MIS Test 1
_________ consists of a set of physical devices and software applications that are required to operate the entire enterprise.
IT infrastructure
The appearance of the IBM PC in 1981 is usually considered the beginning of the PC era because this machine was the first to be widely adopted by businesses. At first using the DOS operating system, a text-based command language, and later the Microsoft Windows operating system became the standard desktop personal computer. Which of the following has been a major threat to the Wintel dominance as a computer platform in recent years?
Increasing iPhone and Android device sales
Cloud computing has three different types of services: Infrastructure as a service (IaaS), Software as a service (SaaS), and Platform as a service (PaaS). Google G Suite is an example of __________.
SaaS
A value web ___________.
is a collection of independent firms that use information technology to coordinate their value chains to produce a product or service for a market collectively
The value chain model describes the series or chain of basic activities that add a margin of value to a firm's products or services. Some activities are directly related to an organizations manufacturing process, while other activities are related to an organization's infrastructure. Primary activities are the value chain model category that _________.
is most directly related to the production and distribution of the firm's products and services, which creates value for the customer
American Airlines' SABRE computer reservation system, Citibank's ATM system, and FedEx's package tracking system benefited by being the first in their industries. Then rival systems emerged. These examples illustrate the __________.
difficulty of sustaining a competitive advantage
As firms grow, they often quickly outgrow their infrastructure. As firms shrink, they can get stuck with excessive infrastructure purchased in better times. When dealing with platform and infrastructure change, __________ refers to the ability of a computer, product, or system to expand to serve a large number of users without breaking down.
scalability
When faced with competitive forces, firms sometimes decide to compete by providing its products and services at the lowest industry prices. In order to use this competitive strategy, firms streamline their operations in order to generate the greatest output using the fewest possible inputs. For example, Walmart does not need to spend much money on maintaining large inventories of goods in its own warehouses. Their information systems enable them to replenish their inventory based on real-time information about its transactions. Which of the following is true of an efficient customer response system?
An efficient customer response system directly links consumer behavior to distribution and production and supply chains.
The interaction between information technology and organizations is complex and is influenced by many mediating factors, including the organization's business processes, politics, culture, surrounding environment, and management decisions. Which of the following best describes an organization?
An organization is a stable, formal social structure that takes resources from the environment and processes them to produce outputs.
Cloud computing has three different types of services: Infrastructure as a service (IaaS), Software as a service (SaaS), and Platform as a service (PaaS). Which of the following consist(s) of services for delivering and providing access to software remotely as a web-based service?
Software as a service
A collection of routines for producing goods and services is called a(n) ________. A. business process B. routines C. organizational statement D. organizational culture E. organizational politics
A. business process
A key word in social business is ________. A. conversations B. growth production C. file computing systems (FCS) D. teamwork E. community
A. conversations
A(n) ________, such as a clerk, uses data for things such as scheduling. A. data worker B. knowledge worker C. production worker D. business function E. hourly worker
A. data worker
A(n) ________ is a commercially available set of software programs that eliminate the need for a firm to write its own programs for business functions. A. enterprise software application B. cloud cluster C. application service D. operating systems platforms E. data application
A. enterprise software application
An IT infrastructure includes ________. A. hardware, software, and services B. data, networks, and managers C. hardware, software, and managers D. hardware, software, managers, and knowledge workers E. data, networks, and customers
A. hardware, software, and services
A supply chain management system is considered a type of ________ system because it shares data across multiple organizations. A. interorganizational B. external C. internal D. intraorganizational E. enterprise
A. interorganizational
Management information systems (MIS) provide ________. A. middle managers with reports on the organization's current performance B. entry level managers with reports on the organization's current performance C. only consumers of a company with reports on the organization's current performance D. only "super-user" managers with reports on the organization's current performance E. only senior management with reports on the organization's current performance
