Paper : IGNOU MBA Papers - MS7: Information Management and Computers

MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME
Term-End Examination

June, 2005

MS7 : Old: INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND COMPUTERS
Revised: INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR MANAGERS

Time: 3 hours
Maximum Marks: 100
(Weightage 70%)

Note : (i) There are two sets of question papers i.e. Set 1 & Set 2. Set 1 is for those students who have registered for this course prior to July 2004. Set 2 is for those students who have registered for this course from July 2004 onwards.
(ii) There are two sections in each set. Attempt any three questions from Section A of each set. Section B is compulsory.
(iii) A total of five questions have to be attempted. All questions carry equal marks.

Set I (Old Course)

(Information Management and Computers)

SECTION A

1. Discuss the strategic issues of computer-aided decision making identified by ROSS and others. Also discuss their suggested solutions in the Indian context.

2. Discuss the role of computer in management decision making- Enumerate selective applications in the following decision making areas :
(a) Marketing
(b) Maintenance

3. Solve graphically the following linear program : Max z = 3x1 + 2x2
subject to the constraints
-2x1 + x2 ≤ 1
x1 ≤ 2
x1 + x2 ≤ 3
x1, x2 ≥ 0

4. Define the terms 'data' and 'information'. Discuss the difference between data and information, List five elements in an organisation which you would term as data and five elemmts which you would term as information.

5. What is a Computer Based Information System (CBIS) ? What are the important stages in the life cycle of a CBIS ?

SECTION B

Write short notes on any two of the following :
(a) Zani's framework for MIS
(b) Multiple Optimal Solutions
(c) Computer Aided Financial Planning
(d) Evolution of Computers
(e) Total Float and Free Float

7. A marketing manager has 5 salesmen and 5 sales districts. Considering the capabilities of the salesmen and the nature of districts, the marketing manager estimates that sales per month for each salesman in each district would be as follows :

Find the assignment of salesmen to districts that will result in maximum sales.

Set 2 (Revised Course)

(Information Systems for Managers)

SECTION A

1. If you were the Chief Information Officer (ClO) of a firrn, how would you explain the workings, benefits and limitations of different client server arrangements that could be used by a computing firm ?

2. Define MIS. What are the main features of an MIS ? Write a brief note to explain the evolution of MIS.

3. Explain how IT can elevate a customer to the position of a king or queen. Why are information systems critical to sales order processing and related business processes ?

4. Java is not a 100% pure object oriented language. Do you agree or not ? Justify your answer.

5. How can you use the Web as a data source for your data-warehouse ? What types of information can you get from the Web ? Explain briefly the steps needed to ensure that only good quality, reliable data is loaded into the data warehouse from the Web.

SECTION B

Lance Eliot made the following comment in Al Expert (1994) "When you log on to the network, a slew of agents might start watching. If you download a file about plant life, a seed company agent might submit your name for a company mailing. Besides sending junk nails, such spying agents could pick up your habits and preferences and perhaps make assumptions about your private life. It could note what days you get onto the system, how long you stay on, and what part of the country you live in. Is this an invasion on your privacy ? Should legislation prevent such usage of intelligent agents ? Perhaps a network police (more intelligent agents) could enforce proper network usage."
(a) Prepare arguments to support your perspective on this issue.
(b) Prepare counter arguments on the same issue.

7. Write short notes on :
(a) Digital Signatures - Future trends
(b) Genetic Algorithms
(c) Online Analytical Processing (OLAP)
(d) Garbage-in-garbage-out (GIGO)