MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME

Term-End Examination

December, 2006

MS7 : INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR MANAGERS

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

Note : (i) Answer any three questions from Section A

(ii) Section B is compulsory.
(iii) All questions carry equal marks.

SECTION A

1. (a) Is Information Technology as vital to modern global business as money ? Why

or why not ? Discuss some trends in IT development.

(b) Write a note on input and output devices, Dâstingush between human data input
devices and source data capture devices.

2. (a) Describe various ways of assessing the value of information. Explain each
method briefly.

(b) In context of MIS, compare the job content of management levels.

3. (a) Describe how IT facilitates recruiting, training and personnel development and
labour planning.

(b) What are integrated software applications ? Discuss their advantages and
business utility.

4. (a) Write short notes on any one of the following

(i) Communication systems

(ii) Decision support systems
(iii) Briefly explain the features of HTML and elaborate its applications in business.

5. (a) Discuss data warehousing and data mining. How are they helpful?

(b) ExpLain Neural Networks and their applications in business.

SECTION B

6. Write short notes on any two of the following

(i) Programmed decisions
(ii) Emerging trends in convergence of IT
(iii) Intranet and Internet

7. Read the case given below and answer the questions given at the end.

An Enterprisewide information System at Hertz

Hertz Corporation, the largest company In the car rental industry, competes against
dozens of companies in hundreds of locations worldwide. Several marketing decisions
must be made almost instantaneously (such as whether to follow a competitor’s price
discount). The company’s marketing decisions are decentralized and are based on
information about cities, climates, holidays, business cycles, tourist activities, past
promotions, competitors’ actions, and customers’ behaviour. The amount of such
information is huge, and the only way to process it is to use computers. The problem
faced by Hertz was how to provide accessibility to such information and use it
properly. A mainframe-based DSS was developed as early as 987 to allow fast
analysis by executives and managers. But a marketing manager who had a question
had to go through a staff assistant, which made the process lengthy and
cumbersome . The need for a better system was obvious.

In 1988, Hertz decided to add a PC-based EIS as a companion to the DSS. The
combined system gave executives tools to analyze the mountains of stored
information and make real-time decisions without the help of assistants. The system
was migrated to a Web-based enterprise system in 2001. It Is extremely user-
friendly and is maintained by the marketing staff. Since its assimilation into the
corporate culture conformed to the manner in which [Iertz executives were used to
working. implementation and extensive use were no problem. Hertz managers say
that the enterprise system creates synergy in decision making. It triggers questions,
a greater influx of creative ideas, and more cost-effective marketing decisions. In the
Late l990s, the system was integrated with a data warehouse and connected to the
corporate intranets and the Internet. Now local managers know all competitors’
prices, in real time. By using supply-demand models, they can assess the impact of
price changes on the demand for cars. In 2001 the system was connected to the
corporate ERP and expanded to include e-commerce capabilities.

Questions:

(a) Why was the DSS insufficient by itself, and how did the addition of the EIS make
it effective ?
(b) Why is the data warehouse useful?
(c) Why was an integration to e-commerce needed ?

MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME
Term-End Examination

December, 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 (OId Course)

(Information Management and Computers)

SECTION A

1. "Computers have now become an integral part of our life." Explain. Discuss the
application of computers in any two functional areas of management giving
examples. (20)

2. (a) Explain main hardware units of a computer. Discuss various categories of

computer software. (10)

(b) Discuss the managerial applications of spreadsheets giving main features.

Highlight a few important business applications. (10)

3. ''MIS has become an integral part in today's organisation." Explain. What is an

information network ? Explain. (20)

4. Discuss Data Flow Diagrams and Data dictionary. Give few programming
vocabularies. Explain the advantages of using COBOL. (20)

5. Using graphical method,.find out the maximum value of Z for the following
problem : (20)
Z=4x1 + 3x2
subject to
3x1 + 4x2 ≤ 24
8x1 + 6x2 ≤ 48
x1 ≤ 5
x2 ≤ 6
x1, x2 ≥ 0

SECTION B

6. Solve the following assignment problem of minimising total time for doing all jobs.
(20)

Job
Operators
1 2 3 4 5
 1 6 2 5 3 6
2 2 5 8 7 7
3 7 8 6 9 8
4 6 2 3 4 5
5 9 3 8 9 7
6 4 7 4 6 8

7. (a) Discuss Slack and Float in the context of a project. Why is PERT important in
network analysis ? (10)

(b) Following table gives activities involved in a PERT Project. (10)

Duration (days)
Job
a m b
1-2 3 6 15
2-3 6 12 30
3-5 5 11 17
7-8 4 19 28
5-8 1 4 7
6-7 3 9 27
4-5 3 6 15
1-6 2 5 14
2-4 2 5 8

(i) Draw the network diagram.

