Get premium membership and access questions with answers, video lessons as well as revision papers.
Electronic business
This is the use of the Internet and other digital technology for organizational communication
and coordination and the management of the firm. Intranets are quickly becoming the
technology of choice for electronic business.
Opportunities offered:
1. Cost Reduction
Intranets provide an opportunity for reduction of costs associated with handling and
storing information. Since the information is stored electronically, there is minimal need for
paper-based systems which involve paper, printing and distribution costs.
2. Training Of Organizational Staff
Internet and intranet networks enable organizations to train their staff effectively. Training
could be through audio-visual programs contained in a company‘s intranet or through
videoconferencing (ability to confer with a group of people simultaneously using telephone
or e-mail group communication software)
3. Improved Group Collaboration
This is due to better intra-organizational communication facilitated by Internet and intranet
technologies such as e-mail.
4. Up-To-Date Online Information Repositories
Product catalogs, employee handbooks, telephone directories or employee benefits
information could be stored online in a company‘s intranet and could be revised
immediately as any changes occur. This approach enables organizations to respond more
rapidly to changing conditions.
5. Production Control
Intranets could be used to deliver financial information to manufacturing personnel so that
workers can monitor the production line‘s profit-and-loss performance and adapt
accordingly. The intranet can also be used to provide quality measurements such as defects
and rejects as well as maintenance and training schedules.
6. Improved Customer Service
Up-to-date organizational information, improved group working and production control
has the overall effect of improving the quality of goods and services offered to consumers.
Challenges:
1. Cost Of Changing To E-Business
Since e-business requires the use of the Internet and related digital technologies, a company
intending to implement e-business would have to consider internet connection costs, costs
associated with setting up and maintaining an intranet, etc. Such costs have to be clearly
justified by the potential benefits to be delivered.
2. Security And Privacy
Connecting to the Internet or setting up an intranet for e-business would imply that
adequate security checks have to be put in place to protect the organization‘s data.
3. Business Process Change Requirements
Setting up an intranet to provide access to shared organizational data would imply that the
document flow of the organization would have to be modified to take into account the
central shared repository of data.
4. Employee Resistance To Change
This could delay implementation of the e-business project since resistance has to be
addressed before implementation.
gregorymasila answered the question on November 22, 2017 at 15:44
- Most information systems are reviewed or critically examined a few months after they have been implemented or put into operation. Required:State key reports resulting...(Solved)
Most information systems are reviewed or critically examined a few months after they
have been implemented or put into operation.
Required:
State key reports resulting from this exercise outlining their structural content.
Date posted: November 22, 2017. Answers (1)
- Explain the meaning and the use(s) of the following types of storage:
(i)Writable/recoverable CDs.
(ii)DVDs.(Solved)
Explain the meaning and the use(s) of the following types of storage:
(i)Writable/recoverable CDs.
(ii)DVDs.
Date posted: November 22, 2017. Answers (1)
- Computer aided software engineering (CASE) is a tool for programmers, systems analysts, business analysts and systems developers used to help automate software development and at...(Solved)
Computer aided software engineering (CASE) is a tool for programmers, systems
analysts, business analysts and systems developers used to help automate software
development and at the same time improve software quality.
Required:
Under what circumstances would the use of CASE tools be considered a viable option by
the systems developers?
Date posted: November 22, 2017. Answers (1)
- Information technology and business environments are rapidly changing such that systems must also keep on evolving in order to keep pace with changes in the...(Solved)
Information technology and business environments are rapidly changing such that
systems must also keep on evolving in order to keep pace with changes in the
environment.
In an attempt to upgrade an organisation's system, state the individual members of staff
and their corresponding tasks who would be involved with the change.
Date posted: November 22, 2017. Answers (1)
- Outline the main reasons why information technology is viewed as a strategic resource in business organisations(Solved)
Outline the main reasons why information technology is viewed as a strategic resource in business organisations.
Date posted: November 22, 2017. Answers (1)
- List four problems encountered when using standard files for data processing systems.(Solved)
List four problems encountered when using standard files for data processing systems.
Date posted: November 22, 2017. Answers (1)
- List and discuss two issues that arc likely to cause system failure in each of the following stages of a system development life cycle(Solved)
List and discuss two issues that arc likely to cause system failure in each of the
following stages of a system development life cycle:
(i) Testing.
(ii) Project definition.
(iii) Design.
(iv) Requirement analysis.
Date posted: November 22, 2017. Answers (1)
- A clear statement of information needs is fundamental for good system design. Explain the factors that may contribute or influence management information needs.(Solved)
A clear statement of information needs is fundamental for good system design.
Explain the factors that may contribute or influence management information needs.
Date posted: November 22, 2017. Answers (1)
- You are a manager in one of the leading accounting firms in the country. You have been registered as a network user on the company's...(Solved)
You are a manager in one of the leading accounting firms in the country. You have
been registered as a network user on the company's local area network (LAN) which
enable you to send memos by electronic mail. You are however concerned about the
security of the LAN.
Required:
(i) Explain four administrative controls that should be implemented to guarantee
the network security. (6 marks)
(ii) Describe two methods or techniques used to secure the electronic mail
messages being transmitted through the network.
(iii) Explain three policy issues that should be put in place to reduce virus-rom
attacking your network.
Date posted: November 22, 2017. Answers (1)
- On coming back from a fact finding mission about a company in need of automating its sales department, your supervisor hands over a report to...(Solved)
On coming back from a fact finding mission about a company in need of automating its sales department, your supervisor hands over a report to you for analysis. Since you are on internship in the Firm, you are only required to comment your ideas for consideration before they can be approved for implementation.
Required:
(i) Explain what is meant by systems analysis.
(ii) Outline four main objectives of systems analysis.
(iii) State some of the personnel who work in the information systems and their
tasks in the analysis phase
Date posted: November 22, 2017. Answers (1)
- What are the advantages of using a data transmission communications network?(Solved)
What are the advantages of using a data transmission communications network?
Date posted: November 21, 2017. Answers (1)
- Outline factors to be considered while selecting data transmission system.(Solved)
Outline factors to be considered while selecting data transmission system.
Date posted: November 21, 2017. Answers (1)
- Outline the advantages and disadvantages of computer output on microfilm(COM)(Solved)
Outline the advantages and disadvantages of computer output on microfilm(COM)
Date posted: November 21, 2017. Answers (1)
- State the types of high speed printers.(Solved)
State the types of high speed printers.
Date posted: November 21, 2017. Answers (1)
- State the types of low speed printers.(Solved)
State the types of low speed printers.
Date posted: November 21, 2017. Answers (1)
- State and explain characteristics a good code in computer system.(Solved)
State and explain characteristics a good code in computer system.
Date posted: November 21, 2017. Answers (1)
- State and explain factors to consider when selecting an input device/facility for a computer system.(Solved)
State and explain factors to consider when selecting an input facility for a computer system.
Date posted: November 21, 2017. Answers (1)
- State examples of input devices.(Solved)
State examples of input devices.
Date posted: November 21, 2017. Answers (1)
- Outline the advantages of Optical Character Reader.(Solved)
Outline the advantages of Optical Character Reader.
Date posted: November 21, 2017. Answers (1)
- Name and explain three tasks that the systems analyst would undertake in the design phase of information systems development process.(Solved)
Name and explain three tasks that the systems analyst would undertake in the design
phase of information systems development process.
Date posted: November 21, 2017. Answers (1)