P1 describe the characteristics and sources of information that an organisation needs
P2 describe how information is used for a range of purposes in a selected organisation
P3 describe how information flows between different functional areas in an organisation
P4 describe the features and key elements of a management information system showing where it supports the functional
M1 explain the importance to an organisation of effectively collecting, processing and using information
M2 compare, using examples, the usefulness of different tools for processing information to support effective business decision-making
M3 explain the purpose and operation of data mining and predictive modelling.
D1 explain how an organisation could improve the quality of its business information justifying each of their recommendations
D2 evaluate tools used for processing information with respect to their support in decision making.
Monday, 12 March 2007
Monday, 29 January 2007
Draft Assignment: Task3
The stuff below was what I wrote for the old ND unit but I shall have to revise it to fit the new criteria in places. It will give you an idea, however, and just ignore the quoted critera references for now.
Draw a diagram to show the four different ways that information flows within an organisation. Give an example of what information might flow in each direction - i.e. four different examples.
This will provide evidence for P3
Identify and describe an activity or situation that would cause information to flow in each of the different directions within a business. Ensure that an example is included for each direction (e.g. why would someone need to communicate with the person above them in the hierarchy?) and who is sending and receiving the information.
This can provide evidence for M3
Explain why information is important to an organisation in order for them to achieve their business objectives. Analyse the reasons why information needs to be communicated upwards, downwards, across and diagonally.
Give examples of information flows that support operational and strategic decision-making and explain how ICT can be used to support these information flows and decisions.
The above can contribute evidence towards D1 and D3.
Draw a diagram to show the four different ways that information flows within an organisation. Give an example of what information might flow in each direction - i.e. four different examples.
This will provide evidence for P3
Identify and describe an activity or situation that would cause information to flow in each of the different directions within a business. Ensure that an example is included for each direction (e.g. why would someone need to communicate with the person above them in the hierarchy?) and who is sending and receiving the information.
This can provide evidence for M3
Explain why information is important to an organisation in order for them to achieve their business objectives. Analyse the reasons why information needs to be communicated upwards, downwards, across and diagonally.
Give examples of information flows that support operational and strategic decision-making and explain how ICT can be used to support these information flows and decisions.
The above can contribute evidence towards D1 and D3.
Assignment: Task2
This is one that I have written and should help you to cover quite a few areas for this unit.
A word version is on moodle and I'll make a web version in due course on the Studyzone. You'll see that this is all about how information used by an organisation during normal business activity can actually be quite vast.
Your job is to identify some of this and indicate how it could be re-used by them in various activities. Once data is stored properly then it can save lots of time by incorporating it automatically using computer applications instead of re-entering it every time. It also avoids errors (providing it was right in the first place!).
Next you get some data about their sales and expenditure. From the income data you should see that they do better in some months than others which is pretty typical of many businesses. From just the income data you could produce a simple graph to illustrate how their figures change over a year. Many non-IT people prefer visual representation of data to heaps of numbers. You could extend this by using formulae that work so that changing either the total sales or the monthly variations can change the graph instantly, for example. That could be a valuable planning tool.
Then you get some sample expenditure figures for the year. Building a spreadsheet that has both income and expenditure is fairly straightforward (and will get you passed some other unit criteria is evidence for some Key Skills too). With some formulae you can calculate the profit and loss each month and then work out how their bank balance might change throughout the year.
That data is an essential tool for any business as it shows when they may or may not need extra finance (or risk going overdrawn). Adjusting prices, maybe offering other products which cancel out some of the sensitivity to time of year or other business considerations can then be tested and their impact shown clearly on their need for funds.
Once you have some examples set up it should become a lot clearer and, as this unit is not concerned with your ability to perform the calculations themselves, help can be provided there. You'll need to draw your own conclusions, however!
A word version is on moodle and I'll make a web version in due course on the Studyzone. You'll see that this is all about how information used by an organisation during normal business activity can actually be quite vast.
Your job is to identify some of this and indicate how it could be re-used by them in various activities. Once data is stored properly then it can save lots of time by incorporating it automatically using computer applications instead of re-entering it every time. It also avoids errors (providing it was right in the first place!).
Next you get some data about their sales and expenditure. From the income data you should see that they do better in some months than others which is pretty typical of many businesses. From just the income data you could produce a simple graph to illustrate how their figures change over a year. Many non-IT people prefer visual representation of data to heaps of numbers. You could extend this by using formulae that work so that changing either the total sales or the monthly variations can change the graph instantly, for example. That could be a valuable planning tool.
