C724 I.S. Management Unit 2

Information technology has helped to computerize businesses to streamline processes that increases productivity and profits. IT benefit?

Cost Effectiveness

Processing

Converting data to meaningful and actionable information

This system is one in which businesses are interconnected and working to create a product or service for the customer. Define the system.

Define the system:SCM Supply Chain Management system

Porter's competitive forces: When there are many competitors, firms have to compete aggressively for market shares, which can result in lower profits.

Intensity of competitive rivalry

When three businesses work together as a cohesive team on projects and also pass business to each other

the businesses have created a network-based strategy among themselves.

is a subset of information systems

information technology

Implementing SCM systems helps businesses

lower their costs by reducing waste, overhead costs, and shipping delays. The benefits of lowering those costs can help improve product quality and order turnaround times.

_____is the strategy of having tasks performed by companies in other countries using information technology advancements such as the Internet and cloud computing.

Offshoring: Offshoring is the strategy of having tasks performed by companies in other countries using information technology advancements such as the Internet and cloud computing.

Risk strategy? Mary has dinner plans with friends after work. Due to heavy traffic, she realizes she will not be able to get to the restaurant at 6 p.m. as planned. She texts her friends and moves the dinner to 7 p.m..

Risk Avoidance

Risk Strategy? Bob recently purchased long-term disability insurance.

Risk Transference

Risk strategy? Joe has a beautiful home on a golf course. He has done nothing to protect his home from poorly hit golf balls.

Risk Acceptance

Risk strategy? The IT department keeps the server room cool for the equipment.

Risk reduction

Risk strategy? The Lakeview Community Festival has included vendors to participate in this new community event. Each vendor will contribute money to participate in the festival.

Risk sharing

A critical issue that needs to be considered when managing information systems due to possible threats. Hardware assets must be protected from outside threats.

Security

The programs comprised of pre-coded instructions written in a programming language which the end user typically uses to interact directly with the IS.

Software

This system tracks the flow of daily routine transactions that are necessary to conduct business, such as payroll or order processing.

TPS

A four-level pyramid depicts different types of information systems, as they relate to different hierarchical levels within an organization. Select the correct ascending ordered list of four systems (i.e., bottom to top of the pyramid), that relates to the end users' increasing hierarchical level within an organization.

TPS, MIS, DSS, EIS

A virtual company is one that does not

have any physical offices but a team of employees who work remotely.

Information technology refers to

the hardware and software required to manage and deliver information

True or False. One of the challenges in today's IT advances is the development of varying screen display sizes for computer monitors, tablets, smartphones, and PDAs.

true: Web programmers are consistently being challenged by the numerous changes in screen sizes, and how to appropriately handle this change in their coding and development.

Customer relationship management (CRM) systems

use technology to merge marketing with business processes to strengthen customer relationships and organize customer information

A supply chain management (SCM) system

works to increase the efficiency of the process of getting materials developed into the products and pushed out to the customer

The computer and all of its peripherals

Hardware

The input the system accepts to produce useful information

Data

This system creates the process of sharing knowledge among people for the benefit of the business. Define the system.

Define the system: KM Knowledge management system

These systems entail all aspects of interaction that a company has with its customers, including contacts, clients, contract wins and sales leads, and more. Define the system.

Define the system:CRM Customer Relationship Management System

Define the system: These systems tightly integrate functional areas, such as accounting, finance, project management, inventory control, purchasing, human resources, customer retention, sales, and marketing into one single, comprehensive system.

Define the system:ERP Enterprise resource planning system

The information system professionals and users.

People

The primary component categories that make up a computer-based information system (CBIS)

People, processes, hardware, software, networks, and data

Information technology helps ensure quality new products reach the market faster and to more customers and suppliers. IT benefit?

Product development

A restaurant develops a new ordering system that allows for online ordering both from desktop and mobile sites. No other restaurant in their local area is offering online ordering. This restaurant is using a business strategy of

Product differentiation

Business Function: Functions range from receiving raw material to shipping finished goods or from production itself to equipment maintenance

Production and operations

Represent a category of information systems that serve low level managers. Focused on short- to medium-term business decisions.

