Unit 5: Social Computing in Business

Short Answer Questions (2-3 marks each)

  1. Define Web 2.0. How does it differ from Web 1.0?

  2. What is social computing? List three business applications.

  3. Explain the concept of crowdsourcing. Give an example.

  4. What is social marketing? How do businesses use it?

  5. Define Social CRM. How does it enhance customer relationships?

Long Answer Questions (5-8 marks each)

  1. Discuss the fundamentals of social computing in business. How has it changed customer-business interactions? (8 marks)

  2. Explain social shopping and its impact on e-commerce. What features make social shopping effective? (6 marks)

  3. Describe the impact of social computing on Human Resource Management. Include recruitment, training, and employee engagement. (6 marks)

  4. Compare traditional CRM with Social CRM. What new capabilities does Social CRM provide? (5 marks)

Unit 6: Information Systems within Organizations

Short Answer Questions (2-3 marks each)

  1. What is a Transaction Processing System (TPS)? Give two examples.

  2. Define Functional Area Information Systems (FAIS). List three functional areas.

  3. What is an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system?

  4. Explain the difference between front-office and back-office operations.

  5. List three benefits of implementing an ERP system.

Long Answer Questions (5-8 marks each)

  1. Describe Transaction Processing Systems and their characteristics. Why are they critical for business operations? (8 marks)
    • Consider: ACID properties, batch vs. real-time processing

  2. Explain Functional Area Information Systems for different departments: Marketing, HR, Finance, and Operations. (6 marks)

  3. Discuss how ERP systems support and integrate business processes across functional areas. (6 marks)

  4. What are the challenges of implementing an ERP system? How can organizations overcome them? (5 marks)

Unit 7: CRM and Supply Chain Management

Short Answer Questions (2-3 marks each)

  1. Define Customer Relationship Management (CRM). What are its objectives?

  2. Differentiate between operational, analytical, and collaborative CRM.

  3. What is a supply chain? List its key components.

  4. Define Supply Chain Management (SCM). What are its benefits?

  5. Explain the bullwhip effect in supply chains.

Long Answer Questions (5-8 marks each)

  1. Describe the three types of CRM systems: operational, analytical, and collaborative. Explain how each contributes to customer management. (8 marks)

  2. Explain the structure of a supply chain from raw materials to end customers. How does IT support each stage? (6 marks)

  3. Discuss how Supply Chain Management systems improve efficiency and reduce costs. Include examples of SCM software. (6 marks)

  4. Compare CRM and SCM systems. How do they complement each other in supporting business operations? (5 marks)

Unit 8: Business Analytics

Short Answer Questions (2-3 marks each)

  1. Define business analytics. What are the three types of analytics?

  2. What is descriptive analytics? Give an example.

  3. Explain predictive analytics. How do businesses use it?

  4. Define prescriptive analytics. How does it differ from predictive analytics?

  5. What is a dashboard? Why is data visualization important?

Long Answer Questions (5-8 marks each)

  1. Describe the business analytics process from data collection to actionable insights. (8 marks)

  2. Compare and contrast descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics. Provide business examples for each. (6 marks)

  3. Discuss the role of dashboards and visualization tools in business decision-making. What makes an effective dashboard? (6 marks)

  4. Explain how managers can use analytics for data-driven decision making. What are the challenges? (5 marks)

Case Study Questions

Case Study 1: ERP Implementation (10 marks)

A manufacturing company in Nepal plans to implement an ERP system to integrate their operations.

a) What modules should they prioritize for implementation? (3 marks) b) What challenges might they face during implementation? (3 marks) c) How should they manage the change process with employees? (4 marks)

Case Study 2: Social Media Analytics (10 marks)

A consumer brand wants to use social media analytics to understand customer sentiment and improve marketing.

a) What data should they collect from social media? (3 marks) b) How can descriptive and predictive analytics help them? (4 marks) c) What actions can they take based on analytics insights? (3 marks)

Case Study 3: Supply Chain Optimization (10 marks)

A retail chain in Nepal faces inventory management challenges across their stores.

a) How can SCM systems help them optimize inventory? (3 marks) b) What technologies would you recommend for better supply chain visibility? (4 marks) c) How can they prevent the bullwhip effect? (3 marks)

Comprehensive Essay Questions (15 marks each)

  1. “Information Systems are no longer just a support function but a strategic necessity for modern organizations.” Discuss this statement with examples from different industries.

  2. Describe how an integrated suite of IS (TPS, FAIS, ERP, CRM, SCM) works together to support organizational operations. Use a manufacturing company as an example.

  3. Discuss the role of business analytics in gaining competitive advantage. How can organizations build an analytics-driven culture?

Answer Guidelines

Unit 5-6 Key Points

  • Web 2.0 characteristics: User-generated content, social networking, collaboration
  • TPS properties: ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability)
  • ERP benefits: Integration, standardization, real-time data, efficiency

Unit 7-8 Key Points

  • CRM types: Operational (automation), Analytical (data analysis), Collaborative (channels)
  • Supply chain components: Suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, customers
  • Analytics types: Descriptive (what happened), Predictive (what might happen), Prescriptive (what should we do)