D075 introduces business students to information systems: how organizations collect, store and use data, and why technology decisions are business decisions.
WGU's program guide for the B.S. Information Technology Management lists it as a first-term course worth 3 competency units. The description covers information systems analysis, database resource management, spreadsheet literacy and computer literacy, with the aim of applying databases to solve business problems.
Students without an IT background sometimes find the vocabulary dense. Others with technical experience underestimate the business focus: the course asks not just what a system does, but what value it creates.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Western Governors University (WGU) |
| Code | D075 |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Competency units | 3 (first term, B.S. IT Management standard path) |
| Subject area | Management information systems |
| Typical work | Concept study, database and data tasks, business scenarios (check your course page for the assessment format) |
What D075 Covers
| Competency (summarized) | What it means |
|---|---|
| Apply data management tools and processes to business tasks | Using databases and spreadsheets to store, query and summarize data |
| Describe the business value, design and management of information systems | Why systems are built, how they are designed and who manages them |
| Describe the role of emerging technologies | Cloud, analytics, automation and similar trends and their business impact |
| Explain how IT enables business operations | Linking systems to processes such as sales, supply and customer service |
Key Concepts Explained
Data, Information and Knowledge
Data are raw facts; information is data organized to answer a question; knowledge is understanding that guides action. Information systems exist to move an organization along that chain.
Relational Databases
A relational database stores data in tables linked by keys. A primary key uniquely identifies each row; a foreign key in another table points back to it. This avoids storing the same fact in many places.
Example: A shop keeps a Customers table (CustomerID, Name, Email) and an Orders table (OrderID, CustomerID, Date, Total). CustomerID links them. To find total spending per customer, a query joins the two tables on CustomerID and sums Total, so a change of email is made once, not on every order.
Types of Information Systems
Transaction processing systems record day-to-day activity, management information systems summarize it for managers, and decision support systems help analyze options. Enterprise systems such as ERP and CRM integrate data across functions.
Typical Tasks and How to Approach Them
| Task type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Terminology and concept questions | Understanding of IS vocabulary | Learn terms through examples, not definitions alone |
| Database or query exercises | Tables, keys and simple queries | Sketch tables and relationships on paper before building |
| Business scenario analysis | Matching technology to needs | Start from the business problem, then choose the system |
| Emerging technology discussion | Weighing benefits and risks | Cover cost, security and change management, not just features |
Explaining Business Value
Much of D075 rewards one skill: explaining how a system creates value for the business, not only how it works. Value usually falls into a few categories.
- Efficiency: automating repetitive work so staff spend time on higher-value tasks.
- Accuracy: entering data once and sharing it, which removes copying errors.
- Better decisions: giving managers timely, summarized information.
- Customer experience: faster service and more personal contact.
- Strategic advantage: capabilities competitors cannot easily copy.
Example: A regional clinic replaces paper appointment books with a scheduling system linked to patient records. Efficiency: reception staff stop phoning to confirm every booking because reminders are automated. Accuracy: double bookings disappear. Decisions: managers can see which clinics have spare capacity. Writing the answer in these terms shows you understand IT as a business tool.
When a scenario asks you to recommend technology, close with the costs and risks too: training, data migration, security and the change for staff. Balanced answers read as management judgment rather than a sales pitch.
Where Students Get Stuck
- Confusing similar terms. ERP, CRM, SCM and DSS blur together. Make a one-line table of what each does and who uses it.
- Key relationships. Practice identifying primary and foreign keys in small examples until it feels routine.
- Feature lists instead of value. Explain how a system saves time, reduces errors or improves decisions.
- Ignoring security. Any discussion of data should mention access control and privacy.
Study Tips for D075
- Map each topic to a business you know, such as a supermarket or bank.
- Build one small database or spreadsheet to practice queries and summaries.
- Use flashcards for vocabulary, with an example on the back of each card.
- Connect D075 to D100 Introduction to Spreadsheets if both are in your plan.
How We Help with D075
Tell us which topics are causing trouble and send any task instructions or practice material. An IT tutor can explain concepts, build worked database examples or review written responses for accuracy and clarity.
GradeEssays is independent of Western Governors University. We provide tutoring and model material only: we never sit exams or access your course account, and your submitted work must be your own. Every order is written from scratch, includes free revisions within the scope of your original request and is refunded in full if it is late.
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Share the topics you find hardest and any practice results. We prepare clear explanations and worked examples.
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Frequently Asked Questions
It is listed in the B.S. Information Technology Management program guide as a first-term, 3-competency-unit course, and it appears in other business programs too.
No. The description focuses on information systems concepts, databases and spreadsheet literacy at an introductory level.
A primary key uniquely identifies each row in a table; a foreign key is a column in another table that refers to that primary key, linking the two.
Yes. One competency is describing the role of emerging technologies in a business environment.
WGU uses objective assessments, performance assessments or both. Check your course page for the current format.
No. We offer explanations, practice examples and feedback so you can prepare and pass on your own.