MIS CHAPTER 1

72) Data needs to be just barely ________. A) sufficient B) expensive C) timely D) available

A) sufficient

22) In a job interview, Roy is asked to use a product that he has never used before and is unfamiliar with its functioning. Which of the following skills is the interviewer trying to test? A) systems thinking B) abstract reasoning C) collaboration skills D) ability to experiment

D) ability to experiment

80) List the characteristics of good data.

The characteristics of good data are accurate, timely, relevant (to context and to subject), just barely sufficient, and worth its costs.

15) ________ is the ability to model the components of a unit to connect the inputs and outputs among those components into a sensible whole that reflects the structure and dynamics of the phenomenon observed. A) Systems thinking B) Collaboration C) Adaptive learning D) Critical reasoning

A) Systems thinking

81) In the Digital Revolution, what new capability could devices possess? A) The ability to share data among themselves. B) The ability to ask for help. C) The ability to be used in school. D) The ability to choose to send analog signals

A) The ability to share data among themselves.

4) Which of the following is a reason why Introduction to MIS is the most important course in the business school today? A) They need to be able to assess, evaluate, and apply emerging information technology to business. B) They have to concentrate more on developing routine skills than nonroutine skills. C) They need to be able to develop better communication and information technologies. D) They no longer need to focus on skills such as abstract reasoning and collaboration.

A) They need to be able to assess, evaluate, and apply emerging information technology to business.

21) Marketing managers planning to use new social networking technologies to strengthen their market presence are portraying their ________. A) ability to experiment B) routine skills C) collaboration skills D) ability to outsource work

A) ability to experiment

17) In a job interview, Lillian is asked to be part of a three-member group and design a mock business process based on the strengths and skills of the group's members. In this case, which of the following skills is the interviewer trying to test? A) collaboration B) cognitive acceleration C) systems thinking D) facilitation

A) collaboration

18) Patricia, the marketing manager of a manufacturing firm, plans new marketing strategies with the help of her subordinates by providing and receiving critical feedback. Patricia is displaying effective ________. A) collaboration B) cognitive acceleration C) virtualization D) abstraction

A) collaboration

74) The future belongs to business people who can ________. A) creatively envision new applications of information systems and technology B) buy the most expensive data C) recite Bell's Law D) use whatever their Manager tells them to use effectively

A) creatively envision new applications of information systems and technology

102) All of the following are ancillary functions you may have as a manager concerning the use of information systems except ________. A) developing the code for the new system B) protecting the security of the system C) protecting the data of the system D) complete tasks to help recover the system should it fail

A) developing the code for the new syste

69) All of these are characteristics of good data except ________. A) free B) accurate C) timely D) relevant

A) free

45) In a grocery store, a clerk uses a barcode scanner to read the barcode on an item. Which of the following components of an information system includes this scanning device? A) hardware B) software C) data D) procedure

A) hardware

41) Which of the following components distinguishes information system from information technology? A) people B) procedure C) software D) hardware

A) people

48) Which of the following is a critical responsibility of business professionals in using information systems? A) protecting the security of a system and its data B) reprogramming a system to meet changing needs C) creating and modifying a system's databases D) building and configuring additional networks

A) protecting the security of a system and its data

42) A group of components that interact to achieve some purpose is referred to as a(n) ________. A) system B) element C) unit D) entity

A) system

92) Since 1990, the most significant determinant of employment and salary is ________ A) the nature of work performed B) education C) industry D) ethical behavior

A) the nature of work performed

33) What is abstract reasoning?

Abstract reasoning is the ability to make and manipulate models. Constructing a model from the five components of an information system is an example of abstract reasoning.

99) Why is Metcalfe's Law a fundamental force changing digital devices?

