CAM: COMPUTER AIDED MANAGEMENT

PART - A

Q1. What do you understand by the term 'Internet Protocol'? Describe the commonly used protocols that help in high-performance network communication.

Q2. Describe the various networking components and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of the different types of network topology.

Q3. What are the advantages of adopting Database Management Systems (DBMS) in the domain of computer aided management? Define the term 'schema' in the context of DBMS.

Q4. What is the significance of the 'master slide' while creating a presentation in PowerPoint?

Q5. Explain the process of performing the following actions in an Excel spreadsheet: entering formulas, formatting cells, text wrapping, data filtering and creating scenarios.

PART - B

Q1. What are the benefits of the following facilities in MS Word: Mail Merge, Header and Footer, AutoCorrect, AutoFormat, AutoText?

Q2. Describe the evolution of MS Windows right from the beginning to its present stage. In what ways do you think the Windows operating system has improved over the years?

Q3. What do you understand by the term 'operating system'? List the key features of the LINUX operating system.

Q4. What are the different classifications for computer languages? Write a few lines on the following high-level computer languages: FORTRAN, COBOL, BASIC, PASCAL, ADA, LISP, C and C++.

Q5. What are the different elements of 'Multimedia'? In what ways does it improve interactivity? Discuss.

PART - C

Q1. Define 'Dumb', 'Smart', 'Intelligent' and 'X' terminals and describe the differences between an LCD display and a CRT display.

Q2. Explain the functions of the following devices: OMR, MICR, OBR, Digitizer, Electronic Card Readers, and Smart Cards.

Q3. Elucidate on the following: Static and Dynamic RAM, ROM, and Cache Memory.

Q4. Is it true that by increasing the processor speed, (or clock speed) one can improve the performance of a computer? Give reasons to support your answer.

Q5. What are the different characteristics of a computer that make it a 'must have' in today's environment?

CASE STUDY-1:

High-Speed Multiservice-Enabled Network

The New technology Network Architecture at the institute consists of laying down the foundations for a high-speed multiservice network capable of providing the basic connectivity services and also facilitating the New World technology drivers so as to empower the faculty and the students with the newest of learning tools and infrastructure.

Also the multiservice network has innovative and state-of-the-art applications, supported on the network. Few examples are:

    •LAN IP telephony

    •Videoconferencing

    •Video on demand learning

    •Content management

    •Media server

    •Secured and fast Internet access

    •Converged voice, video, and data network

    •High speed Gigabit backbone

This enables the users of the network to learn the latest technology which is very much required by them in their future assignments and jobs. The network enables the flow of modern teaching methods, and also allows the students to learn more from the network itself, as it deploys the latest and the proven Internet technologies, that a management and computer technology learning Institute can benefit from.

With the new technology, it is possible to create a centre of excellence in association with CISCO for learning network-related technology at the institute. This will not only facilitate value addition to the MBA and MCA students but also train the other institutes in the region on this technology.

The Distance Learning Programme (DLP), which is the fastest growing education area, is going to derive the maximum benefit out of the multiple and diverse service offerings such as video on demand, videoconferencing and multicasting.

Questions:

1. Discuss the features of a high-speed multiservice network. What network topology is most suitable for the above network? Give reasons to support your answer.

2. How can you protect the above network from unauthorized access from outsiders and prevent own users from accessing undesired websites?

3. What great opportunities are offered by Internet-based technologies for the society in general and specifically for teachers and the student community?

4. What are the various methods of connecting to the Internet? What connectivity do you recommend for the above network that has integrated 700 nodes?

CASE STUDY-2:

If his department's access to the online services technical and vendor forums were cut off tomorrow, it would 'severely hamper our network upgrades across the board said Fred Hegner, Director of Application Development at Bergan Mercy Health System, Inc., in Dallas. At Bergan, as at many other companies, information systems staffers are increasingly tapping into online networks like CompuServe and the Internet as a place to fetch software patches from vendors or to monitor discussion forums on the latest technical developments on myriad computing and networking subjects.

Using the 'Net' to search for employees is also a growing trend. For example, one IS manager hit upon a way to resolve some of his technical issues and scout new talent at the same time. He posts especially thorny technical problems in the relevant Usenet discussion groups and watches for the best replies, then sends them an e-mail message. One of the key uses of Internet e-mail at Jacob's Engineering Group in Pasadena California, says Jim LoSasso, Vice President of IS, is contact with suppliers and potential customers. 'We request pricing information to get back replies very quickly', he said. The company also collects weekly work bids from the government, 'which we pass along-salespeople.'

Next to exchanging e-mail and monitoring technical chats, by far the most popular application of online networks in IS groups involves downloading software patches from vendors. At Ore-Ida Foods Inc., all our upgrades for Apple software products come via the Internet file transfer protocol', said an information technologist at Ore-Ida.

Questions:

1. How do IS groups use the Internet and other online networks?

2. How do you envision people in other business areas (marketing, finance etc.) using these networks?

3. What sort of Usenet discussion groups is being referred to in the above case?

4. What do you mean by 'downloading software patches?'