Information Systems Midterm: Chapters 2,3,4
The Zip Right In convenience store recently upgraded its stores with new paint and lighting. The customer checkout system, however, was still slow and inefficient. What is the most likely consequence of this situation?
A negative impact on the customer relationship
Government funding for technology-based innovation is often the only source of funding available for high-risk projects that private investors may avoid. For which of the following projects is government funding most critical?
A research project on hybrid oil
A wireless provider is currently offering customers who buy a new iPhone with a two-year contract a special package that includes a leather case, extra car charger, and earphones. In terms of Porter's Five Forces, what is this company trying to do with this special promotion?
Decrease buyer power.
In the highly competitive cell phone market, BlackBerry had positioned its smartphone by focusing its product on the needs of government and corporate business users. Which of Porter's three basic strategies did BlackBerry pursue with its smartphone?
Focused niche strategy
Robert works for CHS Computer Specialists, which focuses on helping small business owners fix their company computers. Robert works primarily on PC components such as hard drives, DVDs, and monitors. Which of the following does Robert focus on repairing?
Hardware
ETX Enterprises offers Software as a Service (SaaS) to companies that lack in-house IT departments. Which of the following describes SaaS?
Hosting and managing access to software applications delivered over the internet on a subscription basis
Professor Dunlap is developing a new online course called "The History of Religion." Which of the following factors should he consider as he develops his online course?
How students interact in a virtual classroom environment
Iron Bank Coffee has three retail stores, each operating independently with their own database of customers and products. The owner, Richard Smith, has decided to consolidate the databases of the three stores into a single database. Which of the following is NOT a benefit Mr. Smith will realize by consolidating the databases?
Increases the number of customers for the coffee shops
Which one of the following statements is NOT an amplification effect of information systems?
Information stored in the cloud can be easily hacked and stolen by anyone.
HR Solutions, Inc. provides human resource technology solutions to companies that are seeking ways to reduce costs and improve efficiencies in their operations. Which one of the following functions is NOT a human resource function that would benefit from a technology-based solution?
Interviewing potential job candidates
Abercrombie Financial Consultants is planning to install a network in its office so employees can work together on client files and documents, manage tax records, access the internet, and share the company's new printer/copier. The company wants to have control over which employees have access to files, so it will need to have a central server. Which type of network would be most appropriate for Abercrombie?
LAN
The Acme Company's payroll office maintains its employee pay records within its own computer files, each containing information that is required for processing monthly payroll checks. A separate area of the company handles employee benefits with its own computer system and employee records. Acme Company is limited to comparing and analyzing employee information in these files for which of the following reasons?
Lack of data integration
Which of the following businesses is an example of where rivalry among existing competitors is strong and buyers have power?
Lawn care business
In early January, the owner of Mrs. Frost's cookies, a popular retail cookie store in Houston, begins planning for Valentine's Day cookie production. The owner is carefully studying the actual daily sales data of every cookie type in every store location that she extracted from the company's computer-based sales system. The use of historical data to identify patterns and trends that may help in setting future production plans illustrates which role for organizational information systems?
Making decisions
Which of the following disciplines studies how people, technology, processes, and data work together, and is also used to describe a type of information system that supports decision making by supervisors?
Management information systems
Which of the following statements is NOT a key reason that information technology (IT) is essential to managing nonprofit organizations?
Most nonprofit organizations have a concealed profit motive.
Which of the following situations is representative of the "last mile" issue in telecommunications?
Rural subscribers of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) complain of poor internet speeds compared to those enjoyed by downtown users.
Taxpayers who move and do not leave a forwarding address may never receive their tax refunds because the check is returned as undeliverable. To address this problem, the IRS has implemented a process where taxpayers can go online and key in their name, state, and tax year to see if they have a refund that was undeliverable. This is an example of using a ________ to retrieve information from the IRS database.
SQL query
Xerox, a company that sells business services and document technology products, sustains its investment in technological innovation, particularly in areas such as color science, digital imaging, and nanotechnology. These strategic investments, made only in specific areas, keep the company ahead of the competition. Which of the following messages does this example convey?
The ability to extract the value of technology requires human imagination and innovation.
