chapter 12

MIS typically produce: A) new ways of looking at data that emphasize change, flexibility, and rapid response. B) fixed, regularly scheduled reports based on data extracted from the organization's TPS .C) solutions to semi-structured problems appropriate for middle management decision making. D) assumptions, responses to ad-hoc queries, and graphic representations of existing data. E) scorecards of overall firm performance along predefined key indicators.

B) fixed, regularly scheduled reports based on data extracted from the organization's TPS

Which of the following is not one of the seven major factors that should be addressed when making the business case for a specific new information system? A) Improved decision making B) Survival C) Results of a portfolio analysis of alternative solutions D) Customer and supplier relationships E) New products and services

C) Results of a portfolio analysis of alternative solutions

A business case does all of the following except: A) describe the rationale for proceeding with an investment. B) show how the investment supports the firm's strategic goals. C) detail the specific hardware and software needed to implement the investment. D) explain how the investment will provide value for the business. E) identify any risks that could negatively affect outcomes.

C) detail the specific hardware and software needed to implement the investment.

Which of the following is a limitation of using a financial approach to evaluate information systems? A) Inability to measure ROI B) Inability to control vendor costs C) Inability to assess risk D) Inability to assess costs from organizational disruption E) Inability to assess the cost of technology

D) Inability to assess costs from organizational disruption

Which of the following statements best describes the business value of improved decision making at all levels of a firm? A) Improved decision making creates better products. B) Improved decision making results in a large monetary value for the firm as numerous small daily decisions affecting efficiency, production, costs, and more add up to large annual values. C) Improved decision making enables senior executives to more accurately foresee future financial trends. D) Improved decision making strengthens customer and supplier intimacy, which reduces costs. E) Improved decision making creates a better organizational culture.

B) Improved decision making results in a large monetary value for the firm as numerous small daily decisions affecting efficiency, production, costs, and more add up to large annual values

The role of spokesperson falls into which of Mintzberg's managerial classifications? A) Decisional B) Informational C) Interpersonal D) Symbolic E) Organizationa

B) Informational

Which of the following best describes the central method used in a scoring model? A) Performing an inventory of all of the organization's information systems projects and assets B) Performing a weighted comparison of the criteria used to evaluate a system C) Surveying a large sample of managers on their objectives, decision-making process, and uses and needs for data and information D) Interviewing a small number of top managers to identify their goals and criteria for achieving success E) Calculating the return on investment for each system, and choosing the system with the best return

B) Performing a weighted comparison of the criteria used to evaluate a system

Which of the following statements best describes the effect that project structure has on overall project risk? A) Highly structured projects are more complex and run a higher risk of programmers and users misunderstanding the ultimate goals. B) Projects with relatively undefined goals are more likely to be subjected to users changing requirements and to run a higher risk of not satisfying project goals. C) Highly structured projects tend to be larger, affecting more organizational units, and run both the risk of out-of-control costs and becoming too difficult to control. D) Less structured projects pose less risk of running up unforeseen costs. E) The less structured a project, the higher the likelihood that its outputs and processes can be easily defined.

B) Projects with relatively undefined goals are more likely to be subjected to users changing requirements and to run a higher risk of not satisfying project goals.

As discussed in the chapter text, the three main reasons that investments in information technology do not always produce positive results are: A) management support, technical logistics, and user compliance. B) organization, environment, culture. C) information quality, information integrity, and information accuracy. D) information quality, organizational culture, and management filters. E) organization, culture, and technology.

D) information quality, organizational culture, and management filters.

Location analytics can be used for all of the following except: A) helping a marketer to determine which people to target with mobile ads. B) quantifying the impact of mobile ads on in-store visits. C) package tracking and delivery routing systems. D) determining where to open a new store. E) determining call center resolution rates.

E) determining call center resolution rates.

A well-designed ESS helps senior executives do all of the following except: A) monitor organizational performance. B) track the activity of competitors. C) recognize changing market conditions D) identify problems and opportunities. E) make high-velocity automated decisions.

E) make high-velocity automated decisions.

A benefit of using TCO analysis to evaluate an information technology investment is that it is able to incorporate intangible and "soft" factors such as benefits and complexity costs. T/F

False

When there is no well-understood or agreed-on procedure for making a decision, it is said to be :A) undocumented. B) unstructured. C) documented. D) semistructured. E) random.

unstructured

Which of the following is not one of the five observed ways in which managerial behavior differs from the classical description of managers? A) Managers perform a great deal of work at an unrelenting pace .B) Most managerial activities take at least one hour to perform. C) Managers prefer current, specific, ad hoc information. D) Managers prefer oral forms of communication .E) Managers give high priority to maintaining a diverse web of contacts

.B) Most managerial activities take at least one hour to perform.

