MOCK EXAM ANSWERS Qs 3-8

AMI   Mock Exam   Qs & As 3-8

Q3                                                                            15 Marks
Managing information involves keeping records.
List 5 types of human error and give examples of
each. How can these be addressed?

·      Transcription errors (words) :  such as typos,
     repetition, deletion

·      Transposition errors (numbers) : wrong number
      order and number duplication

Examples: give your own examples or see PPP

·      Train employees in value of data

·      Provide environment that promotes concentration

·      Avoid overloading staff with work

·      Prioritize accuracy over speed

·      Employ automotive software

·      Double-check entries

See Power Point: Human Error and Data Management

Q4
What do you understand by the term ‘Big Data’?       10 Marks

“Big data is larger, more complex data sets,
especially from new data sources. These data
sets are so voluminous that traditional data
processing just can’t manage them. But these
massive volumes of data can be used to address
business problems you wouldn’t have been able
to tackle before”           Oracle, nd., What is Big Data?

Big data is characterised by three elements:

1. Volume: high volumes of low density,
    unstructured data, eg Twitter feeds
2. Velocity: the fast rate at which data is received
3. Variety: the range of unstructured forms in
    which data is now available, eg audio and video
    data

See Oracle article H/O and Big Data Q & A

Q5                                                                            10 Marks
Transaction Processing Systems (TPS) are a
vital tool in collecting data. Give examples of
how data is collected about your own activities
using TPS

A transaction is a business activity between a seller
and a buyer to exchange an asset for payment,
eg purchase orders and invoices

A Transaction Processing System is a type of
information system that collects, modifies and
retrieves the data transactions of an enterprise,
eg airline reservations and electronic payments

Examples:  your personal examples should
include a description of an electronic purchase:
the type of device used, eg laptop/mobile; the

Medium of purchase, eg website; the information
required to make the purchase, ie personal
details (where these already available on the
vendor’s database?); the type of the transaction,
ie credit card or PayPal and the process of making
the payment

See Power Point: TPS


Q6                                                                            15 Marks

The data collected by TPS are used by many
parts of the organization. List the types of data
collected at a supermarket checkout and
describe how different parts of the organization
use this data

Examples:

Product sales are scanned using EPOS and
this information automatically adjusts stock
records in the warehouse and causes an alert
for shelf replenishment and/or reorder from
supplier

Payments are taken either in cash or using
a credit card reader. If payment is made by
card, the transaction details will be recorded by
the credit card company and advised to both the
customer and vendor. The supermarket’s accounts’
department will use this information to update the
customer’s credit record. The data may later be
used for financial and marketing analysis. 

Loyalty Cards allow the supermarkets to collect
and match detailed purchase information
with customer records. This information, from
regular customers, can be used for customer
purchase analysis and personalised e-marketing
promotions

See Power Point TPS

Q7                                                                   10 Marks
In the context of Analysing and managing
information, give an explanation of each of the
following terms: Data, Information, Network,
Stakeholder, Data warehouse

·      Data
is facts which are unintelligible to humans,
usually in digital form of numbers, letters or
symbols. In order for it to be useful, it must be
organised and transformed into information

·      Information
is intelligible to humans. It should be analysed
in order to discover its significance in order
that an organization can make decisions to
improve performance or correct mistakes

·      Network
A communication channel connecting two
or more devices that must contain: a means
of connection, a protocol, like TCP/IP;
and communication equipment, such as a
network interface card 

·      Stakeholder
A person, group or organization that has
interest or concern in an organization, eg
staff, management, shareholders, B2B
suppliers and customers

·      Data warehouse

Also known as an Enterprise Data Warehouse
is a large store of data accumulated from a
wide range of sources within a company and
used – ‘mined’ for data analysis on which to
make management decisions.

Cloud could be said to be a giant data
warehouse that stores data from many
different companies

Q8                                                                   15 Marks
Communication of information happens in
many ways. Give a summary of the key
factors to consider in the communication
of information. Support your answer with
examples

Communication may be verbal or non-verbal

Verbal communication may be in different
languages, dialects and accents; it may also
be in different environments: a noisy factory, or
a quiet office, and in the manner in which it is
delivered.
 
Non verbal communication may be in the
form of:

·      Signs, such as shop signs or road signs

·      Symbols, such as a Christian Cross or imojis

·      Body language, such as gestures, eye contact,
postures, eg arms folded defensively, and
facial expressions

·      Writing, formally and informally,

·      Typing on a computer or texting on a mobile

Purposes of Signs:

·      Forma: physical representation, eg Road sign

·      Informa: the meaning of the sign, eg a warning

·      Performa: the instruction the sign gives, eg Stop!

Intention of Communication:

·      Assertive – stating a fact, eg your answer is wrong!

·      Directive  - commanding action, eg do your homework

·      Commissive – agreeing to take action, eg ok, I’ll do it!

·      Expressive – reflecting feeling, eg apology, criticism
or congratulation

·      Declarative – expressing performance or achievement,
eg I got an ‘A’!

Information Criteria

·      Accurate

·      Timely

·      Relevant

·      Legal

·      Secure

In all cases there is a risk of miscommunication
and miscommunication of information can be one
of the most expensive errors, eg Lockhead using
Imperial measurements, instead of metric, resulting
in the failure of Nasa’s Mars Orbiter at a cost of
$125 million!