Customers at Morgan Financial Services pay a monthly fee to access real-time stock prices for their brokerage accounts. This is an example of which of the following characteristics that makes information valuable?
Timeliness
John Monfort has been hired by Daniel Appliance Company to collect data from customers who returned appliances over the past ten years. The survey asked for the customer's opinion about the kind of service they received. John's survey results are likely to be of little use to the company because the information lacks which of the following characteristics of high-quality information?
Timeliness
"The value chain does not end when the buyer pays for the product or service." Which of the following statements contradicts this judgment?
Total value transfer of tangible goods happens at the point of sale.
What are RFID tags typically used for?
Tracking shipments of physical goods
Alyssa Meade is the database administrator for Realtree Outdoors, Inc. She is updating the data warehouse by using zip codes to add demographic data from the U.S. Census Bureau to the company's customer records before loading them into the data warehouse. What is this process called?
Transformation process
Which of the following is NOT an example of a sustaining technology?
Uber
Andy heads the IT department of a small company based in Chicago that sells customized T-shirts and corporate incentive items over the internet. The company has seen a surge in popularity and is planning to expand its operational base to four more cities. However, Andy is directed to come up with a strategy to cut down on the costs incurred in maintaining multiple servers in different cities to host the marketing and e-commerce sites. Which of the following measures will help Andy achieve his objective?
Using virtualization software to run multiple OSs on a single server system
Which of the following enables computers to run multiple operating systems and multiple software applications at the same time and creates what seems to be multiple independent machines all on a single computing device?
Virtualization
Which of the following refers to the technologies that make voice communications across networks using packets feasible, including over the internet?
VoIP
Acme Pest Control is considering implementing cloud computing to link its three locations to the main office where there is currently just a single PC. The company owner, Mr. Greenleaf, has little technical knowledge and does not have the capital to invest a large amount in technology. Which statement will be true if Mr. Greenleaf implements cloud computing for his company?
With cloud computing you pay only for what you use, so a small business will save money.
An expected benefit of blockchain technology is __________.
a reduced possibility of tampering
Robert owns and operates a franchise of restaurants that specializes in high-quality organic food. The demand for organic food is growing, and he plans to add a new store. The information he is using to decide where his new store will be located includes customer records combined with external demographic information such as income levels and age. Robert is using ________.
business intelligence
Data that has been converted into a meaningful and useful context is called ________.
information
When the number of gallons of milk sold each day by a grocery store is combined with other data, such as the type of milk or quantity of milk sold, and then processed and analyzed, it becomes ________.
information
In an organization where the culture welcomes and encourages ideas from all employees, ________.
innovative new information systems can come from all levels
Information technology (IT) is a strategic enabler when ________.
it focuses on the growth of an organization
A pharmaceutical company that invests heavily in research and development (R&D) and has several new, patented products ready for market would be operating in an industry with ________.
low threat of new entrants
Hibbett Sports offers a reward card that gives customers coupons and incentives for store purchases that they can redeem for additional merchandise. This is an example of a ________.
loyalty program
The search function of major photo-sharing websites such Flickr.com depend on information that is tagged with each photo including the photographer's name, contact information, release and copyright status, as well as caption and location data. This information is collectively known as ________.
metadata
The city government of Los Angeles recently upgraded its information technology infrastructure and, for the first time, implemented software in the human resources department that is freely distributed along with the code underlying the program. The type of software the city has implemented in HR is called ________.
open source software
When Kayla goes through the checkout line at the local grocery store, a(n) ________ captures the barcodes of her groceries and converts them to a digital format to generate the total amount of her groceries.
optical scanner
Sally Weathers is a student at Valdosta State University. Her student ID number is the main number she uses for her school-related activities such as enrollment and meal charges. Sally's student ID number in a table of student records would be referred to as a ________.
primary key
A manufacturer is performing a key function of operations management when it ________ for its new product line.
purchases new parts and supplies
Devon Degosta is updating the employee database with information on a new employee. She enters the employee information into the employee table and then tries to add a department ID for a department that does not exist in the Departments table. The system does not allow her to add the employee record until she creates a Department ID first in the Department table so the employee can then be assigned to it. This is an example of the system enforcing a ________.
