brand. BRI has additional complications
because of the involvement of government regulatory boards. BRI needs to communicate with these boards on a daily
basis.
BRI replaced the mainframe computer system with a network of personal and minicomputers. The new inventory and
ordering system was based on the Sybase relational database management system. The goal was to provide a system
running on a network that connected the retail stores to the warehouses by a TCP/IP-based network. One of the major
applications was the Store Balance System, which retrieved data each night from the outlet stores. It used the data to
record the financial books for the stores and to track systemwide beer sales. Gene Kotak, the IS director observed: "In
place of weekly balance reports, we now have daily, online transactional information that gives us an accurate, up-todate
picture of our ongoing operations. We've completely eliminated our old-style batch processing and the frustration
delays associated with it. Now we can continually stay on top of sales performance and make adjustments quickly
whenever necessary."
The eventual system would run on personal computers, with the SQL-based relational database running on Sun Sparc
Station servers.
Caselet 2
Read the caselet carefully and answer the following questions:
4. As a consumer, what are the advantages and disadvantages of using an online service to contact vendors?
(5 marks)
5. You are using the Internet to answer customer questions. You find that a competitor is paying employees to flood
your Bulletin Board Service with complaints and problem claims. Is this action ethical? Knowing that many of the
postings are anonymous, what action can you take against the competitor and prevent such problems in the future?
(7 marks)
The Internet becomes Important Tool in Customer Service
Dell Computer Corporation has committed seven individuals to regularly surf the Internet and user groups on
found that monitoring the Internet is a way to reduce the long-distance costs of customer support lines. It also uses the
online service to test reaction to corporate changes, finding the information-gathering process on the Net to be cheaper
than hiring a market research firm. Dell has found that computer users are more direct on the online services than they
are on the telephone. The presumed anonymity of the computer provides the computer manufacturer with more honest
feedback and reactions to products and changes.
Dell and Compaq have also confessed that they use the Internet to catch up on issues facing other manufacturers. These
include discussions of bugs, product delays, and new products and marketing ideas.
Microsoft, IBM and Apple have also added home pages on the Internet's World Wide Web. The World Wide Web
enables customers to browse, select and download large amounts of product information. These companies have found
this to be a cheaper and more cost-effective way to disseminate product information.
Coors is using a Web home page to provide information to browsers on the Internet. It found that by providing
entertaining offerings like games, puzzles and graphics, it can attract thousands of users. By featuring its products in the
games and displays, it can promote its products without being subject to traditional restraints imposed on television and
print advertising.
An interesting case arose in
local (
Paying by credit card, he purchased and downloaded "pornographic" figures from the computer. He then filed a
complaint against the
imposed fines and jail terms for the managers of the
Caselet 3
Read the caselet carefully and answer the following questions:
6. What basic problems were faced by Sherwin-Williams managers?
(6 marks)
7. How can MIS help Sherwin-Williams managers get access to their data?
(7 marks)
Sherwin-Williams
Sherwin-Williams Co. began as a manufacturer of paint. Their Paint Stores Group is headquartered in
had a $1.5 billion in sales in 1991, which grew to $1.8 billion in 1992.This group was organized into 110 districts. Each
one was headed by a district manager. Each district manager was responsible for 20 to 25 stores. These managers
reported to 14 area vice-presidents, who in turn reported to 4 division heads. The overall organization is run by the
CEO, John Breen. Overall, the company had a traditional management hierarchy. Individual stores were operated
independently and results were reported up the command chain. Major decisions were made at the executive level.
Policies were broadcast to the entire organization and messages sent through the managers to be given to individual
stores. There was little horizontal communication between individual stores or districts.
Each store had an automated point-of-sale (POS) system. The POS collected detailed sales data for each store, but each
store was independent of the others. Overall, Sherwin-Williams was satisfied with the POS system. Most of the
corporate computing was handled by a centralized Amdahl computer (compatible with large IBM computers). Bill
Thompson, the head for MIS of the paint group, noted that almost none of the district managers used personal
computers (fewer than 15 percent).
Every Monday morning, managers called each of the stores in their district to get sales figures for the previous week.
The managers used these numbers to create a sales report which was forwarded up the hierarchy to the area vicepresidents.
Because of the importance of staying in touch with the local stores, the weekly phone calls were important to
the managers. However, the managers spent a lot of time every week producing the sales reports. Additionally, because
upper management was always in a hurry to see the data, there was only enough time to collect basic sales figures. The
senior executives were also interested in detailed comparisons based on sales by product category, by sales
representative and by each territory. Most of the time, the area vice-presidents and senior executives made decisions
based on comparisons of aggregated sales data by territory. However, they sometimes wanted more detailed data from
individual stores. Additionally, senior management wanted to make more comparisons among regions. Similarly,
district managers would like to compare their sales to those of the other districts.
END OF SECTION B
Section C : Applied Theory (20 Marks)
• This section consists of questions with serial number 8 - 9.
• Answer all questions.
• Marks are indicated against each question.
• Do not spend more than 25 -30 minutes on section C.
8. Information systems in many large organizations are integrated combinations of various functional information
systems. They support business processes such as product development, production, distribution, order
management and others.
Briefly describe the various functional information systems of an organization in light of the above discussion.
(10 marks)
9. A medium-size organization has recently computerized its business processes. The Managing Director wants to
put its computers on a LAN. For this purpose, he wants to use Novell Netware Operating System, because of its
useful features and services which are beneficial for networking.
Being the Information Systems Manager, justify the Managing Director's willingness to use Novell Netware
Operating System, by laying down its features and services.
(10 marks)
END OF SECTION C
END OF QUESTION PAPER
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