Computers: The Machines Behind Computing

Chapter 2

Instructions: Please read Bidgoli Chapter 2

ACTIVITY

What is a computer system and describe its components?

FEEDBACK: You should be able to explain the definition of the computer system and all its components. You can engage
your fellow students on Discussion forum to share your thoughts on these concepts.

ACTIVITY

Discuss the history of computer hardware and software.

FEEDBACK: It is important to know the generations and technologies of computers. It is also important to explain in which
generation the hardware and computer language are on. You are further allowed to discuss these concepts on Discussion
forum.

ACTIVITY

What are the factors distinguishing computing power of computers?

FEEDBACK: Please read Chapter 2 (Pages 27 – 28).

ACTIVITY

Summarize computer operations.

FEEDBACK: Please read Chapter 2 (Pages 28 – 33) then afterwards engage other students about these concepts on
Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

What are the types of input, output, and memory devices?

FEEDBACK: Please read Chapter 2 (Pages 29 – 33) then afterwards engage other students about these concepts on
Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

How computers are classified?

FEEDBACK: You should know the classes of computers as explained in Chapter 2. You should also discuss what you have
learnt to fellow students on Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY
What are the two major types of software?

FEEDBACK: Please know and differentiate between these two types of software. You should also be able to discuss what
you have learnt to fellow students on Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

List the generations of computer languages.

FEEDBACK: It is also important to explain in which generation the computer languages are on. You are further allowed to
discuss these concepts on Discussion forum.
Database Systems, Data Warehouses and Data Marts

Chapter 3

ACTIVITY

Define a database and a database management system.

FEEDBACK: You should be able to explain what the database and the database management systems (DBMSs) are? Think of
any organization and explain how the database and the database management systems are used in this organization. You can
engage your fellow students on Discussion forum to share your thoughts on these concepts.

ACTIVITY
What is logical database design and the relational database model?

FEEDBACK: Please read Chapter 3 (Pages 48 – 51) then afterwards engage other students about these concepts on
Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

What are the components of a database management system?

FEEDBACK: You should be able to explain what the components of the database management systems (DBMSs) are? Please
refer to pages 51 - 53 then engage other students about these concepts on Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY
What are the recent trends in database design and use?

FEEDBACK: You should be able to explain the new technologies in databases and what you think of these technologies.
Thereafter you should be able to discuss these technologies to fellow students on Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY
Explain the components and functions of a data warehouse.

FEEDBACK: Please have a look at Exhibit 3.6 and explain what you see on it accordingly. Then afterwards you can have a
talk on Discussion forum to fellow students about the data warehouses.

ACTIVITY
Describe the functions of a data mart.

FEEDBACK: Please refer to pages 59 – 60 to learn about the functions of data mart.
ACTIVITY
Define business analytics, and describe its role in the decision-making process.

FEEDBACK: Please read case study on page 60 and thereafter explain what business analytics is?

ACTIVITY
What is big data and explain its business applications.

FEEDBACK: You should be able to explain what big data is and thereafter explain it to fellow students on the Discussion
forum.
Personal, Legal, Ethical and Organisationl Issues of Information Systems

Chapter 4

ACTIVITY

What is information privacy and what are the methods for improving the privacy of information?

FEEDBACK: Think carefully about the impact on you. HINT: Read the case study in the blue block in page 67. Go to the Discussion forum
and share your thoughts about this concept with other students. Talk back to them about their views. Try to find a positive new insight from
another person and tell them you found it. Also find something to disagree about and sensitively argue your position.

ACTIVITY
What are the effects on information privacy of e-mail, censorship and data collection?

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 70 – 72. Go to the Discussion forum and share your thoughts about this concept with other students.

ACTIVITY
What are the ethical issues related to information technology?
FEEDBACK: You should be able to explain the ethical issues which relate to information systems and afterwards go to the Discussion forum
to share your thoughts about this concept with other students.

ACTIVITY
Discuss the principles of intellectual property and issues related to the infringement of intellectual property.

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 75 – 77 and thereafter engage fellow students to explain what you have learned regarding this concept.

ACTIVITY

Discuss information system issues that affect organizations, including the digital divide, electronic publishing, and on the connection
between the workplace and employees’ health.

