MIS 213 review quizzes
Explain the relationship between information and uncertainty in decision making. Use a decision-making example to illustrate your answer.
-The more uncertainty there is surrounding a decision, the more we seek information in order to reduce that uncertainty. Assuming the information is of good quality. Poor quality information is ineffective at reducing decision uncertainty. -In an example of hiring a new employee, more information about the applicants allow the hiring manager to make a better decision. However, if the information provided is false, the likelihood of getting the right person decreases.
What are critical success factors (CSFs), and how should they be used to evaluate strategic initiatives?
-important considerations to be achieved for organizational survival and success -not focused on technology -aligned with business vision and mission
Why is it important to be information literate?
-to be successful in your studies and research -for your everyday living and leisure activities -to cope and do well in your chosen profession or choice of job. It is important to know how to deal with tremendous amounts of information available today (technology)
Name and briefly describe three information analysis careers
1. Economic analyst: Develops economic models that help organizations predict economic conditions and outcomes 2. IT auditor: Ensures that an organization's information systems are operating properly and producing accurate information 3. Data analyst: Collects, processes, and analyzes data using various data management and statistical analysis tools
information processing cycle.
1. Input: Collection of data and their conversion into a form that allows processing. 2. Processing: Manipulation and transformation of data. 3. Storage: Holding place for data so that they can be retrieved at a later time. 4. Output: Transformation of processed data into a form that can be understood by its eventual user. 5. Control: Enforcement of correct processing procedures
Name and briefly describe six types of common information systems.
1. Personal applications:Help make individuals' work more efficient and effective. 2. Transaction processing systems: Collect, monitor, process and store large volumes of data that are created by business processes 3. Functional and management information systems: Focus on functional areas of the organization, such as financial management systems, sales force automation systems, or human resources administration systems 4. Integrated enterprise systems: Integrated, enterprise-wide, impact multiple functional areas 5. Inter-organizational systems: Span organizational boundaries to connect companies to suppliers and customers. 6. Global systems: Systems across national boundaries
Name five ways in which information systems can facilitate organizational change.
1. Process improvements Customer self service (ATM) 2. Automation Online ordering (Amazon.com) 3. Control Prerequisite check for course registration 4. Information flow Changing course grade when required
Name four ways in which information systems help managers deal with large volumes of information.
1. let us gather large amounts of data quickly, easily and reliably 2. allow businesses to store and organize very large amounts of data 3. perform their data manipulations quickly, accurately and consistently 4. let us retrieve and output information in a variety of forms, depending on what is useful to users
Briefly describe five reasons managers gather information.
1. to improve decision making 2. to justify decisions 3. to verify previously acquired information 4. to "play it safe" by making sure they do not miss any relevant information 5. in the belief that the information may be useful later
Name and briefly describe three information systems careers.
1.Business process analyst: Analyzes business processes in order to find ways to improve efficiency and/or effectiveness (which often involves applying information systems) 2.System analyst: Works with users to understand and document system requirements 3. Software developer ; Writes the computer programs that make up part of an information system
Name the key system concepts discussed in this chapter.
A system is made up of different pieces, called components. Components can take many different forms, ranging from human organs to computer software. • These components work together; they are interrelated. • A system has some purpose or goal. • The goal is achieved by taking inputs and processing them to produce outputs.
information overload
Being faced with more information than one can effectively process
Name three general ways in which businesses use information.
Communication Support processes Decision making
Describe the concepts of connectedness and usefulness as they relate to the DIK hierarchy.
Data can be meaningless and not useful without information to add context. For context to be added or for meaning to be useful information must be understood and applied thus allowing one to capture knowledge on the data and information.
What is the difference between data and information?
Data is raw and is converted to information once it has been processed.
strategic information system
Designed and implemented to enable creation and appropriation of value (competitive advantage)
What is hypercompetition, and how can D'Aveni's 7 Ss framework be used in that context?
Every competitive advantage is eroded Sustaining an advantage can be a deadly distraction Goal of advantage should be disruption, not sustainability Initiatives are achieved through series of small steps
Explain the phrase "garbage in, garbage out" as it relates to information quality and decision making.
If you use bad information as the basis for a decision, you are probably going to make a bad decision.
How is information evaluation related to information overload?
Improving information evaluation skills will help you to better deal with information overload, because it allows you to filter information better.
