Personal & Professional Practice in Information Systems (D1) IMIS DIPLOMA QUALIFICATIONS

IMIS DIPLOMA QUALIFICATIONS
Personal & Professional Practice in
Information Systems (D1)
Monday 1st June 2015 14:00hrs – 17:00hrs
DURATION: 3 HOURS
Candidates should answer ALL the questions in Part A and THREE of
the five questions in Part B. Part A carries 40% of the marks available
and Part B carries 60%. Candidates should allocate their time
accordingly.
No reference material of any kind may be taken into the examination.
[Turn over]
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PART A. Answer ALL questions in this section
Question A1
List ONE communication method you might use with a colleague that you
know well and ONE in communicating with a new customer. Briefly explain
your choice of methods.
(5 marks)
Answer marks allocation
1 mark for any appropriate method for each situation (eg personal
conversation and email) – 2 marks
Up to 3 marks for any reasonable explanation of context or examples.
Question A2
From your own experience briefly describe TWO practical examples where
time has been badly managed and ONE time management technique in each
case that might be used to help overcome poor time management.
(5 marks)
Answer marks allocation
1 mark per example (eg being late or missing deadlines) and up to 3 marks
for 2 techniques relevant to the examples (eg use of diary, prioritising work).
Question A3
Using an example, briefly describe how a business risk might be assessed in
terms of both its impact and incidence.
(5 marks)
Answer marks allocation
1 mark for an example of risk and 2 marks each for relating example to
impact and incidence. See diagram [T2, p.249].
Question A4
Describe briefly what is meant by Intellectual property Rights (IPR) and list
TWO possible forms of legal protection of IPR.
(5 marks)
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Answer marks allocation
Non physical property eg software and data up to 3 marks. Copyright and
patents 1 mark each.
Question A5
Briefly explain the term ‘data protection’ and TWO examples of possible
protection in law.
(5 marks)
Answer marks allocation
1 mark each up to a max of 3 marks for mention of elements of Data
Protection Act: data controller; personal data, and processing or any other
valid answers.
1 mark per any valid example (eg DP Act compliance or civil law privacy
action) – 2 marks.
Question A6
Briefly explain, using an example of each, the difference between a
‘professional’ and a ‘mere technician’.
(5 marks)
Answer marks allocation
1 mark per point up to 3 marks from:
a. Organise as a professional group and see other members as
peers/colleagues
b. Follow ethical standards or have ethical code
c. Exercises judgement in performance of tasks
1 mark per example of 2 occupations.
Question A7
Briefly explain what is meant by ‘Self Awareness’ and its importance in your
dealings with others.
(5 marks)
Answer marks allocation
2 marks for SA as recognising your own feelings, attitudes and values.
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Up to 3 marks for recognising effect on others who may have different
feelings, attitudes and values.
Question A8
Briefly explain the difference between ‘recognising diversity ‘and ‘promoting
equality’ using ONE example of each.
(5 marks)
Answer marks allocation
2 marks for any example of diversity (eg race or gender) and 2 marks for any
example of promoting equality (eg anti-discrimination laws or policy; equality
training etc) plus 1 mark for making a clear distinction.
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PART B. Answer any THREE of the following FIVE questions.
Question B9
There are various considerations when writing a formal report:
a)
Explain, using an example, what is meant by the term ‘plagiarism’
and explain its relationship to ‘referencing’.
( 3 marks)
“Information that is not referenced is assumed to be either common
knowledge or your own work or ideas; if it is not, then it is assumed to be
plagiarised i.e. you have knowingly copied someone else's words, facts or
ideas without reference, passing them off as your own.” [W1]
1 mark for References section at end and 1 mark for in-text referencing.
1 mark for any valid example (eg unattributed quotation).
b)
Describe how you might structure a report and list SIX headings
you might use.
( 8 marks)
The structure of each report may differ but structure must flow logically – 2
marks.
1 mark each for any 6 headings presented in a coherent order from:
Title page
Acknowledgements
Contents
Abstract or summary
Introduction
Methodology
Results or findings
Discussion
Conclusion and recommendations
References
Appendices
c)
Using an example of a formal report that you have prepared or
studied, explain what is meant by:
i)
ii)
iii)
Requirements
Structure
Components
( 9 marks)
Answer marks allocation
2 marks per element description plus 1 marks per example – 9 marks.
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(Total 20 marks)
Question B10
The ‘Review’ stage is an important part of managing people and projects.
a) It is important to identify key events when a process of Review should
be carried out, for example, prior to transfer of a piece of work to
another worker. Describe FOUR other key events that might be timely
for review.
(8 marks)
Answer marks allocation
Part a): 1 mark each for any four key events plus 1 mark each for a clear
description drawn from:
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When a significant change occurs
When there is a legal requirement
At predefined review points
When the way forward is not clear –step back and reconsider
Before a period of planned absence
When the end point is approaching
Any other meaningful events
8 marks
b) Describe and discuss, with an example of each, FOUR key questions
that need to be addressed in a review in order to retain a clear focus
on what we are doing and why we are doing it.
