Management Information System Question Paper
Management Information System
Course:Master Of Business Administration
Institution: Kenyatta University question papers
Exam Year:2010
KENYATTA UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS 2010/2011
INSTITUTIONAL BASED PROGRAMME (IBP) – AUGUST SESSION
EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION
BMS 501:
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
DATE: Thursday, 30th December, 2010
TIME: 9.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INSTRUCTIONS:
1.
Answer question ONE and any other THREE questions.
2.
The length of the answers should be guided by the marks allocated to each
question.
3.
Clearly articulate practical illustrations where required.
QUESTION ONE (40 MARKS)
Agriculture as an economic sector faces many challenges today and the farmer as a business person has borne the brunt of these challenges. The farmer faces a very competitive market where prices are continually falling while the costs keep rising. A senior official in the ministry of agriculture recently contacted the ministry of information and communication about how IT can be used to aid in the turning around of the fortunes of this very crucial sector to the economy. After some preliminary analysis, the ministry of communication in collaboration with private sector players floated the idea of developing a web-based one-stop solution for farmers that could provide them with comprehensive information. The analysis revealed that the current supply chain of farmers across the country was very inefficient since it exposed farmers to being cheated by middlemen, the farmers were unaware about information required to conduct farming productively e.g. meteorological data as well as information about the latest techniques in farming, soil analysis, fertilizer application e.t.c. the proposed system would be piloted in one district whereby all the villages will be provided with a computer kiosk complete with all the relevant software to help achieve the objectives of the proposed system.
a)
Discuss the new media applications that you think should be incorporated in the proposed system and how each will be useful to the farmer. (10 marks)
b)
How do you think the designer of the system should go about procuring the various tools and technologies of the system? (8 marks)
c)
Using specific commercially available solutions as illustrations, describe the component of the system that will assist the farmer to market their produce. (6 marks)
d)
From the farmer’s perspective, how will the above system make them more competitive? (8 marks)
e)
Describe the design and implementation activities of developing such a system (8 marks)
QUESTION TWO (20 MARKS)
a)
Use a purchase orders database to illustrate the components of a database management system and their functions. (6 marks)
b)
Discuss the various channels of communications that can be used in a network and for each provide their pros and cons. (7 marks)
c)
Identify 7 specialty application software and how they are likely to aid the concerned individual manager. (7 marks)
QUESTION THREE (20 MARKS)
a)
Contrast the database approach from the traditional file processing systems with the aid practical management applications. (10 marks)
b)
Prescribe a solution for Mr. Kagendo the proprietor of Kags Realtors who in the recent past has seen the company grow and open branches in five different towns across the country. His main headache has been how to effectively and efficiently supervise and co-ordinate the activities of the different offices. (10 marks)
QUESTION FOUR (20 MARKS)
a)
Identify particular accounting software package and use it to describe the architecture of a typical accounting information system. (10 marks)
b)
With the aid of a particular decision making situation, contrast decision support system with expert systems in so far as their make-up is concerned. (10 marks)
QUESTION FIVE (20 MARKS)
a)
Describe the organizational structure of a typical M.I.S function in an organization identifying the various professionals and briefly indicating their roles and responsibilities. (10 marks)
b)
Illustrate how a management information system can aid the activities of a manager involved in organizing and control functions of management. (10 marks)
QUESTION SIX (20 MARKS)
a)
Underscore the importance of systems security and explain what needs to be included in an information system to achieve it. (8 marks)
b)
Identify the new Internet applications and explain how they can be incorporated in the system in question (1) above to make it even more effective. (6 marks)
c)
Discuss the various legal issues that arise in the design and operation of information systems by organizations and further prescribe remedies for the identified challenges. (6 marks)
More Question Papers
Exams With Marking Schemes
Popular Exams
Mid Term Exams
End Term 1 Exams
End Term 3 Exams
Opener Exams
Full Set Exams
Return to Question Papers