13

1. Which of the following functions is likely to be performed by enterprise software? a. Word processing b. Spreadsheet accounting c. Making PowerPoint presentations d. Inventory tracking e. Internet browsing

d

1. _____ refers to a precise set of instructions that tell the computer hardware what to do. a. A mnemonic b. An input device c. An output device d. Software e. Desktop

d

1. ormats across their enterprise? a. They can save infrastructural and operational costs. b. They can expect to leverage economies of scale by serving more customers. c. They can hedge against the risk of data redundancy. d. They struggle to manage their value chain efficiently. e. They profit from the aggregation of diverse data sets and enhance their repositories.

d

Which of the following statements is true about information systems? a. Most firms spend a huge portion of their information technology budgets on training and system security. b. New programs should be thoroughly tested across the range of a firm's hardware after deployment. c. Purchase, configuration, and licensing costs for packaged software account for most information technology expenses of a firm. d. Firms need to vigilantly manage the moving target of computer security issues. e. Total cost of ownership of information systems is often a redundant concept while making technology investment decisions.

d

1. Which of the following is an example of computer hardware? a. Malware b. Operating system c. Application d. Platform e. A video game console

e

1. Which of the following is not true about potential benefits to firms that create platforms? a. the potential to make their products and services more useful b. they can widen the reach of firms and products c. they can create switching costs d. they can enhance network effects e. all of the above are true

e

1. _____ provide the standards, syntax, statements, and instructions for writing computer software. a. Operating systems b. Application servers c. Database management systems d. Platforms e. Programming languages

e

1. _____ refers to a software package that integrates the many functions of a business, such as accounting, finance, inventory management, and human resources. a. Supply chain management b. Desktop software c. Customer relationship management d. Database management system e. Enterprise resource planning

e

1. Managers who understand software are better equipped to harness the possibilities and impact of technology.

true

1. _____ is a process-improvement approach that assists in assessing the maturity, quality, and development of certain organizational business processes, and suggests steps for their improvement.

Capability maturity model integration/ CMMI

1. _____ refers to applications that address the needs of multiple users throughout an organization or work group.

Enterprise software

1. EDI is easier to code and more robust than XML because it can be extended.

False

1. Enterprise Resource Planning software has proven popular in part because the standardization these products impose makes them exceptionally easy to deploy.

False

1. Java programmers write code with specific commands for different operating systems, such as Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.

False

1. Control programs stored on chips (often used in embedded systems) are sometimes referred to as _____________.

Firmware

1. Which of the following is an operating system? a. Linux b. USB 2.0 c. Microsoft Access d. Notepad e. Wi-Fi

a

1. _____ is a set of standards for exchanging messages containing formatted data between computer applications. a. EDI b. DBMS c. CPM d. SCM e. ERP

a

Which of the following is one of the reasons for the failure of technology projects? a. Inadequate testing of systems before deployment b. Insufficient expenditure on information systems c. Use of matured technology d. Prolonged project periods e. Disallowing "feature creep" during development

a

1. Which of the following characteristics is said to be Java's biggest selling point? a. Open source nature b. Interpretability c. Platform independence d. Service-oriented architecture e. Data portability

c

1. _____ are programming hooks or guidelines, published by organizations tell how other programs can get a service to perform a task, such as send or receive data.

Application programming interfaces/APIs

1. Firmware refers to: a. computer hardware elements visible to the human eye. b. control software stored on removable discs. c. control software stored on hard drives. d. control software stored on nonvolatile memory chips. e. computer hardware elements invisible to the human eye.

d

Some programming languages are extended by _______________. These are libraries, templates, and extensions that simplify and standardize common tasks, speeding software development, reducing errors, and prompting reuse. Examples of popular frameworks used to develop websites include Rails (for Ruby), Django (for Python), AngularJS (for JavaScript), and ASP.NET (pronounced "ay-ess-pee dot net").