A. middle managers with reports on the organization's current performance
Nike sells customized sneakers through NIKE BY YOU to establish ________. A. product differentiation B. organizational culture C. suppliers D. low-cost leadership E. organizational politics
A. product differentiation
According to the value chain model, technology is considered a ________ of the firm. A. support activity B. data mining activity C. business intelligence activity D. primary activity E. processing activity
A. support activity
A ________ consists of a networked system that can synchronize the value chains of business partners ________. A. value web; within an industry B. value web; within a company C. value center; within a company D. cloud computing system; within a company E. value center; within an industry
A. value web; within an industry
Which of the following enables a company's business processes to be a source of competitive strength? A. Business processes that allow the company to innovate or execute better than its rivals B. Business processes that have not improved efficiency C. Business processes that are identical to a competitor's business processes D. Business processes that are not aligned with the company's business strategy E. Business processes that impede the company's responsiveness to competitive changes
A. Business processes that allow the company to innovate or execute better than its rivals
Which of the following systems would BEST support managers who focus on unique problems for which the procedure to arrive at a solution may not be fully predefined in advance? A. Decision-support B. Business intelligence C. Executive support D. Transaction processing E. Management information
A. Decision-support
Regarding the IT infrastructure ecosystem, data management includes ________. A. Oracle, SQL Server, and MySQL B. Accenture C. Unix, Linux, and Mac OS X D. Cisco E. SAP
A. Oracle, SQL Server, and MySQL
The Law of Mass Digital Storage suggests that the ________. A. amount of digital information doubles each year B. number of computers doubles each year C. amount of digital information remains the same each year D. number of computer users doubles each year E. number of computers triples each year
A. amount of digital information doubles each year
A handheld scanner is used to capture bar codes on the tickets collected at a sports event. The scanning action is considered ________. A. an input B. processing C. business intelligence D. data mining E. an output
A. an input
How a company produces, delivers, and sells its products and services in the marketplace is called a(n) ________. A. business model B. system network C. systems process D. digital footprint E. strategic business objective
A. business model
________ refers to a model of computing that provides access to a shared pool of computing resources over the Internet. A. Client/server B. Cloud C. Personal computer D. Enterprise E. Mainframe
B. Cloud
Which of the following options is a page description language for generating web pages (e.g., text, dynamic links)? A. Internet B. HTML C. Intranet D. XML E. XBRL
B. HTML
Which of the following people are responsible for designing products or services and creating new knowledge for the firm? A. Data workers B. Knowledge workers C. Service workers D. Senior management E. Function workers
B. Knowledge workers
________ deals with both behavioral and technical issues regarding information systems, and focuses on the development, use, and impact of systems by managers and employees. A. Information technology (IT) B. Management information systems (MIS) C. Information systems (IS) D. Information E. Data
B. Management information systems (MIS)
Which of the following options is NOT part of the competitive forces model for IT infrastructure investment? A. Information technology assessment B. Market supply of your firm's services C. Your firm's business strategy D. Your firm's IT strategy, infrastructure, and cost E. Competitor firm services
B. Market supply of your firm's services
________ is a markup language that allows for tagging selected elements of the content of documents for their meanings and is used for transferring data. A. XBRL B. XML C. Internet D. Intranet E. HTML
B. XML
A(n) ________ includes interdependent networks of suppliers, distributors, and outsourcing firms. A. five-forces model B. business ecosystem C. database D. economics model E. network system
B. business ecosystem
Computer processing work that is split between a desktop computer and a more powerful computer that processes and stores shared data, serves up web pages, or manages network activities is called ________ . A. mainframe B. client/server C. multitiered architectures D. personal computer E. cloud
B. client/server
Companies that establish a competitive advantage by having the lowest prices in an industry are using a ________ approach. A. product differentiation B. cost-leadership C. focused niche market D. data-driven E. customer loyalty
B. cost-leadership
