Guide (2025/2026)
Description: This guide provides 100 foundational questions and verified answers covering core
Information Systems concepts typical for an IOS2601 Assignment 1. Use this to test your
knowledge and prepare for your exams.
Keywords: IOS2601 assignment 1 answers, information systems study guide, IOS2601 verified
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Section 1: The Foundation of Information Systems
Q1: What is data in the context of information systems?
A1: Data are raw facts and figures that, by themselves, may not have much meaning. Examples
include transactions, events, and measurements.
Q2: What is information?
A2: Information is data that has been processed, organized, and structured to be meaningful,
useful, and relevant for decision-making.
Q3: What is the key difference between data and information?
A3: Data is raw and unprocessed, while information is processed data that provides context and
meaning.
Q4: Define an Information System (IS).
A4: An Information System is a coordinated set of components (people, processes, data,
technology) that collects, processes, stores, analyzes, and disseminates information for a
specific purpose.
Q5: What are the five fundamental components of a computer-based information system?
A5: Hardware, Software, Data, Procedures, and People.
Q6: What is the role of 'People' in an information system?
A6: People are the users and specialists who interact with the system, from data entry clerks
and analysts to IT managers and chief information officers.
Q7: What is the difference between IT and IS?
A7: Information Technology (IT) refers to the hardware and software components. Information
, Systems (IS) is the broader system that includes IT, plus the people, processes, and data that use
the technology.
Q8: What is the purpose of a procedure in an IS?
A8: Procedures are the strategies, policies, methods, and rules for using the information system.
Q9: What is organizational culture, and why is it important for IS implementation?
A9: Organizational culture is the shared values, beliefs, and norms within an organization. It is
crucial because it determines how readily employees will adopt a new system.
Q10: What is the Digital Divide?
A10: The gap between those who have easy access to the internet and modern technology and
those who do not.
Section 2: Business Processes and Information Systems
Q11: What is a business process?
A11: A business process is a structured set of activities or tasks that accomplish a specific
organizational goal, such as processing an order or hiring an employee.
Q12: How can information systems improve business processes?
A12: IS can automate manual steps, enable new processes, improve efficiency, reduce costs,
and enhance control and monitoring.
Q13: What is Business Process Management (BPM)?
A13: BPM is a systematic approach to making an organization's workflow more effective,
efficient, and capable of adapting to a changing environment.
Q14: What is the difference between automation and re-engineering?
A14: Automation uses technology to perform a process in the same way, but faster. Re-
engineering involves radically redesigning the process from the ground up to achieve dramatic
improvements.
Q15: What is a cross-functional business process?
A15: A process that is executed by multiple departments or functional areas within an
organization (e.g., order fulfillment involves sales, accounting, and warehouse).
Section 3: Types of Information Systems