The concept of management ________ involves situations in which managers act on preconceived notions that reject information that does not conform to their prior conceptions. A) filters B) backgrounds C) inertia D) inefficiency E) politics

A) FIlters

Which of the following strategies represents the proper approach to a low risk, high reward project? A) Identify and develop B) Avoid C) Treat as a routine project D) Pursue after all other projects are complete E) Cautiously examine

A) Identify and Develop

To review a project's tasks and their interrelationships, you would use which of the following? A) PERT chart B) Gantt chart C) PERT chart or a Gantt chart D) Scoring model E) Portfolio analysis

A) PERT chart

Which of the following typically makes the unstructured decisions for a firm? A) Senior management B) Middle management C) Operational management D) Individual employees E) Teams

A) Senior Management

The leading methodology for understanding the really important information needed by a firm's executives is called the ________ method. A) digital dashboard B) balanced scorecard C) KPID) data visualization E) predictive analytics

B) balanced scorecard

Checking store inventory is an example of a(n) ________ decision .A) procedural B) structured C) ad hoc D) unstructured E) semistructured

B) structured

Which of the following best describes the relationship between system implementation and user involvement and management support? A) System implementation rarely benefits from user involvement. B) System implementation benefits from user support but does not require management support. C) System implementation generally benefits from high levels of user involvement and management support. D) System implementation benefits from management support but does not require user support. E) System implementation rarely benefits from management support.

C) System implementation generally benefits from high levels of user involvement and management support.

Which of the following statements best describes the term business intelligence? A) Software developed exclusively for business management B) The tools and techniques used to analyze and understand business data C) The infrastructure for warehousing, integrating, reporting, and analyzing business data D) Information systems involved in business decision making E) Enterprise systems used to make business decisions

C) The infrastructure for warehousing, integrating, reporting, and analyzing business data

Predictive analytics is used for all of the following except: A) anticipating customer response to price changes. B) identifying the most profitable customers. C) performing a bills of material analysis. D) establishing consumer credit scores. E) forecasting driver safety.

C) performing a bills of material analysis.

All of the following are intangible benefits of information systems except: A) improved asset utilization. B) increased organizational learning. C) improved operations. D) cost reduction. E) improved decision making.

D) Cost reduction

All of the following are long-term strategic factors that should be considered in making the business case for a new information system except: A) lowering production costs B) differentiation of products and services C) increasing the scope of the firm D) current relationships with suppliers E) matching or exceeding competitor capabilities

D) current relationships with suppliers

All of the following are indications of a failed information systems project except: A) employees are refusing to switch to the new system. B) employees have created a spreadsheet solution to manipulate the data generated by the system .C) a redesigned website has fewer visits to the customer support pages. D) employees require training to properly use the system. E) the system is not being used by anyone.

D) employees require training to properly use the system.

The CEO and Board of Directors of a company are responsible for developing a corporate-wide information systems plan. T/F

False

Measures defined by management and used to internally evaluate the success of a firm's financial, business process, customer, and learning and growth are called: A) benchmarks. B) KPIs. C) the balanced scorecard method. D) BPM. E) parameters.

B) KPIs

Which method is used to assign weights to various features of a system? A) Information systems plan B) Scoring model C) Portfolio analysis D) TCO analysis E) Capital budget

B) Scoring Model

Counterimplementation is best defined as: A) multiple implementations that are run in parallel. B) deliberate attempts to thwart the implementation of a system. C) critiquing the implementation of a system constructively. D) all of the organizational challenges involved in implementing a system. E) strategies used to overcome user resistance to change.

B) deliberate attempts to thwart the implementation of a system.

Formal planning and control tools: A) are used to select projects where many criteria must be considered. B) enable a project manager to properly document and monitor project plans. C) are used to evaluate alternative systems projects. D) link the work of the implementation team with users at all organization levels. E) serve as a road map indicating the direction of systems development.

B) enable a project manager to properly document and monitor project plans.

Which of the following statements about project management is not true? A) Project management should ensure that the scope of a project does not expand beyond what was originally intended. B) Project management for information systems must deal with risk. C) Acquiring human and material resources is not considered to be part of project management. D) Information system project costs include the cost of works space. E) Project management involves breaking down each of the major components of a project into activities and tasks.

C) Acquiring human and material resources is not considered to be part of project management.

Which of the following is not a tangible benefit of information systems? A) Reduced rate of growth in expenses B) Lower computer expenses C) Improved resource control D) Increased productivity E) Reduced facility costs

C) Improved resource control

Which of the following serves as a road map indicating the direction of systems development, the rationale, the current systems, new developments to consider, the management strategy, the implementation plan, and the budget? A) Project management plan B) Portfolio analysis C) Information systems plan D) Scoring model E) TCO analysis

C) Information systems plan

Which method would you use to develop risk profiles for a firm's information system projects and assets? A) Information systems plan B) Scoring model C) Portfolio analysis D) TCO analysis E) Strategic analysis

C) Portfolio Analysis

The ________ phase of decision making involves identifying and exploring various solutions to a problem. A) choice B) design C) implementation D) analysis E) intelligence