If almost all an organization's significant business relationships are digitally enabled, it would be called a(n) ________. A. bit firm B. digital firm C. organizational learning company D. brick and mortar E. Internet
B. digital firm
An innovation that dramatically changes the business environment is called a(n) ________. A. instructional technology B. disruptive technology C. Internet D. organizational learning company E. digital firm
B. disruptive technology
According to Moore's Law (1965), the ratio of price to performance has ________. A. tripled B. fallen C. been impossible to calculate D. increased E. stayed the same
B. fallen
Business processes that cross many different functional areas and require coordination across departments are supported by ________ among the participants. A. less knowledge sharing and more independent work B. flows of material, information, and knowledge C. more senior management that encourage loyalty D. several static ways of communicating E. a top-down company approach
B. flows of material, information, and knowledge
A job opening for someone who "has the ability to use analytical reasoning and relevant judgment to address customer service issues, as well as generate new ideas," would be best filled by a(n) ________. A. hourly worker B. knowledge worker C. business function D. production worker E. data worker
B. knowledge worker
The competitive rivalry force of the Internet is strong because it has ________. A. reduced the power of the customer B. made it easier for companies to compete on price alone C. increased the power of suppliers D. made product substitutes harder to find E. helped companies sell products that are highly differentiated
B. made it easier for companies to compete on price alone
The observation that IT broadens the distribution of information, empowers lower-level employees, and increases management efficiency is an example of the _____________ effect of information technology on organizations. A. transaction costs B. organizational and behavioral C. contract nexus D. vertical integration E. economic agency
B. organizational and behavioral
The assumption that an MIS professor knows more about normalization than a student is an example of ________. A. business process B. organizational culture C. organizational statement D. cloud computing E. organizational politics
B. organizational culture
Sending a copy of an airline boarding pass to your printer is an example of ________. A. business intelligence B. output C. data mining D. input E. processing
B. output
Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) provides ________. A. a service that will never be financially viable B. processing, storage, and networking resources C. a service still in the experimental stage D. a service that will never reach the market E. software in the cloud
B. processing, storage, and networking resources
The behavioral approach to information systems includes ________. A. math and education B. psychology and sociology C. statistics and fine arts D. computer science and management science E. instructional technology and liberal arts
B. psychology and sociology
A positive regarding cloud computing includes ________. A. dependent on a vendor B. rapid elasticity C. loss of control D. dependent on management policy E. not knowing where data is physically located
B. rapid elasticity
If a cookie company uses Facebook to help it "listen" to its customers' responses to new cookie recipes, they are embracing ________. A. teams B. social business C. networks D. collaboration mix E. spreadsheets
B. social business
Thompson Manufacturing implemented a decision support system (DSS) with the goal of ________. A. generating reports on its current performance B. understanding the impact on production schedules if sales were to double in a future month C. presenting senior managers with data of external events through a web portal D. delivering comprehensive information to senior executives via a digital dashboard E. tracking its revenue and expenses
B. understanding the impact on production schedules if sales were to double in a future month
In every industry, there's a firm that stands out from others. These firms are said to have a competitive advantage over others: They either have access to special resources that others do not, or they are able to use commonly available resources more efficiently. Firms that stand out often become the metric to which others are compared. __________ involves comparing the efficiency and effectiveness of a business process against strict standards and then measuring the performance against those standards.
Benchmarking involves comparing the efficiency and effectiveness of a business process against strict standards and then measuring the performance against those standards.
The local hospital has decided to digitize all of its medical records so that their patients can access the information from anywhere in the world. A highly respected consulting group came to the hospital several times to train the staff on the new digital system but only a fraction of the total staff attended a training session. Why do so many businesses fail to align IT with its strategic goals or shareholder interest?
Businesspeople claim to not understand IT and ignore it.
