BSAD 8020 / ISQA 8060 - RESEARCH IN MIS

1. Please answer all parts of this question. Clearly state and explain all assumptions. Appended on the following page is the introduction section of a proposed research project that you are planning to conduct. Based on this proposal, your assignment is to answer the following questions:
   1. State or define the problem under investigation… 10%.
   2. Specify all variables and explain why you consider them to be a dependent variable, independent variable(s), intervening variable(s), or moderating variable(s)… 20%.
   3. Based on the answers above, now develop a complete theoretical framework and draw a schematic diagram. Provide a brief rationale for any relationships you may establish in your model… 10%.
   4. Develop four testable hypotheses and state each in the null and in the alternate forms... 10%.
   5. How would you establish the "scientific" quality of this research? … 20%.
   6. Would this be basic or applied research? Briefly state how, or under what circumstances, this very same research could become the opposite of whatever your answer is… 10%.
   7. Which research design would you use? Be sure to clearly explain your reasoning… 20%.

   Proposed Research Study EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE OF IS/IT MANAGERS and NATIONAL CULTURE In any country, the success of MIS organizations depends on the effective performance of the IS/IT managers. The job performance of managers in general has been stated to be related to their work motivation in several studies (e.g., Steers, 1979). Others have tried to link motivation and satisfaction to performance, in that causal sequence. The results of several studies indicate that the important correlates of motivation are certain factors such as the protestant work ethic values, age, and management level in the organization. Another is finding a match between what one expects the job outcomes to be and what happens in reality. However, previous studies have highlighted two important points; one, nearer the time of retirement, the fit between expected job outcomes and actual outcomes hardly makes a difference to managers in how motivated they feel, and two, the ascribed status (deference and status given to managers by employees in the system) significantly impacts on the relationship between the satisfaction and performance of managers. Of course, what IS/IT managers expect of their jobs differs from culture to culture. The relationships among the various aspects described above might also be different in different cultures. This study proposes to investigate their relationships in five different countries -- U.S., U.K., India, Thailand, and Nigeria. A comparison among managers in these countries would shed light on the cultural differences too!! [NOTE: This is a hypothetical research proposal and has been designed as an exam exercise.]

2. Please answer all parts of this question. Clearly state and explain all assumptions. Appended is an extended abstract of a research project submitted by the Good Research Company, Incorporated to the President of PKI Corporation. It offers a good idea of how the research was done. You need to write a critique of this research project: (a) Discussing how 'good' or 'bad' the research is. (Hint: State what you mean by "good" research and, at a minimum, evaluate this study in detail with regard to the various hallmarks of "good" research); and (b) Ideally, how would you as a researcher, do things differently so as to get rid of the 'bad' points, if any.

   EXTENDED ABSTRACT: THE MORALE OF IS EMPLOYEES The PKI Corp. is a multi-million dollar company with 25 offices all over the U.S. It has over 5000 white collar workers and about 20,000 blue collar workers throughout the country. At the insistence of the President of the Company, Ms. Lynne Jones, this research team undertook the study of morale and the factors affecting morale in the PKI Corp. An extensive literature survey indicated that six factors are primarily important in influencing staff morale. They are: (1) pay, (2) company policies, (3) working environment, (4) good supervision, (5) appropriate grievance procedures, and (6) fair treatment. A questionnaire was designed to tap these six variables and morale, in addition to some demographic variables. In order to motivate the respondents to answer the questionnaire, it was printed with good alignment of the 20 questions that were asked. The questionnaires were administered to all the employees with each local manager undertaking the responsibility of handing out and collecting the questionnaire back from the employees in his/her office. The employees were provided with tamper-proof envelopes which they used. The response rate was quite high--about 89%. An analysis of the data indicated that the morale of the employees was quite high in each of the offices of this company--the mean ranging from 6.0 to 6.6 on a 7 point scale. The mean on the other variables, i.e., attitudes toward pay, company policies, working environment, supervision, grievance procedure and the treatment employees receive, was also fairly high with little variance. Unfortunately, a multiple regression analysis did not explain much of the variance in morale. Hence Ms. Jones team concluded that there is no morale problem in this company. Indeed, all indications are that it is very high. If at all there is a turnover problem in this company, as indicated by the President, the reasons for this must lie elsewhere. [Adapted from Sekaran, 2000]

1. What is information hiding? Answer thoroughly. Also, what are the benefits of information hiding in software design? Describe how information hiding may be implemented with a procedural language like COBOL, FORTRAN, or C.

2. What are the test phase problems with Object-Oriented programming? Discuss in detail and contrast these problems with those encountered in monolithic procedural programming. Extend these problems to the maintenance phase of the software life cycle.

