Using InformationThe candidate must demonstrate knowledge and understanding, practical skills and problem solving based on the following content statements:
Data and Information
♦ Explanations and descriptions of the following terms in the context of an information system, and the relationships between them: data (raw facts and figures), information (processed data with structure, organisation, context or meaning) knowledge (derived from information).
♦ Description and exemplification of metadata (data describing data).
♦ Categorisation of information in terms of its source (primary, secondary, internal, external), nature (formal, informal, quantitative, qualitative), level (strategic, tactical, operational), time (historic, present, future), frequency (continuous, hourly, daily, monthly, annually), use (planning, control, decision making), form (written, aural, visual) and type (detailed, sampled, aggregated).
♦ Identification and description of the characteristics which affect the quality of information, in terms of its: relevance (or appropriateness), accuracy, completeness, reliability (or objectivity), timing, level of detail (or conciseness), presentation and availability.
♦ Understanding of the relationship between the characteristics of information and its value, and of the distinction between its cost and value.
Organisational Information Systems
♦ Definition, description and exemplification of data processing (DP) systems.
♦ Definition, description and exemplification of Management Information Systems (MIS), Decision Support Systems (DSS) and Executive Information Systems (EIS).
♦ Definition, description and exemplification of Expert Systems.
♦ Identification of organisational information system management strategies: network strategy,security strategy, backup strategy, upgrade strategy and software strategy.
♦ Description, exemplification and application of network strategy:
- identification and description of network topologies, including LANs, WANs, distributed networks
- identification and description of hardware, client/server, network adapter, structured cabling
- identification and description of software, including network operating system, network accounts
- description of audit and monitoring procedures and software
♦ Description, exemplification and application of security strategy:
- distinction between security, integrity and privacy of data
- description of the security risks to information systems, including viruses, hacking, denial of service
- description and exemplification of policies and procedures for implementing data security, including codes of conduct, password guidelines
- description and exemplification of methods of implementing data security, including virus protection, firewalls, encryption
- description and exemplification of access rights on a network system
♦ Description, exemplification and application of backup strategy:
- identification and description of archive, recovery and storage methods
- description of a rotation method for regular back-up, in terms of frequency and version control
♦ Description, exemplification and application of upgrade strategy:
- understanding of the need for ‘future proofing’, and of difficulties regarding hardware and software compatibility
- understanding the requirement to maintain legacy systems, and of methods of doing so, including emulation
♦ Description, exemplification and application of software strategy:
- identification and description of criteria for evaluation of software, in terms of functionality, performance, usability, compatibility, data migration, reliability, resource requirements, portability and support
- description of the methods of providing training in using information systems software, including on-the-job training, in-house and external Courses
- identification and description of the means of obtaining user support, including manuals, online help/tutorials, help desk, newsgroups, and FAQs
- identification and description of the issues affecting decisions to upgrade software
♦ Descriptions of distributed databases; data warehouses and data mining within an organisation.
Information Management Software
♦ Identification, description and application of the following classes of software: word processing/desktop publishing (presenting information for print media); presentation/web authoring (presenting information for online media); spreadsheet (data handling); project management; personal information management.
♦ Description and exemplification of the main features of word processing/desktop publishing software, including: multi-page layout (including use of columns, header and footer, pagination), contents/index, incorporation of graphics with text wrapping, use of stylesheets to implement a ‘house style’, including selection of fonts (serif/sans-serif), use of colour formatting of text (font, size, style, alignment).
♦ Description and exemplification of the main features of presentation/web authoring software, including: structuring of pages/slides, incorporation of graphics and animation, consideration of presentational style including selection of fonts and use of colour, navigation including hyperlinks, home links and page transitions, use of templates/masters to implement ‘house style’
♦ Description and exemplification of the main features of spreadsheet software, including: goal seeking/forecasting, lookup tables, advanced functions (nested if, count), use of macros.
♦ Description and exemplification of the main features of project management software, including: timelining, resource allocation, Gantt (and others) charts, optimisation and critical path analysis.
♦ Description and exemplification of the main features of personal information management software, including: communication, contacts, calendar, task lists.
Implications of ICT
♦Description and exemplification of the social implications of ICT in the following contexts: - globalisation and the impact of IS on business and societies - the impact on business organisations of an IS driven business model - e-commerce and the changing relationship between businesses and customers brought
about by the internet - the development of individuals’ identities and persona when communicating on the internet - the right to private communications across the internet
Identification, description, application and implications of current legislation applying to information systems, including:
- Data Protection Act (1998): inadequacies of the 1984 Act; changes from the 1984 Act, including coverage of data in electronic transmission; requirement for prior consent of data subject; harmonization of EU Data Protection legislation; export of data; paper based records
- Copyright, Designs and Patents Act (1988): application of copyright to computer software, computer databases, web content, and digital media; software piracy
- Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (including Lawful Business Practice regulations): purpose of the legislation, implications for electronic communication, monitoring of employees
- Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act (2002): organisations covered, right of access to information, exemptions
- Health & Safety regulations: employers’ responsibilities
♦ Description and exemplification of the economic implications of ICT in terms of: the impact on business organisations in relation to competitive advantage, business costs including initial/running and investment cost.
♦ Description and exemplification of the ethical implications of ICT in terms of: censorship and freedom of speech, privacy and encryption, global citizenship.