Briefly explain why information evaluation skills are important personally and professionally.
Information evaluation plays a major role in the decisions made in people's everyday lives as well as in business. In business information evaluation is designed to reduce uncertainty. It is the way in which a business turns estimates into facts or predictions into promises. The books example is a potential new hires resume.
How do information systems relate to business rules?
Information systems enforce business rules by not allowing violations to occur.
What are the key differences between the traditional value chain model and the virtual value chain?
Instead of looking at activities that are physically done that turn raw materials into a final product, the Virtual Value Chain looks at activities that turn raw data into useful information.
Contrast intrinsic and contextual information quality.
Intrinsic are important dimensions of quality regardless of context, however, contextual depends on the context
What are the two main questions that must be addressed when evaluating information?
Is the information useful? Is the information believable?
What are the key abilities related to information literacy?
Know when information is needed Be able to locate, evaluate and effectively use that information
Explain why business professionals need to understand information systems.
Learning how to effectively use these systems can help you be more effective and successful in your career.
Porter identified two major ways to create competitive advantages in the value chain. They are:
Lower the costs of an activity, add value to the final product
Why are people a critical element of an information system?
People use and interpret the information
system
Set of interacting components, working together to form a complex, integrated whole in order to achieve some goal by taking inputs and processing them to produce outputs
Describe how the DIK hierarchy can be thought of as a cycle.
Sometimes when we turn data into information, and information into knowledge, we realize that we didn't collect enough data, or didn't collect the right data, so need to go back and collect additional data, produce additional information. In the figure, those are the arrows that point left from Information and from Knowledge.
business rule
Statement that defines or constrains an aspect of a business with the intent of controlling behaviors within the business
Steps in the Strategic Planning Process
Strategic business planning, Information system assessment, Information systems vision, Information systems architecture, Strategic initiatives identification.
How is a strategic information system different from a strategic information system initiative?
Strategic information systems differ from strategic information system initiatives because it is how the information systems are used that can provide the added value or advantages the firm seeks by implementing information system initiatives.
Apply the data, information, and knowledge (DIK) hierarchy to the evolution of how information technology has been applied in businesses.
The DIK hierarchy contributed greatly to the evolution of information technology in its most basic front to very complex information systems. As companies expand their abilities to collect data and information we are seeing a demand to manage knowledge. Information technology when applied properly is used to improve communication, process support, and decision making. Information technology has evolved tremendously and Information Systems such as Sales Force provide cutting edge solutions for a vast array of different businesses.
Which of the following is not an advantage to the amount of readily accessible information available online?
There is no quality control to the information online
Name and describe the elements of the information evaluation framework.
Useful -Relevant -Appropriate -Current Believable -Credible -Objective -Supported -Comprehensive
Name and briefly describe two major strategies for dealing with information overload.
Withdraw (turn it all off) Filter (pick certain sources)
Contextual Dimensions
aspects related to use; differ depending on task at hand
Intrinsic Dimension
aspects that are important regardless of how the info is used
Assessing the comprehensiveness of information requires assessing the ____________ and the __________ of the information.
breadth and depth
A set of coordinated activities that lead to a specific goal or outcome is known as:
business process
A statement that defines or constrains an aspect of a business with the intent of controlling behaviors within the business is called a(n) ______________ .
business rule
Online registration verifies that you meet all prerequisites of a particular course before you can successfully register for the course. This information system is using _________ to ensure that business rules are followed.
control
information
data that has been processed
What are the parts of the information systems resources?
databases hardware technology human resources
Using filtering as a strategy to deal with information overload requires ______________.
determining what information you may need and what information merits attention
__________ refers to the structured, electronic transmission of data between organizations.
electronic data interchange
The process by which a system regulates itself by monitoring its own output is__________.
feedback
What are two strategies for dealing with information overload?
filtering and withdrawal
What is the purpose of the Porter's Five Competitive Forces Model, and how can it be used for information systems strategic planning?
helps managers analyze the organization's competitive position by looking at five major forces in the firm's competitive environment: threats of new entrants, threats of substitutes, bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers, and industry rivalry. Porter's value chain helps managers identify all the activities that the organization must perform to conduct its business.
accessibility dimension
how easy it is to access the information
representational dimension
how information is presented to the user
Some individuals question how sustainable any competitive advantage a firm obtains through its initiatives is. What is the term used to describe this?
hyper-competition
What is the ultimate goal of the information systems strategic planning process?
identify strategic information systems
What are the main advantages of using an information systems strategic planning process?
improved communication, improved coordination, improved decision making with some additional explanation. Essentially, the strategic plan serves as guidelines for lower-level plans (including information system plans), and also for projects that require funds. At UNCW, for example, it's always advisable to reference the Chancellor's Strategic Plan when asking for money for a particular project. It lets the people approving the funds know that the new project is in line with the general direction of the organization. The plan also communicates to everyone in the organization (and also outside) what the general direction is that this company is going to take in the next few years.