Another fundamental force that is changing digital devices is Metcalfe's Law, named after Robert Metcalfe, the inventor of Ethernet. Metcalfe's Law states that the value of a network is equal to the square of the number of users connected to it. In other words, as more digital devices are connected together; the value of that network will increase. Metcalfe's Law can be clearly seen in the dramatic rise of the Internet in the 1990s. As more users gained access to the Internet, it became more valuable. The dot-com boom ushered in tech giants like Google, Amazon, and eBay. None of these companies would have existed without large numbers of users connected to the Internet. Metcalfe's Law isn't lost on tech companies, either. Google's Project Loon is

12) Which of the following is an impact of rapid technological change on job security? A) Routine skills have more demand. B) Nonroutine cognitive skills have gained more market value. C) Nonroutine jobs are outsourced, thus reducing the need of an in-house workforce. D) Routine skills are no longer required to complete a task.

B) Nonroutine cognitive skills have gained more market value.

70) Which of the following information examples is useless as it relates to timely data? A) A customer's bad credit report checked before an item is shipped out. B) The monthly January report arriving in July. C) The ability to view how often a customer clicked on a Web ad. D) A report revealing spelling errors in an ad before the ad is printed.

B) The monthly January report arriving in July.

3) Which of the following is a result of Moore's law? A) The risk of technology becoming obsolete has decreased. B) The price to performance ratio of computers has fallen dramatically. C) The outsourcing of nonroutine skills has increased drastically. D) The cost of data processing has increased considerably.

B) The price to performance ratio of computers has fallen dramatically.

40) Which of the following statements is TRUE about information systems? A) They can be bought off the shelf. B) They are a group of components that produce information. C) They drive the development of information technology. D) They are not susceptible to the changing needs of the market.

B) They are a group of components that produce information.

13) Which of the following statements is TRUE of nonroutine cognitive skills? A) They have become less marketable. B) They increase an individual's job security. C) They do not experience the impact of technological changes. D) They are usually outsourced by organizations to the lowest bidder.

B) They increase an individual's job security

89) All of the following are strong nonroutine cognitive skills except ________ . A) the ability to experiment B) concrete reasoning C) systems thinking D) collaboration

B) concrete reasoning

44) The five-component framework of an information system consists of computer hardware, software, data, people, and ________. A) documents B) procedures C) objectives D) results

B) procedures

95) Whatever career you choose you must ________ systems development. A) know how much it costs to create a B) take an active role in C) wait for the D) know how to create

B) take an active role in

37) The mismatch between the high level of tech skills demanded by employers and the low level of tech skills held by employees is known as________ A) the digital divide B) the technology skills gap C) non-tech savvy D) abstract skills

B) the technology skills gap

73) All of the following are factors in the cost of acquiring data except ________. A) developing an information system B) the time of day the data is produced C) costs of maintaining a system D) salary of the person reading the data

B) the time of day the data is produced

100) All of the following are true of experimentation except ________ . A) evaluate all of the possibilities. B) whenever an idea pops in your head throw lots of money at it to see if it works C) create promising new alternatives D) reasonable analyze every opportunity

B) whenever an idea pops in your head throw lots of money at it to see if it works

97) What is Google's Project Loon? A) A way to deliver Microsoft Office to the major companies. B) A law to describe the why processing power is so expensive. C) An effort to bring the Internet access to everyone on the planet. D) A nickname for the Information Age.

C) An effort to bring the Internet access to everyone on the planet.

64) What is one indication that a presented graph is information? A) If the dog learns from the printed graph it is information. B) The graph is information. C) Because the graph is in the mind of a human, it is information. D) Graphs are never information.

C) Because the graph is in the mind of a human, it is information.

82) The conversion from analog to digital equipment is known as the ________. A) Information Age B) Bells Law C) Digital Revolution D) Digital Age

C) Digital Revolution

16) Which of the following best describes collaboration? A) It is the ability of an individual to model the components of the system, to connect the inputs and outputs among those components into a sensible whole that reflects the structure and dynamics of the phenomenon observed. B) It is the ability to assess, evaluate, and apply emerging information technology to business. C) It is the activity of two or more people working together to achieve a common goal, result, or work product. D) It is the activity of constructing or modifying models with the help of one's nonroutine cognitive skills.

C) It is the activity of two or more people working together to achieve a common goal, result, or work product.

