EXAM 1: ch 1 & 2
2d) Describe the characteristics of executive support systems (ESS) and explain how these systems differ from DSS.
executive support system address non-routine decisions requiring judgement, evaluation, and insight because there is no agreed-on procedure for arriving at a solution. ESS presents graphs and data from many sources through an interface that is easy for senior management to use. The DSS focus on problems that are unique and rapidly changing, for which the procedure for arriving at a solution may not fully predefined in advance. Its used to answer "What would happen if..." questions about a company
2f) Define enterprise systems, supply chain management systems, customer relationship management systems, and knowledge management systems and describe their business benefits.
-Enterprise systems are large scale application software packages that support business process. - Supply chain management systems are the oversight of materials, information, and finances as they move in a process from supplier to manufacturer to wholesaler to retailer to consumer. - Customer Relationship management is a term that refers to practices, strategies and technologies that companies use to manage and analyze customer interactions. - Knowledge management systems are refer to any kind of IT system that stores and retrieves knowledge, improves collaboration, locates knowledge sources.
1e) List and describe six reasons why information systems are so important for business today.
1) Operational Excellence: Improving the efficiency of business operations in order to achieve higher profabiliity 2.) New Product, Services, and Business Models: Info systems are a major enabling tool in helping business create new products and services, as well as entirely new business models. 3.) Customer and Supplier Intimacy : Customers who are well known will generally respond by returning and purchasing more. This raises revenue and profit. 4.) Improved Decision Making: Allows managers to use real time data from the marketplace when making decisions. 5.) Competitive Advantage: When a business have a leg up on its competitors. All major market leaders use information systems to their advantage. 6.) Survival: Business firms also invest in information systems and technologies because they are necessities of doing business.
1d) Describe the challenges and opportunities of globalization in a "flattened" world.
Challenges of a "flattened" world is many advanced countries have had a reduced economic and cultural advantages and many countries are suffering economically. A growing percentage of economies are dependent on imports and exports and jobs are moving across borders. However, some opportunities in the U.S. in a non-recession year can create 3.5 million new jobs. Also, outsourcing has actually accelerated the development of new systems in the U.S. and worldwide.
3a) Define collaboration and social business and explain why they have become so important in business today.
Collaboration is working with others to achieve shared and explicit goals. It focuses on the task or mission accomplishment and usually takes place in a business, or other organization, and between businesses. Many businesses enhance collaboration by using something called social business. Social Business is the use of networking platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, and internal corporate social tools - to engage their employees, customers, and suppliers. The goal of social business is to deepen interactions with groups inside and outside the firm to expedite and enhance information sharing, innovation, and decision making. When you hear social business, think of the key work "conversations." Collaboration and social business are very important today than ever before. They have changed the nature of work, grow professional work, change organization of the firm, change the scope of the firm, provide emphasis on innovation, and even change the culture of work and business!
2e) Define complementary assets and describe their relationship to information technology.
Complementary assets are those assets required to derive value from a primary investment. Research indicates that firms that support their technology investments with investments in complementary assets, such as new business models and processes, receive superior returns. Ch. 1 - pg. 27/Sec. 1.2
3d) List and describe the various types of collaboration and social business tools.
E-mail and instant messaging (IM) - their software operates on computers, cell phones and other wireless devices. It includes features of sharing files and transmitting messages. Wikis- type of web site that makes it easy for users to contribute and edit text content and graphics without knowledge of Web page development or programming techniques. Virtual Worlds- online 3-D environments populated by "residents" who have built graphical representations of themselves known as avatars. Virtual Meeting Systems- a type of virtual meeting is a videoconference which allows individuals at two or more locations to communicate through two-way video and audio transmissions. Google Drive- a file storage and synchonization service for cloud storage, file sharing and collaborative editing. This is a part of Cloud Collaboration Services. Microsoft SharePoint- a browser-based collaboration and document management platform, combines with a powerful search engine that is installed on corporate servers.
4a) Describe how the information systems function supports a business.
