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Sunday, October 31, 2010
Chapter 11 - Project Management
Q1. Explain the triple constraint and its importance in project management
Involves making tradeoffs between scope, time and cost for a project. Changes will occur throughout the project especially in areas of scope, time allocations for specific tasks as well as finances.
The three following variables are interdependent:
Increased Scope = increased time + increased cost
Tight Time = increased costs + reduced scope
Tight Budget = increased time + reduced scope
Q2. Describe the two primary diagrams most frequently used in project planning
Pert Chart: is a graphical network model that depicts a project’s tasks and the relationships between those tasks
An example:
Gantt Chart: is a simple bar chart that depicts project tasks against a calendar. Most common tool used by project managers.
An example:
Q3. Identify the three primary areas a project manager must focus on managing to ensure success
Q4. Outline 2 reasons why projects fail and two reasons why they succeed.
Why projects fail
1 - Poor scope
2 - Unrealistic expectations, especially regarding organisations objectives.
Why projects succeed
3 - Good communication
4 - Project sponsorship at executive level
CLICK TO VIEW CHAPTER 11 SLIDES !
Involves making tradeoffs between scope, time and cost for a project. Changes will occur throughout the project especially in areas of scope, time allocations for specific tasks as well as finances.
The three following variables are interdependent:
Increased Scope = increased time + increased cost
Tight Time = increased costs + reduced scope
Tight Budget = increased time + reduced scope
Q2. Describe the two primary diagrams most frequently used in project planning
Pert Chart: is a graphical network model that depicts a project’s tasks and the relationships between those tasks
An example:
Gantt Chart: is a simple bar chart that depicts project tasks against a calendar. Most common tool used by project managers.
An example:
Q3. Identify the three primary areas a project manager must focus on managing to ensure success
- Managing people (when doing this, conflicts must be resolved if they occur)
- Managing communications
- Managing change
Q4. Outline 2 reasons why projects fail and two reasons why they succeed.
Why projects fail
1 - Poor scope
2 - Unrealistic expectations, especially regarding organisations objectives.
Why projects succeed
3 - Good communication
4 - Project sponsorship at executive level
CLICK TO VIEW CHAPTER 11 SLIDES !
Chapter 9 - Customer Relationship Management and Business Intelligence
Q1. What is your understanding of CRM?
Customer Relationship Management involves managing a customers relationship with an organisation. It establishes customer loyalty, and in turn profitability for the business.CRM allows companies to have interactions with thier customers on a more personal basis through individualisation
Q2. Compare operational and analytical customer relationship management
Operational CRM has links to the daily transactional processes, day-to-day front office operations and dealing directly with customers of the organisation
Analytical CRM has links to the back office operations, strategic analysis and does not deal directly with customers of the organisation. It often uses data mining to find crucial information about consumers and then analysis of this data is made to form predictions and relationship patterns to further develop the business.
Q3. Describe and differentiate the CRM technologies used by marketing departments and sales departments
Marketing Operations CRM technologies:
1- List Generator
2- Camgaign management system
3- Cross-Selling and Up-Selling
Customer Service Operational CRM technologies:
4- Contact/ Call Centre
5- Web-based self-service system
6 - Call scripting system
Q4. How could a sales department use operational CRM technologies?
Operational CRM technologies could be used for three types of management: sales, contacting and opportunity. It can analyse management of customers information with databases and consistency in both sales and service metrics.
Q5. Describe business intelligence and it's value to business
Business Intelligence are applications and technologies used to gather, analyse and use the data found to imporve decision making efforts. It allows for:
Q6. Explain the problem associated with business intelligence. Describe the solution to this business problem
Organisations are unable to identify their strengths and weaknesses, as well as their competitors due to the lack of data that is accessable and may be poor information.
Companies have a lot of data and need to leverage the information and develop it into useful data.
Q7. What are two possible outcomes a company could get from using data mining?