75) Joshua, the CEO of Dunk, Inc., wanted to view the sales by region. His assistant gave him a 100-page report. Joshua could not find the information because the report was not ________. A) sufficient B) timely C) relevant D) too expensive

C) relevant

43) Which of the following is an example of a hardware component of an information system? A) Web browser B) operating system C) storage disk D) data file

C) storage disk

35) What is collaboration? How can one ensure effective collaboration?

Collaboration is the activity of two or more people working together to achieve a common goal, result, or work product. It means to develop ideas and plans with others in a team and to provide and receive critical feedback. Effective collaboration is not about being nice. Surveys indicate the single most important skill for effective collaboration is to give and receive critical feedback.

65) Why is it not a good idea to tell someone "Look, it's right there in front of you, in the data". A) Because the data might be outdated. B) Because information is not always accurate. C) Because the other person may be color blind and can not view the colors in the document. D) Because people perceive different information from the same data.

D) Because people perceive different information from the same data.

71) Data should be relevant both to the ________ and ________. A) time; cost B) department; division C) CEO; manager D) context; subject

D) context; subject

19) Which of the following is necessary for effective collaboration? A) modeling the components of a system B) focusing on individual goals C) proper division of tasks D) giving and receiving critical feedback

D) giving and receiving critical feedback

85) What is a primary metric for social media companies? A) number of subscribers B) advertising revenue C) number of active posts (NAP) D) monthly active users (MAU)

D) monthly active users (MAU)

90) Describe what causes many good people with good ideas to not try their idea.

Fear of failure: the fear that paralyzes so many good people and so many ideas. Some people are afraid to experiment with their ideas. Successful experimentation is not throwing buckets of money at every idea. Experimentation is making a reasoned analysis of an opportunity, envisioning potential solutions, evaluating those possibilities, and developing the most promising ones.

60) Explain the management and use of information systems.

Information systems must be developed, maintained and, because business is dynamic, they must be adapted to new requirements. To create an information system that meets specific needs, one will have to take an active role in that system's development. In addition to management tasks, he or she will also have important roles to play in the use of information systems. For example, when using an information system, there will be responsibilities for protecting the security of the system and its data. One may also have tasks for backing up data.

56) Explain the difference and the relationship between information technology (IT) and information systems (IS).

Information technology and information systems are two closely related terms, but they are different. Information technology (IT) refers to the products, methods, inventions, and standards that are used for the purpose of producing information. IT pertains to the hardware, software, and data components. An information system (IS) is an assembly of hardware, software, data, procedures, and people that produces information. Information technology drives the development of new information systems. Users can buy IT; they can buy or lease hardware, they can license programs and databases, and they can even obtain predesigned procedures. Ultimately, however, it is the people who execute those procedures to employ the new IT. For any new system, users will always have training tasks (and costs), they will always have the need to overcome employees' resistance to change, and they will always need to manage the employees as they use the new system. Hence, one can buy IT, but not IS.

10) Define Moore's Law and explain how the phenomenon described by it affects business.

Moore's Law states that the number of transistors per square inch on an integrated chip doubles every 18 months. The more common version of this is expressed as, "The speed of a computer chip doubles every 18 months," which is incorrect. Due to the impact of Moore's Law, the price to performance ratio of computers has fallen dramatically. Moore's Law is the principal reason why data storage and data transmission are essentially free today. New businesses like YouTube and Facebook have taken advantage of the opportunities offered by this development.

34) What is systems thinking?

Systems thinking is the ability to model the components of a system, to connect the inputs and outputs among those components into a sensible whole that reflects the structure and dynamics of the phenomenon observed. It shows how components' inputs and outputs relate to one another.

23) T or F: The knowledge of managing information systems can lead to greater job security.

TRUE

25) Strong nonroutine cognitive skills are more in demand than routine skills.

TRUE

26) Abstract reasoning is one of the components of strong nonroutine cognitive skills.

TRUE

28) The fear that paralyzes so many good people and so many good ideas is called fear of failure.

TRUE

29) Professionals in the 21st century need to be able to experiment in order to have greater job security.

TRUE

49) T or F: Information systems and information technology are not the same.