(MIS) Management Information Systems

The European Union Data Protection Directive (1998) restricts the transfer of personal information from participating nations into other nations that do not maintain the same information privacy standards. Which industry would be the most affected by this law? a Financial services b Mining c Automotive manufacturing

A Financial services: Financial services, healthcare, and travel are the industries most affected by the European Union Data Protection Directive because they involve a large amount of personal customer information.

Describe an example in a business where a strategic information system was implemented. How did this provide a key competitive advantage in the marketplace?

A Florida electrical distributor stocks thousands of products from hundreds of manufacturers. The company recently implemented a new system to streamline the process of customer orders. Instead of looking at all of the individual manufacturer inventory reports, the company now merges data from all of its manufacturers. Sales reps are now able to recognize ordering trends and make better predictions about future inventory needs. This new system has improved customer satisfaction, increased sales, saved employee time, and increased annual profits. The company is getting the products into the hands of the customers faster and cheaper than any of its competitors.

Which of the following is not a responsibility of a CIO? A. Merger and acquisition strategy B. Knowledge of information technology C. Ensuring information systems availability, reliability, and effectiveness D. Strategic alignment of IT with business objectives

A Merger And Acquisition strategy: A CIO is not responsible for merger and acquisition decisions. This strategy might be a joint plan by the CFO and CEO. Some companies also have a board of directors to help with acquisitions.

What is the best definition of a project? A. A set of tasks with a clear objective and an ultimate deliverable B. A planning activity C. A set of tasks that have no deadline and a constantly changing objective

A. A set of tasks with a clear objective and an ultimate deliverable. Projects require clear tasks to be performed on time and within budget to accomplish objectives.

What strategic role has emerged as critical in recent years in large organizations due to cyber attacks? Chief Security Officer Chief Database Officer Knowledge of information technology Chief Legal Officer

A. Chief Security Officer: Due to customer data privacy, complexity in network protection, and concerns with hacking, this role has become more prevalent in large organizations.

What are the two fastest growing trends in MIS that are impacting IT careers? Cloud computing and mobile platforms Mainframes and legacy software Centralized database and closed standards

A. Cloud computing and mobile software. Mobile platforms for consumer and business applications are driving the need to move data to the cloud.

Which is not a function of a database administrator? Develop firewall strategy to protect data. Develop database strategy. Ensure database performance.

A. Develop firewall strategy to protect data. Developing a firewall strategy is the responsibility of an information security analyst.

Business Function: Managing financial assets and maintaining financial records

Accounting and Finance

A database administrator is responsible for which functions? Database design Security and access Testing

All three: Database administrators are responsible for all three functions including focusing on security and access requirements, designing databases, and performing database testing to ensure performance.

Cultural difference can have an impact on the successful implementation of a global business strategy, which includes in part offshoring and/or outsourcing. Which of the following elements of cultural differences can play a role in the successful implementation of the global business strategy? a Workforce motivation b Cultural Norms c Perceived lack of talent d Language barriers

All: Cultural norms such as when one is expected to work can have an impact on the successful implementation of the offshoring effort. The on-site team may not look at the offshore team as having or possessing the same talent or skill level as the on-site team. Language barriers can sometimes be a cultural cost of outsourcing or offshoring work. Workforces in different countries and cultures have different motivational drivers and definition of success.

Assume you are leading a team of project managers and conducting training for your group. Your objective for the day is to identify reasons that projects fail, with the ultimate goal of having each of your project managers assess their projects for potential risks. Identify reasons that projects fail from the list below. (Choose all that apply.) A Stakeholders not supporting project manager through project milestones. B Lack of stakeholder engagement during planning and implementation. C Too much or too little planning and evaluation prior to project launch.

All:Planning is essential to successful projects. Stakeholder support throughout a project is critical to project success. Regular communication with stakeholders is critical for project success and stakeholder support. When stakeholders are informed, they are more engaged and more supportive of the changes.

Which of the following involves employees from various business functions in an organization who share their information with others within the organization? a Information technology management b Information management c Information systems management

B information management: Information management spans across many business units within an organization and is dependent on many resources.