• "Web Engineering has a very short history, having started in 1998, but is rapidly evolving as a discipline. It is concerned with the establishment and use of sound scientific, engineering and management principles and disciplined and systematic approaches to the successful development, deployment and maintenance of high quality Web-based systems and applications (WebApps). Developing successful WebApps requires broader perspectives and incorporation of a number of paradigms from diverse disciplines, such as computer science, information systems, hypertext, graphic design, information structuring, document management and, above all, software engineering. Web Engineering is therefore an amalgam of many disciplines." (Source: http://www.aeims.uws.edu.au/ICSE2002-WebE/)

  Answer the following:

  1. Compare and contrast the concept of web engineering with the Rational Unified Process (RUP). Include a table that shows differences and similarities between web engineering and RUP.
  2. Discuss the implications for project management planning and staffing of a web engineering approach.

1. To achieve a degree of security in transmission of data over networks, encryption is a commonly used technique. Describe the processes of:
   1. private (symmetrical) key encryption
   2. public key encryption
   3. digital signatures, and
   4. digital certificates.
   Explain how these processes are used to achieve more secure electronic transmissions. What are the advantages, or disadvantages, of each of these techniques in promoting secure electronic transmissions?

2. Modern data communications systems are implementing new technologies and tools to upgrade their networks. Discuss the following technology applications in transmitting voice and data through modern communications systems:
   1. ATM Connection and Traffic Management for Multimedia Internetworking.
   2. Cellular Network Management applications for cellular networks.
   3. High performance technologies such as JAVA in data communications.
   Explain how these technologies and tools are used to transmit voice and data through modern networks. What are the advantages, or disadvantages, of each one of these technologies and tools in optimizing securing electronic transmissions?

1. What are the principal functions of middleware? Illustrate your answer by discussing in some detail examples of middleware in use today and how they fulfill the function(s) you have identified. Extend your discussion of middleware by describing the impact of middleware development on the development of business applications today.

2. The data management problem can be summarized as the problem of "getting the right information to the right place at the right time in the right form at the right cost." Provide an overview of the kinds of technologies (other than DBMS) that are currently available to address the data management problem. Discuss the impact of such technologies on business applications, processes, and strategies. Be sure to provide specific examples to illustrate.

1. For the following scenario, please complete the following tasks:
   1. Develop an Entity-Relationship Diagram representing the scenarios. You may need to make some assumptions about business rules. If you do, please state these assumptions clearly.
   2. Develop a relational schema based on your diagram.
   3. Provide SQL statements that will provide answers to the following questions/tasks
      1. List the names and age levels of all classes being held at the LaVista Community Center
      2. List the names of all students enrolled in the class named "Blues Clues"
      3. List the name of each class and the total number of students enrolled in it.
      4. List the names of instructors who are teaching more than 3 classes.

   A city theater company has begun offering classes to local youth and wants to use a database system to keep track of the children, the classes, the classes children take, and the instructors. The catalog is issued each quarter and contains a listing of the classes that a child can enroll in for that quarter. The classes are organized into such categories as: Drama Classes, Performing Arts Conservatory, Technical Theater, etc. Within each category are several classes, each identified by a unique name. The catalog lists the description for each class, the name and address of the location at which the class will be held, the start and end dates (e.g. March 23-May 11, 2002), the day(s) of the week on which the class is held, and the time the class is held. In addition, the class is limited to children of a certain age (e.g. 4-6, 7-9, 10-12). Each class is taught by one or more instructors. The catalog publishes the tuition for each class.
   Some classes, so-called "Performance classes" are like normal classes, except that they are associated with performances. Students taking these classes will prepare to give one or more performances, which are scheduled to be given on particular days at particular times, at particular locations.
   To better inform interested individuals about the backgrounds of the instructors, the theater provides a short bio-sketch that describes in paragraph form the experience and qualifications of each instructor. Should an individual wish to talk to a class's instructors, the instructor telephone numbers are also listed.
   When enrolling a student, a parent or guardian must provide the student's name, address, age, grade, phone number, and the name of the parent or guardian. A student may be signed up for one or more classes as part of the same enrollment. Each enrollment is made on a particular date. The enrollment form provides a space for the parent to note the total tuition to be paid, the amount included with the enrollment, and the balance to be paid. If the parent wishes to pay by credit card, the credit card number and expiration date is also provide.

2. The relational model of database management was introduced by Dr. E.F. Codd in 1970. Over thirty years after its introduction, the relational model remains the foundation for the vast majority of databases in use today. Why has the relational model been able to show this kind of longevity in an era when technologies are changing daily? In your answer, be sure to provide a description of the essential characteristics of the relational model, why it was such an improvement over earlier technologies, and why you think it continues to be remain the dominant database paradigm. Finally, suggest areas of data management that are not very well served by relational database systems.

1. Discuss the role of Earned Value Analysis in monitoring and reporting project progress and in making revisions to the baseline plan. Be sure to include the role of CPI and SPI in your discussions.

2. Discuss the role of PERT/CPM the planning the production of all of the work packages for a project.