TRUE

51) T or F: An information system is a group of components that interact to produce information.

TRUE

52) T or F: The methods used to start a program and save a file are referred to as procedures.

TRUE

53) T or F: Building information systems requires many different skills besides those of programmers.

TRUE

55) T or F: Information systems should be created by a business only if they help achieve the strategies of that business.

TRUE

76) T or F: The higher you rise in management, the more data you will need to ignore.

TRUE

79) T or F: Timely information is available in time for its intended use.

TRUE

8) T or F: Future business professionals need to be able to apply information technology to business.

TRUE

83) T or F: Kryder's law states that storage density on magnetic disks is increasing at an exponential rate.

TRUE

91) T or F: Understanding technology and having a willingness to learn new tech skills will be increasingly important if you want to stay employed in the future.

TRUE

94) T or F: Every system whether simple or complex uses the five-component framework model.

TRUE

98) T or F: MIS allows us to understand why executives are constantly trying to find ways to use new technology to create a sustainable competitive advantage.

TRUE

84) What is the Information Age?

We are now living in the Information Age. This is a period in history where the production, distribution, and control of information are the primary drivers of the economy. The Information Age started in the 1970s with the Digital Revolution.

61) What are the points that one should keep in mind when deciding to implement a management information system (MIS)?

When deciding to implement an MIS, one needs to keep in mind that information systems are not created for exploring technology. They are not created so that the company can be "modern" or so that the company can show it has a social networking presence on the Web. They are not created because the information systems (IS) department thinks they need to be created or because the company is "falling behind the technology curve." Information systems exist to help people who work in a business to achieve the strategies of that business.

101) List the reasons why the bottom line us this MIS course in the most important in the business school?

1. It will give you the background you need to assess, evaluate, and apply emerging information systems technology to business. 2. It can give you the ultimate in job security—marketable skills—by helping you learn abstraction, systems thinking, collaboration, and experimentation. 3. Many well-paid MIS-related jobs are in high demand.

59) Define management information system. What are the key elements of its definition?

A management information system is the management and use of information systems that help businesses achieve their strategies. This definition has three key elements: management and use, information systems, and strategies.

32) What is a marketable skill?

A marketable skill used to be that one could name particular skills, such as computer programming, tax accounting, or marketing, as examples of marketable skills. But today, because of Moore's Law, because the cost of data processing, storage, and communications is essentially zero, any routine skill can and will be outsourced to the lowest bidder. One has to develop strong nonroutine cognitive skills to be more successful and such skills are called marketable skills. Abstract reasoning, systems thinking, collaboration, and the ability to experiment are also classified as marketable skills.

57) Describe an information system.

A system is a group of components that interact to achieve some purpose. An information system (IS) is a group of components that interact to produce information. An IS is based on the five-component framework of computer hardware, software, data, procedures, and people. These five components are present in every information system—from the most simple to the most complex.

14) ________ is the ability to make and manipulate models. A) Abstract reasoning B) Cognitive acceleration C) Adaptive learning D) Holacracy

A) Abstract reasoning

87) Which task is an example of abstract reasoning? A) Construct a model. B) Model systems components. C) Provide critical feedback. D) Test new alternatives.

A) Construct a model.

20) ________ is making a reasoned analysis of an opportunity, envisioning potential solutions, evaluating those possibilities, and developing the most promising ones, consistent with the available resources. A) Experimentation B) Abstraction C) Systems thinking D) Collaboration

A) Experimentation

62) Which choice is not considered a definition of "information" A) Information is recorded facts or figures. B) Information is derived from data. C) Information is data presented in a meaningful context. D) Information is a difference that makes a difference.

A) Information is recorded facts or figures.

39) ________ refers to the products, methods, inventions, and standards that are used to produce information. A) Information technology B) Information processing C) Simulation D) Product specification

A) Information technology

63) ________ is defined as recorded facts or figures A) Information B) Data C) Information system D) Procedure

B) Data

46) Which of the following statements is TRUE about the management and use of information systems? A) An employee must be a programmer to manage information systems. B) Information systems must be adapted to new requirements. C) Information systems need not be maintained after development. D) Organizations with dynamic business environments do not use information systems.

