arnwine_amarie.individualassignment1
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School
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University *
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Course
4544
Subject
Information Systems
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
Pages
4
Uploaded by DeanBookAntelope110
Due Date: February 17, 2023, by 8 PM
1.
What are the five main components of an information system? (5 points)
-
The five main components of information systems are people, data, processes, hardware, and
software.
2.
What characteristics would make an individual a strong systems analyst? (5 points)
-A successful systems analyst needs technical knowledge, oral and written communication skills,
an understanding of business operations, and critical thinking skills
3.
Which is more widely available and less expensive: horizontal or vertical systems? Why?
(5 points)
-
Horizontal systems are more widely available because they’re not industry specific. They are
also less expensive because of their wider availability.
4.
Some experts believe that the growth in e-commerce will cause states and local
governments to lose tax revenue unless Internet transactions are subject to sales tax. What
is one argument that supports this view and one that opposes it? (10 points)
-
An argument in favor of taxes on internet transactions is that the potential revenue would be
considerable given the shift we are seeing to a digital world. The state could utilize a lot of the
extra money generated, and it even may help offset some losses.
An argument against internet taxes would be that the state doesn’t own the internet. The state has
no claim to be able to tax internet transactions. The government is stretching their jurisdictional
powers for a little bit more money, and it’s at the people’s detriment.
5.
Describe the business profile of a home improvement store like Home Depot or Lowe's
and how it is used. (10 points)
-
Home Depot is a large retail store specializing in home improvement. They aim for providing
excellent customer service, for the broadest selection of products, at the best prices. Home Depot
plans to start targeting big contractors making large, scheduled orders. This would provide a big
bump to revenue and might help provide lower prices for day-to-day customers.
6.
What are the seven types of information systems used in business? (7 points)
-
The 7 types of information systems used in business are: enterprise computing, transaction
processing, business support, knowledge management, user productivity, digital assistants, and
systems integration.
7.
What are the roles and responsibilities of a systems analyst in a modern business?
(5 points)
-
A system analyst helps plan, develop, and maintain information systems. They can work as a an
employee of the company or as an independent contractor/consultant.
8.
Under what circumstances should a systems analyst recommend an agile
methodology over structured development or object-oriented analysis? (5 points)
-The agile method is very resilient to change because of its design. It also mitigates risk in those
changes with the use of iterations. This makes an agile method system a favorable option for
projects with unpredictability, rely heavily on feedback, and that has a team (or a large resource)
of developers.
9.
When team members are geographically dispersed, communication becomes more
challenging. Explain how groupware can increase user productivity in this context.
(10 points)
-Groupware aims to mitigate the losses associated with geographical limitations by expanding
your means of connectivity through the internet and internet processes. Zoom, for example, was
able to alleviate some of the constraints caused by covid in the classroom and workplace.
10. Rapid advancements in areas such as machine learning and predictive analytics in
data science are affecting the daily operations of many IT departments. What should a
systems analyst do to stay current? (15 points)
-A system analyst should constantly be educating themselves on what the current trends in their
field are and how new technology is being integrated. If it is possible, higher education can stand
to be beneficial. Networking with other analysts and discussing what current obstacles they’re
facing and how they’re overcoming them is also great. You can learn a lot of real time
information from the peers in your space. A culmination of all of these methods may prove to
make you a well-rounded analyst.
11. Discuss how a company’s financial status can affect systems projects. (5 points)
-Usually, a projects primary goal is to turn a profit. If the company cannot support the costs of a
project, then it is likely the project won’t even get off the ground.
12. How do intangible benefits lead to tangible benefits? Can tangible benefits lead to
intangible benefits? (5 points)
-Intangible benefits can lead to tangible benefits. For example, brand recognition can lead to
higher sales. This would be an intangible having affect on a tangible. However, the reverse can
also be concluded. Higher sales can most certainly impact brand recognition. Often times the
discrepancy in the initiator is more determined case-to-case, but the correlation between
intangible and tangible benefits is fairly constant.
13. Why should an interview include open-ended questions. What is the advantage of
open-ended questions? What are the possible disadvantages? (5 points)
-Open-ended questions help give the interviewer more insight on who they’re interviewing.
However, it could be redundant data if the information gathered is irrelevant to how someone
might perform in a position. Subjective answers can lead to subjective biases.
14. Why is the probable-case estimate (P) commonly weighted more heavily than the
best-case estimate (B) or the worst-case estimate (W)? When might a different ratio be
used? (5 points)
-The probable-case is weighed more than the best or worse-case estimate because it is the most
probable. The probable-case is the most realistic outcome; therefore, its estimate generally holds
more weight. However, there are scenarios where a worst-case estimate might be twice as
probable as a best case estimate. There can also be a best-case scenario that occurs three times to
the fourth occurrence of the probable-case, and that must be accounted for. These varying
outcomes can shift how the most likely outcome is measured.
15. Complete the ‘In the News: The Verge Tech’ assignment in Canvas. Please note, you
will need to review the In the News: The Verge Tech link in Module 1 (Introduction to
Systems Analysis and Design) to view the assignment instructions before completing
the assignment. (25 points)
-
16. Using the tasks presented in the following WBS (observe that each task has an ID,
description, and identifies any predecessor tasks which must be completed before the task
can begin), construct a PERT/CPM chart. Recall that this is a two-step process: (1) display
the tasks and the task patterns, and (2) enter start and finish times. Identify the total
project duration and identify the critical path for the project represented in this WBS.
(25 points)
Task No.
Description
Duration(weeks)
Predecessor tasks
1
Develop Plan
1
-
2
Assign Tasks
5
1
3
Obtain Hardware
7
1
4
Programming
10
2
5
Install Hardware
6
3
6
Program Test
2
4
7
Write User Manual
6
5
8
Convert Files
2
5
9
System Test
8
7 8
10
Legacy Data
Conversion
2
9
11
Integration Testing
7
9
12
Sitewide Integration
4
10 11
13
Use Training
9
12
14
User Test
3
13
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