Management Information System & ERP

UNIT-2

Question Bank with Answers

 1. Define Information Technology Infrastructure and Explain Infrastructure Components.

Information technology infrastructure is the integrated framework upon which digital

networks operate. This infrastructure includes data centers, computers, computer networks,
Database Management devices, and a regulatory system.

INFRASTRUCTURE COMPONENTS:

THERE ARE SOME MAJOR COMPONENTS

1. COMPUTER HARDWARE PLATFORMS
2. OPERATING SYSTEM PLATFORMS
3. ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS
4. DATA MANAGEMENT AND STORAGE
5. NETWORKING AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS PLATFORMS
6. INTERNET PLATFORMS
7. CONSULTING AND SYSTEM INTEGRATION SERVICES

1. COMPUTER HARDWARE PLATFORMS

COMPUTER HARDWARE PLATFORMS INCLUDE CLIENT MACHINES AND SERVER

MACHINES, AS WELL AS MODERN MAINFRAMES PRODUCED BY IBM. US FIRMS
SPENT ABOUT $145 BILLION ON COMPUTER HARDWARE.
2. OPERATING SYSTEM PLATFORMS

OPERATING SYSTEM PLATFORMS INCLUDE PLATFORMS FOR CLIENT

COMPUTERS, DOMINATED BY WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEMS, AND SERVERS,
DOMINATED BY THE VARIOUS FORMS OF THE UNIX OPERATING SYSTEM OR
LINUX. OPERATING SYSTEMS ARE SOFTWARE THAT MANAGE THE RESOURCES
AND ACTIVITIES OF THE COMPUTER AND ACT AS AN INTERFACE FOR THE USER.

3. ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS

ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS INCLUDE SAP, ORACLE, AND

PEOPLESOFT, AND MIDDLEWARE SOFTWARE THAT ARE USED TO LINK A FIRM'S
EXISTING APPLICATION SYSTEMS.

4. DATA MANAGEMENT AND STORAGE

DATA MANAGEMENT AND STORAGE IS HANDLED BY DATABASE MANAGEMENT

SOFTWARE AND STORAGE DEVICES INCLUDE TRADITIONAL STORAGE METHODS,
SUCH AS DISK ARRAYS AND TAPE LIBRARIES, AND NEWER NETWORK-BASED
STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS STORAGE AREA NETWORKS (SANS). SANS
CONNECT MULTIPLE STORAGE DEVICES ON DEDICATED HIGH-SPEED
NETWORKS.

5. NETWORKING AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS PLATFORMS

NETWORKING AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS PLATFORMS INCLUDE WINDOWS

SERVER OPERATING SYSTEMS, NOVELL, LINUX, AND UNIX. NEARLY ALL LAN
AND MANY WIDE AREA NETWORKS (WANS) USE THE TCP/IP STANDARDS FOR
NETWORKING.

6. INTERNET PLATFORMS

INTERNET PLATFORMS OVERLAP WITH, AND MUST RELATE TO, THE FIRM'S
GENERAL NETWORKING INFRASTRUCTURE AND HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
PLATFORMS. INTERNET-RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDES THE HARDWARE,
SOFTWARE AND SERVICES TO MAINTAIN CORPORATE WEB SITES, INTRANETS,
AND EXTRANETS, INCLUDING WEB HOSTING SERVICES AND WEB SOFTWARE
APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT TOOLS.

7. CONSULTING AND SYSTEM INTEGRATION SERVICES

CONSULTING AND SYSTEM INTEGRATION SERVICES ARE RELIED ON FOR

INTEGRATING A FIRM'S LEGACY SYSTEMS WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY AND
INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROVIDING EXPERTISE IN IMPLEMENTING NEW
INFRASTRUCTURE ALONG WITH RELEVANT CHANGES IN BUSINESS PROCESSES,
TRAINING, AND SOFTWARE INTEGRATION.

2. What is meant by Database Management Systems?

DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS:

A DATABASE IS A COLLECTION OF RECORDS. DATABASE MANAGEMENT

SYSTEMS ARE DESIGNED AS THE MEANS OF MANAGING ALL THE RECORDS.
DATABASE MANAGEMENT IS A SOFTWARE SYSTEM THAT USES A STANDARD
METHOD AND RUNNING QUERIES WITH SOME OF THEM DESIGNED FOR THE
OVERSIGHT AND PROPER CONTROL OF DATABASES.