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 77 – 79 and thereafter engage fellow students to explain what you have learned regarding this concept.

ACTIVITY
What is green computing and explain the ways it can improve the quality of the environment?

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 79 – 80 and thereafter engage fellow students to explain what you have learned regarding this concept.
Protecting Information Resources

Chapter 5

ACTIVITY

Which information technologies could be used in computer crimes?

FEEDBACK: Please read Chapter 5 and thereafter engage fellow students to explain what you have learned regarding this
concept.

ACTIVITY
Describe basic safeguards in computer and network security.

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 88 – 90 and thereafter engage fellow students to explain what you have learned regarding
this concept.

ACTIVITY

What are the major security threats?

FEEDBACK: You should be able to explain major security threats and afterwards engage your fellow students on the
Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

Describe security and enforcement measures.

FEEDBACK: You should be able describe security and enforcement measures and afterwards engage other students on the
Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

What are the guidelines for a comprehensive security system, including business continuity planning?

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 103 – 105 and thereafter engage fellow students to explain what you have learned regarding
this concept.
Data Communication: Delivering Information Anywhere and Anytime

Chapter 6

ACTIVITY

What are the major applications of a data communication system?

FEEDBACK: In order to know major applications you should be able to explain data communication. Thereafter you should
be able to talk about these applications to fellow students on the Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

What are the major components of a data communication system?

FEEDBACK: You should be able to explain the major components of a data communication system. Thereafter you should be
able to talk about these applications to fellow students on the Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

What are the major types of processing configurations?

FEEDBACK: You should be able to explain the major types of processing configurations. Thereafter you should be able to
talk about these applications to fellow students on the Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

What are the three types of networks?

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 117 – 118. Thereafter you should be able to talk about these applications to fellow students
on the Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

What are the main network topologies?

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 119 – 121. Thereafter you should be able to talk about these applications to fellow students
on the Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

Explain important network concepts, such as bandwidth, routing, routers, and the client/server model.
FEEDBACK: Please read Chapter 6. Thereafter you should be able to talk about these concepts to fellow students on the
Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

Describe wireless and mobile technologies and networks.

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 126 – 129. Thereafter you should be able to talk about these concepts to fellow students on
the Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

What are the importance of wireless security and the techniques used?

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 126 – 129. Thereafter you should be able to talk about these concepts to fellow students on
the Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

Summarize the convergence phenomenon and its applications for business and personal use.
FEEDBACK: You should be able to explain convergence phenomenon and its applications for business and personal use. It
is also important to relate this phenomenon to the real world computer applications on the Discussion forum.
The Internet, Intranets, and Extranets

Chapter 7

ACTIVITY

What is the makeup of the Internet and World Wide Web?

FEEDBACK: Please read Chapter 7 and thereafter engage fellow students to explain what you have learned regarding these
concepts.

ACTIVITY

What are navigational tools, search engines, and directories?

FEEDBACK: You should be able to explain what navigational tools, search engines, and directories are and thereafter
engage your fellow students on the Discussion forum on myUnisa.

ACTIVITY

What are common Internet services?

FEEDBACK: You should be able to explain these services and the ways they have affected your life. It will be beneficial if
you also learn from other students through Discussion forum on myUnisa.

ACTIVITY

Summarize widely used Web applications.

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 145 – 146 and please refer to page 149 to learn about the Internet in 2020. Thereafter you
should engage fellow students to explain what you have learned regarding these concepts.

ACTIVITY

What is the purpose of intranets?

FEEDBACK: For information on Intranets you should read pages 149 – 150. Thereafter you should engage fellow students
to explain what you have learned regarding this concept.

ACTIVITY

What is the purpose of extranets?

FEEDBACK: For information on Extranets you should read pages 151 – 153. Thereafter you should engage fellow students
to explain what you have learned regarding this concept.

ACTIVITY

What are the new trends in the Web 2.0 and 3.0 eras and Internet2?

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 153 – 157. Thereafter you should engage fellow students to explain what you have learned
regarding these concepts.

ACTIVITY

Describe the Internet of Everything.

FEEDBACK: You should describe what the Internet of Everything is and thereafter engage your fellow students on the
Discussion forum on myUnisa.
E-Commerce

Chapter 8

ACTIVITY

What is e-commerce, and describe its advantages, disadvantages, and business models?