(ii) Find out critical path.

Set 2 (Revised Course)

(Information Systems for Managers)

SECTION A

1. Explain different types of Information Systems. How do computers help us in

decision making ? Enumerate different system software giving examples. (20)

2. Explain the main features of MIS. Discuss the determinants of MIS design as given
by Zani. What do you understand by knowledge ? (20)

3. (a) Explain Data and Information. What are the main characteristics of information
? (10)

(b) Discuss hierarchy of systems. What are the various controls required for an
information system ? (10)
4. (a) Discuss programmed and non-programmed decision making giving examples.
(10)

(b) Discuss the application of computers in inventory management giving examples.

(10)

5. Explain the concept of the System Development Life Cycle. Give various steps of
system analysis and design giving suitable examples. (20)

SECTION B

6. Write brief notes on : (20)

(a) Internet
(b) Features of JAVA
(c) Database Management Systems
(d) Data Warehousing and Data Mining
(P) Intelligent Support Systems

7. (a) Explain the features of Visual Basic and JAVA. (10)

(b) Discuss Neutral Networks and their application in decision making. (10)

MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME
Term-End Examination

December, 2005

MS7 (S) : 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. (a) "The future belongs to knowledge workers." Explain. (10)

(b) Explain the use of Lotus 1-2-3 in modern business giving examples. (10)
2. "Modern day management activities involve many computer applications." Explain.
Discuss the use of computers in Human Resource Management. (20)

3. Discuss the role of MIS at different levels of management. Suggest a suitable

structure for MIS clearly giving the desirable characteristics of MIS. (20)

4. Explain Decision tables and Decision trees. Develop a flow chart for some activity
that you are familiar with. (20)

5. Using graphical method, find out the minimum total cost for the following : (20)
Minimise z=3x1 +5x2
(in Rs.)
Subject to
x1 + x2=200
x1 ≤ 80
x2 ≥ 60
x1, x2 ≥ 0

SECTION B

Rolta Co. has three plants X, Y and Z, which can supply to the distributors located at
A, B, C, D and E. Monthly plant capacities are 80, 50 and 90 units respectively.
Monthly requirements of distributors are 40, 40, 50, 40 and 80 units respectively.
Unit transportation cost is given below in Rs.
Find out an optimal distribution for the company in order to minimise the total
transportation cost. (20)

To
From
A B C D E
X 5 8 6 6 3
Y 4 7 7 6 6
Z 8 4 6 6 3

7. Five different machines can do any of the five required jobs. With different profits
resulting from each assignment as shown below. Find out maximum profit through
optimal assignment. (20)

Machine
Job
A B C D E
1 30 37 40 28 40
2 40 24 27 21 36
3 40 32 33 30 35
4 25 38 40 36 36
5 29 62 41 34 39

Set 2 (Revised Course)

(Information Systems for Managers)

SECTION A

1. (a) Discuss Internet and its application in business. How does computer help us in
decision making ? Give examples. (10)

(b) Explain different hardware components of a computer. What are various types of
computers ? (10)

2. Discuss the importance of MIS in modern organisations What are computer

viruses and how can they be Prevented ? (20)

3. (a) What are the various phases of a software development cycle ? Explain. (10)

(b) Discuss applications of computers in Financial Management function. Give

examples. (10)

4. Explain the process of Systems Analysis and design. What are the main
requirements for implementation and maintenance of the designed system ? (20)

5. (a) Give the features of Visual Basic and its applications in industry. (10)

(b) Why has JAVA become so popular ? What are its features ? Give its application.
(10)

SECTION B

6. Write descriptive notes on : (20)

(a) Neural Networks
(b) Artificial Intelligence
(c) Data Warehousing and Data Mining
(d) Value and Cost of Information

7. (a) Explain ERP, CRM, SCM and BPR. How have they helped organisations ? (10)

(b) What are the main differences between DSS, MIS and EIS ? Give few examples.
(10)

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
:

Sales Districts
 A B C D E
1 32 38 40 28 40
2 40 24 28 21 36
Salesmen
3 41 27 33 30 37
4 22 38 41 36 36
5 29 33 40 35 39

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)