Information Systems Analysis

05 March 2019

Examination Paper

Answer ALL questions.

Clearly cross out surplus answers.

Time: 3 hours

The maximum mark for this paper is 100.

Any reference material brought into the examination room must be

handed to the invigilator before the start of the examination.
 Answer ALL questions

Marks
Question 1

The Body Restoration Centre is a large, busy and popular sports injuries clinic. The
managers of the clinic want to increase the range of treatments that are offered which will
enable more patients to attend the clinic. The clinic needs a new information system to
deal with increased processing and administration tasks that will result from more
treatments and patients.

The information system stores patient information, processes patient data,

processes patient payments, issues invoices, processes new appointments and
cancellations and issues prescriptions. It also stores staff information, processes staff
data and processes staff wages. Stock control functions of the information system include:
updating the stock database, ordering medication from suppliers, processing supplier
information and processing payments to suppliers.

The information system needs to be more efficient and more secure than it is at present.
The local area network often runs slowly and sometimes crashes, data has been lost or
duplicated, for example, appointments, cancellations and stock orders. Some patient and
stock data have also been reported as inaccurate. It is not clear whether problems with
the existing information system are due to hardware, software, user errors or inefficient
communication between staff.

Although some staff agree that the information system needs updating, some are
concerned that they will not have the time to learn how to use a new system and some
administration and reception staff are concerned that they might lose their jobs if a new
system is introduced.

a) Explain why you would prefer to use a soft systems approach instead of a hard 4
systems approach to analyse the information system at The Body Restoration
Centre. Identify FOUR (4) advantages of a soft systems approach.

b) Explain what is meant by a rich picture. 2

c) Explain why you will produce a rich picture when using a soft systems approach. 4

Total 10 Marks

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Information Systems Analysis © NCC Education Limited 2019
 Marks
Question 2

a) Explain the purpose of producing root definitions for the clinic managers. 4

b) Construct a conceptual model for the clinic managers. Use the information 6
provided in the introduction to Question 1 to assist you.

Total 10 Marks

Question 3

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of undertaking CATWOE analysis at The 10

Body Restoration Centre. You should make reference to SIX (6) advantages and
FOUR (4) disadvantages.

Total 10 Marks

Question 4

The clinic managers, doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, administration staff and

receptionists use the information system at the clinic but catering staff and cleaning
staff do not have access to it. Patients do not have access to it at the present time
but the clinic managers want patients to be able to make or cancel appointments via
a secure link to the information system.

Produce a stakeholder matrix for The Body Restoration Centre. 10

Total 10 Marks

Question 5

Explain why using a soft systems methodology (SSM) might be less successful than 10
undertaking object oriented analysis (OOA). In your answer, you should make
reference to FIVE (5) limitations of using SSM and FIVE (5) benefits of using OOA.

Total 10 Marks

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Information Systems Analysis © NCC Education Limited 2019
 Marks
Question 6

a) Explain the advantages for staff at The Body Restoration Centre if you undertake 6
ETHICS analysis and your recommendations are accepted.

b) Explain why ETHICS analysis might not be successful. You should support your 4
answer with FOUR (4) points.

Total 10 Marks

Question 7

a) Outline THREE (3) types of information, other than the company’s weaknesses, 3
that you will discover if you undertake SWOT analysis at The Body Restoration
Centre.

b) Use the information provided in the introduction to Question 1 to assist you and 7
identify FOUR (4) weaknesses at the clinic. Also recommend THREE (3)
solutions to deal with the weaknesses that you have identified.

Total 10 Marks

Question 8

a) Identify SIX (6) factors relating to technology that could have a negative impact 6
on the information system’s development at The Body Restoration Centre.

b) Explain FOUR (4) tasks that you should undertake to deal with the potential 4
negative impacts that you identified in Question 8 a).

Total 10 Marks

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Information Systems Analysis © NCC Education Limited 2019
 Marks
Question 9

a) You are going to analyse the tasks undertaken by the information system’s users. 4
Explain FOUR (4) items of information that you expect to discover.

b) Identify TWO (2) fact-finding methods that you could use to undertake task 6
analysis and for each method describe TWO (2) advantages of using it.

Total 10 Marks

Question 10

a) If the information system’s interface is designed well it will bring a number of 5

benefits to its users. Describe FIVE (5) benefits that it could bring.

b) Suggest FIVE (5) checks that you will include in a usability test of the information 5
system’s interface to determine if the development of the interface has met the
needs of its users.

Total 10 Marks

End of Paper

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