THAMES VALLEY UNIVERSITY
School of Technology & Information Systems
Module Assessment for Bachelor of Science in Information Systems
South East Asia Programme
Accredited Degree Programme
Level-3 Module
SYS 3040: Open Systems
Time allowed: Three hours
Instruction to candidates:
1. Answer any FOUR questions out of SIX.
2. All questions carry 25 marks.
| QUESTION 1 Explain the role of the systems integrator
in the modern enterprise, showing clearly how this differs from that of the systems
analyst/designer.
TOTAL 25 MARKS
|
| QUESTION 2 Interoperability, portability and
re-use are terms easy to employ, but not so easy to explain.
Show you understanding of these terms by illustrating them with particular reference to
Microsoft operating systems, applications software and utility software and their
underlying technologies.
TOTAL 25 MARKS
|
| QUESTION 3 'Open Systems' is a term rapidly becoming
out-of-date and we could now say that the subject is about
employing and conforming to standards in an attempt to rationalised IT activities
in the interests of business efficiency and economy.
Provide a review of what you consider to be the main pressures that force enterprises
to rationalise their IT showing how some degree of 'open system migration' can assist in
meeting thechallenges resulting from these pressures.
TOTAL 25 MARKS
|
| QUESTION 4 Discuss the significance of the following
terms as they apply to the implementation of 'open systems' (5 marks each part):
| a. Network computer |
|
b. Applet |
| c. Middleware |
|
d. Groupware |
TOTAL 25 MARKS
|
| QUESTION 5 Provide a short historical overview of
'Unix', showing why there are now still many variations. Explain why in spite of a high
degree of rationalisation within the 'Unix' world, Microsoft operating systems are leading
in small-to-medium application areas if not in 'big back-end' situations.
TOTAL 25 MARKS
|
|
