Q1. Explain Knowledge based system? Explain DSS and OLAP with example.

Ans:
Knowledge Based System (KBS) KBS is the information system based on knowledge base. The KBS generates knowledge from the stored data, information, and knowledge. These systems can make decisions as they understand the knowledge being processed. The KBS makes the organisation more efficient and supports consistency of operation. It also aids in managing the knowledge within the knowledge base. The components of KBS are: Knowledge base: Knowledge base is a collection of business unit knowledge, best practices, experts knowledge, enterprise level knowledge, business solutions for previous problems and policies/Knowledge base is of two types: o Machine readable knowledge base o Human readable knowledge base Under machine readable knowledge base, a computer readable code is generated to help the computer in processing the data. One such example is the semantic web. "Semantic web is a web promoted collectively by W3C (an international consortium of www) to promote common formats for data on www. Examples of KBS are intelligent systems, robotics, and neural networks. Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) OLAP refers to a system in which there are predefined multiple instances of various modules used in business applications. OLAP is also referred to as a multi-dimensional analytical model. OLAP tools are user driven and deploy a user friendly application to access information. This enables the users to issue a query to easily extract and view the data they are interested in from the analytical database. Ex: It helps the management to perform the analysis on their own without depending on IT specialists Examples are the month in which you can launch a product in the market, estimating optimum production quantity to increase returns and the analysis of stocking policy to decrease the wastage. Decision Support System (DSS) DSS is an interactive computer based system designed to help decision makers use all the available resources for decision making. In management, problems may not have simple solutions. To solve such problems, you may have to use complex models. DSS supports such models to solve these problems. DSS depends on models, databases, computers and managerial insights and judgement to provide information for semi structured decision making. Example multiple regression forecasting model, linear programming model and capital budgeting present value model. Legacy software: Legacy software is outdated software used currently as it serves the users needs. Relational data sources: It is a database in which information is stored in a number of database tables. Cubes: It is a set of data, organized in a way that facilitates nonpredetermined queries for aggregated information. Data warehouse: a database used for reporting and analysis. The data stored in the warehouse is uploaded from the operational systems. Data Marts: It is a simple form of a data warehouse that is focused on a single subject (or functional area) such as sales, finance, or marketing.

Q2. What do you understand by service level Agreements (SLAs)? Why are they needed? What is the role of CIO in drafting these? Explain the various security hazards faced by an IS? Ans: A service-level agreement (SLA) is a part of a service contract where a service is
formally defined. In practice, the term SLA is sometimes used to refer to the contracted delivery time (of the service or performance). As an example, internet service providers will commonly include service level agreements within the terms of their contracts with customers to define the level(s) of service being sold in plain language terms. In this case the SLA will typically have a technical definition in terms of mean time between failures (MTBF), mean time to repair or mean time to recovery(MTTR); various data rates; throughput; jitter; or similar measurable details. Need of SLA: A service-level agreement is a negotiated agreement between two parties, where one is the customer and the other is the service provider. This can be a legally binding formal or an informal "contract" (for example, internal department relationships). Contracts between the service provider and other third parties are often (incorrectly) called SLAs because the level of service has been set by the (principal) customer, there can be no "agreement" between third parties; these agreements are simply a "contract." Operational-level agreements or OLAs, however, may be used by internal groups to support SLAs. Role of CIO: A CIO should explore running their area more like a service operation rather than a cost centre and develop metrics that track the performance of the information systems staff as well as the equipment comprising the applications, infrastructure and networks under the CIO's control. The first step is to implement Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with business units. It sets the expectation on the technical areas of the CIO's operations. At a minimum, they should set up what is expected and what levels of service the equipment will provide. Security hazard by IS: Malfunctions: In this type of security hazard, all the components of a system are involved. People, software and hardware errors cause the biggest problem. Fraud and unauthorised access: This hazard is due to dishonesty, cheating or deceit. Power and communication failure: In some locations this is the most frequent hazard due to its unavailability. Fire hazard: It occurs due to electrical short circuits, flammable liquids, etc. Sabotage and riots: Sometimes, employees destroy the computer centre in case of strike, lockout or there may be chances of riots in the area. Natural disasters: Natural disasters are not controllable. They are not frequent hazards but if they happen, they destroy the things or ruin them.