Data mining is 'the application of statistical techniques to find patterns and relationshops among data and to classify and predict.'
Two possible outcomes include: culster anaylysis as well as association detection
CLICK TO VIEW CHAPTER 9 SLIDES !
Customer Relationship Management involves managing a customers relationship with an organisation. It establishes customer loyalty, and in turn profitability for the business.CRM allows companies to have interactions with thier customers on a more personal basis through individualisation
Q2. Compare operational and analytical customer relationship management
Operational CRM has links to the daily transactional processes, day-to-day front office operations and dealing directly with customers of the organisation
Analytical CRM has links to the back office operations, strategic analysis and does not deal directly with customers of the organisation. It often uses data mining to find crucial information about consumers and then analysis of this data is made to form predictions and relationship patterns to further develop the business.
Q3. Describe and differentiate the CRM technologies used by marketing departments and sales departments
Marketing Operations CRM technologies:
1- List Generator
2- Camgaign management system
3- Cross-Selling and Up-Selling
Customer Service Operational CRM technologies:
4- Contact/ Call Centre
5- Web-based self-service system
6 - Call scripting system
Q4. How could a sales department use operational CRM technologies?
Operational CRM technologies could be used for three types of management: sales, contacting and opportunity. It can analyse management of customers information with databases and consistency in both sales and service metrics.
Q5. Describe business intelligence and it's value to business
Business Intelligence are applications and technologies used to gather, analyse and use the data found to imporve decision making efforts. It allows for:
- the business to identify sales personelle
- determine valuable customers
- if their campaigns are effective, if not then ask vital questions
- is the business making or loosing money and if so, where abouts
Q6. Explain the problem associated with business intelligence. Describe the solution to this business problem
Organisations are unable to identify their strengths and weaknesses, as well as their competitors due to the lack of data that is accessable and may be poor information.
Companies have a lot of data and need to leverage the information and develop it into useful data.
Q7. What are two possible outcomes a company could get from using data mining?
Data mining is 'the application of statistical techniques to find patterns and relationshops among data and to classify and predict.'
Two possible outcomes include: culster anaylysis as well as association detection
CLICK TO VIEW CHAPTER 9 SLIDES !
Chapter 8 - Operations Management and Supply Chain Management
Q1. Define the term operations management
OM is the management of systems or processes that transform and convert resources into both goods as well as services. It includes inputs, transformation and outputs
Q2. Explain operations management's role in business
The diffeirng roles include:
Q3. Describe the correlation between operations management and information technology
Managers often use IT to heavily influence operations management decisions.
This is in regards to recource amounts, tasks and the completion of them where and who exactly will execute the task.
Q4. Explain supply chain management and it's role in business
Involves the management of all information that flows through the supply chain. Recources become converted into products which get delivered to customers.
It is used to maximise the total effectiveness and profitability of an organisation.
Q5. List and describe the 5 components of a typical supply chain
1 - Supplier: raw materials, may have subsuppliers
2 - Manufacturer: makes the service or product, uses these raw materials
3 - Distributor: hands out the product through shipments, schedules
4 - Retailer: sells the product, transfer of money occurs
5 - Customer: consumes the product
Q6. Define the relationship between information technology and the supply chain
Information technology: improved forecasts, integral systems. It advances in the 5 previous stages mentioned
The supply chain: decreases buying power which ultimately increases the supplier power
CLICK FOR CHAPTER 8 SLIDES !
OM is the management of systems or processes that transform and convert resources into both goods as well as services. It includes inputs, transformation and outputs
Q2. Explain operations management's role in business
The diffeirng roles include:
- Attain company profits through efficiency and quality of the product
- Forecasting
- Managing Inventory
- Motivation of staff members
- Must know about companys sales, manufacturing and distribution
Q3. Describe the correlation between operations management and information technology
Managers often use IT to heavily influence operations management decisions.
This is in regards to recource amounts, tasks and the completion of them where and who exactly will execute the task.