Management information systems will require expertise in what type of distributed systems to connect users to information? Virtual private networks (VPN) Database Desktop support

B. Databases are distributed, not centralized; therefore, there is a growing need for this expertise.

Which main business function is responsible for maintaining employee records? a. Sales and marketing b. Human resources c. Finance and accounting d. Production and operations

B. Human Resources

Assume you are an IT project manager dealing with competing priorities, stakeholders, and budgets. Many times, one or more stakeholders want to outsource a specific element of a project to save time, money, or both. From the project management perspective, how would you explain the difference between insourcing and outsourcing to non-technical team members? A. Insourcing is the act of launching a project, while outsourcing is the act of ending a project. B. Insourcing is internal development, while outsourcing involves contracting out development. C. Insourcing is hiring employees, and outsourcing is laying off employees. D. Insourcing is contracting development, while outsourcing is doing the project in another country.

B. Insourcing is internal development, while outsourcing involves contracting out development: Resources internal to organizations (insourcing) are "make" decisions, while outsourcing is a "buy" decision meaning external resources will be contracted.

Porter's competitive forces: There are few suppliers, but many buyers and this affects the buying firms' profits because it has to pay more for materials.

Bargaining of new suppliers

Porter's competitive forces: Buying in large quantities results in lower prices for the buyer and lower profits for producers.

Bargaining power of buyers

Many credit card companies offer loyalty programs and reward points that can be used to purchase extra items. Airline points can be a big draw in the credit card industry. In terms of Porter's five competitive forces, this is an example of

Bargaining power of customers

Which of the following is one approach to selecting a strategic project? a Let the project manager choose the project. b Allow customers to choose the project. c Choose projects based on company goals and return on investment. d Let IT staff select the project.

C Choose projects based on company goals and return on investment. : A good approach to selecting a strategic project is to categorize projects based on organizational goals.

Why is it a challenge for businesses to invest in strategic information technology projects? a Organizations do not have the necessary financial means. b Organizations have difficulty defining business objectives. c Organizations have difficulty finding good project managers.

C Organizations have difficulty finding good project managers

What is information technology management? a The acquiring and managing of information systems within an organization b The acquiring and managing of information within an organization and the sharing of that information with its stakeholders c The acquiring and managing of technology resources within an organization

C The acquiring and managing of technology resources within an organization.

What does offshore outsourcing mean? A using internal resources and contractors B using contractors to staff projects C using resources that reside outside the country in another geographical region D using internal and external resources to staff projects

C using resources that reside outside the country in another geographical region

Why has information technology become critical to the success of business enterprise in the last 20 years? A. Information technology increases management layers for better decision making. B. Information technology creates more data and information for decision making. C. Information technology has automated business operations and changed the economics of information.

C. Information technology has automated business operations and changed the economics of information: Information technology enables automation and faster response to market needs.

Which function is not performed by an IT professional? Software development Database design Online marketing

C. Online marketing: This is a sales and marketing role.

Which of the following best describes project management principles? A. Project management is the application of offshore resources to accomplish an objective and deliverable on time and on budget. B. Project management is the application of strategic thinking and information to reach a business decision. C. Project management is the application of planning, organization, time management, leadership, communication, and problem solving skills to accomplish an objective and deliverable on time and on budget.

C. Planning, organizing, time management, leadership, communication, and problem solving are all part of project management.

Joe and Mary work for a tax preparation company that is implementing new computer technology. What is a likely impact of this new technology to their jobs? Reduced stress More job security Improved processes

C: IT helps improve processes by helping to identify, analyze, and improve upon existing business practices within an organization.

Which one of Michael Porter's five competitive forces does this describe: Switching from one product or service to another similar product or service with little cost. Threat of substitutes Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants

C: If switching to a similar product or service costs little or nothing for the buyer, the threat of a competitor's substitute is great.

