THE EAST AFRICAN UNIVERSITY (TEAU)

SCHOOL OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND IT

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE
JAN – APRIL 2019, MAIN EXAMINATION

COURSE : DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS

CODE : CIT 3103
TIME : 2 Hours

INSTRUCTIONS
1. The Paper is made up of FIVE (5) Questions, question ONE is compulsory plus any other
TWO questions.
2. Credit is given for legibility, clarity of expressions and use of relevant illustrations.
3. Clearly write your registration number on each answer sheet used.

DO NOT WRITE ANYWHERE ON THIS QUESTION PAPER

QUESTION 1
a) ‘Humans are generally limited in making good decisions’. Explain this statement while highlighting
any Three limitations (8 marks)
b) What makes a good decision a good decision? (2 marks)
c) DSS are real systems and can be applied in day to day decision making process in an organization.
Differentiate between model driven and data driven decision support systems (6 marks)
d) Identify and explain stages that a developer can follow to come up with a DSS (8 marks)
e) Highlight on the major components of the decision-making process (6 marks)

QUESTION 2
a) What is DSS? Briefly state its goal. (4 marks)
b) Discuss any three relative advantages and disadvantages to using the Internet as a DSS (6 marks)
c) Briefly describe any three benefits and limitations of prototyping. (6 marks)
d) Identify any two advantages and two risks of end-user DSS development. (4 marks)

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QUESTION 3
a) There are a number of Decision Support Systems. These can be categorized into five types. List and
explain each one of them. (10 marks)
b) Discuss 5 ways in which a group decision support system enhances a firm’s business value
(10 marks)
QUESTION 4
a) Discuss any five relative Limitations & Disadvantages of using Decision support System.
(10 marks)
b) Information System is a system that handles the flow and maintenance of information, which
supports the business operation. Discuss the following terms: (10 marks)

QUESTION 5
a) Discuss 5 ways in which systems can be secured from hackers (10 marks)
b) Briefly describe the components of Simon’s problem-solving model. (6 marks)
c) Explain the following terms;
i) Firewalls (2 marks)
ii) Intrusion detection systems (2 marks)

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