B) Information systems must be adapted to new requirements

2) Which of the following statements is TRUE of Moore's Law? A) It is based on the technological advancements in weapon manufacturing. B) It made the cost of data processing, communications, and storage essentially zero. C) It states that the total number of transistors produced in the world doubles every 18 months. D) It has made the use of transistors obsolete.

B) It made the cost of data processing, communications, and storage essentially zero.

6) Which of the following laws speaks about the storage density on magnetic disks? A) Metcalfe's Law B) Kryder's Law C) Nielsen's Law D) Moore's Law

B) Kryder's Law

5) ________ states that the value of a network is equal to the square of the number of users connected to it. A) Kryder's Law B) Metcalfe's Law C) Moore's Law D) Nielsen's Law

B) Metcalfe's Law

1) The number of transistors per square inch on an integrated chip doubles every 18 months. This observation is known as ________ Law. A) Murphy's B) Moore's C) Amdahl's D) Metcalfe's

B) Moore's

47) Why is it important for business professionals to take an active role in developing and managing information systems? A) They know how to create a database and configure computers. B) They are the people who know how to build networks. C) They know whether a system meets their needs and requirements. D) They are the lone users of information systems.

C) They know whether a system meets their needs and requirements.

86) Why did Amanda lose her job at eHermes? A) because of a downturned economy B) because she did not agree with Joni C) because she did not experiment with any ideas D) because the company moved to another city

C) because she did not experiment with any ideas

96) What does an organization themselves do? A) create products B) create services C) nothing D) build information systems

C) nothing

11) As the cost of data processing, storage, and communications is essentially zero, any routine skill can and will be ________. A) considered a nonroutine cognitive skill B) a strong marketable skill C) outsourced to the lowest bidder D) sufficient to attain job security

C) outsourced to the lowest bidder

36) What is experimentation? Explain its importance.

Experimentation is making a reasoned analysis of an opportunity, envisioning potential solutions, evaluating those possibilities, and developing the most promising ones, consistent with the resources one has. Fear of failure paralyzes many good people and many good ideas. This can be overcome by having the ability to experiment.

103) T or F: A great reason to build to develop an information system is because everyone is doing it.

FALSE

24) A marketable skill has no impact on job security.

FALSE

27) Critical feedback undermines collaboration.

FALSE

30) Successful experimentation is characterized by the investment of huge sums of money at every idea that enters one's head.

FALSE

31) When a user is provided with an unfamiliar program and asked to use it, he or she is being tested on their ability to collaborate effectively.

FALSE

38) T or F: According to the Accenture, CEOs plan to use less artificial intelligence (AI) for automation.

FALSE

50) T or F: Information systems can be bought, whereas information technology cannot be bought.

FALSE

54) T or F: The use of information systems is restricted to the field of business.

FALSE

66) T or F: The definition for information is easy to define.

FALSE

67) T or F: Everyone views data as the same and will make the same conclusions.

FALSE

7) T or F: Moore's Law states that the speed of a computer doubles every 18 months.

FALSE

77) T or F: Data is free.

FALSE

78) T or F: When you begin using a new system you can be confident the data produced is accurate.

FALSE

88) T or F: Effective collaboration is about being nice.

FALSE

9) T or F: The number of businesses adopting new technologies has seen a downfall over the years.

FALSE

58) Describe the five components of an information system using an example.

The five components of an information system are computer hardware, software, data, procedures, and people. For example, when one uses a computer to write a class report, he or she is using hardware (the computer, storage disk, keyboard, and monitor), software (Word, WordPerfect, or some other word-processing program), data (the words, sentences, and paragraphs in his or her report), procedures (the methods he or she uses to start the program, enter his or her report, print it, and save and back up his or her file), and people (an individual).

68) Why are humans the most important part of any information system you use when it comes to information?

The quality of your thinking, of your ability to conceive information from data, is determined by your cognitive skills. The data is just the data; the information you conceive from it is the value you add to the information system.