This person, in partnership with the Board, is responsible for the success of Fred's Foundation, Inc. Together, the Board and this person assure Fred's Foundation's relevance to the community and determine the company's mission and vision statement. This person provides direction and enables the Board to to carry out its governance functions. Which of the following job titles best fits this description? COO CFO CEO CIO

CEO: The chief executive officer is responsible for the success or failure of the company, creating the company culture, and setting strategy and vision.

Most technology companies have a _____ to manage their technology development. A -- oversees information systems matters in companies that specialize in information technology or that rely on it for supporting their infrastructure.

CIO, CTO

ABC Nonprofit is seeking to dramatically accelerate growth. The board and executive director are looking for a mission-focused, seasoned, strategic, and process-minded leader with experience leading an executive management team and developing a performance culture among a group of diverse individuals. This person must be a leader who is able to help others at ABC deliver measurable, cost-effective results that make the company's vision a reality. This person will have the skills, sensitivity, and personal confidence to tap into the power that each employee brings to ABC's mission. Which of the following job titles best fits this description? CIO CFO CEO COO

COO: The chief operations officer's role communicates the organization's mission statement to employees.

A project manager is responsible for _________________.

Communicating the project goal. A key responsibility of a project manager is good communication throughout the project phase.

With the help of information technology, video conferencing has become cheaper, quicker, more collaborative, and more efficient. IT benefit?

Communication

Information System

Consists of all the components that work together to process data into useful information. An info system that accepts input data and process it into information as output. Made up of people and computers.

Two factors that have contributed to the globalization of business are the availability of inexpensive communication and improved transportation. These factors have also contributed to the creation of a common global _______.

Culture: Culture is our collective experience, characteristics, and knowledge as a society and is important in global business. Having a global mindset and the creation of a global business culture will help businesses expand and become more profitable.

Which field continues to grow due to privacy threats and will be one of the most relevant in an Internet-based technology? Software engineering Web design Cyber security

D. Cyber security is a "must" activity to protect user information and corporate data.

Joe's Tire Store has been in business for 20 years. Last month, a new warehouse store opened a mile away. The warehouse store is able to sell tires at a bigger discount, and this is very concerning to Joe. Businesses must operate in the midst of many pressures. Which of the following pressures represent Joe's current dilemma? Cultural pressure Technological pressure Political pressure Economic pressure

D. Economic pressure: Competitors can create economic pressure. Joe must plan ahead for changing customers and competitors. IT can enable automation and enable faster response to market needs.

Which factor does not influence the interaction between a business enterprise and its information system? Organization Culture Processes Social networks

D. Social networks: Although a business might market itself using social networks, this is not an influence.

This system provides modeling and analytical tools that support middle to senior managers in all aspects of the decision-making process, when problems are unique, unstructured, and not easily specified in advance, to project potential future trends.

DSS

This system supports senior executives by providing important data in the form of graphs and charts to analyze and identify long-term trends.

EIS

A digital dashboard displays charts and graphs with up-to-the-minute performance indicators on sales, profit, expenses and inventory. This is an example of a(n) ___________________________.

EIS: A digital dashboard is an example of an executive information system (EIS). These systems incorporate summarized information with external factors to forecast and analyze trends for top level executives.

____________ tightly integrate functional areas such as accounting, finance, project management, inventory control, purchasing, human resources, customer retention, sales, and marketing into one single, comprehensive system.

ERP Enterprise Resource Planning

__________ involve utilizing computer technology to link various aspects of a business, including human resources, accounting, and inventory control.

ERP: Links several aspects of the business together

What is a benefit of introducing knowledge management?

Employees of a business more readily share information across business units.

True or False. There are four major business functions: sales and marketing; production and operations; finance and accounting; and technology and systems.

F: Although technology provides support for all of these areas and is a component of information systems, it is not a functional area.

True or False. If a student decides to switch classes because she wants a different teacher, this would be considered a transaction to the college's information system but would not involve any interaction with its accounting or human resources systems.

F: Even though no money is exchanged, this simple transaction might impact student fees, faculty schedules, or classroom availability.

True or false. A storage device consists of all the components that work together to process data into useful information.

False An information system is a system that accepts input data and processes it into information as output.

True or false. A transaction processing system is created to meet a specific business goal and to provide a competitive advantage.

