Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)
This refers to a form of computer to computer data interchange through agreed standards by
all parties. The concept of one computer communicating to another can be faced with major
difficulties such as: -
i) Each business organisation wants to produce documents to its own individual
requirements and structure.
ii) Different makes of computers cannot easily communicate to each other due to
compatibility problems.
iii) Businesses may be working at different time schedules especially when engaged in
international trade.
Thus, to ensure electronic communication is possible, agreed formats for these electronic
documents recognisable by all parties to the transactions are agreed upon.
The advantages of EDI are:
1. If an organisation is decentralised, EDI can expedite internal billing
2. If an organisation‘s paperwork is intricate and complex, EDI can speed it up.
The disadvantages are:
1. Joining EDI network is quite expensive
2. There may be problems with deciding which categories of information are to be sent or
received.
3. Problem in adapting internal systems so that they match up with EDI translation software.
b) Client server computing
Client-server computing refers to a way of describing the relationship between the devices in
a network whereby the tasks that need to be carried out are distributed among various
machines on the network.
A client is a machine which requests a service. For example, a PC running a word processing
application which the user wishes to print out.
A server is a machine which is dedicated to providing a particular function or service
requested by a client. They include file server, print server, and fax servers.
A client server system allows computer power to be distributed where it is most needed. This
approach has the following advantages:
i) It reduces network communication costs
ii) It allows the central computer to be used for administrative tasks such as network
management.
iii) The technological flexibility of this type of system allows the use of sophisticated
applications such as multimedia.
c) System specifications
This refers to a complete documentation of the whole system which is properly maintained or
updated as parts of the system are changed or added to. Problems arise in computer
installations because of inadequate systems and program documentation and controls must be
set up to ensure that updating procedures are always carried out.
Specifications involve a complete description of a program usually including flow charts,
program listings, test data and expected results. System specifications are drawn up by the
system analyst. There should be program specifications and hardware specifications for every
individual program or hardware in the system.
d) Electronic point of sale system
This is a terminal unit or a system capable of selling, processing and receiving sales and stock
particulars by selling transactions. They are mostly used in retail outlets as terminals
connecting the cashier to the computer database containing the stock and sales data. It
comprises of 3 units namely:
?
Bar code scanner
?
Cash register keyboard
?
Cash register visual screen panel or VDU
When a customer presents an item to the cashier, the cashier either enters the keyboard
numbers through the keyboard or uses the scanner to read the bar code. The information is
then sent to computer memory, which interprets the information and retrieves the data from
the magnitude containing the stock and sale. The system calculate the total amount of
purchases and sales before reconciling the stock. It also gives out the itemised receipt and
change to customer.
The advantages of this system include: -
1. It is very fast and convenient to both the cashier and customer.
2. It gives more accurate and reliable services
3. It reduces the need for oriental personnel
4. It provides automatic control of stock and sales data.
However the system suffers the following drawbacks
1. It is vulnerable to mechanical and power failure.
2. It is very expensive and requires large organisation with substance data processing
requirements.
3. Updating or alteration of stock or sales data involves a lot of work and cost.
gregorymasila answered the question on November 30, 2017 at 11:57
- Systems walkthroughs are procedures that are commonly used as a means of quality assurance in the information systems development process.Required: (i) Describe the composition and the...(Solved)
Systems walkthroughs are procedures that are commonly used as a means of quality
assurance in the information systems development process.
Required:
i) Describe the composition and the roles of walk through teams.
ii) Provide a checklist of items to be examined during the walkthrough.
Date posted: November 30, 2017. Answers (1)
- Explain what is meant by a Graphical User Interface (GUI) and account for the increased design and implementation of such interfaces(Solved)
Explain what is meant by a Graphical User Interface (GUI) and account for the increased design and implementation of such interfaces.
Date posted: November 30, 2017. Answers (1)
- Client/Server architecture, database technology and networks provide structures which facilitate sharing of corporate data and information.As an information Technology (IT) specialist, outline the major precautions...(Solved)
Client/Server architecture, database technology and networks provide structures which
facilitate sharing of corporate data and information.
As an information Technology (IT) specialist, outline the major precautions that should be
taken into account in the process of sharing data.
Date posted: November 30, 2017. Answers (1)
- Describe the relevance of the following to a Decision Support System (DSS):(i) Specialized packages: (ii) Query languages; (iii) Database management system(Solved)
Describe the relevance of the following to a Decision Support System (DSS):
(i) Specialized packages;
(ii) Query languages;
(iii) Database management system
Date posted: November 30, 2017. Answers (1)
- Management Information Systems should facilitate decision-making at all levels of management. Each level requires information with different characteristics and with differing degree of profitability.(Solved)
Management Information Systems should facilitate decision-making at all levels of management.
Each level requires information with different characteristics and with differing degree of
profitability.
Required:
a) Examine the characteristics of information used in (i) strategic planning and (ii) operational
control.