Q3. Explain DFD & Data Dictionary? Explain in detail how the information requirement is determined for an organization? Ans:
Data Flow Diagrams (DFD) Data flow diagrams represent the logical flow of data within the system DFD use few symbols, such as circles and rectangles connected by arrows, to represent data flows. DFD can easily illustrate relationships among data, flows, external entities and stores. DFD can also be drawn in increasing levels of detail, starting with a summary high level view and proceeding to more detailed lower level views. Rounded rectangle represents processes that transform flow of data or work to be done. Rectangle represents external agentsthe boundary of the system. It is the source or the destination of data. The open-ended boxes represent data stores, sometimes called files or databases. These data stores correspond to all instances of a single entity in a data model. Arrow represents data flows, inputs and outputs to end from the processes. A number of guidelines should be used in constructing DFD: Choose meaningful names for the symbols on the diagram. Number the processes consistently. The numbers do not imply the sequence. Avoid very complex DFD. Make sure that the diagrams are balanced. Data dictionary The data dictionary is used to create and store definitions of data, location, format for storage and other characteristics. The data dictionary can be used to retrieve the definition of data that has already been used in an application. The data dictionary also stores some of the description of data structures, such as entities, attributes, and relationships. It can also have software to update itself, to produce reports on its contents, and to answer some of the queries. Determining IS: information systems MIS planning guidelines help MIS executives to: Make provisions in the systems. Carry out alternative plans as recognised in the objectives. Compare the systems plan with the organisations plan and ensure changes accordingly. Format the plans of the system, document them, and present to top management. Construct a tool or technique for reviewing or altering if required. Formulate a system for processing the collected data. Allot the responsibility and authority for planning. Allot finance for this purpose. Formulate a team of technical personnel to compare the effectiveness of the system

Q4. Distinguish between closed decision making system & open decision making system? What is What if analysis? Why is more time spend in problem analysis & problem definition as compared to the time spends on decision analysis? Ans: Closed decision making system and the conditions of this system are:
a) The manager has a known set of decision alternatives and knows their outcomes fully in terms of value, if implemented. b) The manager has a model, a method or a rule whereby the alternatives decisions can be generated, tested and ranked for selection. c) The manager can choose one of them, based on some goal or objective criterion. Few examples are a product mix problem, an examination system to declare pass or fail, or an acceptance of the fixed deposits. Open decision making system If the manager operates in an environment not known to him, then the decision making system is termed as an open decision making system. The conditions of this system in contrast to closed decision making system are: a) The manager does not know all the alternative decisions. b) The outcome of the decision is also not fully known. The knowledge of the outcome may be a probabilistic one. c) No single method, rule or model is available to study and finalise one decision among the set of alternative decisions. d) It is difficult to decide an objective or a goal and therefore, the manager resorts to that decision, where his aspirations or desires are best met. Deciding on the possible product diversification lines, the pricing of a new product and the plant location are some decision making situations which fall in the category of the open decision making systems. The MIS tries to convert every open system to a closed decision making system by providing information support for the best decision. The MIS gives the information support whereby the manager knows more and more about environment and the outcomes he is able to generate the alternative decisions, test them and select one of them. A good MIS achieves this. What If Analysis: Observing how changes to selected variables affect other variables in the model. What if analysis: Decisions are made using a model of the problem for developing various solution alternatives and testing them for best choice. The model is built with some variables and relationship between variables. In reality, the considered values of variables or relationship in the model may not hold good and therefore, the solution needs to be tested for an outcome, if the considered values of variables or relationship change. This method of analysis is called 'what if analysis.' Problems needs to understand, analyse, define and fix where as decision is taken on the past experiences: more time spend in problem analysis & problem definition as compared to the time spends on decision analysis because In a decision making problem about determining inventory control parameters (EOQ, safety stock, maximum stock, minimum stock, reorder level) lead time is assumed fairly constant and stable for a planning period. Based on this, the inventory parameters are calculated. Inventory manager wants to know how the cost of holding inventory will be affected if lead time is reduced by one week or increased by one week. The model with changed lead time would compute the cost of holding inventory under

new conditions. Such type of analysis can be done for purchase price change, demand forecast variations and so on. Such analysis helps a manager to take more learned decisions.