_________ help businesses become more efficient by integrating functional business processes into a single information system that spans all business areas. A. Quality control applications (QCA) B. Human resource systems (HRS) C. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems D. Customer service applications (CSA) E. Data display systems (DDS)
C. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems
Which of the following options has drastically reduced the costs of operating and transacting on a global scale? A. Social network B. Value network C. Internet D. Extranet E. Intranet
C. Internet
Which of the following is NOT an example of a company's transaction processing system? A. Marriott reservation system B. Delta flight reservation system C. Walmart's internal email system D. UPS package tracking system E. Amazon.com's payroll records
C. Walmart's internal email system
An extranet is a system that shares data ________. A. within an organization's accounting area B. within an organization's productions area C. across multiple organizations D. within a single home E. within an organization
C. across multiple organizations
Competitor firms' IT services are ________ of the competitive forces model for IT infrastructure. A. an instructional component B. an internal factor C. an external factor D. both an external and an internal factor E. an unnecessary factor
C. an external factor
The data and software tools for organizing, analyzing, and providing access to data to help managers and other enterprise users make more informed decisions are referred to as ________ systems. A. management information B. decision-support C. business intelligence D. transaction processing E. executive support
C. business intelligence
Based on your reading, information systems help businesses compete ________. A. but are unrelated to competitive advantage B. and it is easy to sustain the competitive advantages C. but do not guarantee a successful outcome D. but do not affect its competitive position E.and provide enduring competitive advantage
C. but do not guarantee a successful outcome
In many companies, the information systems department is headed by a(n) ________. A. entry level personnel (ELP) B. middle range manager (MRM) C. chief information officer (CIO) D. entry level manager (ELM) E. quality control supervisor (QCS)
C. chief information officer (CIO)
The technical approach to information systems includes ________. A. psychology and sociology B. statistics and fine arts C. computer science and management science D. math and education E. instructional technology and liberal arts
C. computer science and management science
A(n) ________ is used by senior managers to make decisions. A. XML system (XMLS) B. data executive system (DES) C. executive support system (ESS) D. XBRL system (XBRLS) E. executive information system (EIS)
C. executive support system (ESS)
Using Internet technology to create an internal system is called a(n) ________. A. enterprise system B. Internet C. intranet D. brick and mortar E. digital firm
C. intranet
A(n) ________ system helps capture, manage, and apply the experience of the organization. A. data entry (DE) B. instructional technology (ITS) C. knowledge management (KM) D. mining data (MD) E. management knowledge (MK)
C. knowledge management (KM)
Because Walmart has an efficient inventory replenishing system, they are able to reduce ________ costs. A. networking B. advertising C. overhead D. database E. data
C. overhead
According to the value chain model, sales and marketing is considered a ________ activity of the firm. A. business intelligence B. support C. primary D. processing E. data mining
C. primary
A collaborative business culture is characterized by: A. lower-level employees have no responsibility to improve processes. B. few rewards for teamwork. C. reliance on teams of employees to achieve and implement the results. D. a command and control emphasis. E. vertical communication channels.
C. reliance on teams of employees to achieve and implement the results.
Another name for standard operating procedures for creating goods and services is (are) ________. A. rotations B. organizational culture C. routines D. organizational politics E. organizational environment
C. routines
A company that produces a new low-cost product based on improved decision making has likely achieved a(n) ________. A. business expense B. database C. strategic business objective D. absolute advantage E. business ownership
C. strategic business objective
According to the value chain model, employee recruiting, hiring, and training are considered a __________ activity of the firm. A. data mining B. processing C. support D. primary E. business intelligence
C. support
Functional information systems that operate independently of one another are becoming a thing of the past because ________. A. spreadsheets are too cumbersome to maintain B. hardware is difficult to purchase C. they make sharing information across functional systems difficult D. social dynamics in the company are static E. cloud computing isn't effective
C. they make sharing information across functional systems difficult
Setting up a system so that it is not restricted by physical configuration or geographic location is an example of ________. A. mainframe systems B. a networking protocol C. virtualization D. a personal computer E. TCP/IP
C. virtualization
Gipsi runs a manufacturing company. She recently invested in ________ computing devices because she wanted to improve productivity by delivering information to workers without requiring them to interrupt their tasks. A. cloud B. tablet C. wearable D. quantum E. virtualization
C. wearable
In the past, software such as Microsoft Word or Adobe Illustrator came in a box and was designed to operate on a single machine. Today, you're more likely to download the software from the vendor's website or to use the software as a cloud service delivered over the Internet and pay a subscription fee. Which of the following best describes a cloud-based software service?
Cloud-based software and the data it uses are hosted on powerful servers in data centers and can be accessed with an Internet connection and a standard web browser.
A firm is organized financially as a collection of strategic business units and the returns to the firm are directly tied to the performance of all the strategic business units. Information systems can improve the overall performance of these business units by promoting synergies and supporting those activities that a particular business unit performs better than other. What are core competencies?
Core competencies are activities at which a firm excels as a world-class leader.
