Information Systems/Review

The following outline is based on the CLEP: Information Systems[1] exam outline. Review the outline knowledge and skills areas to validate your understanding of information systems concepts.

Office Applications (10%) edit

  • Productivity software (word processing, spreadsheet, presentation package, end-user database package)
    • List advantages and disadvantages of office software suites
    • List typical functionality or tools included in word-processing software applications
    • Use spreadsheet formulas and absolute and relative cell references
    • Organize and sort data using multiple columns
  • Operating systems (memory management, file management, interfaces, types of OS)
    • List primary operating system functions
    • Compare and contrast memory management vs. file management
    • Use and manage file names and file extensions
    • Compare and contrast command line interfaces and graphic user interfaces
    • List operating system and application compatibility issues
    • List advantages and disadvantages of running multiple operating systems
  • Office systems (email, conferencing, collaborative work, document imaging, system resources)
    • Compare and contrast email, conferencing, collaboration software, document imaging, and their use of system resources

Internet and World Wide Web (15%) edit

  • Internet and other online services and methods (World Wide Web protocols, Web search engines, Web bots, intranet, cloud computing, communications, push/pull technology, W3C)
    • Compare and contrast HTTP and HTTPS
    • Use web search engines
    • List uses of web bots
    • Compare and contrast Internet and intranet
    • Compare and contrast infrastructure, platform, and software cloud services (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS)
    • List Internet communications protocols and their purpose
    • Compare and contrast push and pull technology
    • List the mission and purpose of the W3C
  • Web browsers (URLs, protocols, standards, history, cookies, resource allocation)
    • List the purpose and format of a URL
    • Compare and contrast HTTP and HTML
    • List current HTML standards and browser compatibility
    • Manage browser history and cookies
    • Identify browser resource allocation
  • Web technologies (HTML, XML, JavaScript)
    • Compare and contrast HTML, XML, and JavaScript
  • Website development (analysis, design, functionality, accessibility)
    • Compare and contrast the steps in the web development process
    • Compare and contrast website functionality and website accessibility

Technology Applications (15%) edit

  • Specialized systems (knowledge management, expert systems, TPS/OLTP, DSS, GIS, BI, workflow management, project management)
    • Compare and contrast knowledge management, expert systems, TPS/OLTP, DSS, GIS, BI, workflow management, and project management
  • E-commerce/E-business (EDI, standards, tools, characteristics, types of transactions, business models)
    • List EDI standards, tools, and characteristics
    • Compare and contrast types of e-commerce transactions
    • Compare and contrast e-commerce business models (B2B, B2C, etc.)
  • Enterprise-wide systems (ERP, CRM, SCM)
    • Compare and contrast ERP, CRM, and SCM enterprise systems
  • Data management (data warehousing, data mining, networking, security, validation, migration, storage, obsolescence)
    • Compare and contrast data warehousing and data mining
    • Compare and contrast data management issues regarding networking, security, validation, migration, storage, and obsolescence
  • Business strategies (competition, process reengineering, process modeling, TQM, Web 2.0)
    • List business strategies related to competition, process reengineering, process modeling, TQM, and Web 2.0
  • Information processing methods (batch, real-time, transaction)
    • Compare and contrast batch, real-time, and transaction processing methods

Hardware and Systems Technology (15%) edit

  • Devices (processing, storage, input and output, telecommunications, networking)
    • Compare and contrast processing, storage, input, and output, telecommunications, and networking devices
  • Functions (computer, telecommunications, network hardware)
    • Compare and contrast public switched telephone networks and Voice over IP systems
  • Network architectures (local area, wide area, VPN, enterprise)
    • Compare and contrast LAN, WAN, VPN, and enterprise networks
  • Computer architectures (mainframe, client/server, operating systems)
    • Compare and contrast mainframe and client/server computer architectures
    • Compare computer architectures and operating systems
  • Wireless technologies (Wi-Fi, cellular, satellite, mobile, GPS, RFID)
    • Compare and contrast Wi-Fi, cellular, satellite, mobile, GPS, and RFID wireless technologies

Software Development (10%) edit

  • Methodologies (prototyping, SDLC, RAD, CASE, JAD, Agile)
    • Compare and contrast prototyping, SDLC, RAD, CASE, JAD, and Agile
  • Processes (feasibility, systems analysis, systems design, end-user development, project management)
    • Compare and contrast feasibility, systems analysis, systems design, end-user development, project management
    • List common tools used in project management
  • Implementation (testing, training, data conversion, system conversion, system maintenance, post-implementation activities, post-implementation review, documentation)
    • Compare and contrast implementation activities including testing, training, data conversion, system conversion, system maintenance, post-implementation activities, post-implementation review, documentation
  • Standards (proprietary, open source)
    • Compare and contrast proprietary and open source software development

Programming Concepts and Data Management (10%) edit

  • Programming logic (Boolean, arithmetic, SQL)
    • Apply programming logic (Boolean, arithmetic, and SQL)
  • Methodologies (object-oriented, structured)
    • Compare and contrast object-oriented and structured methodologies
  • Data (concepts, types, structures, digital representation of data)
    • Compare and contrast data concepts, data types, data structures, and digital representation of data
  • File (types, structures)
    • Compare and contrast file types and file structures
  • Database management systems (relational, hierarchical, network, management strategies)
    • Compare and contrast relational, hierarchical, and object-oriented database management systems

Social and Ethical Implications and Issues (25%) edit

  • Economic effects (secure transactions, viruses, malware, cost of security)
    • List economic effects of secure transactions, viruses, malware, and the cost of security
  • Privacy concerns (individual, business, identity theft)
    • List privacy concerns, including individual, business, and identity theft
  • Property rights (intellectual, legal, ownership of materials, open-source software)
    • Compare and contrast intellectual, legal, ownership, and open-source property rights
  • Effects of information technology on jobs (ergonomics, virtual teams, telecommuting, job design)
    • List effects of information technology on jobs, including ergonomics, virtual teams, telecommuting, and job design
  • Technology's influence on workforce strategies (globalization, virtual teams, telecommuting, outsourcing, insourcing)
    • List technology’s influence on workforce strategies, including globalization, virtual teams, telecommuting, outsourcing, and insourcing
  • Careers in IS (responsibilities, occupations, career path, certification)
    • List IS career responsibilities, occupations, career path, and certifications
  • Computer security and controls (system application, personal computer, disaster recovery)
    • List computer security and controls, including system application, personal computer, and disaster recovery
  • Social networking (benefits, risks, ethics, technology, Web 2.0)
    • List social networking benefits, risks, ethics, technology, and Web 2.0 implications

References edit