NUMBER ONE (a) It is claimed that data required to support strategic planning differs from data required to Support operational decisions in terms of the time period referred to and the source or origin of the data. Required: Briefly describe how data required to support strategic planning differs from that required to support operational decisions in terms of Time period referred to. (4 marks) (The source or origin of the data. (4 The organisation you work for has hired a software engineer to develop a suite of software to manage your payroll application system. As the financial manager, you are working closely with the software engineer to ensure that the software quality assurance standards are attained. marks) (b) Required: (1) List any four data validation checks that the software engineer should incorporate into the program. (4 marks) (ii) Why is it important to test the software before implementing it? (2 marks) (iii) Suggest two measures that the software engineer must take in order to simplify user training and support that is fundamental to the success of the information systems project. (6 marks) (Total: 20 marks) NUMBER TWO (a) The accounting department of a medium sized business organisation for which you work wishes to purchase'microcomputers to support its functions. You have been asked to draft a document that outlines the hardware and software specifications for the proposed project. What would your draft contain? marks) (8 User friendliness is one of the key and desirable features that form a basis for evaluating competing software packages. Required: Name and describe three features of a user friendly software. (c) Why are expert information systems not popular in business systems? marks) (d) Define the term "Business continuity planning". marks) marks) (4 (6 (2 (Total: 20 NUMBER THREE Four companies K,L,M and N, which have similar activities but are not part of a group, have the following computer configurations, Company K: Three stand-alone micro-computers (CPU, VDU, Keyboard, hard disk and mouse) each having its own printer. Company L Small office with 11 micro-computers linked in a Local Area Network (LAN). Each micro-computer has its own processing ability, but is linked via the LAN to central printers, disk storage, file server and tape streamer devices. The LAN is completely self-contained", This means that there are no modems or other similar external devices attached to it. Company M Four processing locations connected by a Wide Area Network (WAN). Each location has a LAN in the same configuration as company L Company M Four processing locations connected by a Wide Area Network (WAN). Each location has a LAN in the same configuration as company L although there is also a dedicated landline to two of the three. offices (offices are connected in a ring to two of the other offices). Each server is updated with. data from the other three locations at 15 minutes interval. Company N Twenty processing locations, each with its own LAN in the same configuration as company L. All locations are connected in a star configuration to head office. File servers at each location are updated from head office after every five minutes, Each location has a reserved external., telephone line for selected customers to use. Orders by customers are transmitted direct on to the company N's Computer system Required: (a) State, with reasons, for each company, what security procedures should be applied to ensure there is system. marks) (b) Company L is planning to establish additional branches and wants to upgrade its systems to duplicate those of company N. State and explain the data communication systems you would recommend (8 marks) (Total: 20 marks) NUMBER FOUR (a) A company needs information on which to base decisions concerning the current operations and future plans. Explain areas of management control where computers used be (8 marks) are of can used. (b) One important aspect of information-systems management is the physical and managerial location or sitting of the information system within an organisation. Explain two information systems location options indicating circumstances under which each siting allocation is appropriate. (Total:marks20 marks) NUMBER FIVE (a) During systems, development life cycle (SDLC): the systems analyst uses some tools to model the users requirements in such a way that he is able to communicate his understanding of the users needs. Required: Identify and describe three tools the systems analyst may use. to model the systems requirements. marks) (b) () Graphical user interface (GUI) ,have proved to be more user friendly than current character based systems. Other than the graphical user interface, give a summary of at least three interfaces you would use in "the design of systems. (3 marks) (ii) Briefly explain three ways in which GUI makes a system user friendly. (6