The size of a nanotube is about ________ thinner than a human hair. A. 5 times B. 100,000 times C. 100 times D. 10,000 times E. 1,000 times
D. 10,000 times
A large grocery chain has implemented a solution using superwide angle, low-light HD cameras that enable viewing and tracking products on the shelves in real time. Which of the following options BEST describes the effect of this technology on business? Question content area bottom A. Maintaining just-in-time inventory has been an important consequence of information technology in business. B. Businesses are using social networking tools to connect their employees, customers, and managers worldwide. C. Business supply chains are a lot faster because of new information technologies. D. Businesses are using information technology to achieve higher levels of operational efficiency. E. Information technology allows businesses to respond rapidly to changing customer demand.
D. Businesses are using information technology to achieve higher levels of operational efficiency.
Which of the following options is a challenge to the sustainability of strategically implementing an information system? A. Willingness to collaborate on new projects across different functional business groups B. Managers who take an active role in shaping IT to the enterprise C. Network-based economies D. Coping with competitors who retaliate and copy strategic systems E. Customers and suppliers willing to learn and evolve with new technology
D. Coping with competitors who retaliate and copy strategic systems
According to your readings, ________ was able to link external suppliers, which allowed it to obtain more than 70 percent of parts from outside the organization. A. TJ Maxx B. Target C. McDonalds D. Ford E.Kodak
D. Ford
________ include(s) the strategy and policies for using information technology within an organization. A. Static organizational groups B. Sociotechnical systems C. Sub-organizational data D. IT governance E. Automatic grouping systems
D. IT governance
________ includes components that collect, process, store, and distribute information to support decision making and control in a business. A. Management information systems (MIS) B. Universal Platform Services (UPS) C. Information technology (IT) D. Information systems (IS) E. Decision Support System (DSS)
D. Information systems (IS)
Which of the following is NOT a strategic objective that drives business firms' investment in information systems? A. Operational excellence B. New products, services, and business models C. Improved decision making D. Intellectual property management E. Competitive advantage
D. Intellectual property management
The world's largest network is the ________. A. brick and mortar B. enterprise system C. intranet D. Internet E. digital firm
D. Internet
In the music industry, ________ are considered a newer substitute for CD-based music stores. A. tracks B. files C. records D. Internet music services E. cassettes
D. Internet music services
________ is free software produced by a community of several hundred thousand programmers around the world. A. Java B. An iOS C. Mac OS D. Open source E. Cloud computing
D. Open source
________ services ensure that a firm's new infrastructure works with the firm's older systems and that all parts of the firm's infrastructure work together. A. Accenture B. Cloud computing C. Web hosting D. Software integration E. Data management
D. Software integration
________ include two organizations sharing expertise. A. Network-based strategies B. Enterprise systems C. Digital firms D. Synergies E. Core competencies
D. Synergies
Which of the following options increases the strength of the market entrant force? A. An increase in the cost of necessary equipment B. An industry with highly competitive rivals with very low profit margins C. An increase in the government or local regulations that govern an industry D. The availability of a younger workforce with the necessary knowledge and skills at an advantageous cost E. High customer loyalty toward existing businesses
D. The availability of a younger workforce with the necessary knowledge and skills at an advantageous cost
In most cases, a business ecosystem includes ________. A. only service companies B. instructional design organizations C. all equal firms D. a few keystone firms E. only technology companies
D. a few keystone firms
The logically related tasks and behaviors that companies carry out to achieve a specific outcome are called ________. A. data marts B. database managers C. business intelligences D. business processes E. data mining
D. business processes
Businesses that collaborate and use social business often see benefits in productivity, quality, innovation, sales growth, and ________. A. digital library systems B. systems operations C. hardware and software operations D. customer service E. accounting option systems
D. customer service
Customer relationship management includes ________. A. operations applications B. accounting applications C. human resources applications D. customer support applications E. manufacturing applications
D. customer support applications
The millions of product bar codes scanned at supermarket checkout counters everyday are examples of ________. A. processes B. output C. models D. data E. information
D. data
Firms use a(n) ________ to coordinate their activities with other firms. A. social network B. intranet C. universal platform D. extranet E. employee social network
D. extranet
The power of the customer ________ if they have an easy time switching from one company (e.g., not having to pay an exit fee) to another. A. changes over time B. stops C. remains the same D. grows E. decreases
D. grows
Microsoft's Azure ________ provides a set of development tools and IT services that enable users to build new applications and run them in the cloud on their data center infrastructure. A. software as a product (SaaP) B. software as a service (SaaS) C. platform as a product (PaaP) D. platform as a service (PaaS) E. infrastructure as a service (IaaS)
D. platform as a service (PaaS)
The information systems approach to this textbook is the ________. A. database approach B. technical approach C. behavioral approach D. sociotechnical approach E. system network approach
D. sociotechnical approach
Google Apps are an example of ________. A. platform as a product (PaaP) B. software as a product (SaaP) C. infrastructure as a service (IaaS) D. software as a service (SaaS) E. platform as a service (PaaS)
D. software as a service (SaaS)
IT infrastructure today is composed of seven major components: Internet platforms, computer hardware platforms, operating systems platforms, enterprise software applications, networking/telecommunications, consultants and systems integrators, and data management and storage. IBM DB2, Oracle, SQL Server, Sybase, MySQL, Apache, and Hadoop are all examples of which component?
