Download ACS 1803 STUDY QUESTIONS 1

ACS 1803 STUDY QUESTIONS for Mid-Term Test– Winter 2017
(The following questions are intended to help guide your studying. Be sure to
emphasize understanding of how all the ideas fit together - until you feel that you
can explain these ideas to someone else. You do not need to hand in these
questions. However, it is not guaranteed that all questions on the mid-term test
will come only from the questions below.) You are also invited to watch the
recorded lectures on database and accounting as highlighted on the course
website.
1. If one wants to store business data in a central location in a computer, how
does one figure out what data should be stored there so that all persons working
in the same area of an organization but in different positions and with different
information needs could get appropriate output from this centralized data? Give
the first few steps in figuring this out.
2. What is a character, a field, a record, a file? Give examples from student data.
3. Why is it not a good idea to put all of an organization's data fields into one
giant table (having, say, 5000 fields)? Be specific in your answer. Provide an
appropriate example.
4.What is a relational database?.
How does a database approach to storing data in a computer improve upon the
one file approach?
5. Explain the basics of the relational data base design.
6. What is a database management system (dbms)? What does it do? Give an
example of such a dbms.
7. **Be able to partition data into several tables such that these tables would
together make a relational database.(see asgt 1 AND Students-Grades Tables in
notes) . See also Exercise in Database Design on the course
website.
8.What is a query language? What is SQL?
10. **What steps are required i) to set up and ii) to use a database of two tables
in MS Access (see typed handout on data management)?
11. What are two types of output that a dbms such as Access can provide?
12. **What does it mean to say that a “customized information system” can be
built in Access for some specific organizational area? What parts does such an
information system consist of?
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13. *What is the relationship between an information system, a database
management system and a database? Explain clearly.
14. **Explain clearly what is meant by i) using Access directly, as a dbms, to get
desired output and ii) using Access indirectly, through an information system, to
get desired output?
15. “The main way in which computers help business organizations is through
information systems”. Explain this statement, with an appropriate example.
16. *What is a data warehouse? For what purpose would it be used? Explain
clearly data mining.
17. Explain the difference between a centralized database and a distributed
database.
18. What is data modelling? Why and where is it needed?
19. What are data entities? What are attributes? Give examples. What is an
entity-relationship diagram? Sketch an example
20. What is a REA diagram? ( for multiple choice)
21.** How does data modelling lead to the design of a database?
1. What are the four major functions of a manufacturing business?
2..Explain the main functions of senior managers, middle managers, and
operational managers.
3.. ***Outline, in adequate detail, the three categories of components of a
computer-based business information system (application, technical,
organizational).
4. **Explain with examples the main functions of operational (TPS), tactical (MIS)
and strategic systems
5. List four characteristics of operational information systems (transaction
processing systems – TPS). By whom are operational systems usually used in
an organization?
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6. What are the main characteristics of tactical information systems?
7. Give an example of output from a tactical system that provides extra insight to
a middle manager. See Operational and Tactical Reports on
course website.
10. Explain: summary reports, ad hoc reports, exception reports,
11. How do tactical systems differ from operational systems? By whom are
tactical systems usually used in an organization?
12. Where are most of the raw data used for tactical systems usually captured?
13. List several main characteristics of strategic systems.
14. Give several examples of strategic information. By whom are strategic
systems usually used in an organization?
15. What activities make up i) the revenue cycle and ii) the expenditure cycle of
a wholesaling business?
16.. For each of the following basic business systems: Order Entry, Accounts
Receivable, Purchasing and Receiving, Inventory, Accounts Payable,
(a) Identify three main data items in the system and point out why
this data is essential to the system [ mult choice]
(b) Explain the main purpose of this system
(c) Identify and explain the content and purpose of the key outputs
from this system.
16b. How is invoice verification carried out? What is a “three-way match”?
.17.What is the purpose of the General Ledger system?
18.Explain clearly: chart of accounts, debit/credit, general ledger, balance sheet,
income statement.
19. What is a “feeder system” and a controlling account? How are the two used
together? Give an example
20.In what way is Simply Accounting (SAGE 50) "integrated"? How does it use
controlling (Integration) accounts? How does Simply Accounting differ from
ACCPAC (SAGE 300)?
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21. **What is the difference between installing and initializing a purchased
accounting software package? What activities are involved in initializing an
accounting system such as SAGE 300?
22. *What is the difference between a General Ledger System and an
Accounting Information System?
23. What is the difference between online processing and batch processing?
24. What is the purpose of (operating) budgeting systems?
spreadsheets a good base for such systems?
Why are
25. Explain the purpose of capital budgeting systems. How does a capital budget
differ from an operational budget?
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26. What is the purpose of investment management systems? Give an example
of such a system.
27 Give an example of two strategic systems in the area of Finance. Provide an
example of how each is used in industry
28. Outline 5 areas of production planning and control that could benefit
significantly from information systems. *L
29. *L What is the main output of a Master Production Schedule? What are three
main inputs?
30. What is the main output of the Material Requirements Planning system?
What are its 2 main inputs? *L What is the purpose of the Bill of Materials?
31. What are two main outputs from the capacity requirements planning system?
What is the purpose of the route sheet? *L
32. Based on questions 5-8, and considering MRPII, explain, with adequate
examples how information systems can assist production management. **L
33. Explain the concept of “vendor managed inventory” and the role of computer
systems in this.
34. Explain how supply chain management systems can assist modern business.
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35. * Outline several IT considerations in manufacturing *L.
36. Describe clearly and completely sales force automation.*L
37.
Understand contact management systems, telemarketing systems,*MC
38.. Give examples of tactical decisions of marketing managers *L Describe
sales management systems, sales forecasting systems, and market research
systems.
39. Discuss different types of software used in marketing *L
40. Understand employee information systems *MC, attendance recording
systems *MC, employee scheduling systems *MC
41. Explain essential features of compensation and benefit systems *L
42. Which functional area system deals with more textual information than the
others? Why?
43. What are common problems with connectivity among functional area systems
*L
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