HSC_Assess_Task

=Assessment Task 2 - 2011=



**Research**
You will be required to **research a Transaction Processing System and how it uses Communication systems.**

What is a transaction?
A transaction – a series of events important to an organisation that involve a request, an acknowledgement, an action and an outcome **//(BOS : Information Processes and Technology Syllabus)//**

What is a transaction processing system?
A transaction processing system collects and stores data about transactions and sometimes controls decisions made as part of a transaction. The transaction is the activity that changes stored data, examples of such an activity would be using a credit card, making a reservation or making a cash withdrawal at an ATM.

There are two types of transaction processing:
Batch processing: this is information that is gathered and stored but not processed immediately.eg. the processing of an invoice or cheques in a banking system. Real time processing (Online Transaction Processing System):  this is a transaction which is processed immediately and the operator has access to an on-line database. i.e withdrawal from a bank account and library loans.

(HSC Online: accessed on Wednesday, 28th April 2010) [|**//http://hsc.csu.edu.au/ipt/trans_systems/4-1/tps.htm//**]

Some examples you **could** choose include:  · Purchasing a song off the Apple i-Tunes store and paying by Credit Card  · Using the Internet and buying a ticket for a concert on [|www.ticketek.com] or [|www.ticketmaster.com.au]  · Ordering a movie ticket on www.greaterunion.com.au and picking it up from the kiosk at the movies  · Paying an invoice by the use of a Cheque/BPay/Electronic Funds Transfer  · Using an ATM machine to obtain a cash withdrawal

NOTE: This list is not exhaustive – you can research a Transaction Processing System that is used in your work place, or that interests you.

**Communication**
 · You will be required to submit evidence that the research has occurred. Evidence could include a transcript of the interview, an audio recording of an interview, a video recording of an interview, completed questionnaires, screen shots of a TPS in action or a photograph. **(This material is not assessed)**  · You will be asked a series of questions in a Viva Voce interview relating to the system you have researched. The possible questions asked will be provided.

Your knowledge and understanding of the information system researched will be assessed by your ability to verbally respond to the questions posed. The marking criteria attached will be used to assess responses.

// Possible Questions you may be asked in the Viva Voce: //

<span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.7pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;">1. Define a TPS. Explain why your chosen system is classified as a TPS. <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.7pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;">2. Outline the characteristics of a TPS <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.7pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;">3. Describe the participants in your chosen system <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.7pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;">4. Your chosen system is either a real time (OLTP) processing system or a batch processing system. Identify which type of system it is and explain reasons why it is classified as that. <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.7pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;">5. Identify and describe Communications Framework components evident in the processing of the transaction. <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.7pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;">6. Describe the most significant of the ACID properties of a TPS, using your chosen system as an example <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.7pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;">7. Analyse the type of **communications networks** employed by the TPS. Describe some of the hardware devices present in the system. <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.7pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;">8. Explain the need for encryption and decryption in your chosen TPS. Describe how this works. <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.7pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;">9. Describe the process of encoding and decoding the digital signal within the chosen TPS. <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.7pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;">10. Identify the information processes that are carried out in your chosen TPS. <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.7pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;">11. Describe how data is collected in your chosen system. Articulate how such data could be used for analysis. <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.7pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;">12. Describe the security measures which are in place for your chosen system to ensure the security of the data within the system <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.7pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;">13. Identify and describe a “backup” process if the communications system fails. <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.7pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;">14. Identify one social and ethical issue and evaluate its effect on the participants in your chosen system <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 23.7pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;">15. A TPS needs to be adaptable to meet the emerging needs of its participants. Identify possible future requirements of your chosen system and explain how it could change in order to meet these needs