Then you get some sample expenditure figures for the year. Building a spreadsheet that has both income and expenditure is fairly straightforward (and will get you passed some other unit criteria is evidence for some Key Skills too). With some formulae you can calculate the profit and loss each month and then work out how their bank balance might change throughout the year.
That data is an essential tool for any business as it shows when they may or may not need extra finance (or risk going overdrawn). Adjusting prices, maybe offering other products which cancel out some of the sensitivity to time of year or other business considerations can then be tested and their impact shown clearly on their need for funds.
Once you have some examples set up it should become a lot clearer and, as this unit is not concerned with your ability to perform the calculations themselves, help can be provided there. You'll need to draw your own conclusions, however!
Assignment: Task1
Jill set the first assignment. I haven't had a chance to reveiew this yet or see how students have fared. It was designed to provide opportunities to meet P1, I think.
More on this soon. There is a link to the assignment on moodle so have a look if you haven't already.
More on this soon. There is a link to the assignment on moodle so have a look if you haven't already.
Sunday, 31 December 2006
Suggested reading
Anderson, H and Yull, S BTEC National Computing and IT Core Units (Newnes,2002) ISBN: 0750656840
Bocij, P Business Information Systems (Pitman Publishing, 1999) ISBN: 0273638491
French, C S Computer Science (Continuum International Publishing Group, 2001) ISBN: 0826454607
Knott, G and Waites, N BTEC Nationals for IT Practitioners (Brancepeth Computer Publications, 2002) ISBN: 0953884821
Bocij, P Business Information Systems (Pitman Publishing, 1999) ISBN: 0273638491
French, C S Computer Science (Continuum International Publishing Group, 2001) ISBN: 0826454607
Knott, G and Waites, N BTEC Nationals for IT Practitioners (Brancepeth Computer Publications, 2002) ISBN: 0953884821
Criteria
Pass
Merit
Distinction
- identify different types of organisational structure
- describe and provide examples of functional areas of an organisation
- identify and illustrate the primary information flows which take place between the main business functions in an organisation
- illustrate the stages of the data processing cycle by reference to an example data handling application.
- identify an appropriate processing method using a data handling application,
- demonstrate the role of data control systems in maintaining the validity and accuracy of information
- produce the source document(s), based on prepared template(s), to capture and input data for a given data handling application
- summarise the role of the systems life cycle and describe the stages within it.
Merit
- provide examples of actual organisations which illustrate variations in organisational structure, from the strictly hierarchical to the ‘flatter’
- analyse data handling and processing methods and by reference to example data handling applications, illustrate their use within organisations
- describe activities which trigger example information flows between functions
- explain how document design can aid accuracy of data input
- compare the physical and operational requirements of business systems and provide an overview of their importance to the business environment
- describe the stages of the systems life cycle and their importance to the development of organisations.
Distinction
- provide an analysis of the importance of information to the meeting of an organisation's business objectives. With reference to example applications and situations, explain why information needs to be communicated upwards, downwards and sideways in an organisation
- explain how, by reference to example data handling applications, the choice of data handling and processing methods are affected by the size and structure of an organisation
- provide examples of information flows which support operational and strategic decisions in an organisation. Illustrate the role of ICT in supporting information flow and decision making
- for a suitable data handling application, prepare completed source documents for input, together with suitable batch control documents and explain how they help to assist accuracy and any limitations of the method. Identify and explain the stages of control from data preparation to output
- provide an evaluation of the importance of ergonomic, security and data protection issues and state how these impact on the physical and operational aspects of business systems.
Introduction to the unit
This unit requires that you can:
1 Examine the need for information and its role in organisations of various class, size and
structure
2 Investigate the functional areas within organisations and the information flows between
them
3 Examine the methods for data handling and processing of information within
organisations and the role of a range of common business applications
4 Understand the physical and operational requirements of a business system.
On this site you'll find the criteria you need to meet, the tasks that will provide opportunities for you to do so, notes and links to further materials.
I'm scheduled to run sessions at Dunstable College for this unit on Mondays at 1:15pm.
1 Examine the need for information and its role in organisations of various class, size and
structure
2 Investigate the functional areas within organisations and the information flows between
them
3 Examine the methods for data handling and processing of information within
organisations and the role of a range of common business applications
4 Understand the physical and operational requirements of a business system.
On this site you'll find the criteria you need to meet, the tasks that will provide opportunities for you to do so, notes and links to further materials.
I'm scheduled to run sessions at Dunstable College for this unit on Mondays at 1:15pm.
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