Q5. How hardware & software support in various MIS activities of the organization? Explain the transaction stages from manual system to automated systems? Ans: Hardware in the form of personal computers and peripherals like
printers, fax machines, copier, and scanners are used in organisations to support various MIS activities. Advantages of personal computers A personal computer offers the following advantage Speed A Personal computer (PC) is capable of processing data at a very high speed. It can also process millions of instructions within fraction of a second. Storage A PC can store huge quantity of data in its hard disk. It gets rid of the conventional office flat files and box files by storing information digitally. This information can be transferred from one place to another place in electronic form via the internet, pen drive and CD. Communication A PC on the network can offer great support in communicating information in the form of text and images. Today a PC with Internet connectivity is a powerful support tool for communicating every business activity. Accuracy A PC is highly reliable and is used to compute data continuously with more accuracy than humans. Conferencing A PC with Internet access offers worldwide video conferencing opportunity. Thus, it saves traveling across the globe for business people to meet their business partners, colleagues, and customers. Through video conferencing, cost and time can be saved. The processor gets inputs from the input unit such as keyboard, scanner, mouse or bar code reader. The processor refers to the unit which processes the input received as per the instructions given. In a computer, the processor is the CPU (Central Processing Unit). It takes care of all arithmetic calculations, logical tasks and storage of details in the memory. The output unit displays the output from the computer. Monitor, printer, speakers etc. are output units.

Transaction stages from manual system to automated systems done by using Computers.
Classification of computers Computers are classified as follows 1. Depending upon the processor used e.g., Pentium Dual Core, Intel PI, PII, PIII, PIV, AMD, Celerons, etc. 2. Depending upon the purpose for which it is used A computer may be a general purpose computer or a specific purpose computer. General purpose computers are the ones used for general tasks such as business analysis, typing letter, generating reports for management decisions, scheduling activities, preparing balance sheets and invoices. Specific purpose computers are custom-built for specific tasks like space research, weather forecasting, satellite sensing. Specific purpose computers are designed to perform tasks for which they are intended for. For example, the systems used in pathology labs. 3. Depending upon the size: A computer may be classified based upon its size and speed of computing as microcomputers, mini computers,

mainframes, and supercomputers. Super computer is the largest in size and the fastest in computing speed.

Q6. Compare & Contrast E-enterprise business model with traditional business organization model? Explain how in E-enterprise manager role & responsibilities are changed? Explain how manager is a knowledge worker in E-enterprise? Ans:

Managing the E-enterprise by manager

The definition of business organisation has changed with the introduction of internet and web technology. The effect of internet and web technology on business is so vast that the enterprise is able to reach a large number customers and vendors. Hence, a business enterprise has no economic or geographic boundaries. The area of operation is wide open depending availability of internet. This type of business is termed E-business. E-business organisation moves the traditional paper driven organisation to information driven, Internet enabled, e-business enterprise. E-business enterprise is open 24X7 and allows managers, vendors and customers to transact business from anywhere. Internet capabilities increased the business value of organisations. Internet and web technology offer new channels of business opportunities. For example, buying and selling of goods can be done on the Internet. Internet has enabled customers and vendors/suppliers to have a secured access to information on products, wherever necessary. Due to this, the cost of business operations has come down appreciably and has eliminated most of the paper-driven processes. The effect of these radical changes resulted in the reduction in administrative and management overheads, reduction in inventory, faster delivery of goods and better services to the customers. To achieve the said benefits of an e-business organisation, it is necessary to redesign the organisation to realise the benefits of the digital firm. The benefits start from the organisation structure. As e-commerce can cover wide area of operation and can be operated from anywhere, the firm can trim its established infrastructure such as branch office or zonal office when they are not effectively required. (Allows people to work from anywhere) It automates the process after re-engineering and reduces process cycle time.

It makes use of groupware technology on Internet platform for faster response processing. The image of e-enterprise has changed and brought about four transformations, namely Domestic business to global business. Industrial manufacturing economy to knowledge-based service economy. Enterprise resource management to enterprise network management. Manual, document driven business process to paperless, automated, electronically transacted and transmitted business process. An important challenge in e-commerce is implementing software according to domestic process or international process, using different communication standards and country-specific accounting practices.

Manager is Knowledge worker in an E-enterprise:

Internet technology is creating a universal platform for buying and selling of goods, commodities and services. Essentially Internet and networks enable integration of information, facilitate communication and provide ubiquitous access to everybody from anywhere. And the software solutions are robust (serve multiple users without crashing) and reliable (accurate and up to date information is displayed). These enabling capabilities of technology have given rise to four business models that together work in an e-enterprise organisation. They are e-business e-commerce e-Communication e-collaboration These models work successfully because Internet technology provides the infrastructure for running the entire business process of any length. Low cost connectivity, physical, virtual and universal standards of Internet technology is the driving force to convert the conventional business model to an e.business enterprise model.