3. Explain types of DBMS.

Types of DBMS:

 Hierarchical DBMS
 Network DBMS
 Relational DBMS
 Object Oriented DBMS
 Distributed DBMS

Hierarchical DBMS

In hierarchical DBMS, the relationships among data in the database are established so that one
data element exists as a subordinate of another. The data elements have parent-child relationships
and are modeled using the “tree” data structure. These are very fast and simple.
Network DBMS

Network DBMS in one where the relationships among data in the database are of type many-to-
many in the form of a network. The structure is generally complicated due to the existence of
numerous many-to-many relationships. Network DBMS is modelled using “graph” data
structure.

Relational DBMS

In relational databases, the database is represented in the form of relations. Each relation models
an entity and is represented as a table of values. In the relation or table, a row is called a tuple
and denotes a single record. A column is called a field or an attribute and denotes a characteristic
property of the entity. RDBMS is the most popular database management system.

For example − A Student Relation −

Object Oriented DBMS

Object-oriented DBMS is derived from the model of the object-oriented programming paradigm.
They are helpful in representing both consistent data as stored in databases, as well as transient
data, as found in executing programs. They use small, reusable elements called objects. Each
object contains a data part and a set of operations which works upon the data. The object and its
attributes are accessed through pointers instead of being stored in relational table models.
For example − A simplified Bank Account object-oriented database −

Distributed DBMS

A distributed database is a set of interconnected databases that is distributed over the computer
network or internet. A Distributed Database Management System (DDBMS) manages the
distributed database and provides mechanisms so as to make the databases transparent to the
users. In these systems, data is intentionally distributed among multiple nodes so that all
computing resources of the organization can be optimally used.

4. Define Data Warehouse and Explain types of Databases Architecture.

Data warehouse:

Data warehousing is combining data from multiple sources into one comprehensive and easily
manipulated database.
The primary aim for data warehousing is to provide businesses with analytics results from data
mining, OLAP, Score carding and reporting.

DATA WAREHOUSING INCLUDES:-

Retrieving data
Analyzing data
Extracting data
Loading data
Transforming data
Managing data
 DATA WAREHOUSE ARCHITECTURE

Data warehousing is designed to provide an architecture that will make cooperate data
accessible and useful to users.
There is no right or wrong architecture.
The worthiness of the architecture can be judge by its use, and concept behind it.
Data Warehouses can be architected in many different ways, depending on the specific needs
of a business.

Operational Applications:

An operational data store (ODS) is basically a database that is used for being an temporary
storage area for a datawarehouse.
Its primary purpose is for handling data which are progressively in use.
Operational data store contains data which are constantly updated through the course of the
business operations.

ETL Process:

ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) is used to copy data from:-

ODS to data warehouse staging area.
Data warehouse staging area to data warehouse.
Data warehouse to data mart.
ETL extracts data, transforms values of inconsistent data, cleanses "bad" data, filters data and
loads data into a target database.
DW Staging Area:

The Data Warehouse Staging Area is temporary location where data from source
systems is copied.
It increases the speed of data warehouse architecture.
It is very essential since data is increasing day by day.

Data Marts:

ETL extract data from the Data Warehouse and send to one or more Data Marts for use of
users.
Data marts are represented as shortcut to a data warehouse ,to save time.
It is just an partition of data present in data warehouse.
Each Data Mart can contain different combinations of tables, columns and rows from
the Enterprise Data Warehouse.

5. Define Data Mining.

The non-trivial extraction of implicit, previously unknown, and potentially useful

information from large databases.
– Extremely large datasets
– Useful knowledge that can improve processes
– Cannot be done manually

6. Where Has it Come From ?

7. Mention the Advantages of Data Mining:

Engineering and Technology

Medical Science
Business
Combating Terrorism
Games
Research and Development
 8. How does data mining work?

Extract, transform, and load transaction data onto the data warehouse system.
Store and manage the data in a multidimensional database system.
Provide data access to business analysts and information technology professionals.
Analyze the data by application software.
Present the data in a useful format, such as a graph or table.