1. CAPE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Unit 1
Information technology
theory
Module 3
Information and problem-solving
CAPE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Objective 5:
analyse the role of information in fulfilling the goals of an individual or organization.

2. Topic: Problem Solving - The Role of Information in the Problem-solving Process
For the purposes of this discussion a problem may be defined as a situation difficult to manage that is caused by one or more agents usually resulting in some undesirable effect.
The block diagram that follows illustrates this definition:
PROBLEM
Cause
Effect

3. Information is one of the most important ingredients in the solution of many problem, whether they be of a personal, commercial, scientific or social nature. The ability to identify the information aspect of a problem is therefore very crucial.
For an individual, an organization, or a country to be successful in this new world order, it is imperative that one be able to analyze real-life problems not only in terms of the purely physical resources required for its solution, but also in terms of the information necessary.

4. CASE STUDY: Guava Shortage?
A successful exporter of sauces, jellies and condiments in one of the Caribbean territories has discovered that there was a larger demand for the guava jelly than the exporter could meet. At first sight, this would seem like a simple supply problem. It would appear that there were simply not enough guavas available to produce jelly in the required quantities. However, a little probing showed that this preliminary analysis to be incorrect.

5. It turned out that the exporter sourced guavas by sending buyers to the various markets in the territory to buy up all the guavas they could find. Clearly, this was not an efficient way of ensuring a steady supply of the fruit. It would have been much better if sellers of guavas were aware of the exporter’s need for their fruit or alternatively if the exporter knew which producers might have guavas to sell and in what quantities.

6. In other words, the supply problem arose not because there were not enough guavas but because the exporter did not know where to find them. Thus, what might have seemed to have been a supply problem was in fact an information problem.

7. Answer the following questions based on the case above.
What problem was the exporter experiencing?
What appeared to have been the cause of this problem?
What actually was the cause of the problem?
Suggest TWO strategies that the exporter could implement to ensure that he was able to meet the demand for guava jelly.
Describe ONE way how the availability of the right information could positively impact the exporter’s ability to meet his demand for guava jelly.
Clearly identify the following issues:
The cause of the problem
The problem itself
The (possible) effects of the problem

8. Follow-up Activity
In your groups analyze the following problems and determine the information that is needed to successfully undertake the activity.
Organizing a party
Selecting a University to go to for further studies
Marketing a local product in the international market
Selecting an Internet Service Provider (ISP)