Business information systems Chapter 1 investigating MS

Select three circumstances that describe when one might use mainframe computers.

A company seeking better operational efficiency. An airline taking reservations. A warehouse restocking a recently published book.

How does John Locke's labor theory of property relate to modern management theory?

It explains what motivates people to work: the desire to become personally wealthier. correct Reason: Correct. Locke's labor theory of property asserts that people increase their personal property or wealth through their own labor.

From the following list, select four typical characteristics of telecommuting.

It requires reliable, high-speed Internet access. It often places additional demands on employees' time. It reduces the environmental impact of road traffic. It allows employees to work from almost anywhere.

Mechanical cash registers were first created to _______.

make it more difficult for employees to steal money correct Reason: Correct. The first cash registers included an adding machine that counted the cash that entered or left the drawer. At the end of a shift, a shop owner could easily confirm the calculated total and detect theft.

In his text, "The Human Side of Enterprise," Douglas McGregor focused on ________.

manager attitudes toward their employees

In his text, "The Human Side of Enterprise," Douglas McGregor focused on ________.

manager attitudes toward their employees correct Reason: Correct. McGregor offered "Theory X," and "Theory Y," which asserted that managers' behavior relied primarily on their beliefs about their employees.

In his text, "The Human Side of Enterprise," Douglas McGregor focused on ________. Multiple choice question. employee attitudes ab

manager attitudes toward their employees correct Reason: Correct. McGregor offered "Theory X," and "Theory Y," which asserted that managers' behavior relied primarily on their beliefs about their employees.

According to Henri Fayol, the main roles or responsibilities of a manager are ______.

planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling processes correct Reason: Correct. Fayol identified these five roles of managers in Industrial Administration.

John Locke's labor theory of property proposes that ______.

since people own their own labor, they naturally own the products of their labor correct Reason: Correct. This concept explains why people work: they expect that their efforts will increase their private property or personal wealth.

As management information systems (MIS) technology improves, managers' jobs will likely change because ______.

some tasks will be performed by online services and staff using collaboration tools

The purpose of executive support systems (ESS) is to ______.

support decision making by compiling and organizing data into clear, usable reports

In his theories of management, Peter Drucker placed special emphasis on ______.

the importance of involving employees in the decision-making process

A network administrator uses employee monitoring software to _______.

track computer use of all employees from a central location in real time

Cloud computing can best be described as ______.

using the Internet to store and access resources

Which two of the following problems may be solved with the capabilities of an ERP system?

A manufacturer must coordinate its new production line with elements of its supply chain. An apparel firm needs to know how directly its marketing and advertising efforts effect sales.

Select three options that describe benefits of cloud computing.

Access to applications software Flexibility of user devices Affordability for business use

Which statement best describes why telecommuting is considered an employee benefit?

Not commuting to work adds flexibility to telecommuters' schedules.

Select two options that are point-of-sale (POS) station output devices.

Speaker Thermal printer

According to Mary Parker Follett, a successful business depends on ______.

competence and expertise

Management information systems (MIS) for communication have ______.

continued to improve and become more widely used each year correct Reason: Correct. The use of MIS and new communication technologies has vastly improved organizations' ability to communicate in productive, efficient ways.

Which two of the following are examples of managers using a decision support system?

A sales manager wants to know how customer responses to a large, multistate sales promotion affect each of his reps' sales in real time. A doctor evaluating a patient with complex, unusual symptoms tracks the patient's symptoms in the electronic health record (EHR) during the exam. The EHR analyzes the symptoms, suggesting possible illnesses related to the symptoms.

Which three of the following are components of supply chain management systems?

Ability to create and process purchase orders Forecast future inventory needs Manage inventory in real time

Select three options that describe advancements made in point-of-sale (POS) system software in the 1990s (in addition to in-store sales and tax tracking).

Across-chain sales and inventory tracking Stronger connection with customers Immediate communication with internal financial teams

How did Henri Fayol factor the welfare of employees into his guiding principles of management? More than one answer may be correct.