Information systems function in a business by automating and making things easier that were previously done manually. Checking credit, creating an invoice, and shipping orders are now simple processes due to information systems. Moreover, new technologies have actually changed the flow of information and have removed steps in a business process while allowing certain tasks to now be performed simultaneously.
1a) Describe how information systems have changed the way businesses operate and their products and services.
Information systems have evolved through new, innovate business models and advancements in technology. Smartphones are an example of this - an increase in social media use on smartphones have become essential tools of business because that is where customers are located. Internet sites are also a business essential. The widespread adoption of the mobile computing platform, the growing use of "big data," and the growth in "cloud computing" where more business software runs over the internet are a few ways in which information systems have affected business products and services.
2b) Describe the characteristics of management information systems (MIS) and explain how MIS differ from TPS and from DSS.
MIS is the focus on information systems serving middle management, providing them with reports on the organizations current performance and then used to monitor and control the business. TPS and DSS differ from MIS on that TPS focuses on daily transaction activates and DSS is a support system that helps with more complex problems that can't be answered with a predefined solution.
3a) List and describe each discipline that contributes to a technical approach to information systems.
Management science emphasizes the development of models for decision-making and management practices. Computer Science is concerned with establishing theories of computability, methods of computation, and methods of efficient data storage Operations research focuses on mathematical techniques for optimizing selecting parameters of organization, such as transportation, inventory control, and transaction costs
2c) Distinguish between data and information and between information systems literacy and computer literacy.
Section 1.2 Page 16 Data is streams of raw facts representing events occurring in organizations or the physical environment before they have been organized and arranged in a useful form. Information is data that has been shaped into a meaningful and useful form for people. Section 1.2 Page 18 Information systems literacy is the broader understanding of information systems. This includes an understanding of the management and organizational dimensions of systems as well as the technical dimensions of systems. Where as computer literacy is primarily knowledge of information technology.
3b) List and describe each discipline that contributes to a behavioral approach to information systems.
Section 1.3; page 30 Sociology - Sociology has an interest in the behavioral approach to information systems because of the relationship between information systems and groups, individuals, and organizations. Specifically regarding how each influences each other's behavior Psychology - Psychology has an interest in the behavioral approach to information systems because of the impact it can have on decision making with regards to their usage of information. Economics - Economics has an interest in the behavioral approach to information systems because of the impact it can have regarding digital marketplaces and how information systems can change control and cost structures within a firm.
2f) Describe the complementary social, managerial, and organizational assets required to optimize returns from information technology investments
Social assets • supportive organizational culture that values effeciency and effectiveness • appropriate business model • effecient business processes • decentralized authority • distrubuted decision-making rights • strong IS development team Found on page 28, table 1.3 Managerial assets • Strong senior management support for technology investment and change • incentives for management innovation • teamwork and collaborative work enviornments • training programs to enhance management decision skills • management culture that values flexibilty and knowledge based decision making Social assets • The Internet and telecommunications infrastructure • IT-enriched educational programs raising labor force computer literacy • Standards (both government and private sector) • Laws and regulations creating fair, stable market enviornments technology and service firms in adjacent markets to assist implementation
1b) Identify three major new information system trends.
The three major new information system trends are: Emerging mobile digital platforms, the growth of online software as a service, and the growth of cloud computing.
2d) Explain how the Internet and the World Wide Web are related to the other technology components of information systems.
The world wide web and Internet allows you to link additional information from various locations and serve as the foundation for new kinds of information systems and allows you to build new products, services, strategies, and business models. Pg. 22 Section 1.2
1a) Define business processes and describe the role they play in organizations.
Business processes refer to the manner in which work is organized, coordinated, and focused to produce a valuable product or service. Business processes also refer to the unique ways in which organizations coordinate work, information, and knowledge, and the ways in which management chooses to coordinate work. The performance of a business firm depends on how well its business processes are designed and coordinated.
1c.) Describe the characteristics of a digital firm
1.) A digital firm is one in which nearly all of the organization's significant business relationships with customers, suppliers, and employees are digitally enabled and mediated. All aspects of the firm are internet-driven. 2.) Key corporate assets are managed through digital means, and can be accessed at any time and anywhere. 3.) Response times to changes within the environment are faster than nondigital firms. More flexible during difficult economic times. 4.) Digital firms can, "Time Shift", which refers to the ability to be able to function at all times of the day, rather than operating within a narrow window of time. 5.) Digital firms can also, "Space Shift", which refers to the ability to conduct business operations anywhere in the world, rather than being anchored to one physical location.