Q4. Explain supply chain management and it's role in business
Involves the management of all information that flows through the supply chain. Recources become converted into products which get delivered to customers.
It is used to maximise the total effectiveness and profitability of an organisation.
Q5. List and describe the 5 components of a typical supply chain
1 - Supplier: raw materials, may have subsuppliers
2 - Manufacturer: makes the service or product, uses these raw materials
3 - Distributor: hands out the product through shipments, schedules
4 - Retailer: sells the product, transfer of money occurs
5 - Customer: consumes the product
Q6. Define the relationship between information technology and the supply chain
Information technology: improved forecasts, integral systems. It advances in the 5 previous stages mentioned
The supply chain: decreases buying power which ultimately increases the supplier power
CLICK FOR CHAPTER 8 SLIDES !
Chapter 7 - Wireless technology and Computer Network
Q1. Explain the business benefits of using wireless technology
It allows individuals to get information anywhere, at any time. Through increasing productivity, this universial convenience often allows communication among businesses in differing regions.
It operates on low power as well as low cost, through both voice and data
Q2. Describe the business benefits associated with VoIP
Voice Over IP allows for telecommunication through digital formats.
Its benefits include:
Q3. Compare LANs and WANs
LANs: are local area networks and connect to computers in one location
WANs: connect computers at differewnt geographical areas
Q4. Describe RFID and how it can be used to help make a supply chain more effective
RFID (Radio frequency identification) are the tags that use radio frequency to transmit data. It is good for passports, inventory as well as transportation. It is accurate and efficient and in the future should replace barcodes.
Q5. Identify the advantages and disadvantages of developing mobile technology
Advantages: efficiency, convenience, customisation and accuracy.
Disadvantages: No real disadvantages, apart from issues regarding the phone cameras
CLICK FOR CHAPTER 7 SLIDES !
It allows individuals to get information anywhere, at any time. Through increasing productivity, this universial convenience often allows communication among businesses in differing regions.
It operates on low power as well as low cost, through both voice and data
Q2. Describe the business benefits associated with VoIP
Voice Over IP allows for telecommunication through digital formats.
Its benefits include:
- reducing the cost of international calls
- cost cutting in areas
- allows for phone calls, voice mail, e-mail and faxes
Q3. Compare LANs and WANs
LANs: are local area networks and connect to computers in one location
WANs: connect computers at differewnt geographical areas
Q4. Describe RFID and how it can be used to help make a supply chain more effective
RFID (Radio frequency identification) are the tags that use radio frequency to transmit data. It is good for passports, inventory as well as transportation. It is accurate and efficient and in the future should replace barcodes.
Q5. Identify the advantages and disadvantages of developing mobile technology
Advantages: efficiency, convenience, customisation and accuracy.
Disadvantages: No real disadvantages, apart from issues regarding the phone cameras
CLICK FOR CHAPTER 7 SLIDES !
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Chapter 6 – Databases and Data Warehouses
Q1. List, describe, and provide an example of each of the five characteristics of high quality information.
-Accuracy is essential to ensure that the names, values or currency are entered correctly i.e. - spelling of complicated surnames?
-Completeness values must not be missing i.e. is the postcode recorded when writing an address down?
-Consistency the aggregate or summary of information should be easily comparable with the detailed information that is provided i.e. do all total fields equal the true total of individual fields?
-Uniqueness each value of transaction, entity and event must only be entered once in the information i.e. are there any duplicate customers?
-Timeless the information must be current with respect to the business requirements i.e. is information updated weekly, daily or hourly?
-Consistency the aggregate or summary of information should be easily comparable with the detailed information that is provided i.e. do all total fields equal the true total of individual fields?
-Uniqueness each value of transaction, entity and event must only be entered once in the information i.e. are there any duplicate customers?
-Timeless the information must be current with respect to the business requirements i.e. is information updated weekly, daily or hourly?
Q2. Define the relationship between a database and a database management systems
A database stores and maintains information about various types of objects, events, people as well as places.
