What key features of a web-based information system should I describe to a customer?

For this exercise you will need to do a little bit of research. You can do this as an individual, or you might join up with a few colleagues and share your results.

The basic information can be found in the following text:

Distributing Databases, Chapter 7, Managing Data Resources, Management Information Systems, Laudon & Laudon, Prentice Hall, p218-227, ISBN 0-13-033066-3.

However this is only a starting point and you are advised to look further for other resources, such as alternative texts or on the internet.

Once you have completed your research and made some notes, try the review questions below.

As a guide, this piece of learning should take about one hour to complete.

Review Questions

Test your understanding of this topic with the following questions.

What is a distributed database? List the advantages of such an approach.

List the critical elements in a database environment. Explain the term 'data administration'.

Why should an organisation require an information policy?

Explain how OLAP works.

What can data warehousing and data mining offer an organisation?

What are the advantages of a hypermedia database?

Why would you use the web to link to an organisation's internal databases?

What is an application server and how does it work? Use a diagram to explain your answer. Think about the key advantages that would help you sell the idea to your manager.

Look at 'Management Decision Problem' on page 223 of Laudon & Laudon and answer the four questions.