referential integrity constraint
A database model that organizes information into tables of records that are connected to one another by linking a field in one table to a field in another table with matching data is called a(n) ________ database.
relational
To support an innovative idea for an important business project, a manager creates a separate database system that is not integrated into the enterprise database. This is an example of a(n) ________.
shadow system
When employees create a shadow system, organizations are often faced with many issues, including ________.
shadow system data may become inconsistent with data in corporate databases
In comparison with primary storage, hard drives are ________.
slower in processing digital information
To improve performance, a _________ can be implemented in which portions of the database are located on separate servers.
distributed database
The ecosystem in which a company is embedded is a(n) ________.
economic community that includes related industries
In Valdosta State University's database, student records in the student table are linked to the university's academic majors table through a common field, which is the major code. In the student table, the major code is a ________.
foreign key
Jamal uses Zotero software to create and format the bibliography for his research paper. Jamal is using information systems to ________.
increase his personal productivity
Columbus Flight Services, Inc. offers charter flights serving small to medium cities. They are evaluating the possibility of expanding into the corporate jet leasing industry. As part of the planning process, they are using Porter's Five Competitive Forces model to evaluate the ________.
industry
Applications such as Siri and Alexa that combine natural language processing with artificial intelligence are considered ________.
virtual personal assistants
According to Michael Porter, companies should pick one of the three basic strategies and stick with it. Walmart has followed this theory by focusing its strategy on dominating a broad market. Which strategy is Walmart following?
Low-cost leadership
Which of the following factors provides an understanding of why computing resources today are more available than in previous decades?
Moore's Law
Which type of network treats all processors equally and allows sharing of printers and files without the use of a central server?
Peer-to-peer
TripAdvisor.com specializes in providing unbiased customer reviews of travel destinations and encourages customers to post their vacation photos. Which of the following does this situation illustrate?
User-generated content
The MIS research topic that involves study of the transformation of entire industries that may threaten traditional players is ________.
e-marketplaces
The employee database of Synovus Financial Company needs to store the birth date of each employee. In the context of database architecture, this is an example of ________.
one-to-one
Web 2.0 and user-generated content (UGC) characterize the ________ component of an information system. In contrast, Web 3.0 and the "Internet of Things" rely on the ________ component of an information system.
people; technology
How can talent development professionals use information systems to increase efficiency and effectiveness?
By creating engaging e-learning modules for employees
Which of the following represents procurement as part of the support value activities in a value chain analysis?
Purchasing inputs such as raw materials, resources, equipment, and supplies
GenXTech is a growing company that develops gaming applications for military simulations and commercial clients. As part of its annual strategic planning process, GenXTech is analyzing its current situation and where it should head to achieve its mission. Its focus is on business strategy and the technology infrastructure required to achieve it. What is GenXTech creating?
An enterprise architecture
In the music industry, why were innovations like Apple's iTunes considered to be disruptive innovations?
Because these innovations had a negative effect on existing competitors in the music industry
Which of the following activities would you perform to measure and compare your business processes to similar processes of other companies within your industry?
Benchmarking
Software products such as Microsoft Office, Quicken, Adobe Premiere, and Eudora Pro are also called ________.
COTS
Which of the following is responsible for overseeing an organization's information systems and ensuring that information systems support the organizational strategy?
Chief Information Officer (CIO)
Which of the following enables users to access software applications and information systems remotely over the internet, rather than locally on an individual PC or from servers in the organization's data center?
Cloud computing
When aggregate or summarized information is in agreement with detailed information, it has which characteristic of high-quality information?
Consistency
Target.com enables customers to learn about what other people think of a product. Which of the following does this illustrate?
Customer relationship management system
The collection and analysis of vast amounts of customer data that enable companies to target market their products to specific customers has created concerns about the use and misuse of customer information. Which of the following is NOT a reason for the increase in the use of "Big Data" by companies?
Customers have complete knowledge about the data that is collected about them.
Why do data ownership issues often arise in the workplace?
Data is shared by all the stakeholders in the organization.
Devon Degosta is finalizing the database for DD-Designs. The last process involves minimizing the redundant information in the database and eliminating any awkward many-to-many relationships. Which process is Devon performing?