A database management system (DMS) is the computer program that is used to manage and query a database and all its information
Q3. Describe the advantages an organisation can gain by using a database.
Advantages include:
- Increased flexibility
- Increased scalability and performance
- Reduced information redundancy
- Increased information integrity (or quality)
- Increased information security
Q4. Define the fundamental concepts of the relational database model.
A relational database is a type of database that stores information in the form of logically related two-dimensional tables, without manipulation. Represents the relationship between the entities in the database.
- Entity – is a person, place, transaction or thing which information is stored. A table is a collection of similar entities
- Attributes – known as fields or columns that are characteristics or properties of an entity class
- Primary key – is either one field or a group of fields that uniquely identifies a given entity in a table
- Foreign key – is a primary key of one table that appears as an attribute in another table and acts to provide a logical relationship between the two tables.
Q5. Describe the benefits of a data-driven website.
A data-driven website is an interactive website that is constantly kept updated providing the relevant informational needs of the customers through the use of the database. When the site offers large amounts of information, products or services the sites are especially useful.
The advantages of a data driven website include:
- Development
- Content management
- Future expandability
- Minimising human error
- Cutting production cost
- More efficient
- Improved stability
Q6. Describe the roles and purposes of data warehouses and data marts in an organization.
Data Warehouse is a logical collection of information that supports business analysis activities and decision-making tasks. The information is gathered from many different operational databases. The sole purpose is to aggregate information throughout an organization in a way that employees can easily make decisions and undertake business analysis activities.
Data Marts contains a subset of data warehouse information. Data marts have more focused information subsets specific to the needs of a given business unit.
Chapter 5 – Enterprise Architecture
Q1. What is information architecture and what is information infrastructure and how do they differ and how do they relate to each other?
-Information Architecture depicts where and how important information is maintained and secured within an organization. Three primary areas include: backup and recovery, disaster recovery and information security.
-Information Infrastructure supports the organizations goals through the hardware, software and telecommunications equipment. The five characteristics that make up a solid infrastructure includes: flexibility, scalability, reliability, availability and performance.
Q2. List and describe the five requirement characteristics of infrastructure architecture.
- Flexibility – businesses must be flexible to meet business changes when the company is growing and performing
- Scalability – how well a system can adapt to increasing demands. Factors include: market, industry and economic factors.
- Reliability – ensures all systems are providing accurate information and functioning correctly
- Availability – often depicts when a system can be accessed by its users
- Performance – is a depiction of how well a system performs a certain process or transaction in a particular amount of time
Q3. Describe the business value in deploying service oriented architecture
Service orientated architecture (SOA) is a business driven IT architectural approach that supports integrating a business as linked, repeatable tasks or services. It enables businesses to increase flexibility of their processes by allowing the IT system to adapt quickly to the changes.
The key technical concepts of SOA include services, interoperability and loose coupling.
Q4. What is an event?
An event is an electronic message that indicated if something has occurred. By detecting threats and opportunities, events alert those individuals or organizations that can act on the information given and best handle the situation accordingly.
Q5. What is a service?
A service is more like a software product yet it describes a valuable business task. They provide much needed solutions for business problems, with ways of implementation automating aspects of technical services within the organization. They appeal to a broad audience and must be reusable to ensure an impact upon productivity occurs.
Q6. What emerging technologies can companies can use to increase performance and utilise their infrastructure more effectively?
-Virtualisation: is a framework for dividing the resources of a computer into multiple execution environments. It is a common way to increase physical resources to maximise hardware investments.
Through virtualisation differing processes, people and technology can work together to meet service levels through increased efficiency.
-Grid Computing: is an aggregation of geographically dispersed computing, storage and network resources which are coordinated to deliver higher performance and improved quality of service.
It allows for organizations to optimize computing and data resources, share across networks large capacity workloads. Must be resilient, flexible and integrated to meet modern demands of society.
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