Framewords

1. Java is not optimized to take advantage of interface elements specific to the Mac or Windows operating systems. As a result: a. Java is not platform independent. b. Java lacks a structured programming style. c. Java is unsuitable for desktop applications. d. Java code that is compiled for the native OS and processor is slower than code running through a JVM interpreter. e. Java code has to be compiled and then interpreted, before being executed by the processor.

c

1. Microsoft's Xbox operating system provides Xbox programmers with a set of common standards to use to access controllers, the Kinect motion sensor, play sounds, draw graphics, save files, and more. Without this, games would: a. be more reliable. b. be a lot easier to write. c. cost more. d. look same. e. not be restricted to just Microsoft's platforms.

c

1. Software (often on firmware) designed to make physical products and devices "smarter" by doing things like sharing usage information, helping diagnose problems, indicating maintenance schedules, providing alerts, or enabling devices to take orders from other systems is referred to as ___________. a. Desktop software programs b. Enterprise Resource Planning systems c. Embedded systems d. Multi-threaded e. Application servers

c

1. Which of the following technologies is being used to replace the older EDI for specifying data standards? a. Integrated development environment b. Hypertext transfer protocol c. Extensible markup language d. File transfer protocol e. Sequential query language

c

1. _____ are software systems designed to support interoperable machine-to-machine interaction over a network. a. Scripting languages b. Client-servers c. Web services d. Caches e. Business intelligence systems

c

1. _____ refers to applications installed on a personal computer, typically to support tasks performed by a single user. a. Enterprise software b. Server program c. Desktop software d. Software as a service e. Database management program

c

1. Android is a software product developed by Google that allows cell phone manufacturers to control hardware and establishes standards for developing and executing applications on its platform. Android is thus an example of a(n) _____. a. operating system b. programming language c. user interface d. distributed system e. database management system

a

1. If a computer system can be equated to a layered cake, which of the following combinations represents the computer system in the bottom-to-top order? a. Hardware, operating system, application, user b. User, application, hardware, operating system c. User, operating system, hardware, application d. Application, operating system, hardware, user e. Operating system, hardware, user, application

a

1. Which of the following is an example of application software? a. MS Word b. Mac OS c. Linux d. MS Windows e. Android

a

1. Which of the following is true of scripting languages? a. They are often designed to be interpreted within their applications. b. They are compiled to run directly by a microprocessor. c. They typically execute outside an application. d. They are faster than the development efforts found in most commercial software. e. Most of these languages are complicated with respect to user friendliness.

a

1. When referring to the 'software layer cake' model, Microsoft Office, Angry Birds, and MySQL are all _____.

applications

1. A(n) _____ is an application that includes an editor, a debugger, and a compiler, among other tools. a. programming language b. integrated development environment c. operating system d. extensible markup language e. enterprise resource planning system

b

1. Computer hardware refers to: a. a precise set of instructions that orchestrate the functioning of the computer. b. the physical components of information technology. c. the mechanism through which users interact with a computer. d. a program that fulfills the requests of a client. e. handheld computing devices meant largely for mobile use outside an office setting. b; Easy

b

1. _____ perform the work that users and firms are directly interested in accomplishing and can be thought of as places where a user's real work is done. a. Emulators b. Applications c. Platforms d. Embedded systems e. Operating systems

b

1. _____ refers to the practice of ensuring that an organization's systems operate within required legal constraints, and organizational obligations. a. Security b. Compliance c. Integration d. Parallelism e. Immunity

b

1. Scroll bars and menus displayed on the hardware of the computer display are examples of a graphical _____.

User interface

1. Systems that use data created by other systems to provide reporting and analysis for organizational decision making are called _____ systems. a. application server b. supply chain management c. enterprise resource management d. business intelligence e. customer relationship management

d

1. This process of converting a code into machine-readable form is known as: a. integrating. b. assimilating. c. debugging. d. sequencing. e. compiling.

e

1. The care and feeding of information systems is usually simple and inexpensive.

False

1. What is an operating system? Describe its significance for computing devices.

An operating system provides a common set of controls for managing computer hardware, making it easier for users to interact with computers and for programmers to write application software. Most modern OS provide graphical user interface (UI) items like scroll bars and menus that enable users to interact with the computer system. Files are saved to the hardware of a hard drive or other storage device. Most OS also include control panels, desktop file management, and other support programs to work directly with hardware elements like storage devices, displays, printers, and networking equipment. The consistent look, feel, and functionality that operating systems enforce across various programs help make it easier for users to learn new software, which reduces training costs and operator error.

1. What is application software? What are the categories of application software that are available? Provide brief descriptions for each category with the aid of examples.

Application software performs the work that users and firms are directly interested in accomplishing. The more application software that is available for a platform, the more valuable it potentially becomes. Application software is usually categorized into: Desktop software—Applications installed on a personal computer, typically supporting tasks performed by a single user. Word processors, Web browsers, spreadsheets, and presentation software are typical examples for desktop software. Enterprise software—Applications that address the needs of multiple simultaneous users in an organization or work group. Most companies run various forms of enterprise software programs to keep track of their inventory, record sales, manage payments to suppliers, cut employee paychecks, and handle other functions. The most common types of enterprise software include enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, supply chain management (SCM) systems, and business intelligence (BI) systems.