(12 marks)
Part b) 1 mark each for the four key questions:
 Were the original objectives appropriate
 Are there obstacles to achieving the objectives
 Have the circumstances changed
 Is the plan appropriate?
Plus 2 marks each for a discussion and example.
(Total 20 marks)
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Question B11
Weiner noted that computer ethics were derived from the problem that
the use of computers has ‘unheard of importance for good and evil’.
a) Identify and discuss briefly TWO social and ethical consequences
of information technology which are now public issues in most
countries.
( 6 marks)
Part a): 1 mark each for any two examples plus 2 marks each for a discussion
of both social and ethical consequences (eg arising from pornography, crime,
gambling etc. with mention of the ethics of the IS professional for full marks).
Moor suggests that, because of informational enrichment we are headed
for a ‘cashless society’.
b) Describe the changes that have taken place in monetary
transactions and explain what might be meant by ‘a cashless
society’.
( 6 marks)
Answer marks allocation
Part b): Up to 3 marks for: linking IS to monetary transactions (debit/credit
cards, computer transactions etc). Up to 3 marks for relating the above trends
to a reduction in the use of physical money (cash) and mention of the
elimination of cash use for full marks.
c) Describe and discuss a situation where you think that a disaster
was caused by an Information Systems failure using a practical
example.
.
(8 marks)
Part c): This is open-ended but must be based on an IS failure; any valid
example is acceptable: example – 2 marks; why IS failure – 2 marks, plus up
to 4 marks for discussion including role of IS professional for full marks.
(Total 20 marks)
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Question B12
Explain what is meant by ‘Cyber crime’ and ‘computer crime’,
giving TWO examples of each, and the difference between the
types of crime.
(8 marks)
Answer marks allocation
2 marks for identifying cyber crime as Internet based and computer crime
as any crime involving use of a computer.
1 mark each for any valid two examples of each type of crime – 4 marks
2 marks for making a clear distinction between the two types of crime.
a)
b)
Discuss TWO principles of the IMIS Code of Ethics (or any similar
professional code) and how they might relate to an IS
professional’s responsibilities regarding ‘Cyber crime’ and
‘computer crime’ using the examples in part a).
(8 marks)
Answer marks allocation
2 marks per applied two principles – 4 marks- drawn from:
Principle 1: Society
I will uphold the health, safety and welfare of wider society, future generations
and the environment.
Principle 2: Organisations
I will serve my employers and clients honestly, competently and diligently.
Principle 3: Peers
I will respect and support the legitimate needs, interests and aspirations of all my
colleagues and peers.
Principle 4: Staff
I will encourage and assist those I supervise both to fulfill their responsibilities
and to develop their full potential.
Principle 5: Profession
I will strive to be a fit representative of my profession and to promote the vision of
the Institute.
Principle 6: Self
I will be honest in representing myself and will continually strive to enhance both
my professional competence and my ethical understanding.
And 2 marks per applied example from part a) related to the chosen
principle -4 marks.
c)
Discuss TWO examples where a code of ethics might not be
effective in practice in combating the above types of crime.
(4 marks)
Answer marks allocation
2 marks per any valid two examples (eg perpetrator is a criminal and crime is
anonymous via Internet).
(Total 20 marks)
Question B13
Thomson (2009) argues that Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is
an essential element of self-reflection for an IS practitioner and for the
success of an organisation.
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a)
Explain briefly what is meant by the term Continuous Professional
Development (CPD).
( 3 marks)
Answer marks allocation
1 mark each for a point that cover the three elements of the term:
 Continuous in the context of an ever changing industry
 Professional within the framework of an IS professional
 Development that enhances individual skills, stimulates and
increases job satisfaction.
Discuss why employees’ CPD might be in the interests of an
organisation and list SIX strategies that can be used to promote
learning within any organisation
( 9 marks)
Answer marks allocation
b)
3 marks for employees as an asset that should be developed and retained.
1 mark each for any six from:
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Training courses
Supervision
Evaluation and review
Feedback
Students supervision
Secondments
Research
Reading
c)
Describe and discuss, using ONE example of your learning in each
case, how you have gone about identifying your own Personal
Development Pathway and creating your own CPD profile.
( 8 marks)
Answer marks allocation
This is an open-ended question based on tutorial and self-study
activity.
2 marks for including the notion of pathway as a personal plan for
future activity plus 2 marks for examples of learning – 4 marks.
2 marks for including the notion of profile as evidence of CPD
activity plus 2 marks for examples of learning – 4 marks.
Reference could be made to ‘where am I, where do I want to be
and how do I get there?’ or skills sets and career planning but any
reflective answer should be credited.
(Total 20 marks)
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END OF EXAMINATION
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