Question 1 a) in the context of Enterprise Systems, describe each of the following applications and evaluate their benefits with example. i) Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) system (4 marks) ii) Customer Relationships Management (CRM) systems (4 marks) iii) Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems (4 marks) b) Messrs Syazwani & Associates wishes to develop a knowledge-based system for use by its customers. Currently most of firms of solicitors only provide telephone or face-to-face advice. Syazwani & Associates would be responsible for entering the knowledge data and for answering any queries beyond the scope of the new knowledge-based system. The firm broadly agrees with this approach but is concerned that its reputation could suffer if the knowledge- based system gave the wrong advice. As an independent consultant advise Messrs Syazwani & Associates i) Recommend a system and justify how such systems could be implemented. (5 marks) ii) Evaluate the scenarios above and suggest how the knowledge-based system should be tested. (8 marks) [Total: 25 marks) Question 2 i) Differentiation and cost leadership are not mutually exclusive (as suggested by the argument that organizations can get stuck in the middle' by pursuing both) a) ii) The basis for the distinction between 'broad' and 'narrow' target markets is unclear. Is it defined in terms of market turnover, customer groups or geographical size? ii) Radical changes in technology can undermine an organization's cost advantages if they are technology dependent iv) A differentiation-based strategy will involve a firm incurring higher costs and so price it out of the market Do you agree with statement (ii)? If "Yes" justify your view. If "No reconstruct the statement and justify your opinion. (5 marks) Referring to the statements above, identify which is not a criticism of Porter's generic strategy model. Provide three (3) rationales for your answer. (8 marks) Most of the Companies provide their employees with a business cell phone. Cell phone use is an increasing aspect of work today. Criticized THREE (3) ethical implications for business of cell phone and text-messaging use? Discuss both employer's and employee's side of this issue. (12 marks) [Total: 25 marks] b) c) Question 3 Case Study: Computing Takes Off in the Cloud Cloud computing has developed to be a fast-growing form of computing. The three major companies that partake in this include Amazon Web Services, Microsoft and Google. These three companies have allowed cloud computing to be a reasonable and affordable option for companies of all sizes. An example includes Amazon Web Services which assists companies that are subscribe with computing power and data storage, messaging, payments and many more services. It isn't difficult to access the same computing systems as Amazon uses, as long as customers provide information on the specific amount of bandwidth, service space, storage or any other service required. Amazon Web Services try to make their services readily available so anyone can use them, so customers will pay based on the resources that they use rather than paying a monthly or a yearly fee. Amazon Web Services is able to reduce its prices because of the Economies of scale which keeps the costs low allowing it to remain competitive and have an advantage to other cloud computing services. Cloud computing appeals to many businesses because of the services it provides which deals with most maintenance, allowing companies to spend more time on other aspects of their companies. With strong and readily available cloud infrastructures like Amazon's, many companies that are bother smaller and larger can have access to it whereas it was formerly only available to larger businesses. A New-York based company called Oscar Insurance built its platform and analytic applications on Amazon Web Services within three months. This allowed them to handle healthcare open enrollment periods and support more than 125 productions changes in one day to improve customer experience. Cloud computing may deem to be a cheaper alternative in many cases, but for some larger companies. paying for a public cloud provider and a service fee monthly for its thousands of employees can be more expensive than the company having its own IT infrastructure. Larger companies may find it easier to run their own private cloud easier, but as public clouds are more efficient, secure and technology is becoming cheaper over the years making this source more viable for the larger companies. Cloud computing is not a perfect resource, as there many concerns of reliability and security. For example, Amazon Web Services experienced an outage on September 20, 2015 that affected Netflix, Reddit, Social Flow and many other users across eastern North America. It is recommended that companies that are at a major risk when there's an outage of computing services, they should have a backup although cloud computing systems are maturing and reliability has improved over the years. (Source: Ted Rogers School of Information Technology Management) Answer the following question by referring to the case study above: b) Discuss THREE (3) benefits of cloud computing services on current business processes. (6 marks) Since cloud computing systems are internet-based, explain FOUR (4) disadvantages of cloud computing? (8 marks) For you opinion indicate a business is most likely to be successful by using cloud computing Explain FOUR (4) reasons for your answer. (11 marks) [Total: 25 marks) c) Question 4 Blockchain technologies, machine learning, artificial intelligence and other information technologies Industry 4.0 finds applications in improving the security of data transfer on the Internet and building decentralized databases in which multicriterial advanced data processing can be performed. (Source: Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw, Poland) a) Do you agree with the statement above? Justify your opinion. (8 marks) b) Comment about cybersecurity in relation with Blockchain Application. (5 marks) c) Discuss TWO (2) Blockchain strategies that companies should consider as a structured approach with example. (12 marks) [Total: 25 