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EXAMINATION PAPER: ACADEMIC SESSION 2009/2010

School Computing and Mathematical Sciences

Department Information Systems and Digital Media

Level Three

TITLE OF PAPER Information Systems Management

COURSE CODE COMP 1486

Date and Time Thursday 10th June 2010

Duration 2 hours

BAHRAIN 15:00 BOTSWANA 14:00

GREECE 15:00 HONG KONG 18:30
KENYA 15:00 LONDON 13:00
MALAYSIA 18:30 MALTA 14:00
MALAWI 14:00 MAURITIUS 16:00
MYANMAR 16:30 RWANDA 14:00
SAUDI ARABIA 15:00 SINGAPORE 17:30
SRI LANKA 17:30 SOUTH AFRICA 14:00
SYRIA 15:00 TANZANIA 15:00
TRINIDAD 09:30 VIETNAM 18:30
ZAMBIA 14:00 BANGLADESH 18:30

You MUST answer question 1 which is worth 40 marks.

Answer TWO questions from the remaining THREE questions, questions 2 to 4 which
are worth 30 marks each. If you answer all THREE questions from questions 2 to 4,
marks will ONLY be awarded for your TWO best answers.

CALCULATORS AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES ARE NOT

PERMITTED
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Section A (Compulsory)

1. To manage an effective information system, managers must understand the nature

of information. Using specific examples:

a) Explain what is meant by a business information system.

[10 marks]

b) Explain how business information systems can be used to achieve competitive

advantage.
[20 marks]

c) Discuss the main disadvantages to organisations of using computer-based

business information systems.
[10 marks]

COMP 1486 Information Systems Management

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Section B (answer any TWO questions)

2. End-user computing (EUC) is a general term which has different meanings to

different people often depending on the context in which it is used.

a) Discuss three main types of end-user computing.

[10 marks]

b) The IT Help Desk is a function many organisations use to provide help for
end-users. Discuss in detail five services offered by a typical IT Help Desk.
[20 marks]

3. Organisations and the strategies they develop are influenced by the environment
in which they operate. A business information strategy (BIS) is part of a hierarchy
of strategies established to achieve organisational objectives.

a) Explain the difference between an information technology (IT) strategy and an

information systems (IS) strategy.
[10 marks]

b) Discuss those environmental factors that can influence the development of a

BIS.
[20 marks]

4. The organisation and location of the information systems (IS) function is an

important choice particularly for those organisations that operate in more than one
area.

a) Explain the concepts of centralised IS management and decentralised IS

management.
[10 marks]

b) Critically evaluate the reasons for centralising the management of information

systems.
[20 marks]

COMP 1486 Information Systems Management

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