One strategy a company might employ to gain a competitive advantage is to utilize software in such a way so that their product is so different from the competitor's that they have no real competition. Which of Porter's Five Competitive Forces does this represent?
industry competitive rivalry
Data that has been processed into something useful is:
information
The more uncertainty there may be around a decision, the more ___________ we seek to reduce that uncertainty.
information
Decision making involves choosing alternatives. Making this choice requires ____________.
information about the alternatives
To purchase office supplies for your office, a request is made for supplies in an information system. This system notifies your immediate supervisor that an order is waiting for his/her approval. If the order is approved, it is forwarded to the appropriate vendor and you are notified that the order is placed. What type of organizational change has this information system allowed for?
information flow
What is believed to be the most critical skill for the future?
information literacy
What term is used to describe the degree to which information that is appropriate for its intended use?
information quality
what is an organized combination of hardware, software, infrastructure, data and people used to accomplish a specified organizational or personal objective?
information systems
What is the hardware, software and media used to store, organize, retrieve and communicate information called?
information technology
knowledge
information that has been applied to a decision or action
To be useful, information is ______ and ________ , which leads to knowledge.
interpreted/applied
the four categories of information quality dimensions
intrinsic contextual representational accessibility
The strategic planning process is __________, which requires managers to revisit earlier steps.
iterative
Which of the following is information that is applied to some decision or action?
knowledge
system software
operating system & utility programs controlling a computer system and allow you to use that system
What is the most important component of any information system?
people
Application Software
programs that allow a user to perform specific tasks on a computer
What is the priority matrix, and how should it be used to evaluate strategic initiatives?
ranking and eliminating initiatives
Your research for a paper on United States population growth leads you to an article on demographic trends in Africa. This information should not be considered to be ___________ when identifying its usefulness.
relevant
The __________ controls the operation of the computer, including how the data are retrieved, manipulated and communicated.
software
What does SWOT stand for?
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats
A set of interacting components, working together to form a complex, integrated whole in order to achieve some goal by taking inputs and processing them to produce outputs is known as a(n) ___________ .
system
An information system is a combination of ________, ________, _______, and processes.
technology, data, people
Which part of an "information system" is the most critical?
the information
system software and application software
the two main types of software
What is the purpose of the strategic planning process,
to identify how the organization will use and manage their resources for strategic purposes. It essentially provides a roadmap for decision making related to information systems.
Which of the following is not a reason that managers gather information?
to maintain unsolicited information
What do the SWOT analysis, Porter's Five Competitive Forces Model, and Porter's value chain model have in common?
tools used to analyze and make strategic decisions.
Every two weeks you receive a paycheck at work. Your pay is based on the hours that you have tracked. At the end of the pay period the hours worked for everyone are gathered and processed. What type of information system is this?
transaction processing system
Data
unconnected facts; raw symbols
Which of the following does not make up the contextual dimension of quality?
understandable
According to the evaluation framework for information quality within the text, information must be __________ and _____________.
useful/believable
Information based businesses, such as Google and consulting firms, would use what framework that looks at activities that turn raw data into useful information?
virtual value chain
In a SWOT analysis, __________ asks what creates disadvantages for the organization relative to others in their industry.
weaknesses
What are the quadrants in the Priority Matrix?
wins imperatives stay away evaluate
Name and describe the six critical elements of an information system.
•1. Data: Raw facts, text, numbers, images, and the like that serve as the inputs for producing information. • 2.Hardware: Physical devices such as the processor, storage media, and peripheral devices (such as printers and displays). • 3.Software: Set of instructions that govern the operation of an information system. •4. Communication media: Set of devices and protocols (rules) that enable computers to communicate with each other. •5. Procedures: Instructions for the proper use of the information system. •6. People: Individuals who use the information system.
