How to pass the Information Technology Management Essentials WGU D075 OA

We have identified the below topics to be more significant than the rest when it comes to the final assessment of module D075. In this section, we will provide you with an overview of the topic. Once you are ready to attempt the OA, make sure that you have a deep understanding of these to maximize your chance of success.

Types of Memory

Computer memory can be broadly categorized into two main types: primary memory (also known as main memory or RAM) and secondary memory (also known as storage).

Primary Memory (RAM – Random Access Memory): The primary memory is the volatile one that keeps the data and directions the computer is using or processing at the moment. It is not only accessible to the CPU (Central Processing Unit) but also used for storing utility data and the program sequences. RAM is quick but volatile, thus it has to lose the content if the system is switched off the power. undefined

1. DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory): DRAM modules store their information through the memory cells which need refreshment to maintain the data integrity. It is widely employed as main memory in PCs since DRAM offers more voluminous density with less cost than SRAM.
   
   
2. SRAM (Static Random Access Memory): SRAM is more rapid but also more costly than DRAM. It does not have to be refreshed periodically (like DRAM), and is primarily used in cache and for high-speed registers in processors.

Secondary Memory (Storage): Secondary memory is non-volatile memory used for long-term storage of data and programs even when the power is turned off. It stores data permanently or semi-permanently until it is explicitly erased or overwritten. Secondary memory is typically slower than primary memory but offers larger storage capacities. Examples of secondary memory include:

1. Hard Disk Drives (HDD): The HDDs rely on magnetic storage to read and write data. They host large volumes of data at comparatively low prices which makes them popular for serving as personal computers and servers for long-term storage.
   
   
2. Solid State Drives (SSD): SSDs are based on flash memory where storage has shorter access time and lower power consumption than HDDs. They are more and more used in laptops, desktops and servers, because they have high speed and precision.
   
   
3. Flash Memory: Flash memory is the name of a memory type that allows saving the information while the power is switched off. It is employed in USB flash drives and memory cards which are used for storage purposes such as solid-state drives (SSDs) for select electronic devices such as smartphones and digital cameras.

These are the primary types of computer memory, each serving different purposes in storing and accessing data within a computer system.

Data Privacy Acts

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act): The HIPAA law was passed in 1996 and is the US federal statute developing the ground for the privacy, confidentiality, and security of the health information of an individual, without the information subject’s explicit consent. Under HIPAA, it is described how and when and who the information should be exchanged and also it sets the minimal range for privacy and safety. Healthcare providers, healthcare plans and healthcare clearinghouses, known as the covered entities, are the ones who should operate within the legal framework of HIPAA regulations in order to not violate patients’ privacy rights and to not reveal their medical history to others.

FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act): FERPA is the federal act that helps keep  the student records private and allows for their confidentiality. Starting in 1974, FERPA was legally established. It bestows upon parents the right to review or revise their children’s educational information while a student aged 18 or older gets the reins over their respective school records. FERPA is relative to the jurisdiction of education systems that receive federal funding. It interdicts the nonconsented release of a student‘s education records.

GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles): GAAP stands for Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, as their name says, those are the rules, accounting standards and an accountants’ competence that is used to present companies’ financial statements. GAAP through its focus on comparable, transparent and consistent accounting practices makes it easier for investors, creditors and other stakeholders to evaluate the information availed in the company’s financial statements via these financial statements. Public companies that want to list and trade their shares on US markets, must apply the GAAP.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX): Also known, a solution to such frauds as the Enron and the WorldCom scandal was the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. SOX reports to those rules by establishing the regulations for the reliability of financial reporting and corporate governance, which in turn result in a set of regulations relating to financial reporting and corporate governance. PCAOB (Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) which certifies and oversees accounting firms was established along with the requirement of financial disclosures and internal control assessments as well as the management’s signatures.

Three Types of Research

Descriptive Research: Descriptive research whose aim is to outline features, patterns of behavior, or phenomena without introducing manipulations or changes is called descriptive research. There is the goal to determine the factors that include which, what, where, when and how by collecting information through observation, questionnaires, or existing data. The descriptive research gives you just a picture of the state or the energies of a population in a specific period of time. Sample studies of descriptive research may be demographic studies, observational studies, and surveys that are aimed at detecting trends, patterns, and associations among the members of the population.

Exploratory Research: Research trials are done when a researcher wants to explore new grounds, discover more, or construct hypotheses that could lead to future studies. This stakeholder typically uses the term in situations where there is a lack of information or where the information is restricted. The objective of exploratory research is to generate preliminary data mainly using qualitative methods such as interviews, focus group discussions, or case studies to adequately understand the problem or the phenomenon under the microscope. The exploratory research is meant to be an activity that leads to the identification of the crucial variables, relationships, or potential research problems that are worth further study.

Experimental Research: The main feature of experimental research is the manipulation of the independent variable(s) to obtain information about the dependent variable (the outcome or effect variable). Its action is the purposeful undertaking of the implementation of techniques or procedures in order to confirm or disprove a hypothesis and to establish a cause-and-effect connection. The lynchpin of experimental research is its implementation of strict controls, which eliminate bias and other variables that may otherwise complicate the results. Many times, this type of research consists of random allocation of the participants to the experimental group and control group for the purpose of guaranteeing that the detected differences are due to the variation of the independent variable. Experimental research plays a pivotal role in science, where its application can be observed in fields such as psychology, medicine, and social sciences as it assists in the evaluation of the effectiveness of interventions, treatments or policies.