False: A transaction processing system tracks daily business operations. A strategic information system is created to meet a specific business goal and provide a competitive advantage.

True or false. A virtual company provides only virtual services.

False: A virtual company may offer virtual services, but that alone does not make a company a "virtual company." Many companies now offer virtual services in addition to their brick-and-mortar stores and physical services. A virtual company is not limited by physical location or geography due to the use information technology to extend their services globally.

True or false. The terms information technology and information systems have the same definition and can be used interchangeably.

False: Information technology is a subset of information systems; they are not the same thing.

True or False. Differences in language, culture, and technology do not present a challenge for a company implementing a global information system.

False: Language, culture, and technology can be huge challenges when implementing global information systems.

True or False. Data are more secure when they are stored in the cloud.

False: One of the biggest challenges of information technology management is cloud technology and the ability to protect the data from security threats.

True or False. The amount of organizational oversight is not dependent on the centralized or decentralized nature of the global business type.

False: The amount of organizational oversight is dependent on the centralized or decentralized nature of the global business type.

True or false. Modern forms of information technology include digital calculators, computer systems of many sizes and applications, and Morse code.

False: There are many modern forms of information technology today that range from small cell phones and mini applications to large networks of computers.

True or false. A customer relationship management system provides a business with an opportunity to allow customers to know which products are currently available by displaying them on a website.

False: This system would likely be handled by an enterprise resource planning system, not a customer relationship management system. This system allows for sharing of information between departments, such as supply chain management and production management. ERP and CRM are both important to a business, and these two systems often share information to manage both inventory and customer satisfaction information.

The modern IS management function is extremely complex and changes regularly.

Finding qualified employees is critical to maintaining an effective IS. Finding them is difficult.

Management information systems focus on technology, people, and organizations. They primarily serve _______.

First Level Managers

Some major threats to managing information systems are

Floods, earthquakes, power outages and more

IT has brought the world closer together and made the world's economy a single interdependent system. IT benefit?

Globalization

What are the six major components of a computer-based information system?

Hardware, software, people, networks, data, and processes

All the components of the Information System are

Hardware/Software, Data Resource Management, Networking, Systems & Decisions, Security & Ethics, and E commerce & Social Media

Business Function: Recruiting, training, and maintaining employees and their records

Human Resources

IS or IT -Online reservation booking, Telephone and radio equipment, Data, voice, and video equipment, Computer peripherals, Track customer activities,

I.S., I.T., I.T., I.T., I.S., I.S.

Which of the following is NOT an organizational feature that managers should consider when building and using information systems? Incentives Structure Environment Politics

Incentives are not an organizational feature managers use to build information systems. They are something a business uses to encourage employees to reach goals.

Carrie works for a software company and is in charge of communicating with the clients about their business needs pertaining to their software. Carrie helps her clients identify and describe their business needs in such a way that the software development team can take that information and turn it into a useful piece of the software system. Carrie plays an important role in the _____ function of her company.

Information Management: Carrie plays a key role in obtaining information that is critical to the success of the business and sharing that information with the appropriate employees.

The shipping clerks at ABC Logistics complained to their supervisor that they experienced delays in uploading shipping and tracking information at certain times of the day. The network provider was contacted, who advised management at ABC that a faster fiber-optic connection was now available at a discounted rate. This type of network connectivity would greatly improve Internet speed. This is an example of _______________?

Information Technology management: Information management is the application of management techniques to collect, communicate and process information in order to make better management decisions.

Output

Information data that have been organized into meaingful info that is the basis of action.

__________ have shown tremendous growth in the last few decades, leading to more sophisticated ____________.

Information technologies, Information systems

Keith works at a software company and is in charge of the computer server room. He is also in charge of keeping track of which employees have certain computers and monitors and other various technology associated with their roles. Keith plays a key role in the ______ function of his company.

Information technology management: Keith plays an important role in the information technology management area because he manages the technology and the assignment of that technology to the appropriate employees.

Open standards is a hot new career field as it relates to networking and/or servers. What technologies might you be an expert in that would fit the criteria of open standards with a web development and/or server emphasis? Windows 10 Linux OS Java

Java is an open standard computer language, and Linux is an open standard operating system.

