Open University of Mauritius

Master of Business Administration

EXAMINATIONS FOR:

December 2013 - Semester 1

MODULE:

Managing Information Systems [C1]

DURATION:

3 HOURS

READING TIME:

15 Minutes

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
1.

This paper consists of SIX Questions

2.

All questions carry equal marks.

3.

Answer any FOUR questions out of SIX.

4.

Always start a new question on a fresh page.

5.

Total marks: 100.

This question paper contains 6 questions and 4 pages.

Page 1 of 4

ANSWER ANY 4 QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1 [25 MARKS]
(a)

Describe, using appropriate examples, the relationship between

Objectives, Decisions and Information within an organisation
[3 x 2 marks]

(b)

Identify and describe, using appropriate examples, the 3 main categories

of organisational levels.
[3 x 3 marks]

(c)

Describe the types of Information Systems serving each organisation

level.
[3 x 2 marks]

(d)

The need for real time information and predictive information varies in
each organisation level. Discuss.
[2 x 2 marks]

QUESTION 2 [25 MARKS]

(a)

(b)

(i)

List 4 major functional areas of a business.

[4 x 1 marks]

(ii)

Describe the Information Systems serving each of the functional

areas.
[4 x 3 marks]

(i)

What are the challenges posed by the existence of various types of

Information Systems in an enterprise?
[3 x 1 marks]

(ii)

How can these challenges be addressed?

[3 x 2 marks]

QUESTION 3 [25 MARKS]

(a)

Describe, using an appropriate example, the characteristics of Strategic

Information Systems.
[5 marks]

(b)

Describe five technology and business trends that have enhanced the role
of Information Systems in todays competitive business environment
[5 x 2 marks]
Page 2 of 4

(c)

The initial stages in E-Business Development include Segmenting Markets

and putting Channel Enhancement strategies in place. Discuss.
[2 x 5 marks]

QUESTION 4 [25 MARKS]

(a)

In order to improve competitiveness, organisations have adopted the

following viewpoints: Value Chain and Supply Chain.
Describe, using appropriate examples, the terms Value Chain and Supply
Chain.
[2 x 5 marks]

(b)

What are supply chain management systems and how are they beneficial
to businesses? Discuss.
[2 + 3 marks]

(c)

What are enterprise resource planning systems? How do they change the
way organisations work?
[2 + 3 marks]

(d)

Organisations are upgrading their enterprise resource planning software

with Collaborative Applications? Why is this so?
[1 + 4 marks]

QUESTION 5 [25 MARKS]

(a)

A successful transformation to E-business requires organisations to have

the Internet Gene. Discuss.
[4 marks]

(b)

E-commerce and E-business are two terms which are often used
interchangeably, but have different meanings. Describe their similarities
and differences.
[2 x 3 marks]

(c)

The staged transformation model, identified by Price Waterhouse

Coopers, defines the 4 stages of change for leveraging e-business. In the
third stage, organisations choose to focus their competencies on either
being Knowcos and Physcos.
a. Explain, using appropriate examples, the terms Knowcos and
Physcos?
[3 + 3 marks]

Page 3 of 4

b. The fourth stage in the staged transformation model is called

Convergence. Explain, using an appropriate example, the term
Convergence
[3 marks]
c. Describe 3 main drivers for Convergence
[3 x 2 marks]
QUESTION 6 [25 MARKS]

(a)

Explain what is meant by the term Virtual Organisation?

[2 marks]

(b)

Explain, with an appropriate example, the term Outsourcing? Describe

three benefits of Outsourcing.
[2 + 6 marks]

(c)

Describe 2 negative consequences of Outsourcing.

[2 x 2 marks]

(d)

Describe 3 main approaches to Outsourcing.

[3 x 2 marks]

(e)

Simple Rules and Portfolio Analysis are two approaches used for
developing organisational strategies. Discuss the differences between
these two approaches.
[5 marks]

Page 4 of 4