1. A(n) _____ is a software program that makes requests of a server program.

Client

1. What is distributed computing? Briefly explain the various concepts used in conjunction with distributed computing.

Distributed computing is the concept of computers in different locations communicating with one another. It can yield enormous efficiencies in speed, error reduction, and cost savings and can create entirely new ways of doing business. Client-server computing is a method of distributed computing where one program (a client) makes a request to be fulfilled by another program (a server). Server is a tricky term and is sometimes used to refer to hardware. While server-class hardware refers to more powerful computers designed to support multiple users, just about any PC or notebook can be configured to run server software. Web servers serve up Web sites and can perform some scripting. Most firms serve complex business logic from an application server. Isolating a system's logic in three or more layers (presentation or user interface, business logic, and database) can allow a firm flexibility in maintenance, reusability, and in handling upgrades. Web services and APIs refer to pieces of code, and the request/response standards so that this code be summoned by other programs to perform a task (the term API is more in vogue today, so expect to hear that more).. Web services make it easier to link applications as distributed systems and can make it easier for firms to link their systems across organizations. Popular messaging standards include EDI (older) and XML. Sending messages between machines instead of physical documents can speed processes, drastically cut the cost of transactions, and reduce errors.

1. Communication between people results in time saving, cost reductions, and fewer errors than communication between computers.

False

1. ERP systems and enterprise software programs should be ideally configured to use different database systems to avoid the possibility of data redundancy.

False

1. Organizations that have created a robust set of Web services and APIs around their processes and procedures are often said to have a service-independent architecture.

False

1. Scripting languages are interpreted within their applications, thereby making them faster than the development efforts found in most commercial software.

False

1. Some firms write their own enterprise software from scratch as it can save time and reduce development costs.

False

1. Specialty devices like iPods, video game consoles, and television set-top boxes typically do not need an operating system.

False

1. Standardizing business processes in software that others can buy means that those functions are difficult for competitors to match.

False

1. The more application software that is available for a platform, the less valuable it potentially becomes.

False

1. The varied and heterogeneous look, feel, and functionality that operating systems enforce across various programs help make it easier for users to learn new software.

False

1. What is Java programming language? What are the advantages and disadvantages associated with using Java?

Java is a programming language initially developed by Sun Microsystems. Java programmers do not write code with specific operating system commands (say for Windows, Mac OS X, or Linux), instead they use special Java commands to control their user interface or interact with the display and other hardware. Java programs can run on any computer that has a Java Virtual Machine (JVM), a software layer that interprets Java code so that it can be understood by the operating system and processor of a given computer. Java's platform independence—the ability for developers to "write once, run everywhere"—is its biggest selling point. Many Web sites execute Java applets to run the animation you might see in advertisements or game. Java has also been deployed on over six billion mobile phones worldwide and is popular among enterprise programmers who want to be sure their programs can scale from smaller hardware up to high-end supercomputers. As long as the machine receiving the Java code has a JVM, then the Java application should run. However, Java has not been popular for desktop applications. Since Java isn't optimized to take advantage of interface elements specific to the Mac or Windows, most Java desktop applications look clunky and unnatural. Java code that runs through the JVM interpreter is also slower than code compiled for the native OS and processor that make up a platform.

1. What activities should a firm undertake to create and support its information systems? What does total cost of ownership refer to? What is its significance in a managerial context?

Managers should recognize that there are a whole host of costs that are associated with creating and supporting an organization's information systems. These include a lot more than the programming costs for custom software as well as purchase, configuration, and licensing costs for packaged software. Firms need to constantly engage in a host of activities to support the system that may also include the following: • providing training and end user support • collecting and relaying comments for system improvements • auditing systems to ensure compliance (i.e., that the system operates within the firm's legal constraints and industry obligations) • providing regular backup of critical data • planning for redundancy and disaster recovery in case of an outage • vigilantly managing the moving target of computer security issues Firms spend 70 to 80 percent of their information systems (IS) budgets just to keep their systems running. The price tag and complexity of these tasks can push some managers to think of technology as being a cost sink rather than a strategic resource. These tasks are often collectively referred to as the total cost of ownership (TCO) of an information system. Understanding TCO is critical when making technology investment decisions. TCO is also a major driving force behind the massive tech industry changes.