The process of sharing knowledge across business units and among employees of a business is called a(n) ________

Knowledge management: Sharing knowledge across the business.

This system provides first level managers with reports on current performance and historical records to help keep an organization running smoothly.

MIS

One key role of a system administrator is to _____________.

Maintain computer systems: A key role of a system administrator is to maintain and update computer systems.

Choose the two essentials for successful project management. Managing people Managing communications Managing information systems

Managing people and communications: It is essential for a project manager to manage resources for a successful project outcome, and it is essential for a project manager to manage communications for a successful project outcome.

Business Function: Planning, promoting, and selling of goods and services to satisfy customer needs and the objectives of the organization

Marketing and Sales

Information technology helps eliminate repetitive tasks and increases accuracy, allowing employees to concentrate on more high-level functions. IT Benefit?

More Time

You need to design information systems that serve the existing organization, but you must be ready and willing to restructure the organization to take advantage of the improvements an information system can offer. Which takes precedence, the organization or the information system? Explain your reasoning.

Neither takes precedence. The goal in designing and implementing information systems is to try and adapt the system to the organization and vice versa. Change is challenging for most organizations, so it must be done carefully and strategically. Changing the way things have been done in the past too quickly could create chaos, so implementing organizational changes and new systems incrementally will help and allow adaptation to occur more smoothly. Communication and training to all those involved is key. Introducing the changes gradually will be less disruptive for the business, if that is possible

A group of two or more computers and other devices connected to each other.

Network

_______is and will continue to be a highly paid and a high demand IT career.

Network specialist. Information systems rely on a network platform; therefore, there is always a need for network specialist to keep networks operating 24/7.

Information systems support an organization's many functional business areas. These functional areas can be grouped into what two main categories?

Operations and Management

Input

Raw data put into a system and then processed for output.

Global information systems facilitate global business strategies by connecting and providing multiple modes of ________ communication such as teleconferencing and instant messaging, and ____communication, such as email and overnight mail.

Teleconferencing and instant messaging are synchronous modes of communication. Email and overnight mail are asynchronous modes of communication.

The sales, purchasing, and accounting departments at a wholesale restaurant distributor each maintain their own separate information systems. Recognizing the benefits of sharing data among departments, the company decided to develop and implement a new centralized information system. The new system would allow all employees to access, analyze, and modify data stored in one central location. What are some of the advantage/benefits or disadvantages/challenges of information technology management or information management in this scenario?

The departments in this scenario are interdependent and would benefit from the ability of each department to share information. Each of these business functions impacts the other (purchasing must purchase products to fulfill sales orders, and accounting must bill the sales customers and pay for the purchased products). One advantage of this new system is the ability to assist the separate departments with their planning. A disadvantage of this system is that incorrect information entered by one department might adversely impact another department. For example, if the sales department did not delete or remove an order that had been cancelled by a customer, this would result in the purchasing department buying unwanted product(s). If the products were custom manufactured or non-returnable, the company could be stuck with excess inventory. One of the challenges presented by the centralized option is to ensure all information is updated on a timely basis.

A local college has just upgraded to a new, more user-friendly learning management system (LMS). An LMS is a software platform used for the administration and delivery of electronic educational courses and programs. Moving the entire college to a new system requires training for all faculty, students, and support employees, and it requires upgrades to the database, computer server, and network system. Think about this scenario and what you have learned about information technology and information systems. Identify which components listed above in the local college upgrade are information technology and which are information systems components?

The information technology components in the above scenario are the LMS, database for student, instructor, and course information, computer server, and network system. The information system consists of the faculty, students, support employees, training, procedures, processes, and all of the information technology items previously listed.

What is knowledge management?

The process of sharing knowledge across business units and among employees of a business

Porter's competitive forces: If an industry is profitable and there are few barriers to enter that industry, then rivalry will be great as new businesses enter the market.