By requiring that all employees be fairly compensated By requiring clear lines of authority and communication By requiring managers to encourage people to take initiative By requiring managers to be fair and kind to employees

What are three advantages of using personal computers in business?

Efficiency Improved team communications Flexibility of use

Which two of the following are reasons why employee scheduling software was originally developed?

Improve the quality of employee performance Make the execution of management policies more consistent

In which of the following scenarios is a learning management system (LMS) being used to document student activity?

Students have a semester-long project that they are required to submit in stages through their LMS.

A manager receives word that a large portion of inventory is missing from a shipment to a channel partner. She analyzes the RFID tracking data and determines that this part of the shipment was delivered to the wrong channel partner. Which component of supply chain management experienced a breakdown in this scenario?

Supply chain logistics

According to the Hawthorne effect, when do employees become more productive?

When they know their work is being monitored. correct Reason: Correct. While Elton Mayo's studies originally sought to find how increases or decreases in lighting affected productivity, the study actually discovered that employees are more productive when they know they are being observed. Correct AnswerQuestion When they know their work is being monitored. Need help? Review these concept resources. Feedback Continue

The primary advantage of mainframes computers is that they ______.

allow modifications to system capacity while the system is in use correct Reason: Correct. This capability is essential to businesses that can little afford computing downtime and is the primary reason mainframes are known for their reliability, availability, and serviceability.

A business uses enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to achieve ______.

an integrated MIS system that will strengthen its position in a competitive marketplace

Which three of the following are examples of a business that would benefit from scheduling software?

A daycare center that is open Monday through Saturday from 7:00 am until 6:00 pm. There are six classrooms and each must have two teachers present at all times. No employee may work more than 40 hours per week. A restaurant that is open for lunch and dinner and has a full bar staffed with a bartender. There are 50 tables in the restaurant and each server is responsible for no more than five tables at a time. A national drugstore chain whose policy is that there must be two cashiers, one stock person, and one manager or assistant manager working per shift.

Which two of the following organizations adhere to the principles described by Max Weber?

A local public relations firm specializes in promoting local businesses to tourists. While the firm is small, it boasts employees who spend their entire career there. The PR firm recruits interns from a local university, and hires those interns for entry-level positions if they demonstrate adeptness at serving clients. Promotions are based on annual reviews; employees with noted potential receive training to help them achieve the next step in their career. Employees are divided into different categories, based on the type of client they work with (i.e., lodgings, local activities; restaurants). A large, multinational pharmaceutical corporation has a standardized recruiting process for hiring scientists out of college. A minimum GPA is required, as is published research. Once hired, students are placed in entry-level research positions that focus on testing a specific new drug. All new hires are paid the same starting salary. They are managed by people who have 3-5 years seniority over them; these people are managed, in turn, by people who have had successful commercial launches of new drugs. New hires are trained in company policies and provided with management training after their first successful year. Employees with 3 years of exemplary performance reviews are invited to interview for positions managing the newest batch of college recruits.

In which three of the following situations would data analytics be most helpful?

An international automaker is producing a new line of vehicles in several locations and the production lines must run uniformly and smoothly. A healthcare firm has received a vast amount of information from drug companies and research entities and must finalize their policies and communication concerning several controversial treatments. A search engine continually adjusts its algorithms as more data enter its servers.

In which of the following scenarios is a learning management system (LMS) being used to administer assignments?

Before the semester begins, a professor aligns the syllabus with the LMS so that students receive automated reminders about required readings and when essays are due.

According the Max Weber, which of the following characteristics are fundamental to capitalism? More than one answer may be correct.

Charity Personal responsibility Ethical behavior

A computer connected to a network that relies on a server to provide access to resources is called a ___ server.

Client

How do managers use personal computers for their business needs? More than one answer may be correct.

Creating and using databases and spreadsheets Communicating via e-mail

The value of data analytics to an organization can be best summarized by which statement?

Data analytics is a capability that supports increased organizational performance by drawing meaning from large amounts of data.

Select three options that are examples of how client-server networks are used.

