WEEK THREE QUESTIONS

1. What is computer hardware and what are the major hardware components?
Hardware refers to the physical equipment used for the input, processing, output and storage activities of a computer system. Its major components are:
— Power supply
— Video card
— Sound Card
— Central processing unit (CPU)
— Primary storage
— Secondary storage
— Input technologies
— Output technologies
— Communication technologies

Photo: Compliments of Raj, accessed at: http://www.rajgovt.org/Computers-IT/Computer-Hardware/images/case[1].jpg

2. What is Moore's Law/what does it mean in relation to computers.
Founder of Intel, he predicted that microprocessor complexity would double every two years. This means that the speed of computers will double, and processing chips would get smaller and smaller.

3. In basic terms, describe how a microprocessor functions.
A microprocessor accepts input, processes the data and stores it till needed. Then retrieves it and processes it again to be used.

4. What factors determine the speed of the microprocessor?
Clock speed – cycles per second, usually in GHZ. 2 GHZ means 2 billion times per second.
Word length – refers to how many characters the PC can read in one clock cycle. Bit system: 32 bits = 32 bits of data
Bus width – the amount of data that can travel at the same time
Physical design of chip

A microprocessor's design is similar to:

Photo: Compliments of 'How Stuff Works', accessed at:http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/microprocessor1.gif

5. What are the four main types of primary storage.
Random Access memory (RAM): more ram means more programs the computer can run.
Registers: stores extremely limited amounts of instructions and data only immediately before and after processing
Cache memory: where the computer can store blocks of data used more often
Read-only memory (ROM): certain critical instructions are safeguarded; the storage is nonvolatile and retains the instructions when the power to the computer is turned off.

6. What are the main types of secondary storage?
Magnetic media such as: hard disks and tapes
Optical media such as: CD-ROM and DVD
Solid state media such as: flash drives and Apple Ipods

7. How does primary storage differ from secondary storage in terms of speed cost and capacity?
Primary storage is faster but more costly, and secondary storage is slower yet more cost efficient.

8. What are enterprise storage systems?
An independent, external system with intelligence that includes two or more storage devices. There are three types of enterprise storage systems: Redundant Arrays of Independent Disks (RAID), Storage Area Network (SAN) and Network Attached Storage (NAS).

9. Distinguish between human data input devices and source data automation.
Human data input devices: rely on humans to input data, and prone to human error. Such as: keyboards, mouse
Source data automation: devices which contribute data with little human intervention. Such as barcode scanners, these are far more accurate and faster.

10. What is one new technology that will change how we do things? You need to do some research
Printable electronics: by using polymer “ink”, from an inkjet print head, innovator’s have created electronics that are less wasteful, flexible and very cheap. The technology can be used for a large variety of things, examples are wallpaper with changing designs, bulb less lamps and flexible e-book readers. The technology makes access to information even more flexible.
A video demonstrating some of the technology can be found at:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16831-innovation-a-licence-to-print-gadgets.html

WEEK TWO QUESTIONS

Chapter 1

Q1. What are the characteristics of the modern business environment?
The modern business environment is extremely dynamic, and subject to rapid change. The characteristics are:
· Technological advances leading to:
o Intensifying competition and threats
o Easier transport and communications
· Political and legal factors. Laws and regulations impact significantly on businesses
· Economic factors.
· Social and culturally factors.

Q2. What is meant by a web-based, global platform, what does it provide, and how has it affected business?
A platform that uses the functioning of the World Wide Web, to enable individuals to connect, compute, communicate, collaborate, and compare everywhere and anywhere, anytime and all the time; to access limitless amounts of information, services, and entertainment; to exchange knowledge; and to produce and sell goods and services. With these capabilities, businesses are enable to globalise, with no regard to geography, time, distance and even language barriers.

Q3. What are the main pressures that characterize the modern global business environment?
Market pressures: generated by global economy and strong competition, the changing nature of the workforce, and powerful customers.
Technology pressures: refers to technological innovation and obsolescence and information overload.
Social/ Political/ Legal pressures: includes social responsibility, government regulation/deregulation, spending for social programs, spending to protect against terrorism and ethics.

Q4. What are/discuss some of the common, IT oriented organizational responses to these pressures?
Strategic systems: are being built to know what their customers and competitions are. Knowing the two enables them to increase their market share and/or profits.
Customer focus: attempts to provide superb customer service, to retain the customers rather than lose them.
Make-to-order: strategy of producing customized products and services.
Mass customization: produces a large quantity of items, but customizes them to fit the desires of each customer.
E-Business and E-commerce: essential strategy for companies competing in today’s business environment.

Q5. How are IT architecture and IT infrastructure are interrelated.
IT Architecture: is a high-level map or plan of the information assets in an organization. The information that simply runs an organisation
IT Infrastructure: consists of the actual implementation of the plan that will provide for effective information systems, including IT components, hardware, IT services, and IT personnel that support the entire organization.
The two are interrelated by people, people design and build the plan, others relate to it by constructing the facilities according to the plan.

Q6. Is the Internet an infrastructure, an architecture, or an application program? or something else. Why?
The Internet is consist of the use of all three. It uses infrastructure such as servers and cable to run it. Architecture enables the infrastructure to work sufficiently in spreading information. Applications are required to run the Internet, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox.

Chapter 2

Q1. What is the difference between an 'application' and a computer-based information systems?
Applications are one or more pieces of computer software put together. However, a Computer based information systems is a broader term relating to software, hardware and processors used in relation with each other to complete tasks.

Q2. What are strategic information systems?
Any system that helps an organisation gain a competitive advantage, by supporting its strategic goals and/or increasing performance and productivity.

Q3. According to Porter, what are the five forces that could endanger a firm’s position in its industry or marketplaces?
Threat of new competitors: the threat is high when it is easy for new competitors to join the market. The threat is low when significant barriers exist.
Bargaining power of suppliers: supplier power is high when buyers few choices from whom they can buy from.
Bargaining power of customers: buyer power is high when buyers have many choices from whom they can buy from.
Threat of substituted services: threat of substituted services is high when many substitutes exist.
Rivalry of existing firms in the industry: threat of rivalry is high when there is intense competition among many firms in an industry.

Q4. In relation to Porter's value chain model, what is meant by primary activities and support activities, and how does IT support these activities?
Primary activities are activities that relate to the production and distribution of the firm’s products. Support activities such as logistics are the things that support the primary activities in order to contribute to the firm’s competitive advantage. IT supports these activities by making them easier, faster and more efficient.

Q5. Discuss the logic of building information systems in accordance with the organizational hierarchical structure.
Once the hierarchical structure is formed, systems are then formed for each level of these structures. These systems enable employees of each level in the organisation to effectively carry out their tasks to further contribute to the firm’s goals.

Q6. How has the Internet affected each of the five forces in Porter’s competitive forces model.
Threat of new competitors come from anywhere in the world thanks to e-commerce, making the threat bigger than ever before.
Bargaining power of suppliers is decreased because they can find suppliers anywhere now.
Bargaining power of customers has increased because of so many places to buy from.
Threat of substitute products is increasing, because people can copy things very easily.
Competition and rivalry now more fierce.