CIS 370 midterm

A group of programs that manipulate the database and provide an interface between the database and the user of the database and other application programs is called a(n) _____.

DBMS

Green computing is about saving the environment; there are no real business benefits associated with this program.

False

Non-technical skills such as communication skills and knowledge of the organization are not important to information systems personnel.

False

Primary memory, which holds program instructions and data, is not associated with the CPU.

False

RAM stands for random access memory, a form of memory that holds its contents even if the current is turned off or disrupted.

False

Selecting involves combining two or more tables.

False

Sequential access storage devices allow data to be accessed more quickly than direct access storage devices.

False

The CEO is the chief information officer within an organization.

False

The kernel converts code into binary digits.

False

The role of a systems analyst is narrowly defined and seldom involves communication with others.

False

When the class presented on the culture, mission, and values of an organization, one of the groups chose to speak about "Wells Fargo Bank."

False

A special software program called a _____ converts the programmer's source code into machine-language instructions.

compiler

Each central processing unit consists of three primary elements: arithmetic logic unit, registers, and the _____ unit.

control

is a competitive advantage strategy that Walmart and other retailers have followed for years and focuses on becoming more efficient and reducing costs.

cost leadership

An information-analysis tool that involves the automated discovery of patterns and relationships in a data warehouse is called _____.

data mining

A retrieval method in which data can be retrieved without the need to read and discard other data.

direct access

involves reducing the number of employees to cut costs.

downsizing

Data warehouses allow managers to _____ to get increasing levels of detail about business conditions.

drill down

C2C stands for computer-to-computer e-commerce.

false

Computer literacy is defined as only the ability to use mobile phones.

false

Information and data are essentially the same thing.

false

Proprietary software is mass-produced by software vendors to address needs that are common across business; an example is Payroll.

false

Programming languages used to create artificial intelligence or expert system applications are often called _____.

fifth-generation languages

The value of information is directly linked to how it helps decision makers achieve their organization's _____.

goals

consists of computer equipment used to perform input, processing, and output activities.

hardware

A Computer Based Information System is a single set of hardware, software, databases, telecommunications, people, and procedures configured to collect, manipulate, store, and process data into information.

true

A transaction is any business-related exchange such as payments to employees or sales to customers.

true

An organization is a system, which means that it has inputs, processing, outputs, and feedback.

true

Application programs interact with systems software, and the systems software directs computer hardware to perform the necessary tasks.

true

Intranets allow people in an organization to exchange information.

true

Programming languages are sets of keywords, symbols, and rules for constructing statements that people can use to communicate instructions to a computer.

true

Single-user license is software license that permits you to install the software on one or more computers, used by one person.

true

Software as a service allows businesses to subscribe to Web-delivered business application software by paying a monthly service charge or a per use fee.

true

Software is needed for computers of all sizes from cell phones and small hand held devices to the largest supercomputers.

true

The API links application software to the operating system, providing hardware independence for software developers.

true

The Internet is the world's largest computer network.

true

The focus of a Decision Support System is in making effective decisions.

true

Utility programs help to perform maintenance or correct problems with a computer system.

true

An example of "application software" is:

word processing

Hiring an outside company to perform some or all of a systems development project is called _____.

outsourcing

is (are) considered to be the most important element in a computer-based information systems.

people

Secondary storage is also called _____.

permanent storage

Access is a popular DBMS for _____.

personal computer

A _____ is a field or set of fields in a record that uniquely defines the record.

primary key

means converting or transforming data into useful outputs.

processing

Which of the following CPU components provides a high-speed storage area to temporarily hold small units of program instruction and data immediately before, during, and after execution by the CPU?

register

is/are used to temporarily hold small units of program instructions and data immediately before, during, and after execution by the CPU.

registers

What database model places data in two-dimensional tables?

relational

_ investigates the additional profits or benefits that are generated as a percentage of the investment in IS technology.

return on investment

is the ability to increase the processing capability of a computer system so that it can handle more users, more data, or more transactions in a given period.

scalability

_ means that data must be accessed in the order in which it is stored.

sequential access

Most software purchased to run on a personal computer uses a _____ license.

single user

_____ consists of computer programs that govern the operation of the computer.

software

_____ is a form of software that includes a wide range of built-in functions for statistical, financial, logical, database, graphics, and date and time calculations.

spreadsheet

_____ are the most powerful computers with the fastest processing speed and highest performance.

supercomputers

The CPU and memory of a computer are housed in the same box called the _____ unit.

system

___ allows businesses to subscribe to Web-delivered business application software by paying a monthly service charge or a per-use fee.

Software as a service (SaaS)

A(n) _____ is an organized collection of people, procedures, software, databases, and devices to perform and record business transactions.

TPS

A "thin client" is a centrally managed computer with essential but limited capabilities.

True

A collection of fields about a specific object is a record.

True

A data center is a climate-controlled building that houses database servers.

True

A database administrator (DBA) is a skilled and trained IS professional who directs all activities related to an organization's database.

True

A database, a database management system, and the application programs that use the data make up a database environment.

True

An operating system is a set of programs that controls the computer hardware and acts as interface with applications.

True

An organization is a formal collection of people and other resources established to accomplish a set of goals.

True

An organization must understand its culture before it can implement information systems.

True

Concurrency control is a method of dealing with a situation where two or more users of applications access the same record at the same time.

True

Data mining is an information-analysis tool that involves the automated discovery of patterns and relationships in a data warehouse.

True

Entity-relationship (ER) diagrams use basic graphical symbols to show relationships between data.

True

In the relational model, each row of a table represents a data entity or row and each column of the table represents an attribute or field.

True

Low-fare airline carriers such as Southwest Airlines altered the structure of the airline industry.

True

Michael Porter proposed a widely accepted competitive forces model, called the five-forces model. (This model describes the factors that lead firms to seek competitive advantage.)

True

Moore's Law states the transistor densities on a single chip double every two years.

True

Multiprocessing involves the simultaneous execution of two or more instructions at the same time.

True

Organizational culture consists of the major understandings and assumptions for a business or other organization.

True

Parallel processing is a form of multiprocessing and speeds processing by linking several processors to operate at the same time.

True

Quality means the ability of a product or service to meet or exceed customer expectations.

True

RFID is a technology that employs a microchip with an antenna that broadcasts its unique identifier and location to receivers.

True

The ability of a computer to handle an increasing number of concurrent users smoothly is called scalability.

True

The faster the clock speed of the CPU, the more heat the processor generates.

True

The relational database model is by far the most widely used.

True

refers to the use of computing resources, including software and data storage, on the Internet rather than on local computers.

Cloud computing

Cirque de Soleil is an example of a company with a _____ strategy for gaining competitive advantage, producing a high-performance circus for adults.

Niche

_____ is a form of database processing that supports top-down, query-driven data analysis.

Online analytical processing (OLAP)

allows users to tweak the software to their own needs.

Open-source software

_____ is a standardized data manipulation language developed in the 1970s that allows programmers to use one powerful language and use it on a variety of systems.

SQL

A common type of information system used in business organizations are those designed for _____.

all of the above

The ability of an organization to achieve its goals is often a function of the organization's _____.

all of the above

The smallest piece of data used by a computer is the _____.

bit

Keyboards, automatic scanning devices, and equipment that can read magnetic ink characters are examples of _____ hardware.

input

_____ involves combining two or more database tables.

joining

The _____ is the heart of the operating system and controls its most critical processes.

kernel

_____ connect computers and equipment in a building, around the country, or around the world to enable electronic communications.

networks

The type of memory whose contents are not lost if the power is turned off is said to be ______.

nonvolatile