Data management and storage
IT infrastructure today is composed of seven major components: Internet platforms, computer hardware platforms, operating systems platforms, enterprise software applications, networking/telecommunications, consultants and systems integrators, and data management and storage. Which component is responsible for organizing and managing the firm's data so that they can be efficiently accessed and used?
Data management and storage
In 2019, global spending on information technology and information technology services was nearly _______. A. $8.3 billion B. $8.3 million C. $3.8 million D. $3.8 billion E. $3.8 trillion
E. $3.8 trillion
________ includes hardware and software an organization needs to compete in the marketplace. A. Information systems (IS) B. Management information systems (MIS) C. Decision Support Systems (DSS) D. Human Resources Networks (HRN) E. Information technology (IT)
E. Information technology (IT)
A web interface that presents integrated personalized business content delivered to senior managers is ________. A. an XBRL document B. an executive network C. a TCP/IP D. an XML document E. a portal
E. a portal
Your firm's business strategy is ________ of the competitive forces model for IT infrastructure. A. an instructional component B. an unnecessary factor C. both an external and an internal factor D. an external factor E. an internal factor
E. an internal factor
A cloud ________. A. is someone who detects hackers B. is private C. is a security software designed to protect data D. is public E. can be private or public
E. can be private or public
Working together as a team to align a competitive strategy with the company's goals is an example of ________. A. multiple resourcing B. independent analyses C. production working D. hourly assessment E. collaboration
E. collaboration
A raw fact would be considered ________. A. an information system (IS) B. an information technology (IT) C. a management information system (MIS) D. information E. data
E. data
A display that presents graphs and charts of key performance indicators on a single screen for managing a company is called a ________. A. senior management display system B. display server system C. bar graphing system D. pie charting system E. digital dashboard
E. digital dashboard
Information systems can ________ the organization by empowering lower-level employees. A. reduce B. hinder C. heighten D. establish E. flatten
E. flatten
Downloading a Kindle e-book from Amazon, buying a computer online at Best Buy, and downloading a music track from Apple Music, are examples of how information systems help business processes by ________. A. generating only an invoice or shipping order B. changing simultaneous steps to sequential steps C. checking only a client's credit D. checking only the quality of a product E. implementing entirely new business models
E. implementing entirely new business models
A raw fact shaped into a meaningful form is ________. A. an information technology (IT) B. data C. an information system (IS) D. a management information system (MIS) E. information
E. information
A(n) ________ is defined as the shared technology resources that provide the platform for the firm's specific information systems applications. A. information systems (IS) B. management information systems (MIS) C. institutional technology infrastructure D. decision support system structure E. information technology infrastructure
E. information technology infrastructure
The typical computing configuration in 1960 was ________. A. client/server B. personal computer C. cloud computing D. enterprise computing E. mainframe
E. mainframe
A virtual company uses ________ to link people, assets, and ideas. A. economics B. synergies C. enterprise systems D. digital firms E. networks
E. networks
Regarding the IT infrastructure ecosystem, Microsoft Windows, Unix, and Mac OS X are examples of ________. A. enterprise software applications B. networking/telecommunications C. data management D. internet platforms E. operating systems platforms
E. operating systems platforms
According to the value chain model, operations are considered a ________ of the firm. A. processing activity B. business intelligence activity C. support activity D. data mining activity E. primary activity
E. primary activity
By keeping prices low and shelves well stocked using a legendary inventory replenishment system, Walmart became the leading retail business in the United States. Walmart's continuous replenishment system sends orders for new merchandise directly to its partners based on real-time transaction data. Which of the following options directly links consumer behavior to distribution and production and supply chains?