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 163 – 168. Thereafter you should engage your fellow students on the Discussion forum to
explain what you have learned regarding these concepts.

ACTIVITY

What are the major categories of e-commerce?

FEEDBACK: It is worth noting that major categories of e-commerce are important to study. You should be able to engage
your fellow students on the Discussion forum to explain what you have learned regarding these categories.

ACTIVITY

What is the business-to-consumer e-commerce cycle?

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 170 – 171 to know more about e-commerce cycle. Thereafter you should engage your fellow
students on the Discussion forum to explain what you have learned regarding E-commerce cycle.

ACTIVITY

Summarize the major models of business-to-business e-commerce.

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 171 – 173 to know more about major models of business-to-business e-commerce.
You should also engage your fellow students on the Discussion forum to explain what you have learned regarding should
engage your fellow students to explain what you have learned regarding.

ACTIVITY

What is mobile-based and voice-based e-commerce?

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 174 to know more about mobile-based and voice-based e-commerce. You should also
engage your fellow students on the Discussion forum to explain what you have learned.

ACTIVITY

What are the three supporting technologies for e-commerce?

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 175 to know more about supporting technologies for e-commerce. You should also engage
your fellow students on the Discussion forum to explain what you have learned.

Building Succesgul Information Systems

Chapter 10

ACTIVITY

Describe the systems development life cycle (SDLC) as a method for developing information systems.

FEEDBACK: You should be able to describe SDLC and all its phases. You should also engage your fellow students on the
Discussion forum to explain what you have learned concerning SDLC.

ACTIVITY

What tasks are involved in the planning phase?

FEEDBACK: You should be able to explain the tasks which are involved in the planning phase and be able to engage fellow
students concerning these tasks on the Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY
What tasks are involved in the requirements-gathering and analysis phase?

FEEDBACK: You should be able to explain the tasks which are involved in the requirements-gathering and analysis
phase and be able to engage fellow students concerning these tasks on the Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

What tasks are involved in the design phase?

FEEDBACK: You should be able to explain the tasks which are involved in the design phase and be able to engage fellow
students concerning these tasks on the Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

What tasks are involved in the implementation phase?

FEEDBACK: You should be able to explain the tasks which are involved in the implementation phase and be able to engage
fellow students concerning these tasks on the Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

What tasks are involved in the maintenance phase

FEEDBACK: You should be able to explain the tasks which are involved in the maintenance phase and be able to engage
fellow students concerning these tasks on the Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

What are the new trends in systems analysis and design, including service-oriented architecture, rapid application
development, extreme programming, and agile methodology?

FEEDBACK: Please refer to pages 217 – 219 for information on new trends in systems analysis and design, including
service-oriented architecture, rapid application development, extreme programming, and agile methodology. You should also
be able to engage fellow students concerning these tasks on the Discussion forum.

Enterprise Systems

Chapter 11

ACTIVITY

How supply chain management is used?

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 225 – 230 for information on supply chain management. Afterwards you should also be able
to engage fellow students concerning supply chain management on the Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

What are customer relationship management systems?

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 231 – 235 for information on customer relationship management systems. Afterwards you
should also be able toengage fellow students concerning customer relationship management on the Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

What are knowledge management systems?

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 235 – 237 for information on knowledge management systems. Afterwards you should also
be able to engage fellow students concerning knowledge management systems on the Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

What are enterprise resource planning systems?

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 237 – 238 for information on enterprise resource planning systems. Afterwards you should
also be able to engage fellow students concerning enterprise resource planning systems on the Discussion forum.

Management Support Systems

Chapter 12

ACTIVITY

What are the phases of the decision-making process in a typical organization and the types of decisions that are made?

FEEDBACK: You should be able to explain phases of the decision-making process in a typical organization and the types of
decisions that are made in that organization and be able to engage fellow students concerning these tasks on the Discussion
forum.

What is a decision support system?

FEEDBACK: You should be able to explain the definition of decision support system. Thereafter you should also be able
to engage fellow students concerning decision support system on the Discussion forum.
ACTIVITY

What is an executive information system’s importance in decision making?

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 250 – 252 for information on executive information system’s importance in decision making.
Thereafter you should also be able to engage fellow students concerning executive information system’s importance in
decision making on the Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

Describe group support systems, including groupware and electronic meeting systems.