Data storage Data backup Printing from a shared computer

A sales manager receives weekly reports on each of the sales representatives they manage. Included in these reports are weekly sales by product, what percentage of the monthly quota the rep has achieved, and the sales ranking of reps compared to other reps in the company. These reports represent what function of a marketing information system (MKIS)?

Distributing sales and marketing information

Meera loves her job, especially the fact that she can work both from home and in the office. Lately, however, being available and accountable 24/7 is starting to crowd her, and she feels her personal life slipping away. To improve her work-life balance, what are two strategies Meera should try?

During the day, she can take a break for informal chats with colleagues in person when she's in the office or over the phone when she's home. At the end of the day, Meera should give herself time to wind down and get the rest she needs. Meera should plan her day according to priorities that she's reasonably sure are achievable. The first step of her plan may include scheduling a specific time for responding to e-mails and calls.

For what two reasons might a large organization choose to use remote desktop software rather than employee monitoring software?

Employee privacy concerns must be balanced with organizational needs. Detailed oversight of a large number of employees moment-by-moment may be problematic due to capacity.

What was the driving principle behind McGregor's Theory Y?

Employees are capable of working without constant supervision.

Which statement best describes common employer conditions or limits on flex-time policies?

Employees must be able to complete their work assignments and responsibilities, including those requiring in-person attendance. correct Reason: Correct. Often employees are unable to use flex-time on days when they cannot schedule around in-person work events.

Which is the best description of how computing can be "green"?

Green computing reduces the consumption of fossil fuels, paper, and other office supplies and resources. correct Reason: Correct. E-mail and digital media use fewer resources for communication than regular mail and printing; energy-efficient

What is the main purpose of a decision support system?

Help manage processes involving a variety of quickly changing inputs

A nationwide job search requires lengthy candidate interviews. A US content team works with an Indian graphics team. A publisher must train remotely located freelance editors. Why is videoconferencing a better choice than voice calls in all of these situations?

In addition to practicality, documents can be shown on a video call and nonverbal messages can be conveyed.

Which three of the following are key benefits of electronic point-of-sales (POS) stations?

Increased information available to managers Decreased customer wait time Increased accuracy

According to Adam Smith, which three of the following can increase the efficiency of labor?

Inventing machines to multiply the productivity of workers Having workers specialize in a single, simple task Reducing the distance between manufacturing steps or facilities

How have management information systems (MIS) changed the management of organizations? More than one answer may be correct.

Managers (and employees) can communicate different types of information in a greater variety of ways. correct Reason: This choice should be selected. MIS and new communication technologies have vastly improved organizations' ability to communicate, and it is up to management to ensure that the organization makes the best use of available technologies. Managers can have more information and data about the organization to help them make smarter decisions. correct Reason: This choice should be selected. MIS and even standard data processing and office productivity software have made business intelligence easier to obtain, communicate, and use, enabling organizations to be more data driven.

Which three of the following scenarios depict an employment situation that Elton Mayo believed would result in an employee becoming more engaged and productive?

Managers at a software company have weekly meetings with their customer service staff. As a regular part of the agenda, managers report the number of customers who continued to use their product after the customer service department helped with a software malfunction or error. At a software company, project managers working on bringing new products to the market receive monthly updates on how past products are selling and helping the company achieve its goals. A sales tracking report at a furniture store shows how each salesperson's daily sales help the store reach its quarterly quota.

What are two advantages that made mainframe-based POS stations among the first commercially available local area networks?

Ongoing backup of data generated by each POS station Communication between POS stations within a store

Who is quoted as saying "Do what you do best and outsource the rest"?

Peter Drucker correct Reason: Correct. Drucker believed that most corporations performed best when they focused on the work at which they excelled and had a comparative advantage, and outsourced the rest.

Which of the following statements best describes Follett's theory of management?

Receptivity to the flow of ideas from all levels of the organization leads to success. correct Reason: Correct. Follett saw informal communication and good relationships as central to management.

A company uses an HR management system with artificial intelligence that scans resumes for specific colleges attended and previous employers that are known for breeding successful talent. Any resumes without these colleges or previous employers are not sent on to the HR manager to be contacted for an interview. What function is this HR management system helping the company perform?