Efficient customer response system
Which of the following best describes a business ecosystem?
It is loosely coupled but interdependent networks of suppliers, distributors, outsourcing firms, transportation service firms, and technology manufacturers.
There are four major themes in contemporary software platform evolution: Open source, software for the web, web services, and cloud services. __________ is an operating system- and hardware-independent programming language that is the leading interactive programming environment for the web.
Java
One way to reduce power requirements and hardware sprawl is to use more efficient and power-saving processors. Contemporary microprocessors now feature more than one processing cores on a single chip. Today you'll find PCs with dual-core, quad-core, six-core, and eight-core processors and servers with 16- and 32-core processors. Which of the following is a microprocessor to which two or more processing cores have been attached for enhanced performance?
Multicore processor
Nanotubes are tiny tubes about 10,000 times thinner than a human hair. They consist of rolled-up sheets of carbon hexagons, have potential use as minuscule wires or in ultra-small electronic devices, and are very powerful conductors of electrical current. __________ uses individual atoms and molecules to create computer chips and other devices that are thousands of times smaller than current technologies permit.
Nanotechnology
Which of the following statements best describes nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology uses individual atoms and molecules to create computer chips and other devices that are thousands of times smaller than current technologies permit.
The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) defines cloud computing as being on-demand, ubiquitous, location-independent, elastic, and use based pricing. __________ is cloud computing services from remote providers where users either pay only for the amount of computing power they actually use or are billed on a monthly or annual subscription basis.
On-demand computing
IT infrastructure today is composed of seven major components: Internet platforms, computer hardware platforms, operating systems platforms, enterprise software applications, networking/telecommunications, consultants and systems integrators, and data management and storage. Microsoft Windows, Unix, Linux, Mac OS, Chrome, Android, and iOS are all examples of which component?
Operating systems platforms
The value chain model describes the series or chain of basic activities that add a margin of value to a firm's products or services. Some activities are directly related to an organizations manufacturing process, while other activities are related to an organization's capital resources. __________ consist of organization infrastructure (administration and management), human resources (employee recruiting, hiring, and training), technology (improving products and the production process), and procurement (purchasing input).
Support activities
The actual cost of owning technology resources includes the original cost of acquiring and installing hardware and software as well as ongoing administration costs for hardware and software upgrades, maintenance, technical support, training, and even utility and real estate costs for running and housing the technology. __________ can be used to analyze direct and indirect costs to help firms determine the actual cost of specific technology implementations.
The total cost of ownership (TCO) model
Information systems exists to support the required activities a firm must carry out in order to transform business inputs into business outputs. Which of the following highlights activities that add a margin of value to a firm's products or services where information systems can best be applied to achieve a competitive advantage?
The value chain model
Which of the following best defines a value chain model?
The value chain model highlights specific primary and support activities in the business where competitive strategies can best be applied (Porter, 1985) and where information systems are most likely to have a strategic impact.
To align IT with the business and use information systems effectively for competitive advantage, managers need to perform a strategic systems analysis. To identify the types of systems that provide a strategic advantage to their firms, managers should ask which of the following questions?
What are some of the competitive forces within the industry?
