DIPLOMA IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION / DIPLOMA IN

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

MAY 2014 EXAMINATION

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Paper No: 3IS0217N / IT100N
TIME ALLOWED: 3 HOURS

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATE:
1.

Answer any FIVE (5) questions out of EIGHT (8) questions.

2.

All questions carry equal marks.

3.

ALL answer should be written in the answer sheets provided.

4.

Submit both the question and answer papers.

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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (3IS0217N/ IT100N)

MAY 2014

Question 1
(a)
Define an anti-virus. List TWO (2) examples of anti-viruses.
A antivirus program secures a computer against viruses
E.g. Norton, Symantec
(Ignore this mark scheme due to the format 6 marks)
(b)
Distinguish between computer threats as follows :
(i) Denial of Service Attack -- It disrupts computer access to Internet services
(ii) Hardware theft -- Is the stealing of digital equipment
(iii) License agreement -- A single-user license agreement typically contains the
conditions of installation onto authorised computer
(iv) Backup -- A backup tool copies or back-ups files to another storage location
(v) Firewalls -- is a hardware and/or software that protects a networks resource
from intrusion
(10 marks)
(c)
State FOUR (4) types of cybercrime.
Hacker, Cracker, Unethical Employee, Script kiddie
(4 marks)
(Total: 20 marks)
Question 2
(a)
What is System software?
A set of programs to coordinates all activities in a computer
E.g., operating system
(Ignore this mark scheme due to the format 6 marks)
(b)
Briefly explain the application software forms as follows:
(i)
Packaged Software
(ii)
Custom Software
(iii)
Web Application
(iv)
Open Source Software
(v)
Shareware
(vi)
Freeware
(vii) Public-domain Software
(14 marks)
(Total: 20 marks)
Question 3
(a)
Describe Transaction Processing System (TPS) in detail.
A transaction processing system (TPS) is an information system that captures daily
business activities data
An information system is a set of hardware, software, data, people, and procedures
to produce information
E.g., Human Resource, Engineering or Product Development, Manufacturing,
Marketing
(Ignore this mark scheme due to the format 8 marks)
(b)
With the aid of a diagram, state the information system types and their interrelationships.
(12 marks)
(Total: 20 marks)

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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (3IS0217N/ IT100N)

MAY 2014

Question 4
(a)
Network is a collection of computers and devices connected via communications
devices and transmission media. State and briefly define THREE (3) common
network types.
A metropolitan area network (MAN) connects LANs in a metropolitan area
A wide area network (WAN) is a network that covers a large geographic area
A personal area network (PAN) is a network that covers an individuals
workspace
(9 marks)
(b)
Briefly explain the following communication technologies:
(i) Blogs
(ii) E-Mail
(iii) Instant Messaging
(iv) Chat Rooms
(v) RSS
(10 marks)
(c)
State ONE (1) network architecture.
Client-server
(1 mark)
(Total: 10 marks)
Question 5
(a)
Contrast between input and output.
Input is any data and instructions entered into a computer
E.g. keyboard, mouse
Output is data that has been processed into a useful form
E,g, printer, monitor
(8 marks)
(b)
Define the following storage devices:
(i) Magnetic Disks -- A hard disk contains one or more inflexible, circular platters
that use magnetic particles to store information
(ii) Universal Serial Bus (USB) -- USB flash drives plug into a USB port on a
computer system
(4 marks)
(d)
Describe between the following computer components:
(i) Touch Screen -- Is a touch-sensitive display device
(ii) Printers -- Produce information on a physical medium
(iii) Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
(iv) Scanners -- Is a light-sensing input device that reads printed text and graphics
and translates them into computer readable
(8 marks)
(Total: 20 marks)
Question 7
(a)
State the SEVEN (7) characteristics of valuable information.
Accurate, Verifiable, Timely, Organised, Useful, Accessible and Cost Effective
(7 marks)
(b)
List THREE (3) examples of database programs.
E.g., Microsoft Access, Oracle, MySQL
(3 marks)
(Total: 20 marks)
Question 8

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(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (3IS0217N/ IT100N)

MAY 2014

What is a System Development Life Cycle (SDLC)?

System development is a set of activities to build an information system
System development activities are grouped into phases called the system development
life cycle (SDLC)
Needs to group activities or tasks into phases, involve user and set standards
(6 marks)
Distinguish the following modelling techniques:
(i) Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD)
(ii) Use Case Diagram
(iii) Decision Tree
(6 marks)
State THREE (3) possible solution to a system development life cycle (SDLC).
Modify existing system. Buy Retail Software, Use web apps
(Ignore this mark scheme due to the format 6 marks)
Define Prototype.
A prototype is a working model of the proposed systems essential functionality
(2 marks)
(Total: 20 marks)

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