Recruiting

Select the scenarios below that show how Frederick Taylor's scientific management has influenced today's business decisions. More than one answer may be correct.

Supervisors in a large warehouse notice that the robots are working faster than the humans. Employees scanning and sending items off to shipping are becoming frustrated and even physically hurt moving the items that the robots pick off the shelves. Management decides to recalibrate the robots' speed to coordinate with the humans' speed. correct Reason: This choice should be selected. Adjusting the robots is a practical response to observing the timing of tasks. A political campaign director needs to hire paid workers and volunteers on all levels, from supervisors to canvassers. Instead of seeking mostly campaign veterans, the director recruits from groups who have shown great interest in "the cause." They'll be trained and supplied with what they need to do good work. correct Reason: This choice should be selected. Taylor believed that building a work force calls for training to achieve the best results. In some urban school districts, teachers work in teams of two so less experienced teachers learn from seasoned co-teachers. In addition to their administrative responsibilities, the principal and assistant principal assign the teams and hold staff trainings throughout the year. These schools find that this system benefits both teachers and students. correct Reason: This choice should be selected. This system reflects Taylor's principle that managers should work with employees to focus on planning and training.

Frederick Taylor's four principles of scientific management can be described as ______.

Task measurement, employee development, worker-manager collaboration, and management training

What are the advantages of videoconferencing in today's business environment?

The ability to observe nonverbal cues improves the accuracy of communication. Organizations can save on travel time and expenses.

Max Weber believed that organizations were best supported by which of the following strategies?

The use of rules and organizational regulations.

Select two ways telecommuting managers will most likely be affected by improvements in management information systems (MIS) and other technologies?

They will face additional work demands on their personal time. They will be able to do additional tasks on their mobile phones.

Which three of these practices increase both an organization's sustainability and "green" credentials?

Using teleconferencing for meetings. Shifting to a shorter, four-day workweek. Encouraging employees to telecommute.

In which two of the following situations would an executive support system (ESS) be most helpful?

Vice-presidents require detailed reports from all divisions for a merger decision. R&D must provide sales with clear information about a new product.

At the time cash registers were invented, "ringing up" a customer meant _____.

a cash register rang each time the cash drawer was opened, alerting a shop owner of register activity correct Reason: Correct. The ring alerted shop owners of sales and/or tampering by employees.

A typical flex-time policy allows employees to ______.

create their own work schedules: they can change when they start and stop their workday correct Reason: Correct. Many organizations offer flex-time because it reduces absenteeism, helps employees improve their work-life balance, and helps the organization attract and keep high-quality employees.

An advertising campaign for a hair removal product placed ads on different websites. The ad on each website listed a unique URL where customers could go to buy the product; otherwise the content was the same. A marketing manager needs to place ad buys for the next quarter and wants to focus all of his advertising dollars on the previous quarter's top revenue-generating websites. He uses the company's marketing information system (MKIS) to determine which URLs generated the most revenue. This is an example of using an MKIS to ______.

evaluate the return on investment for each ad placement in a marketing

An electrical company is considering opening a new location in North Idaho. In order to determine the size of the new location, it uses its HR management system to determine the number of employees to transfer from other locations, how many new employees it would like to hire for that location, and what each employees' role would be. What function is this HR management system helping the company perform?

Forecasting correct Reason: Correct. Forecasting is used to determine future needs, so it would be appropriate to use in this scenario.

Which two of the following statements illustrate a potential drawback of management information system (MIS)?

Many workers find that a steady flow of business information, along with its demands, blurs the boundaries between work time and personal time. The temptation to work overtime or without breaks can lead to competition and stress.

Adam Smith's Invisible Hand theory proposes that ______.

a free, unregulated market operates better than one in which the government controls the business activities of individuals and companies correct Reason: Correct. Smith's Invisible Hand theory argues for a laissez-faire (hands-off) approach to markets and a free enterprise system in which individuals and companies can conduct their business however they see fit.