|
(a)There are four different approaches
to maintenance:
•corrective maintenance
•adaptive maintenance
•perfective maintenance
•preventative maintenance
(i)Explain each of these four approaches.[4 marks ]
(ii)How can the need for adaptive maintenance be reduced?[2 marks
]
(a)(i)
•corrective maintenance:correcting errors and problems once they
have occurred 1 mark
•adaptive maintenance:changing system in response to changes
in requirements or methods 1mark
•perfective maintenance:changing a working system to improve
performance or
efficiency 1mark
•preventative maintenance:inspection and review of the system
to detect errors or anticipate potential problems 1mark
[4 marks ]
(ii)adaptive maintenance can be reduced by
improving the requirements or procurement process (1 mark)so that
the system is better speci .ed and suited to the users,improving the
development and implementation process (1 mark)by adopting structured,disciplined
methods (1 mark)and using them effectively.to a maximum of 2 marks
[2 marks ]
(b)Apart from visual screening,suggest
and carefully describe three techniques used in initial applicant
screening during recruitment.In each case,explain why or how a candidate
would be removed from further consideration as a result of the screening.
[6 marks ]
(b)Any three of the following:
•critical or knock-out questions:
–ask questions directly related to the skills and characteristics
required for
successful performance in the job;(1 mark)
–candidate removed from consideration for being unable to provide
correct answers (1 mark)
•reviewing application forms:
–forms should be phrased in such a way as to elicit detailed
information relating to the applicant ’s suitability for the
position;(1 mark)
–candidate removed from consideration because information on
the form (e.g.lack of essential quali .cations)suggests that they
are unsuitable (1 mark)
•briefly describing the job to the applicant:
–give the applicant more information about what would be required
of them,and what the jobentails (1 mark)
–applicant may remove themselves from consideration (1 mark)
•aptitude test:
–an objective means to determine whether the candidate has the
basic
competences required to perform the tasks involved
–candidate performs poorly on the test,and is unable to gain
enough marks
any three of these,1 mark for each aspect of the question -candidates
must provide both parts of the answer to get 2 marks
[6 marks ]
(c)A risk control decision could place
a risk in one or more of the following six categories:
(i)to be retained
(ii)to be transferred
(iii)preventative action is required
(iv)detection of occurrence appropriate
(v)effect of occurrence may be reduced
(vi)disaster recovery required
For each category,give a realistic example of a risk that might be
placed in that category, and explain why such a decision might be
taken.
[12 marks ]
(c)Risks:
In each case,one mark for a realistic example,plus one mark for an
explanation of why this might be the case;examples include...
(i)to be retained:e.g.,
•risk of flooding might be retained in an area where flooding
has never occurred
•low vulnerability,low likelihood
any realistic example (1 mark)provided that some suitable explanation
of the decision is given;here,alternative examples and explanations
could involve risks of low severity
(ii)to be transferred:e.g.,
•risk of fire
•consequences devastating,business could be closed down,need
to insure against it. any realistic risk that would be insured against
or transferred in another fashion,plus a suitable reason for the decision
(iii)preventative action is required:e.g.,
•theft (or similar)
•might be cost-e .ective to provide security measures
any realistic risk where cost of prevention might be reasonable
(iv)detection of occurrence appropriate
•fire (or similar)
•may not be possible to prevent risk of .re,so install smoke
detectors
any realistic risk where prevention is di .cult and detection is sensible
(v)effect of occurrence may be reduced
•fire (or similar)
•anything where severity of risk may be reduced:install .re extinguishing
systems any realistic risk where action can be taken during or immediately
after occurrence to reduce severity
(vi)disaster recovery required
•any disaster (.re,earthquake,sabotage)
•backup and recovery procedures can be put in place to restore
data and
operations any realistic risk where recovery is appropriate
There is no reason why the same risk cannot be used many times as
examples,provided that suitable explanation is given for the decision
to place it in that category;the above examples are suggestions only
-any sensible,justified answer should receive credit
[12 marks ]
(d)Your organisation is planning to
set up a data processing department.The management has found that
there is a shortage of capable managerial and data processing staff
in the organisation.Recruitment of profficient managerial and data
processing staff is difficult at the present time.
(i)Should the organisation adopt a centralised or dispersed way of
organising the data processing department?Explain your answer.[2 marks
]
(ii)Discuss two advantages and two disadvantages of your choice.[4
marks ]
(d)(i)A
centralised department would be better,so that upper management can
exert tighter control over the weak departmental management 1 mark
for a sensible suggestion,provided that some justification is provided,1
mark for the justification itself [2 marks ]
(ii)Two advantages:
•upper management can exert tighter control
•better control of application development
•economies of scale
•better mix of staff.
1 mark for each point,to a maximum of 2 marks,even if one is repeating
justification from (i)
Two disadvantages:
•slower response to changing user needs
•less opportunity for interaction with users,more isolation
1 mark for each point,to a maximum of 2 marks,even if one is repeating
justification from (i)
[4 marks ]
|