3c) Describe the sociotechnical perspective on information systems.
A sociotechnical systems perspective helps to avoid a purely technological approach to information systems. In example, the fact that information technology is rapidly declining in cost and growing in power does not necessarily or easily translate into productivity enhancement or bottom-line profits. Just because a firm has recently introduced new business procedures and processes does not necessarily mean employees will be more productive in the absence of investments in new information systems to enable those processes.
3c) Describe a supportive organizational culture and business processes for collaboration.
A supportive organizational culture is one that encourages and rewards employees at all levels who participate in collaborative efforts. They focus on teams and the use of horizontal communication, as opposed to the past style of "command and control" which relied on only vertical communication. Business processes for collaboration are much more social than before. "Senior management establishes collaboration and teamwork as vital to the organization, and it actually implements collaboration for the senior ranks of the business as well." (60)
2a) Define an information system and describe the activities it performs.
An information system can be defined technically as a set of interrelated components that collect (or retrieve), process, store, and distribute information to support decision making and control in an organization. In addition to supporting decision making, coordination, and control, information systems may also help managers and workers analyze problems, visualize complex subjects and create new products. Three activities in an information system produce the information that organizations need to make decisions, control operations, analyzes problems, and create new products or services. The activities are: Input - Captures or collects raw data from within the organization or from its external environment. Processing - Converts the raw input into meaningful form. Output - Transfers the processed information to the people who will use it or to the activities for which it will be used. (Section 1.2, Pages 16-17)
2e.)Explain how enterprise applications improve organizational performance.
Enterprise systems span functional areas, focus on executing business processes across the firm, and include all levels of management. They help businesses become more flexible and more productive by coordinating their business processes more closely and integrating groups of processes so they focus on efficient management or resources and customer service.
1b) Describe the relationship between information systems and business processes
On the simplest level, business processes are improved with the implementation of information systems. Information systems can: 1. Automate many steps in business processes 2. Change the flow of information (allowing many people to access the information) 3. Allow previously sequential tasks to be performed simultaneously 4. Eliminate delays in decision making. Furthermore, the use of information systems in business processes allows the use of entirely new business models such as those implemented by iTunes and Amazon. In summary, information systems allow organizations to better understand their business processes and thus provide opportunities to improve them
2a) Describe the characteristics of transaction processing systems (TPS) and the roles they play in a business.
Operational managers need systems that keep track of the elementary activities and transactions of the organization, such as sales, receipts, cash deposits, payroll, credit decisions, and the flow of materials in a factory. TPS provide this kind of information. A TPS is a computerized system that performs and records the daily routine transactions necessary to conduct business such as sales order entry, hotel reservations, payroll, employee record keeping, and shipping. P.46
2b) List and describe the organizational, management, and technology dimensions of information systems
Organizational: key elements of an organization are its people, structure, business processes, politics, and cultural. Management: make sense out of the many situations faced by organizations, make decisions, and make action plans to solve organizational problems Informational Technology: one of the many tools used to cope with change. this technology includes computer hardware, software, data management technology, ect.
2c) Describe the characteristics of decision-support systems (DSS) and how they benefit businesses.
The decision-support system focuses on problems that are unique and rapidly changing, for which the procedure for arriving at a solution may not be fully predefined in advance. They benefit business by trying to answer difficult questions like, What would be the impact on production schedules if we were to double sales in the month of December?
2g) Explain how intranets and extranets help firms integrate information and business processes.
Whenever businesses integrate their business data into a single system it can be costly and difficult to implement, but not since intranets and extranets came into the picture. Intranets and extranets are alternative tools for increasing integration and expediting the flow of information within the firm, and with customers and suppliers. Intranets are public networks that link organizations and other external networks, whereas, extranets are often used to coordinate the movement of supplies to the firm's production apparatus.
