WGU Information-Technology-Management - WGU Information Technology Management QGC1

Information of Everything (IoE):

Refers to the phenomenon of using information derived from every connected device, system, and user in a knowledge-based global society.

Growth in information industries enables the collection, analysis, and sharing of vast amounts of data to drive decision-making, automation, and innovation.

Business Impact:

Creation of a knowledge-dependent society where data is the key driver of value creation and economic growth.

IoE facilitates smart systems, global connectivity, and the integration of diverse industries.

Incorrect Options Analysis:

Autonomous Agent: Refers to self-governing systems, not a societal impact.

Ambient Digital Experience: Focuses on pervasive and seamless digital interfaces.

Virtual Assistant: A specific application, not a broad societal impact.

References and Documents of Information Technology Management:

Gartner’s “Top Technology Trends: Information of Everything.”

ITIL 4 Digital Strategy Guide (Axelos Publications).

Crash-proof software prevents data loss during system failures by automatically saving information or maintaining system stability. Examples include backup solutions and automatic recovery features in operating systems.

References:

Stallings, W. (2018). Operating Systems: Internals and Design Principles. Pearson.

Understanding Anti-Spam Policies:

Anti-spam policies prohibit the sending of unsolicited emails, particularly outside the organization.

Such policies protect an organization’s reputation and comply with legal frameworks like the CAN-SPAM Act.

Focus on External Communications:

The policy ensures employees refrain from sending emails that may be perceived as spam, safeguarding the organization from legal and reputational risks.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

Option A: Information use policies focus on managing and protecting data, not email practices.

Option B: Monitoring policies are about observing employee activity but do not prevent spam.

Option D: Social media policies govern employee behavior on social platforms, not email usage.

References:

"Anti-Spam Guidelines for Businesses" – FTC

IT Policy Frameworks and Guidelines (ISO 27002)

Understanding Slice-and-Dice:

The "slice-and-dice" capability of dashboards allows users to break down large datasets into smaller, manageable segments for analysis.

This enables business managers to view data from different perspectives, such as by time period, geography, or product category.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

Option A (Pivot): Pivot focuses on reorganizing data but is more specific to spreadsheet functionalities.

Option B (Exploration): Exploration involves data discovery but does not inherently support segmentation.

Option C (Consolidation): Consolidation aggregates data rather than breaking it into segments.

References:

"Business Intelligence Dashboard Features" – Gartner

Slice-and-Dice Capabilities in BI Tools – Forrester

Definition of Strategy in Business Layers:

The strategy layer focuses on determining products or services, target customers, and competitive positioning.

It involves defining the organization's long-term goals and the means to achieve them in alignment with market needs and opportunities.

Why Strategy is Key to Product/Service Decisions:

Guides resource allocation to achieve competitive advantage.

Determines value propositions, customer segmentation, and market focus.

Incorrect Options Analysis:

A. Systems: Focuses on technology infrastructure, not business direction.

B. Operating: Deals with day-to-day operations, not strategic decisions.

C. Corporate: Relates to governance and overarching organizational management, not product/service specifics.

References and Documents of Information Technology Management:

"Business Strategy Fundamentals" (McKinsey & Co.).

ITIL 4 Service Strategy Practices (Axelos).

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Planning Phase in SDLC:

The planning phase is the foundational step in the SDLC where project strategy, objectives, and goals are defined.

Key deliverables include a high-level project roadmap, scope definition, and resource allocation plans.

Purpose of the Planning Phase:

Ensures all stakeholders agree on the project objectives.

Sets the stage for subsequent phases by identifying potential risks, timelines, and budgets.

Incorrect Options Analysis:

A. Corrections, additions, upgrades: Part of the maintenance phase.

B. Descriptions of features: Occurs in the design or analysis phase.

D. Checking interoperability: Occurs in the integration or testing phase.

References and Documents of Information Technology Management:

"SDLC Best Practices for Project Planning" (Gartner).

ITIL Framework for Project Planning (Axelos).

Defining Authentication:

Authentication is the process of verifying a user's identity to ensure they are who they claim to be.

This is commonly achieved through knowledge factors (passwords), possession factors (tokens), or biometric factors (fingerprints).

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

Option A (Information secrecy): Focuses on protecting data, not identity confirmation.

Option B (Public key encryption): A method of encryption, not directly tied to user identity verification.

Option D (Authorization): Deals with granting access to resources after authentication.

References:

"Authentication and Identity Management" – NIST

Authentication Processes Overview – ISO 27001

Definition of Discovery Prototyping:

Discovery prototyping is an iterative design approach that builds a working model or prototype of a system to gather feedback and ensure it meets user and business requirements.

The goal is to refine the system iteratively based on feedback before full development begins.

Key Characteristics:

Helps identify gaps between user expectations and design early in the process.

Reduces risks of rework and enhances user satisfaction.

Incorrect Options Analysis:

A. Rapid Application Development (RAD): Focuses on faster delivery of applications through iterative development but not solely on prototyping.

B. Joint Application Development (JAD): Refers to collaborative sessions for gathering requirements, not iterative prototyping.

D. Loose Coupling: Refers to software design principles, not prototyping.

References and Documents of Information Technology Management:

"Iterative Design and Prototyping Best Practices" (Gartner).

ITIL Systems Design Guidelines (Axelos).

Analysis Phase in SDLC:

The analysis phase involves gathering detailed requirements from stakeholders to ensure the system aligns with business needs.

This phase translates high-level goals into specific functions, operations, and deliverables.

Key Activities in the Analysis Phase:

Engaging stakeholders and subject-matter experts.

Documenting requirements in detail (e.g., user stories, use cases).

Identifying potential constraints and refining goals.

Incorrect Options Analysis:

A. Physically constructing software: Part of the development phase.

B. Desired features descriptions: Happens in the design phase.

D. High-level strategy: Belongs to the planning phase.

References and Documents of Information Technology Management:

"SDLC Analysis Phase Best Practices" (Gartner).

ITIL Requirement Gathering Framework (Axelos).

Understanding Intelligent Agents:

Intelligent agents are software programs that perform tasks autonomously, such as searching for information, making recommendations, or automating repetitive actions.

They are designed to mimic human behavior in specific tasks.

Application in Shopping Bots:

A shopping bot uses intelligent agents to search multiple websites, compare prices, and find the best deals.

These bots automate the process of price comparison, saving time and effort for the company.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

Option A (Virtual reality): VR is immersive and does not search for online products.

Option B (Neural network): Neural networks are used for pattern recognition, not autonomous tasks like shopping.

Option D (Fuzzy logic): Fuzzy logic handles imprecision and is not designed for automating searches.

References:

"Understanding Intelligent Agents in E-Commerce" – MIT Technology Review

AI and Intelligent Agents in Automation – IEEE Publications