Normalization
Haliburton Manufacturing Corporation makes industrial air conditioning units for large organizations. Last year the company spent more than $5 million on new technology designed to make its employees more productive and streamline its business processes. The expected return on investment, however, was much lower than the company expected, and production of new air conditioners was not improving. What economic theory helps explain the reason Haliburton is not getting an immediate return on its IT investment?
Productivity paradox
Blue Hen Organic Foods has decided to use a cloud-computing service to manage the company's computer processing and data storage needs. Blue Hen's risk-management team has identified several concerns with implementing a cloud-based computing architecture. Which of the following is NOT a risk associated with cloud computing?
Scalability of the system to meet customer demand
Pharma, Inc. recently started selling a new, patented drug for high cholesterol called Terazatin. Sales of Terazatin are so successful that Pharma has decided to raise the price from $12 a pill to $20 a pill. Which of the following forces is Pharma using to increase the price of Terazatin?
Supplier power
Which type of software controls basic operations such as file management, disk storage, hardware interfaces, and security?
System
Which of the following governmental actions will increase the threat of new entrants in a market?
The Federal Reserve reduces the interest rates on credit for small businesses.
Which of the following is NOT a reason that organizations choose an operating system?
The amount of storage capacity it has
When a customer uploads a video on YouTube about their negative experience with a company's product or service, which of the following is responsible for addressing the online threat to the company's reputation?
The crisis management team
Which of the following is NOT a reason that fiber-optic cables are ideal for long-distance transmission?
They are cheap and easy to install.
Which of the following is a key advantage of using twisted pair wires to transmit data?
They are thin and highly flexible.
Which of the following statements about modern web-based sales systems for retailers is true?
They often mimic the brick-and-mortar versions.
Which of Porter's Five Forces is high when it is easy for competitors to enter a market and low when there are high capital investment costs to compete in the market?
Threat of new entrants
The Internet is a disruptive innovation that has affected Porter's Five Forces in all the following ways EXCEPT ________.
decreasing the threat of substitutes
When students use an enrollment system to select and register for classes, they are completing a ________.
business process
Prewritten, commercially available sets of software programs that eliminate the need for a firm to write its own software programs for certain functions are referred to as ________.
commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software
Apple iPhone's intelligent personal assistant, Siri, helped Apple get a jump on market share over other smartphone competitors. This is an example of Apple gaining ________.
competitive advantage
When established companies fail to respond to disruptive innovations that capitalize on new technologies, they can become victims of ________.
creative destruction
Jackson walks into the ACE After-Hours Care clinic complaining of a fever. The nurse takes his temperature and enters the number into the patient information system. John's temperature reading represents a piece of ________.
data
Many organizations create ________, which are separate databases that include subsets of the data warehouse's data focused on particular functional areas of the business.
data marts
Devon Degosta is planning the organization's database. The model Devon is developing to identify what kind of information is needed, what entities will be created, and how they are related to one another is called a(n) ________.
data model
The confusion created by ________ makes it difficult for companies to create customer relationship management, supply chain management, or enterprise systems that integrate data from different sources.
data redundancy
Realtree Outdoors, Inc. maintains a centralized repository of information from internal sources, competitor information, census reports, metadata from documents and multimedia, and other information. This repository is known as a(n) ________.
data warehouse
Professor Jones is accessing information about students currently enrolled in her Management Information Systems course. She wants to print out a class listing so she can take attendance each day. The information about the students in her class is stored in a ________.
database
Amazon.com stores all transaction data about its customers with clearly defined fields for customer name, items purchased, order history, amount spent, etc. This is an example of ________.
structured information
Cingular Cell, Inc. charges its customers a high contract termination fee if they cancel their cell phone contract before the expiration date. The termination fee is an example of a ________.
switching cost
Data generated by ________ will quickly outpace every other data source.
the Internet of Things
Nonprofit organizations such as UNICEF use web-based information systems to create inexpensive video messages that relay the plight of children in troubled parts of the world. This example illustrates using information systems ________.
to enhance fund-raising
Martin & Martin, LLC is a nonprofit organization offering pro-bono legal services using a network of lawyers. The basement of their office is filled with boxes containing the files of hundreds of cases completed over the past ten years. The legal documents stored in the file boxes are an example of ________.
unstructured information