marks) Question 1 a) in the context of Enterprise Systems, describe each of the following applications and evaluate their benefits with example. i) Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) system (4 marks) ii) Customer Relationships Management (CRM) systems (4 marks) iii) Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems (4 marks) b) Messrs Syazwani & Associates wishes to develop a knowledge-based system for use by its customers. Currently most of firms of solicitors only provide telephone or face-to-face advice. Syazwani & Associates would be responsible for entering the knowledge data and for answering any queries beyond the scope of the new knowledge-based system. The firm broadly agrees with this approach but is concerned that its reputation could suffer if the knowledge- based system gave the wrong advice. As an independent consultant advise Messrs Syazwani & Associates i) Recommend a system and justify how such systems could be implemented. (5 marks) ii) Evaluate the scenarios above and suggest how the knowledge-based system should be tested. (8 marks) [Total: 25 marks) Question 2 i) Differentiation and cost leadership are not mutually exclusive (as suggested by the argument that organizations can get stuck in the middle' by pursuing both) a) ii) The basis for the distinction between 'broad' and 'narrow' target markets is unclear. Is it defined in terms of market turnover, customer groups or geographical size? ii) Radical changes in technology can undermine an organization's cost advantages if they are technology dependent iv) A differentiation-based strategy will involve a firm incurring higher costs and so price it out of the market Do you agree with statement (ii)? If "Yes" justify your view. If "No reconstruct the statement and justify your opinion. (5 marks) Referring to the statements above, identify which is not a criticism of Porter's generic strategy model. Provide three (3) rationales for your answer. (8 marks) Most of the Companies provide their employees with a business cell phone. Cell phone use is an increasing aspect of work today. Criticized THREE (3) ethical implications for business of cell phone and text-messaging use? Discuss both employer's and employee's side of this issue. (12 marks) [Total: 25 marks] b) c) Question 3 Case Study: Computing Takes Off in the Cloud Cloud computing has developed to be a fast-growing form of computing. The three major companies that partake in this include Amazon Web Services, Microsoft and Google. These three companies have allowed cloud computing to be a reasonable and affordable option for companies of all sizes. An example includes Amazon Web Services which assists companies that are subscribe with computing power and data storage, messaging, payments and many more services. It isn't difficult to access the same computing systems as Amazon uses, as long as customers provide information on the specific amount of bandwidth, service space, storage or any other service required. Amazon Web Services try to make their services readily available so anyone can use them, so customers will pay based on the resources that they use rather than paying a monthly or a yearly fee. Amazon Web Services is able to reduce its prices because of the Economies of scale which keeps the costs low allowing it to remain competitive and have an advantage to other cloud computing services. Cloud computing appeals to many businesses because of the services it provides which deals with most maintenance, allowing companies to spend more time on other aspects of their companies. With strong and readily available cloud infrastructures like Amazon's, many companies that are bother smaller and larger can have access to it whereas it was formerly only available to larger businesses. A New-York based company called Oscar Insurance built its platform and analytic applications on Amazon Web Services within three months. This allowed them to handle healthcare open enrollment periods and support more than 125 productions changes in one day to improve customer experience. Cloud computing may deem to be a cheaper alternative in many cases, but for some larger companies. paying for a public cloud provider and a service fee monthly for its thousands of employees can be more expensive than the company having its own IT infrastructure. Larger companies may find it easier to run their own private cloud easier, but as public clouds are more efficient, secure and technology is becoming cheaper over the years making this source more viable for the larger companies. Cloud computing is not a perfect resource, as there many concerns of reliability and security. For example, Amazon Web Services experienced an outage on September 20, 2015 that affected Netflix, Reddit, Social Flow and many other users across eastern North America. It is recommended that companies that are at a major risk when there's an outage of computing services, they should have a backup although cloud computing systems are maturing and reliability has improved over the years. (Source: Ted Rogers School of Information Technology Management) Answer the following question by referring to the case study above: b) Discuss THREE (3) benefits of cloud computing services on current business processes. (6 marks) Since cloud computing systems are internet-based, explain FOUR (4) disadvantages of cloud computing? (8 marks) For you opinion indicate a business is most likely to be successful by using cloud computing Explain FOUR (4) reasons for your answer. (11 marks) [Total: 25 marks) c) Question 4 Blockchain technologies, machine learning, artificial intelligence and other information technologies Industry 4.0 finds applications in improving the security of data transfer on the Internet and building decentralized databases in which multicriterial advanced data processing can be performed. (Source: Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw, Poland) a) Do you agree with the statement above? Justify your opinion. (8 marks) b) Comment about cybersecurity in relation with Blockchain Application. (5 marks) c) Discuss TWO (2) Blockchain strategies that companies should consider as a structured approach with example. (12 marks) [Total: 25 marks)