Information technology, especially the use of networks, can help firms lower the cost of market participation, making it worthwhile for firms to contract with external suppliers instead of using internal sources. Similarly, technology, by reducing the costs of acquiring and analyzing information, permits organizations to reduce costs because it becomes easier for managers to oversee a greater number of employees. According to agency theory, __________.
a firm is viewed as a "nexus of contracts" among self-interested individuals rather than as a unified, profit-maximizing entity
Porter's competitive forces model, the strategic position of the firm and its strategies are determined by competition with its traditional direct competitors, but they are also greatly affected by new market entrants, substitute products and services, suppliers, and customers. Organizations like Walmart use information systems to __________.
achieve the lowest operational costs and the lowest prices
Transaction processing systems (TPS) are information systems that are ________. A. unable to help with the organizational learning within a company B. often not essential to the effectiveness of an organization C. not important to the operational managers of an organization D. associated with the elementary activities and transactions of the organization. E. often not essential to the efficiency of an organization
associated with the elementary activities and transactions of the organization.
Amazon was an e-commerce leader with its rapid distribution of a wide array of products, but the firm now faces competition from eBay, Yahoo, and Google. The competitive advantages that strategic systems confer do not necessarily last long enough to ensure long-term profitability because ________.
competitors can retaliate and copy strategic systems
The total cost of ownership (TCO) includes costs for hardware, software, installation, training, support, maintenance, infrastructure, downtime, space and energy. When Samsung's smartphones overheated and caught on fire, the company had to recall 2.5 million devices. This example demonstrates the __________ component of the TCO model.
downtime
Implementing information systems has economic, organizational, and behavioral effects on firms. Information technology, especially the use of networks, can help firms lower the cost of market participation (transaction costs), making it worthwhile for firms to contract with external suppliers instead of using internal sources. As a result, firms can shrink in size. In this example, information systems have what kind of an impact on an organization?
economic
IT affects the cost and quality of information and changes the economics of information. Information technology helps firms contract in size because it can reduce the costs incurred when a firm obtains external resources. According to transaction cost theory, __________.
firms and individuals seek to economize on transaction costs, much as they do on production costs
Internet sites like eBay (the giant online auction site) and iVillage (an online community for women) can be used by firms to build communities of users—like-minded customers who want to share their experiences. This builds customer loyalty and enjoyment and develops unique ties to customers. This scenario is an example of how information systems help businesses use __________ to achieve competitive advantage.
network-based strategies
Today, information systems support an economic model where the marginal costs of adding another participant are about zero, whereas the marginal gain is much larger. For example, the larger the number of subscribers in a telephone system, the greater the value to all participants because each user can interact with more people. Taking advantage of network economics, using the model of a virtual company, and creating a business ecosystem are all examples of how information systems help businesses use __________ to achieve competitive advantage.
network-based strategies
Linux is the most well-known open source software. It's an operating system related to Unix that was created by Finnish programmer Linus Torvalds in 1991. Linux applications are embedded in cell phones, smartphones, tablet computers, and consumer electronics. The __________ trend has profound implications for corporate software platforms because it reduces costs, improves reliability, and increases resilience.
open source software
The Java platform has migrated into mobile phones, tablets, automobiles, music players, game machines, and set-top cable television systems serving interactive content and pay-per-view services. Java is a(n) __________.
operating system- and hardware-independent programming language that is the leading interactive programming environment for the web
What is a stable, formal social structure that takes resources from the environment and processes them to produce outputs?
organization
The value chain model describes the series or chain of basic activities that add a margin of value to a firm's products or services. Some activities are directly related to an organizations manufacturing process, while other activities are related to an organization's capital resources. Support activities consist of _________.
organization infrastructure, human resources, technology, and procurement
The value chain model describes the series or chain of basic activities that add a margin of value to a firm's products or services. Some activities are directly related to an organizations manufacturing process, while other activities are related to an organization's infrastructure. Inbound logistics (receiving and storing materials for distribution to production), operations (transforming inputs into finished products), outbound logistics (storing and distributing finished products), sales and marketing, and service are all __________.
primary activities
Dollar Rent A Car's systems allows customers to rent their cars using Soutwest Airline's website. Although both companies' systems are based on different technology platforms, a person booking a flight on Southwest.com can reserve a car from Dollar without leaving the airline's website. Different applications can use __________ to communicate with each other in a standard way without time-consuming custom coding.
web services