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Homework #2
CAP303: Management
Support System
 PART-1
Q1.How do the different roles of system software and
application software affect you as a business end user?
How do you see this changing in the future?

Ans :-

Computer software consists of two major types of programs: (1) application

software that directs the performance of a particular use, or application, of
computers to meet the information processing needs of users, and (2)
system software that controls and supports the operations of a computer
system as it performs various information processing tasks. Refer to Figure
4.2 for an overview of the major types of software.

The system software acts as an interface between the computer

hardware and the application software. The end user will interact
mainly with application software. In the future this type of
interface will become even easier to use as it moves towards
natural interfaces.

Q2. Why is an operating system necessary? Why can’t an

end user just load an application program in a computer
and start computing?

Ans:-
An operating system is an integrated system of programs that supervises
the operation of the CPU, controls the input/output storage functions of the
computer system, and provides various support services. An operating
system performs five basic functions: (1) a user interface for system and
network communications with users, (2) resource management for
managing the hardware resources of a computer system, (3) file
management for managing files of data and programs, (4) task
management for managing the tasks a computer must accomplish, and (5)
utilities and other functions that provide miscellaneous

The instruction set implemented on the computer hardware (the

machine language) is very limited. Programs using only these
instructions would have to be extremely long and complicated, to
perform the various processing tasks required by end users.
Application programs thus require the operating system to act as
an interface with the hardware, allowing application programs to
be shorter, easier to understand, easier to use, and possibly allow
multiple applications to run concurrently

Q3.How should an e-business enterprise store, access, and

distribute data & information about their internal
operations & external environment?

PART –B

Q4. Databases of information about a firm’s internal

operations were formerly the only databases that were
considered to be important to a business. What other
kinds of databases are important for a business today?

ANS:-
Data is a vital organizational resource, which needs to be managed like other
important business assets. Most
organizations could not survive or succeed without quality data about their internal
operations and external
environment. Managers need to practice data resource management - a managerial
activity that applies
information systems technology like database management and other management
tools to the task of managing an
organization's data resources to meet the information needs of business users.

Analyzing IBM versus Oracles

We can learn a lot from this case about the major choices companies face in
selecting database and applications
software. Take a few minutes to this case, and we will discuss it (See Analyzing
IBM versus Oracle in Section IX).
FOUNDATION DATA CONCEPTS - [Figure 3.2]
A hierarchy of several levels of data has been devised that differentiates between
different groupings, or elements,
of data. Data are logically organized into:

Character- A character is the most basic logical data element. It consists of a

single alphabetic, numeric, or
other symbol.
Field- A field consists of a grouping of characters. A data field represents an
attribute (a characteristic or
quality) of somee nt it y (object, person, place, or event).

Record - Related fields of data are grouped to form a record.Thus, a record

represents a collection of
attributes that describe an entity. Fixed-length records contain a fixed number of
fixed-length data fields.
Variable-length records contain a variable number of fields and field lengths.

File - A group of related records is known as a data file, ort ab l e. Files are
frequently classified by the

application for which they are primarily used, such as a payroll file or an inventory
file, or the type of data
they contain, such as a document file or a graphical image file. Files are also
classified by their permanence,
for example, a master file versus a transaction file. A transaction file would
contain records of all transaction

Major types of databases.

b. Data warehouses and data mining.

c. Logical data elements.
d. Fundamental database structures
e. Database access methods.

f. Database development.

Q5. How is the trend toward open systems, connectivity,

and interoperability related to business use of the
Internet, intranets, and extranets?

Ans:-

As more businesses become dependent on the use of the

Internet, intranets, and extranets in computing and
telecommunications, the industry will strive to move closer
towards achieving open systems which use common standards for
hardware, software, applications, and networking. This
computing environment will enable businesses to easily establish
connectivity within their own organizations, as well as enable
them to communicate with others outside the organization.
Open systems will enable the many different applications of end
users to be accomplished using the different varieties of
computer systems, software packages, and databases provided
by a variety of interconnected networks.

Q6. Explain the business value which is driving so many

companies to rapidly install and extend intranets
throughout their organizations?

Ans:-
The business value driving so many companies to rapidly install
and extend intranets and enterprise information portals
throughout their organizations is the ability to communicate,
collaboration, and coordinate with others. Business value
includes cost reductions, increased revenues, creating closer
connections with their customers and suppliers. ROI on
investment in this technology is quickly realized. Access to
accurate, instant, and readily available data is crucial for all
businesses today. e-commerce applications have enabled
companies to derive business value by generating new revenue
sources, reduce costs of doing business, develop new web-based
products, increase customer loyalty and retention, attract new
customers, and develop new markets and channels