Threat of new entrants

Hardback textbooks are no longer as in demand because of the creation and quick distribution of e-books. In terms of Porter's five competitive forces, e-books are an example of

Threat of new products or services

Porter's competitive forces: Switching from one product or service to another similar product or service with little cost.

Threat of substitutes

T/F True or False. A risk mitigation activity in project management is implementing a "lessons learned" process after each project.

True: A "lessons learned" activity at the end of each project prepares project managers for future projects.

True or false. A system where businesses work together to create a product or service for a customer is called a supply chain management system.

True: A supply chain management system is one in which businesses are interconnected and work together to create a product or service for the customer.

True or False. A web developer is responsible for designing and coding the website to allow users to engage and navigate website information and services.

True: A web developer focuses on all aspects of the website design

True or false. The ability to build a responsive IT infrastructure is one of the key issues facing information systems management.

True: Building a responsive IT infrastructure is one of the key issues facing information systems management.

True or false. The decision to outsource or go offshore with a project is based on a lack of core competencies inside the business or where there is financial savings in labor cost.

True: Project managers choose to outsource when it lacks resources or expertise, and offshoring is chosen to reduce cost.

True or False. Information technology has increased the speed and volume of information that can be communicated within and between businesses, and managing this information has become very challenging.

True: Technology and communications development have partnered hand in hand for centuries, and as technology evolves, communication techniques advance to new levels.

True or False. One management solution for addressing the challenges posed by implementing a global information system is to outsource the project to an offshore company that has global information system development expertise.

True: There are many advantages to outsourcing, which include cost and time savings, access to skilled resources, and better services.

True or false. Businesses invest in information systems for a number of reasons, including to achieve operational excellence, develop new products and services, improve decision making, and promote competitive advantage.

True: These are some of the major reasons why firms invest in information technology: achieve operational excellence, develop new products and services, attain customer intimacy and service, improve decision making, promote competitive advantage, ensure long-term survival, and develop strong relationships with suppliers.

True or False. An information technology manager should seek to standardize software and hardware when developing a global information system for an organization.

True: To reduce challenges with global system development, it is wise to standardize software and hardware to avoid compatibility issues.

Storage Devices

Where data is stored for future access and business use.

Business managers often review the financial costs of a decision as a normal part of the planning and execution process when determining what to outsource in information technology. However, less frequently identified are the cultural costs or benefits related to the offshore outsourcing strategy. Which of the following are elements of the cultural cost? a Language barriers b Perceived lack of talent c Cultural incompatibility d Working remotely

a b c: The total cost of offshoring can include the cost of cultural incompatibility between the on-site and offshore team.The on-site team may not look at the offshore team as having or possessing the same talent or skill level as the on-site team. Language barriers can sometimes be a cultural cost of outsourcing or offshoring work.

The ___________ is in charge of the people who design, build, use, and manage information technology in the organization. CIO CSO CEO CFO CTO

a. CIO: The CIO focuses on the people and technology needed to run a company.

Which of the following best describes disruptive technology? a. Substitute products cost less and have less capabilities, but eventually displace legacy, established products. b. Substitute products cost less but have more capabilities and replace established products. c. Substitute products are based on chaos and fuzzy logic.

a. Substitute products cost less and have less capabilities, but eventually displace legacy, established products.: Disruptive technology is usually cheaper and not as capable as established products before they emerge as leading options.

Information technology leaders must take into consideration many factors when determining what, if anything, to outsource or offshore in their technology process or services. What are some of the factors to consider when deciding if a product, service, or element of technology should be outsourced? a Cultural incompatibility b Perceived lack of talent c Working remotely d Language barriers

abd: The total cost of offshoring can include the cost of cultural incompatibility between the on-site and offshore team. The onsite team may not look at the offshore team as having or possessing the same talent or skill level as the on-site team. Language barriers can sometimes be a cultural cost of outsourcing or offshoring work.

A project's risk of resistance to change can be managed through the use of formal controls, which includes all of the following except ______. a user participation during implementation b manager education and training c incentives for cooperation

b manager education and training: While managers can benefit from project risk training, manager education and training is not a formal control. User education and training is a formal control that will help mitigate user resistance to changes.

