CHAPTER 6: Databases

List, describe, and provide an example of each of the five characteristics of high quality information.

• Accuracy – are all the values correct? For example, is the name spelled correctly? Is the dollar amount recorded properly?
• Completeness – are any of the values missing? For example, is the address complete, including street, city, state, and zip code?
• Consistency – is aggregate or summary information in agreement with detailed information? For example, do all total fields equal the true total of the individual fields?
• Uniqueness – is each transaction, entity, and event represented only once in the information? For example, are there any duplicate customers?
• Timeliness – is the information current with respect to the business requirements? For example, is information updated weekly, daily, or hourly?

An example of data entry

Define the relationship between a database and a database management system.

Database

Database Management System

Maintains information about various types of objects (inventory), events (transactions), people (employees) and places (warehouses)

Software through which users and application programs interact with a database Basic functions: -          Providing user views -          Creating and modifying the database -          Storing and retrieving data -          Manipulating data and generating reports Common database management systems: Oracle – very large distributed databases, billions of records, 000’s of users Microsoft SQL / MySQL Mid size database, back end to front end apps, millions of records, 00’s of users Access / Info Path Small Database, 100k’s of rows, one or few users

Describe the advantages an organisation can gain by using a database.

- Accurately stores records

- Distributes information easily

- Reduces redundancy of information 

- High quality of information/ high integrity 

- Increased information Security- e.g. only the right people have access

Define the fundamental concepts of the relational database model.

A relational database is a collection of tables from which data can be accessed in many different ways without having to reorganize the database tables.

That is, once relationships are created, tables can “talk” to each other.  We can link (relate) the tables to find certain information. 

An example of a relationship database model:

Describe the benefits of a data-driven website.

Data-driven websites – an interactive website kept constantly updated and relevant to the needs of its customers through the use of a database. The customer enters search criteria in the website. The database runs a query on the search criteria

ADVANTAGES:

—Development
—Content management
—Future expandability
—Minimising human error
—Cutting production and update costs
—More efficient
—Improved stability
—Real time info like stock levels & price changes

CHAPTER 5: Enterprise Architects

To be updated...

CHAPTER 4 Ethics and Information Security

Explain the ethical issues surrounding information technology

- Intellectual property- the collection of rights that protect creative and intellectual effort 

- Copy right- The exclusive right to do, or omit to do, certain acts with intangible property such as sonf, video game and some types of proprietary documents

- Fair use doctrine- In certain situations, it is legal to use copyrighted material 

- Pirated software- The unauthorised use, duplication, distribution, or sale of copyrighted softwae

- Counterfeit software- Software that is manufactured to look like the real thing and sold as such 

Describe and explain one of the computer use policies that a company might employee

Ethical computer use policy


- Contains general principles to guide computer user behaviour

- Is an essential step in creating an ethical corporate culture. 

- Ensures that users know how to behave at work and the organisation has a published standard by which to deal with user infractions

- Organisations should ensure all users are aware of the policy through formal training and other means 

- For example the guidelines as to what is appropriate and what is not appropriate at work- see below for when this is breached 

What are the 5 main technology security risks?

Outline one way to reduce each risk.

- Human errors- Change passwords regularly 
- Natural Disasters- Make sure the organisation has a contingency plan in place for when a natural disaster occurs, eg location of backup data
- Technical Failures- Backup data
- Deliberate acts- Secure passwords
- Management failure-implement appropriate training

What is a disaster recovery plan, what strategies might a firm employ?

- The process of regainning access to computer systems and data after a disaster has taken place 

- All firms should have a comprehensive disaster recovery plan in place

- All firms must have business continuity plans that outline exactly what happens in a disaster 

- Off Site Data kept in date order

- Well documented procedures

- Regular recovery testing 

CHAPTER 3: e-BUSINESS

Why has the web grown so dramatically?

• The microcomputer revolution made it possible for an average person to own a computer
• Advancements in networking hardware, software and media made it possible for business PCs to be inexpensively connected to larger networks 
• Browser software such as Microsoft's Internet explorer and Netscape Navigator gave computer users an easy-to-use graphical interface to find, download and display webpages  
• The speed, convenience, and low cost of email have made it an indispensable tool for business and personal communications 
• Basic web pages are easy to create and extremely flexible 

What is Web 2.0, how does it differ from 1.0?

Web 2.0	Web 1.0
A set of economic, social and technology trends that collectively form the bases for the next generation of the Internet 'Read write web' Changes to sotware can be done by end users- using the web platforms eg Facebook, Blogs, Wiki's etc	'Read only data' Updated only by software developers

How could a web 2.0 technology be used in business?

Click here for an example of a business advertising on facebook

- Advertising companies have facebook sites

- Blogs for press releases

- Wiki's- companies have internal wiki's to obtain data

What is eBusiness, how does it differ from eCommerce?

E- Commerce	E-Business
Online transactions- The buying and selling of goods over the internet	The conducting of business on the internet, not only buying and selling, but also serving customers and collaborating with business partners

What is pure and partial eCommerce

- Pure eCommerce- 

    is only online business- everything is done digitally eg itunes- No physical goods and services

Click to enter itunes store

- Partial eCommerce- 

   when you pay for something online, but the production and distribution of items still occur. Eg Dell.

Dell

List and describe the various eBusiness models

Business Term	Definition
Business to business         (B2B)	Businesses buying from and selling to each other over the internet
Business to consumer         (B2C)	Any business that sells its products or services to   consumers over the internet
Consumer to business  (B2C)	Any consumer that sells a product or service to a business over the internet
Consumer to consumer         (C2C)	Applies to sites primarily offering goods and services to assist consumers interacting with each other over the internet. Eg E-Bay

Another important and rapidly emerging e-business model is business to Government (eg rates paid online)

List and describe the major B2B models?

- Electronic Auction (or e-auction) - Sellers and buyers solicit consecutive bids from each other and prices are determined dynamically
Forward auction- An auction that sellers use as a selling channel to may buyers. The highest bid wins - for example 'ebay'

Forward Auction: ebay 

- Reverse auction- An auction that buyers use to purchase a product or service, selecting the seller with the lowest bid

Outline 2 opportunities and 2 challenges faced by companies doing business online?

2 Opportunities: 

- Highly accessible: Businesses can operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 265 days a year 

- Increased customer loyalty: Additional channels for contacting, responding to and accessing customers helps contribute to customer loyalty 

2 Challenges:

- Increasing liability: E-business exposes suppliers to unknown liabilities because Internet commerce law is vaguely defined and differs from country to country. The internet and its use in e-business have raised many ethical, social and political issues, such as identity theft and information manipulation 

- Providing security: companies must protect their assets against accidental or malicious misuse. Whilst doing this, system security also must not reduce flexibility