1. What are the managerial implications with respect to information systems?

Managers who understand software can better understand the possibilities and impact of technology. They can make better decisions regarding the strategic value of IT and the potential for technology-driven savings. They can appreciate the challenges, costs, security vulnerabilities, legal and compliance issues, and limitations involved in developing and deploying technology solutions. And since firms which cannot communicate will struggle to work in tandem, managers who understand software can appreciate the key role that technology plays in partnerships, merger and acquisitions, and firm valuation. The flexibility of the software and hardware components gives computers the customization options that managers and businesses demand. Understanding how the layers relate to each other helps managers make better decisions on what options are important to their unique business needs, can influence what they buy, and may have implications for everything from competitiveness to cost overruns to security breaches.

1. When referring to the 'software layer cake' model, Android, Windows, and iOS are all _____.

Operating systems

1. Firms that invite other organizations to integrate with their systems via web services and APIs are often thought of as turning their products into _________.

Platforms

1. What are some of the reasons for the high rate of failure of technology projects? What are the measures that are taken to counter project failure?

Project post-mortems often point to a combination of technical, project management, and business decision blunders. The most common factors include the following: • Unrealistic or unclear project goals • Poor project leadership and weak executive commitment • Inaccurate estimates of needed resources • Badly defined system requirements and allowing "feature creep" during development • Poor reporting of the project's status • Poor communication among customers, developers, and users • Use of immature technology • Unmanaged risks • Inability to handle the project's complexity • Sloppy development and testing practices • Poor project management • Stakeholder politics • Commercial pressures (e.g., leaving inadequate time or encouraging corner-cutting) Managers need to understand the complexity involved in their technology investments, and that achieving success rarely lies with the strength of the technology alone. Information Systems organizations can work to implement procedures to improve the overall quality of their development practices. Mechanisms for quality improvement include capability maturity model integration (CMMI), which gauge an organization's process maturity and capability in areas critical to developing and deploying technology projects, and provides a carefully chosen set of best practices and guidelines to assist quality and process improvement. Firms are also well served to leverage established project planning and software development methodologies that outline critical business processes and stages when executing large-scale software development projects. When methodologies are applied to projects that are framed with clear business goals and business metrics, and that engage committed executive leadership, success rates can improve dramatically.

1. Programming tools that execute within an application are called _____.

Scripting languages

1. _____ systems help a firm manage aspects of its value chain, from the flow of raw materials into the firm, through delivery of finished products and services at the point-of-consumption.

Supply chain management

1. A PC, laptop, or any other small computer can be set up to run server software.

True

1. A company does not have to install all of the modules of an ERP suite, but it might add functions over time.

True

1. A firm can mix and match components, linking software the firm has written with modules purchased from different enterprise software vendors.

True

1. A firm's information systems can influence the likelihood of partnering with other firms and its attractiveness as a merger or acquisition target.

True

1. Achieving success in a project rarely lies in the strength of technology alone.

True

1. Desktop applications are typically designed for a single user.

True

1. Expedia used APIs to increase the distribution of travel products that it sells, relying on partners to plug into its technology and inventory.

True

1. Information systems development projects fail at a startlingly high rate.

True

1. Java is not preferred for programming fast-executing, native desktop applications.

True

1. Most firms spend 70 to 80 percent of their information systems (IS) budgets just to keep their systems running.

True

1. Most messages sent between Web services are coded in XML.

True

1. The rise of the Internet and distributed computing has led to an explosion in security losses by organizations worldwide.

True

1. Which of the following is true of the difference between operating systems and application software? a. Operating systems control the hardware, while application software performs the work that users and firms are directly interested in accomplishing. b. Operating systems support tasks performed by a single user, while application software support tasks performed by multiple users. c. Operating systems control the hardware elements visible to the human eye, while application software controls the hardware elements invisible to the human eye. d. Operating systems are software packages that integrate the many functions of a business, while application software works with a minimal degree of overlap. e. Operating systems are software packages offered by a third party, while application software contains programs that are designed in-house.

a

1. What is the most common function performed by electronic data interchanges? a. Housing and serving business logic for use and reuse by multiple electronic applications b. App store downloads and the serving of other types of rich media. c. Providing electronic reporting and analysis for organizational decision making d. Integrating various electronic functions of a business, such as accounting, finance, inventory management, and human resources e. Sending electronic equivalents of structured documents between different organizations

e