FEEDBACK: You should be able to describe as well as explain the definitions of group support systems, including
groupware and electronic meeting systems. Afterwards you should also be able to engage fellow students concerning group
support systems, including groupware and electronic meeting systems on the Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

What are the uses for a geographic information system (GIS)?

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 256 – 258 and you should know GIS can be used to fight diseases. Afterwards you should
also be able to engage fellow students on the Discussion forum concerning this concept.

ACTIVITY
What are the guidelines for designing a management support system?

FEEDBACK: You should be able to explain the guidelines for designing a management support system thereafter engage
your fellow students on the Discussion forum on myUnisa.

Intelligent Information Systems

Chapter 13

ACTIVITY

What is artificial intelligence (AI), and explain how AI technologies support decision making?

FEEDBACK: You should be able to explain what AI is and how its technologies support decision making. Afterwards you
should also be able to engage fellow students on the Discussion forum concerning AI and its technologies.

ACTIVITY

Describe an expert system, its applications, and its components.

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 266 – 270. Afterwards you should also be able to engage fellow students on the Discussion
forum concerning expert system, its applications, and its components.

ACTIVITY

What is case-based reasoning?

FEEDBACK: Please read page 270 to get more information on case-based reasoning. Afterwards you should also be able
to engage fellow students on the Discussion forum concerning case-based reasoning.

ACTIVITY

Summarize the types of intelligent agents and how they are used.

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 271 – 273 to get more information on types of intelligent agents and how they are used.
Afterwards you should also be able to engage fellow students on the Discussion forum concerning on the types of intelligent
agents and how they are used.

ACTIVITY

Describe fuzzy logic and its uses.

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 273 – 274 to get more information on fuzzy logic and its uses. Afterwards you should also be
able to engage fellow students on the Discussion forum concerning fuzzy logic and its uses.

ACTIVITY

Explain artificial neural networks.

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 274 – 275 to get more information on artificial neural networks and also read a case study
on page 275. Afterwards you should also be able to engage fellow students on the Discussion forum concerning artificial
neural networks.

ACTIVITY

Describe how genetic algorithms are used.

FEEDBACK: Please read page 276 to get more information on genetic algorithms and the ways they are used. Afterwards
you should also be able toengage fellow students on the Discussion forum concerning genetic algorithms and the ways they
are used.

ACTIVITY

Explain natural-language processing and its advantages and disadvantages.

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 276-277. Afterwards you should also be able to engage fellow students on the Discussion
forum about natural-language processing, its advantages and disadvantages.

ACTIVITY

Summarize the advantages of integrating AI technologies into decision support systems.

FEEDBACK: Please read page 277 to get more information on how to integrate AI technologies into decision support
systems. Thereafter you should also be able to engage fellow students on the Discussion forum about how to integrate AI
technologies into decision support systems.

ACTIVITY

What is contextual computing?

FEEDBACK: You should explain what contextual computing is and discuss it to fellow students on the Discussion forum.

Emerging Trends, Technologies, and Applications

Chapter 14
ACTIVITY

Summarize new trends in software and service distribution.

FEEDBACK: You are supposed to summarize these new trends in software and service distribution and also further discuss
them to fellow students on the Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

Describe virtual reality components and applications.

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 285 - 290 to get more information on virtual reality components and applications and also
further discuss them to fellow students on the Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

Discuss uses of radio frequency identification.

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 291 - 292 to get more information on the uses of radio frequency identification. You are
supposed to further discuss them to fellow students on the Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

Explain quick response codes.

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 292 - 293 to get more information on quick response codes and also read the case study on
quick response codes in action. You are supposed to further engage fellow students on quick response codes on the
Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

Summarize new uses of biometrics.

FEEDBACK: You know new uses of biometrics and discuss them on the Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

Describe new trends in networking, including grid, utility, and cloud computing.

FEEDBACK: Please read pages 294 – 299. You are supposed to further engage fellow students about these concepts on the
Discussion forum.

ACTIVITY

Discuss uses of nanotechnology.

FEEDBACK: You are supposed to know what nanotechnology are as well its uses and afterwards to discuss fellow students
about nanotechnology are as well its uses on the Discussion forum.