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Nanyang Technological University Library

AB1401

NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

SEMESTER 1 EXAMINATION 2014-2015

AB1401 Information Technology

November/December 2014 Time Allowed: 2Yz hours

INSTRUCTIONS

1 This paper contains FIVE(S) questions and comprises EIGHT(8) pages.

2 Answer all FIVE(S) questions.

3 The number of marks allocated is shown at the end of each question.

4 Begin your answer to each question on a separate page of the answer book.

5 Answers will be graded for content and appropriate presentation.

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AB1401

Question 1

(a) Explain the significant difference m IT infrastructure as it evolves from enterprise

computing to cloud computing.
(6 marks)

(b) "The ultra-fast fibre network is more than just about a fibre roll-out. It has allowed the
IDA (Infocomm Development Authority) to restructure the telecoms industry by creating
an open access framework that delivers more competitive broadband."

How has the telecoms industry in Singapore been transformed by rolling out the fibre
network? How has this change impacted the consumers?
(7 marks)

(c) The national health care system of a particular country collects and shares patients' medical
records whenever and whereever they visit a general practitioner, a polyclinic, a general
hospital, a specialist hospital, or indeed any medical center where the patients may require
medical attention.

What ethical issues may arise in such a scenario, and how do we decide if such a course of
action may or may not be ethical? Make sure to state the ethical principle in your answer.

(7 marks)

(Total: 20 marks)

Question 2

Below is an excerpt from New York Times. Read the article and answer the questions.

Katrina Lake is staring at the ceiling, trying to remember the last time she bought clothes in a
store. Ms. Lake is impeccably dressed, in crisp navy pants, tan sandals and a semi-sheer white
cotton top. Simple bangles and an elegant gold necklace top off her look. She obviously shops,
but in recent years, all her clothes shopping has happened online. She thinks others are ready to
shop online just as much -they just need a helping hand.

That is why she started Stitch Fix, a women's clothing retailer that sends its customers boxes
of clothes that are picked by a combination of personal stylists and big data. It is one of a
handful of start-ups making aggressive bets that highly personalized online shopping, in which
sites choose items for you based on your preferences and their algorithms, can deliver a better
e-commerce expenence.

Trunk Club, for example, is similar to Stitch Fix, but it is for men and is more expensive. Club
W tailors wine to its monthly subscribers, who fill out a "palate profile" when they sign up.
And Birchbox, a beauty store, delivers monthly installments of sample-size goods tailored to
your needs for. $10 for women or $20 for men.

Note: Question 2 continues on page 3

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AB1401

Question 2 (continued)

With these new personalized shopping sites, the magic comes from data. The sites learn about
you and then compare your information with profiles of thousands of other people like you to
predict what you might want to buy. People using Birchbox tell the company their skin color,
hair type, age and favorite types of products, for example. The company compares that
information with other profiles, sees what those people are most likely to buy, then fills a box
with beauty samples that match those preferences.

(a) Identify the business model of Stitch Fix, and elaborate how this type of business model in
e-commerce works.
(4 marks)

(b) Stitch Fix, Trunk Club, Club W, and Birchbox all leverage on certain unique features of e-
commerce. List them and elaborate how these companies exploit the features.
(6 marks)

(c) Companies like Stitch Fix spend tonnes of money developing web applications to do
business on the Internet, yet it is usually through its websites that its information systems
become compromised.
Discuss a key vulnerability of running web applications on the Internet, the security threats
exposed by that vulnerability, and what may be done to minimise those security threats.

(10 marks)

(Total: 20 marks)

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AB1401

Question 3

Many large organizations have adopted Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (also known as
ERP systems), often spending large sums of money in the process. Reported results, however,
have been mixed. In fact, there have been many lawsuits for failed implementation. The extract
below illustrates one such case:

A half-million lines of custom code wasn't enough to produce a

viable Dynamics AX ERP {enterprise resource planning) system for
point-of-sale and RFID products distributor ScanSource, according
to a lawsuit it has filed against Avanade, the joint venture between
Microsoft and Accenture.

ScanSource reached a deal with Avanade in 2009 for an

implementation of the Dynamics AX system, according to the suit,
which was filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Northern
District of Georgia. The project was supposed to cost US$17 million
and take 11 months, but ultimately the cost estimate grew to about
$66 million and it has failed to go live after three years, the suit
alleges.

a. According to the extract, the company developed a "half-million lines of custom code"
during the implementation. What might have motivated the company to undertake such
extensive customization? Do you agree with the company's approach? Justify your answer.

