UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2016/2017
EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTERS OF SCIENCE IN
DATA ANALYTICS/INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT/ DATA
COMMUNICATIONS
MDCN 5202 MISM 5103 MDA 5103 BUSINESS PROCESS MODELLING
ORDINARY EXAMINATIONS
DATE: AUGUST, 2017 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question One & ANY OTHER TWO questions.
QUESTION ONE [20 MARKS]
a) In your own words, define the following
i. Workflow
ii. Process
iii. Task
iv. Model
4 Marks
b) Describe TWO simulation techniques that can be used to model a business process
4 Marks
c) By considering a library information system (LIS), and a case where reengineering of the
same is required, describe various sources of inputs requirements and the kind of input
that you can get in each case 6 Marks
d) Differentiate between the following
i. Coarse-grain activity and Fine-grain activity models
ii. Role-action and Entity-relation models 6 Marks
QUESTION TWO [15 MARKS]
This case study concerns a simplified system of the automatic teller machine (ATM). The ATM
offers the following services:
1. Distribution of money to every holder of a smartcard via a card reader and a cash dispenser.
2. Consultation of account balance, cash and cheque deposit facilities for bank customers who
hold a smartcard from their bank.
Do not forget either that:
3. All transactions are made secure.
4. It is sometimes necessary to refill the dispenser, etc.
From these four sentences, answer the following questions
a) Identify the actors (4 Marks)
b) Identify the use cases (3 Marks)
c) Construct a use case diagram (2 Marks)
d) Write a textual description of the use cases (3 Marks)
e) Convert the descriptions in (d) above into dynamic diagrams (3 Marks)
QUESTION THREE [15 MARKS]
The following diagram represent Credit Application Process (CAP) with different types of
elements that describe how the process works. Within these elements are the activities. Use the
diagram to answer the questions that follow
a) Identify the major activities of the CAP ( 5 Marks)
b) Suppose that Check Application Information is a subprocess. Draw a business process
model representing checking for clients black listing by the bank or client credit status
verification by credit bureau (CRB). The result of CRB is an applicant financial state
with either approval of the loan or rejection of loan. Reason for rejection is as a result of
client’s bad financial record from the CRB or being black listed by the bank. (10 Marks)
QUESTION FOUR [15 MARKS]
a) Business process reengineering and business process management are two different
approaches to business process improvement. Describe how they differ, and describe how
specific methodologies such as Total Quality Management, Six Sigma and Lean relate to
these general approaches.
(8 Marks)
b) Discuss the reasons why organizations may want to restructure their business processes.
Describe the performance indicators that can be used to determine whether restructuring
is successful and discuss the tradeoffs between them. (7 Marks)
