MIS Chapter 11 Practice Quiz

The DSS _____ is a component of a decision support system (DSS), which manages and coordinates the other major components.

Engine

In the design phase of the decision-making process, a decision maker examines an organization's environment for conditions that need decisions.

False

Information technology provides a high level of support for the design phase of the decision-making process.

False

The costs of using group support systems (GSSs) are high as decision makers are made to travel more.

False

According to Peter G. Keen, a former MIT professor, which of the following is a benefit of a decision support system (DSS)?

Fast response to unexpected situations

During the _____ phase of the decision-making process, a decision maker examines the organization's environment for conditions that need decisions.

Intelligence

Which of the following factors is important to ensure that key decision makers are involved in designing a management support system (MSS)?

Keeping lines of communication open

Plant location is a type of _____ decision at the strategic management level.

Structured

The _____ module of an executive information system (EIS) is used by developers to configure data mapping and screen sequencing.

Builder

A(n) _____, which is used in the choice phase of the decision-making process, help sort through possible solutions to choose the best one for an organization.

Decision Support System

An executive information system (EIS) is a branch of _____.

Decision support system (DSS)

In the _____ phase of the decision-making process, the objective is to define criteria for the decision, generate alternatives for meeting the criteria, and define associations between the criteria and the alternatives.

Design

A decision support system (DSS) typically provides support only for the managerial and higher organizational levels.

False

Generally, information technologies are more useful in the design phase than in the intelligence and choice phases.

False

In a decision support system (DSS), a managerial designer defines issues that involve the technological aspects of the system.

False

In a decision support system (DSS), the technical designer is the liaison between users and designers.

False

Information technologies are a major support tool for making unstructured decisions.

False

Real-time computer conferencing used in electronic meeting systems includes video capability.

False

Related technologies for group support, such as electronic meeting systems (EMSs) and computer-mediated communication (CMC), are considered full-function GSSs because they contain decision-making tools.

False

Structured decisions are challenging because they involve multiple criteria, and often users have to choose between conflicting objectives.

False

The administrative and builder modules of an executive information system (EIS) cannot be combined into a single module.

False

The costs and benefits of decision support systems (DSSs) are easy to assess because these systems are focused on efficiency rather than effectiveness.

False

The most notable disadvantage of a Web-based group support system (GSS) is its inability to use open network standards.

False

Unstructured decisions are often used in sales forecasting.

False

Dispatching personnel and equipment to crime and fire locations is a part of the ____ geographic information system (GIS) application.

Government

The intervention aspect of a(n) _____ reduces communication barriers and introduces order and efficiency into situations that are inherently unsystematic and inefficient.

Group Support System

In the _____ phase of the decision-making process, an organization devises a plan for carrying out the alternative selected in the previous phase and obtains the resources to execute the plan.

Implementation

Semistructured and unstructured decisions are challenging because they:

Involve multiple criteria.

Which of the following geographic objects of a geographic information system (GIS) is most likely used to show a street or a river?

Lines

In the decision support system (DSS) environment, a _____ is responsible for specifying data requirements, what models are needed, how these models might be used, and how users want to view the results.

Managerial Designer

The _____ component of a decision support system (DSS) includes mathematical and statistical models that, along with the database, enable a DSS to analyze information.

Model Base

In the decision support system (DSS) environment, the _____ acts as a liaison between users and designers.

Model Builder

Which of the following geographic objects of a geographic information system (GIS) is most likely used to show the location of an airport?

Points

The _____ module of an executive information system (EIS) is responsible for using the system.

Runtime

A merger is a type of _____ decision at the strategic management level.

Semistructured

Sales forecasting is an example of a(n) _____ task.

Semistructured

_____ decisions include a structured aspect that benefits from information retrieval, analytical models, and information systems technology.

Semistructured

Which of the following tasks is performed by managers for which an executive information system (EIS) is useful?

Spotting Trends

Record keeping, payroll, and simple inventory problems are examples of _____ tasks.

Structured

_____ decisions can be automated because a well-defined standard operating procedure exists for these types of decisions.

Structured

In the decision support system (DSS) environment, a _____ focuses on how the DSS is implemented and usually addresses questions about data storage, file structure, user access, response time, and security measures.

Technical Designer

A database management system (DBMS) is used for creating, modifying, and maintaining the database in a decision support system (DSS).

True

A decision support system (DSS) can do a follow-up assessment on how well a solution is performing.

True

A decision support system (DSS) should incorporate the human element as well as hardware and software.

True

A decision support system (DSS) should use both internal and external data.

True

A decision support system (DSS) uses the what-if analysis feature to support decision making.

True

A geographic information system (GIS) can integrate maps and database data with queries.

True

An executive information system (EIS) includes statistical analysis techniques for summarizing and structuring data.

True

Criteria are goals and objectives that decision makers establish in order to achieve certain performance levels.

True

Each type of management support system is designed with its own goals and objectives.

True

Exception or variance reporting is a useful technique that managers use to flag data that is unusual or out of normal boundaries.

True

Executive information system (EIS) designers should focus on simplicity when developing a user interface.

True

Improving communication and expediting learning are among the main objectives of a decision support system (DSS).

True

In a decision support system (DSS), a model base management system (MBMS) performs tasks similar to a database management system (DBMS) in accessing, maintaining, and updating models in the model base.

True

In the context of electronic meeting systems, the main drawback of video teleconferencing is that participants cannot share text and graphics.

True

When benefits are intangible, the design team should associate the benefit with a measurable factor, such as increased sales.

True

Research and development is an example of a(n) _____ decision.

Unstructured

Resolving conflicts between two divisions is a type of _____ decision at the tactical management level.

Unstructured

Setting queue priorities is a type of _____ decision at the operational management level.

Unstructured

_____ decisions are typically one-time decisions, with no standard operating procedure pertaining to them.

Unstructured

Tracking changes in ridership on mass-transit systems is a part of the _____ geographic information system (GIS) application.

Urban Planning

_____ comprise the most important category of roles in a decision support system (DSS) environment because they are the ones using the DSS.

Users

The _____ module of an executive information system (EIS) is responsible for managing data access.

Administrative

Which of the following geographic objects of a geographic information system (GIS) is most likely used to show a particular zip code or a large tourist attraction?

Areas

The _____ phase of the decision-making process starts with analyzing each alternative and its relationship to the criteria to determine whether it is feasible.

Choice