Information Systems/Review

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

Office Applications (10%)

 * 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%)

 * 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%)

 * 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%)

 * 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%)

 * 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%)

 * 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%)

 * 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