(10 marks)

b. Enterprise systems are now widely available on the cloud through SaaS. Would this be a
better alternative for companies such as ScanSource? Explain.
(10 marks)

(Total: 20 marks)

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AB1401

Question 4

Housing & Jurong Branch Office

Development Blk 90 Jurong East
Board #02-990
Singapore 440990

FLAT OWNER'S COPY

RENOVATION PERMIT (RESIDENTIAL PREMISES)

Permit Number: B-JR-01999-2014

Start Date: 10/10/2014
Permit Type: Final

Flat Owner Particulars Contractor Particulars

MR/MS TAN AH KOW EXPERT DESIGN & RENOVATION
BLK 444, JURONG EAST BLK 333, CLEMENTI AVE 4
#07-456 #01-123
SINGAPORE 440444 SINGAPORE 120333
TEL: 67746666, FAX: 68721111
HDB Licence No: HB-08-1234D
Person In-charge: MR/MS WONG AH
BENG

Items Approved:

The flat owner is authorised to carry out the following renovation works subject to the HDB 's
terms and conditions governing renovation works in HDB residential premises. The project
needs to be completed by 05/11/2014.

1. Demolition of light weight panel walls (for an opening 2100mm x 900mm) between
m/bedroom & bedroom marked RED on plan.

2. Demolition of lightweight wall panel marked RED and replacement with aluminum
frame fixed louver window for ventilation purpose.

The permit is granted on the condition that the lessees have not infringed any term of the Lease
or provisions of the Housing & Development Act.

If you have any enquiries, please contact our Project Coordinator Michael Cheong at Tel No.
67741212.

Approving Officer Signature:

LIMAHLIM
ACTING SENIOR TECHNICAL OFFICER
For HEAD, JURONG EAST BRANCH OFFICE
HOUSING ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT

Note: Question 4 continues on page 6

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AB1401

Question 4 (continued)

The Housing Administration Department of the Housing Development Board (HDB) is in

charge of approving and coordinating renovation projects at all HDB premises. Whenever a
renovation project is approved, HDB assigns a permit number to the project and will send a
renovation permit by mail to the owner of the premise. The renovation contractor/s will paste
the permit on the wall next to the main door of the premise throughout the duration of the
renovation for anyone to inspect.

The department hires a number of staff including Approving Officers and Project Coordinators
whose jobs are to approve and coordinate the projects respectively.

Above is a sample of such a renovation permit. Sometimes multiple contractors may be

involved in a renovation project and therefore all their particulars will be included in the
permit. Each contractor, however, must be approved by HDB and is awarded a HDB License
number upon approval.

Design a relational database based on the sample renovation permit capturing the data of all
parties involved as well as the project. Although only the name of the owner of the premise is
shown in the permit, the department would also need to capture the NRIC number, date-of-
birth and phone number of the owner.

a) Draw an Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD), making reasonable assumptions when

necessary.
(10 marks)

b) Draw the corresponding database schema for the ERD that you've drawn, capturing only
the data shown in the permit.

(10 marks)

(Total: 20 marks)

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AB1401

Question 5

Worksheet Course:

Worksheet Student:

Note: Question 5 continues on page 8

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AB1401

Question 5 (continued)

As a part-time instructor in a private tuition center, you are required to grade your students and
submit their final grade to your supervisor. To do that, you maintain a simple excel file with
two worksheets only - Student and Course respectively - as shown above.

Write the formulas required to complete the following tasks in the Course worksheet. Use the
appropriate referencing (relative, mixed or absolute referencing) so that the formulas can be
copied and pasted where appropriate.

a) In cell E2, display each student's overall course marks, rounded to the nearest number.
Overall marks is based on 60% exams, 30% quiz, and 10% attendance.
(4 marks)

b) In cell F2, display each student's corresponding grade, based on his/her overall course
marks. The grading system assigns A for 85 marks and higher, B for 75 marks and higher,
C for 60 marks and higher, and F for anything below that. Marks cannot be negative, so
display the text "wrong marks" for any such cases.
(6 marks)

c) For each of the course grades, display the number of students with that grade (in cell J8)
and the average marks (in cell K8).
(4 marks)

d) In cell G2, display each student's full name (e.g. James Giles) - based on the student
particulars maintained in the worksheet Student. Display the text "student not found" if
there is an error.

(6 marks)

(Total: 20 marks)

-END OF PAPER-

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ATTENTION: The Singapore Copyright Act applies to the use of this document. Nanyang Technological University Library
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AB1401 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Please read the following instructions carefully:

1. Please do not turn over the question paper

until you are told to do so. Disciplinary
action may be taken against you if you do so.

2. You are not allowed to leave the examination hall unless

accompanied by an invigilator. You may raise your hand
if you need to communicate with the invigilator.

3. Please write your Matriculation Number on the front of

the answer book.

4. Please indicate clearly in the answer book (at the

appropriate place) if you are continuing the answer to a
question elsewhere in the book.