Which of the following describes information management? a The acquiring and managing of technology resources within an organization b The acquiring and managing of information systems within an organization c The acquiring and managing of information within an organization and the sharing of that information with its stakeholders

c The acquiring and managing of information within an organization and the sharing of that information with its stakeholders

One of the trends that is influencing the globalization of business is the increased role played by ________. a offshoring b outsourcing c technology

c technology: Technology is a significant trend that is influencing the globalization of businesses.

__________ is an activity for which a business is a marketplace leader.

core competency: activity in which a company is a business leader.

A strategic information system is one that is

created to meet a specific business objective and to provide a competitive advantage.

A grocery store has an extensive inventory control process. They carry thousands of products and shelf-space for those products is competitive. If the grocery store is out of a particular item, then they are losing money. They need to keep all of their products in stock to meet customer demand and make a profit. This grocery store should consider looking into which system to help manage this type of information? A. An enterprise resource planning (ERP) system b. A customer relationship management (CRM) system C. A knowledge management system d. A supply chain management (SCM) system

d. A supply chain management system will help ensure the right amount of products are delivered to the store to meet customer demand. SCM systems run simulations to evaluate different ways of optimizing the supply chain. ERP systems are more linear and do not easily allow for scenarios to be created or evaluated.

An integral component of planning and organizing IT systems for businesses includes which of the following? a. Relying exclusively on expert IT consultants to evaluate all facets of the business operation b. Duplicating IT systems models of competitive businesses in order to minimize start-up and development costs c. Avoiding consultations with outside vendors and customers d. Blending the attributes of different IT system designs to meet the unique user needs of the business

d. Blending the attributes of different IT system designs to meet the unique user needs of the business A blended IT organization takes the attributes of different IT designs to meet the unique user needs of a business; these attributes may include delivering and maintaining IT infrastructure as well as optimizing important business assets, such as production, services, customer relations, and information management.

Which organizational behavior leads to information system implementation failures? Alignment of IT and business goals Increased management layers Increased bureaucracy Resistance to change

d. Resistance to change Resistance to change by stakeholders is a primary reason for implementation failure.

Enterprise resource planning systems typically utilize one _______________.

data base

Information systems add controls to employee processes,

ensuring that only users with the applicable rights can perform certain tasks

A core competency is an activity

for which a business is a marketplace leader

Individual departments or functions frequently maintain information systems that are specific to their role in the organization

functional area information systems

A customer relationship management system provides a business with the opportunity to: allow customers to know which products are currently available by displaying them on a website. analyze common contract elements to streamline the contracting process. integrate information about each client's likes and dislikes to be able to tailor conversations with them.

integrate information about each client's likes and dislikes to be able to tailor conversations with them.

Even though information technology functions in the background

it is the backbone of most organizations.

Although most people know supply chain management as the systems used to manage the flow of products or information into consumer's hands, it also helps with

planning daily operations, improving sales forecasting, predicting transportation requirements, building partnerships, and improving business strategies, among other things.

E-learning is one of the latest growing benefits to train and educate new healthcare professionals as well as current ones

so they can advance in their careers and stay up to date with the many tools and systems involved in the medical field.

A business benefit of enterprise resource planning systems is a higher salaries for executives. ease of use. standardized business procedures. ease of implementation.

standardized business procedures

Knowledge management (KM) systems

strive to reach organizational goals by making the best use of corporate knowledge.

A system where businesses work together to create a product or service for a customer is called a

supply chain management system

A bank software company purchases another bank software company and begins utilizing employees from both development teams to create a new software product for their clients. The bank software company is benefiting from the

synergies through aquisition

One of the advantages of information systems for businesses is to

take raw data and turn them into valuable information, and then help transform that information into organizational knowledge.

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems

tightly integrate functional areas—such as accounting, finance, project management, inventory control, purchasing, human resources, customer retention, sales, and marketing—into one single, comprehensive system.

If a student decides to switch classes because she wants a different teacher, this would be considered a _______ to the college's information system and would involve interaction with its accounting or human resource systems.

transaction: even though no money is exchanged a small change like this can impact student fees and faculty changes.