Date posted: November 30, 2017. Answers (1)
- Business process re-engineering (BPR) is the fundamental rethinking and radical redesign of business process to achieve a dramatic improvement in measures of performance such as...(Solved)
Business process re-engineering (BPR) is the fundamental rethinking and radical redesign of
business process to achieve a dramatic improvement in measures of performance such as
quality, cost, speed and services.
Required:
i) List the steps of BPR.
ii) Critically examine the role information technology (IT) plays in BPR
Date posted: November 30, 2017. Answers (1)
- The general manager of a large organisation has asked you to draw up a document identifying eight important system characteristics against which managers can evaluate...(Solved)
The general manager of a large organisation has asked you to draw up a document
identifying eight important system characteristics against which managers can evaluate the
success of an information system together with a brief explanation of each. What would
your document contain?
Date posted: November 30, 2017. Answers (1)
- Selling of products, services and information via the computer networks including the internet.Required: (a) Brief explanation of the following concepts as relates to e-commerce: (i) Electronic market....(Solved)
Selling of products, services and information via the computer networks including the internet.
Required:
a) Brief explanation of the following concepts as relates to e-commerce:
i) Electronic market.
ii) Electronic purse.
iii) Cyber banking.
iv) Cyber mall.
Date posted: November 30, 2017. Answers (1)
- Most systems are obsolescent the day they become operational. Comment on this statement giving six key reasons why changes to a system are so often...(Solved)
Most systems are obsolescent the day they become operational. Comment on this statement giving six key reasons why changes to a system are so often necessary after it has been implemented.
Date posted: November 29, 2017. Answers (1)
- Describe the functional characteristics and applicability of the backing store(Solved)
Describe the functional characteristics and applicability of the backing store.
Date posted: November 29, 2017. Answers (1)
- Give and explain two reasons, in each circumstance why the boot-up programs are stored. (i) In ROM (ii) On Disk(Solved)
Give and explain two reasons, in each circumstance why the boot-up programs are stored.
i) In ROM
ii) On Disk
Date posted: November 29, 2017. Answers (1)
- Access control is the restriction of unauthorized access to a portion of a computer system or the entire system.Required: (a) Explain the following control techniques and...(Solved)
Access control is the restriction of unauthorised access to a portion of a computer system or the
entire system.
Required:
a) Explain the following control techniques and their significance in the context of data security.
i) Biometric control
ii) Encryption
iii) Logical access
Date posted: November 29, 2017. Answers (1)
- Application controls can be classified into three major categories, processing controls and output controls. Describe the objective of each control and examine the techniques within...(Solved)
Application controls can be classified into three major categories, processing controls and
output controls.
Describe the objective of each control and examine the techniques within each to ensure
maintenance of maximum feasible levels of control.
Date posted: November 29, 2017. Answers (1)
- Explain how the use of Information Technology (IT) can bring about improvements in productivity within a business organisation(Solved)
Explain how the use of Information Technology (IT) can bring about improvements in productivity within a business organisation.
Date posted: November 29, 2017. Answers (1)
- Prototyping is based on the simple idea that people can express more easily what they like or do not like about an actual working system(Solved)
Prototyping is based on the simple idea that people can express more easily what they like or
do not like about an actual working system.
Required:
(a)
(i) Examine four guidelines required for the development of a prototype.
(ii) Select two facilities usually found in fourth generation languages (4GLs) and explain their
application in developing a prototype system.
Date posted: November 29, 2017. Answers (1)
- Organisation information systems are categorised under: (i) Transaction Processing System (TPS)(Solved)
Organisation information systems are categorised under:
i) Transaction Processing System (TPS)
ii) Management Information Systems (MIS)
iii) Decision Support System (DSS)
iv) Executive Information System (EIS)
v) Expert Systems (ES)
Required:
Suggest one application of each of the systems types listed above for each of the following
functional areas of business:
- Sales and marketing
- Finance
Date posted: November 29, 2017. Answers (1)
- What impact might end-user computing have on the organisation of information technology functions?(Solved)
What impact might end-user computing have on the organisation of information technology functions?
Date posted: November 29, 2017. Answers (1)
- Suggest examples of activities end-users might not be responsible for.(Solved)
Suggest examples of activities end-users might not be responsible for.
Date posted: November 29, 2017. Answers (1)
- The following are some of the elements which constitute an E-Commerce application: -Automated Teller Machine (ATM ), Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), Internet. Required:Illustrate the contributions of...(Solved)
The following are some of the elements which constitute an E-Commerce application: -
Automated Teller Machine (ATM )
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)
Internet.
Required:
Illustrate the contributions of each of the above technologies in E-Commerce application.
Date posted: November 29, 2017. Answers (1)
- Explain the meaning of the following terms: (i) Website. (ii) Cyber-cafe (iii) Network browser(Solved)
Explain the meaning of the following terms:
i. Website.
ii. Cyber-cafe.
iii. Network browser.
Date posted: November 29, 2017. Answers (1)