| QUESTION 1 It now appears that general
interoperability is being achieved in spite of major differences in operating systems and
where they are used.
Discuss the current status of the major operating system alternatives, explaining why
it is likely that just two 'flavours' of Unix will emerge and why the chosen operating
system is only likely to be of importance to 'back-end' processes.
TOTAL 25 MARKS
|
| QUESTION 2
| (a) |
Provide a classified review of what you consider to be the most important
ways that the Internet can support aspects of electronic trading. (10 marks) |
| (b) |
Discuss the relevance of hypertext as the user 'environment' for
Internet-based applications (15 marks) |
TOTAL 25 MARKS
|
| QUESTION 3 It has been said that it is part of the
strategy of Microsoft to promote the 'thick' client, while other major players believe
that the 'thin' client is the obvious way forward.
Discuss this statement and show why there is likely to be a continued requirement fora
substantial middle tier in the client-server complexes that are needed to support
distributed computing.
TOTAL 25 MARKS
|
| QUESTION 4 Until a few years ago, it was fairly easy
to determine the main economic, political and social pressures causing enterprises to
rationalise and employ open systems standards. The situation is now becoming rather
confused and current developments may be causing enterprises to consider holding off on
long-term IT strategies, even though they may have well-thought-out information system
strategies.
Discuss these statements showing what you consider to be the main pressures that affect
the way enterprises react to the availability of new developments in IT.
TOTAL 25 MARKS
|
| QUESTION 5 Explain with examples, why in spite of an
increasing trend towards standardisation in IT, enterprises need to make use of the
services of a systems integrator.
TOTAL 25 MARKS
|
| QUESTION 6 Open systems is largely about the adoption
of and/or agreement on many different kinds of standard. Offer what you consider to be the
4-5 standards whose general adoption have made the largest contribution to the current
degree of openness of IT
TOTAL 25 MARKS
|
