Information Systems/Review
The following outline is based on the CLEP: Information Systems[1] exam outline. Review the outline knowledge and skills areas to validate your understanding of information systems concepts.
Office Applications (10%)
[edit | edit source]- Productivity software (word processing, spreadsheet, presentation package, end-user database package)
- List advantages and disadvantages of office software suites
- List typical functionality or tools included in word-processing software applications
- Use spreadsheet formulas and absolute and relative cell references
- Organize and sort data using multiple columns
- Operating systems (memory management, file management, interfaces, types of OS)
- List primary operating system functions
- Compare and contrast memory management vs. file management
- Use and manage file names and file extensions
- Compare and contrast command line interfaces and graphic user interfaces
- List operating system and application compatibility issues
- List advantages and disadvantages of running multiple operating systems
- Office systems (email, conferencing, collaborative work, document imaging, system resources)
- Compare and contrast email, conferencing, collaboration software, document imaging, and their use of system resources
Internet and World Wide Web (15%)
[edit | edit source]- Internet and other online services and methods (World Wide Web protocols, Web search engines, Web bots, intranet, cloud computing, communications, push/pull technology, W3C)
- Compare and contrast HTTP and HTTPS
- Use web search engines
- List uses of web bots
- Compare and contrast Internet and intranet
- Compare and contrast infrastructure, platform, and software cloud services (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS)
- List Internet communications protocols and their purpose
- Compare and contrast push and pull technology
- List the mission and purpose of the W3C
- Web browsers (URLs, protocols, standards, history, cookies, resource allocation)
- List the purpose and format of a URL
- Compare and contrast HTTP and HTML
- List current HTML standards and browser compatibility
- Manage browser history and cookies
- Identify browser resource allocation
- Web technologies (HTML, XML, JavaScript)
- Compare and contrast HTML, XML, and JavaScript
- Website development (analysis, design, functionality, accessibility)
- Compare and contrast the steps in the web development process
- Compare and contrast website functionality and website accessibility
Technology Applications (15%)
[edit | edit source]- Specialized systems (knowledge management, expert systems, TPS/OLTP, DSS, GIS, BI, workflow management, project management)
- Compare and contrast knowledge management, expert systems, TPS/OLTP, DSS, GIS, BI, workflow management, and project management
- E-commerce/E-business (EDI, standards, tools, characteristics, types of transactions, business models)
- List EDI standards, tools, and characteristics
- Compare and contrast types of e-commerce transactions
- Compare and contrast e-commerce business models (B2B, B2C, etc.)
- Enterprise-wide systems (ERP, CRM, SCM)
- Compare and contrast ERP, CRM, and SCM enterprise systems
- Data management (data warehousing, data mining, networking, security, validation, migration, storage, obsolescence)
- Compare and contrast data warehousing and data mining
- Compare and contrast data management issues regarding networking, security, validation, migration, storage, and obsolescence
- Business strategies (competition, process reengineering, process modeling, TQM, Web 2.0)
- List business strategies related to competition, process reengineering, process modeling, TQM, and Web 2.0
- Information processing methods (batch, real-time, transaction)
- Compare and contrast batch, real-time, and transaction processing methods
Hardware and Systems Technology (15%)
[edit | edit source]- Devices (processing, storage, input and output, telecommunications, networking)
- Compare and contrast processing, storage, input, and output, telecommunications, and networking devices
- Functions (computer, telecommunications, network hardware)
- Compare and contrast public switched telephone networks and Voice over IP systems
- Network architectures (local area, wide area, VPN, enterprise)
- Compare and contrast LAN, WAN, VPN, and enterprise networks
- Computer architectures (mainframe, client/server, operating systems)
- Compare and contrast mainframe and client/server computer architectures
- Compare computer architectures and operating systems
- Wireless technologies (Wi-Fi, cellular, satellite, mobile, GPS, RFID)
- Compare and contrast Wi-Fi, cellular, satellite, mobile, GPS, and RFID wireless technologies
Software Development (10%)
[edit | edit source]- Methodologies (prototyping, SDLC, RAD, CASE, JAD, Agile)
- Compare and contrast prototyping, SDLC, RAD, CASE, JAD, and Agile
- Processes (feasibility, systems analysis, systems design, end-user development, project management)
- Compare and contrast feasibility, systems analysis, systems design, end-user development, project management
- List common tools used in project management
- Implementation (testing, training, data conversion, system conversion, system maintenance, post-implementation activities, post-implementation review, documentation)
- Compare and contrast implementation activities including testing, training, data conversion, system conversion, system maintenance, post-implementation activities, post-implementation review, documentation
- Standards (proprietary, open source)
- Compare and contrast proprietary and open source software development
Programming Concepts and Data Management (10%)
[edit | edit source]- Programming logic (Boolean, arithmetic, SQL)
- Apply programming logic (Boolean, arithmetic, and SQL)
- Methodologies (object-oriented, structured)
- Compare and contrast object-oriented and structured methodologies
- Data (concepts, types, structures, digital representation of data)
- Compare and contrast data concepts, data types, data structures, and digital representation of data
- File (types, structures)
- Compare and contrast file types and file structures
- Database management systems (relational, hierarchical, network, management strategies)
- Compare and contrast relational, hierarchical, and object-oriented database management systems
Social and Ethical Implications and Issues (25%)
[edit | edit source]- Economic effects (secure transactions, viruses, malware, cost of security)
- List economic effects of secure transactions, viruses, malware, and the cost of security
- Privacy concerns (individual, business, identity theft)
- List privacy concerns, including individual, business, and identity theft
- Property rights (intellectual, legal, ownership of materials, open-source software)
- Compare and contrast intellectual, legal, ownership, and open-source property rights
- Effects of information technology on jobs (ergonomics, virtual teams, telecommuting, job design)
- List effects of information technology on jobs, including ergonomics, virtual teams, telecommuting, and job design
- Technology's influence on workforce strategies (globalization, virtual teams, telecommuting, outsourcing, insourcing)
- List technology’s influence on workforce strategies, including globalization, virtual teams, telecommuting, outsourcing, and insourcing
- Careers in IS (responsibilities, occupations, career path, certification)
- List IS career responsibilities, occupations, career path, and certifications
- Computer security and controls (system application, personal computer, disaster recovery)
- List computer security and controls, including system application, personal computer, and disaster recovery
- Social networking (benefits, risks, ethics, technology, Web 2.0)
- List social networking benefits, risks, ethics, technology, and Web 2.0 implications