B) Design

Which type of planning tool shows each task as a horizontal bar whose length is proportional to the time required to complete it? A) PERT chart B) Gantt chart C) Both a PERT chart and a Gannt chart D) Scoring model E) Portfolio analysis

B) Gantt Chart

The data-driven farming systems described in the chapter-opening case are an example of operational intelligence. T/F

True

The design of jobs, health issues, and the end-user interface of information systems are all considerations in the field of ergonomics. T/F

True

The relationship between users and information systems specialists has traditionally been a problem area for information systems implementation efforts. T/F

True

You are a senior manager at a mid-sized regional retail chain. The company's IT manager approaches you with a project that would completely overhaul the company's information system infrastructure, generating significant risk; but if executed successfully, would dramatically improve the company's overall efficiency. How should you proceed?

Using the portfolio analysis approach, this type of project is a high-risk, high-reward project, and should be considered carefully. Student answers may vary about how to proceed, but should involve mention of a scoring model to compare the system to other choices and soliciting input from employees across many areas of the firm to determine their willingness to take on risk and endure organizational change.

Which type of decision is determining vacation eligibility for an employee? A) Semistructured B) Procedural C) Structured D) Unstructured E) Ad hoc

C) Structured

Which of the following statements about scoring models is not true?A) There are many qualitative judgments involved in using a scoring model. B) A scoring model is useful for selecting projects where many criteria must be considered .C) The most important outcome of a scoring model is the score. D) Agreement on the criteria used in a scoring model often requires lengthy discussions among the decision-making group. E) Weights assigned in a scoring model indicate which criteria are considered the most important by the decision-making group.

C) The most important outcome of a scoring model is the score.

According to Mintzberg, managers in their informational role act as: A) figureheads for the organization. B) leaders. C) nerve centers of the organization .D) negotiators. E) liaisons.

C) nerve centers of the organization

Establishing a firm's long-term goals is an example of a(n) ________ decision. A) structured B) analytic C) semistructured D) undocumented E) unstructured

E) Unstructured

A Gantt chart portrays a project as a network diagram consisting of numbered nodes representing project tasks. T/F

False

Which of the following is not one of the five classical functions of managers? A) Creating B) Deciding C) Planning D) Organizing E) Controlling

A) Creating

A data entry screen is an example of a user interface. T/F

True

A semistructured decision is one in which only part of the problem has a clear-cut answer provided by an accepted procedure. T/F

True

Risk is an important variable that project management must deal with. T/F

True

Some decision scenarios made by middle managers may have unstructured components. T/F

True

Differentiate between intangible and tangible benefits and list three examples of each. In what types of systems are tangible benefits more predominant?

Tangible benefits can be quantified and given a monetary value. For example, a monetary value can be given to increased productivity, lower operational costs, reduced workforce, lower computer expenses, lower outside vendor costs, lower clerical and professional costs, reduced rate of growth in expenses, and reduced facility, telecommunications, software, services, and personnel costs. Transactional and clerical systems that displace labor and save space always produce more measurable, tangible benefits than management information systems, decision support systems, and systems for collaborative work. Intangible benefits cannot be immediately quantified but may lead to quantifiable gains in the long run, such as higher sales. Examples of intangible benefits include: improved asset utilization, resource control, organizational planning, decision making, operations, increased flexibility, learning, job satisfaction, client satisfaction, employee goodwill, more timely information and more information, the fulfillment of legal requirements and a better corporate image

Explain why even well-designed information systems do not always help improve a firm's decision making.

There are three main reasons that implementing a well-designed information system might not result in better decisions. First, a high-quality decision requires high-quality information. If the data input into the system does not have a high degree of accuracy, lacks data integrity, is not consistent, is incomplete, is not valid, is not available when needed, and/or is not accessible, then the quality of the output of the system will be impacted and will degrade the quality of decisions made based on that output. Second, management filters can also stymie good decision making—a manager who has a bias against some types of activities or solutions, or is overly optimistic or pessimistic will make decisions that are skewed towards their own perspective rather than actual facts. Finally, organizational inertia and politics can hamper decision making. Information systems can require organizational change in roles and business processes that employees want to resist; or a system can produce information that suggests that a change is necessary but employees ignore it in order to maintain the status quo in roles and responsibilities.

An information systems plan contains a statement of corporate goals and specifies how information technology will support the attainment of those goals. T/F

True

An unstructured decision is novel and important and requires the decision maker to provide judgment, evaluation, and insight. T/F

True

Big data is used to analyze consumer preferences for both in-store and online purchases. T/F

True

Data visualization technologies are used to help human users see patterns and relationships in large amounts of data. T/F

True

Experts from a variety of fields have found that managers are poor at assessing risk. T/F

True

Intangible benefits may lead to quantifiable gains in the long run T/F

True

KPIs are used both in the balanced scorecard framework and BPM. T/F

True

More timely information is an intangible benefit of information systems. T/F

True

Project management refers to the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to achieve specific targets within specified budget and time constraints. T/F

True