MIS Quizzes for Exam 1

Grid computing is a type of computing in which: quantum properties, such as superposition and entanglement, are used to represent data and perform operations on these data. computer software seeks to reproduce or mimic human thought, decision making, or brain functions. microprocessors with two or more (typically lower power) calculating processor cores are fabricated on the same piece of silicon to solve multiple problems. special software is installed on several computers enabling them to work together on a common problem. computers are designed with many microprocessors that work together, simultaneously, to solve problems.

special software is installed on several computers enabling them to work together on a common problem.

The term _____ refers to computers that are among the fastest of any in the world at the time of their introduction. minisuper computers supermini computers quantum computers mainframes supercomputers

supercomputers

Zara's use of RFID tags can be considered an example of: the IoT volatile memory Kryder's law Carver Meade's Corollary

the IoT

Some of the radical changes brought about by new technologies include: the creation of an unprecedented set of security and espionage threats. an increase in computing costs owing to the growth of licensed software. a decrease in the standards of corporate ethics. the proliferation of telecommunications into the hands of a few. the stagnation of advertising.

the creation of an unprecedented set of security and espionage threats.

Computer hardware refers to: a precise set of instructions that orchestrate the functioning of the computer. the mechanism through which users interact with a computer. the physical components of information technology. handheld computing devices meant largely for mobile use outside an office setting. a program that fulfills the requests of a client.

the physical components of information technology.

Vendors who use open source as part of their product offerings can expect to bring new products to the market faster because: the large number of people who look at the code help speed up product development. open source software programming is based on simpler code than commercial products. they can skip whole segments of the software development process. the open source nature of the products ensures they don't have to conduct debugging tests. open source products have lower product lifecycles.

they can skip whole segments of the software development process

Oracle, a firm that sells commercial ERP and database products, provides Linux for free, selling high-margin Linux support contracts for as much as five hundred thousand dollars. Oracle's motivation for this lies in: impoverishing other open source developers and furthering its own proprietary offerings. accelerating the shift of open source software towards a proprietary regime. using open source software to wean customers away from competitors. using open source software to fuel sales of hardware. protecting itself from the risks of distributing code while unaware of legal implications.

using open source software to wean customers away from competitors

Technology experts in the area of user-interface design: provide direction on technology-related security issues. specialize in technology for competitive advantage. work to make sure systems are intuitive and easy to use. focus on effective back-up systems for critical business data. leverage technology to make legacy systems more efficient.

work to make sure systems are intuitive and easy to use.

Which of the following statements is a valid reason for chip manufacturers to carry minimal inventory? The potential physical and electronic damage to silicon chips if left unused for extended periods of time deters manufacturers from maintaining higher inventories. Chip manufacturers maintain low inventories to hedge the move of semiconductor technology away from silicon-based chips. Products with a significant chip-based component rapidly fall in value and can cause huge losses when overproduced. Chip manufacturers leverage the higher costs of chip-based products to their advantage by keeping supply low compared to demand. Rising transportation costs greatly increase the costs of manufacturing and make moving inventory between locations highly expensive.

Products with a significant chip-based component rapidly fall in value and can cause huge losses when overproduced.

Cloud vendors that are hosting hardware, operating system, database, and other software, which clients can then use to build their own applications, are said to be providing: Service Level Agreement. Hardware as a Service. Software as a Service. Service Oriented Architecture. Platform as a Service.

Software as a Service (SaaS)

_____ are the supertiny on-off switches in a chip that work collectively to calculate or store things in memory. Transistors Single-core processors Conductors Multicore processors Inductors

Transistors

A firm can mix and match components, linking software the firm has written with modules purchased from different enterprise software vendors. False True

True

A firm's information systems can influence the likelihood of partnering with other firms, and its attractiveness as a merger or acquisition target. False True

True

_____ refers to applications installed on a personal computer, typically to support tasks performed by a single user. Enterprise software Desktop software Database management program Software as a service Server program

desktop software

Technology products with particularly strong security features are said to be: scalable. hardened. virtualized. integrated. white swans.

hardened

A(n) _____ is an application that includes an editor, a debugger, and a compiler, among other tools. integrated development environment extensible markup language enterprise resource planning system programming language operating system

integrated development environment

Moore's Law applies to all types of technology components including hard drives and fiber optic cable transmission speeds. True False

False

Random-access memory is an example of nonvolatile memory. True False

False

SEO and SEM are key tech industry acronyms that have become vital parts of the accounting professional's operating toolkit. False True

False

Social media and mobile phone use are decreasing expectations for corporate ethics and customer service. False True

False

Specialty devices like video game consoles, television set-top boxes, Kindles, and smart appliances typically do not need an operating system. False True

False

Technology experts in the area of user-interface design specialize in technology for competitive advantage. False True

False

The United States holds the number one ranking in Internet access speeds. False True

False

The managerial definition of Moore's Law suggests that computing costs related to chips (microprocessors and silicon-based storage) double every eighteen months. False True

False

The more application software that is available for a platform, the less valuable it potentially becomes. False True

False

The number of U.S. patent applications waiting approval has significantly declined in the past decade. False True

False

Systems that use data created by other systems to provide reporting and analysis for organizational decision-making are called _____ systems. application server enterprise resource management customer relationship management business intelligence supply chain management

business intelligence

Which area of corporate law is connected to technology? Privacy Piracy Patents Intellectual Property All of the above

All of the above

Which of the following should an organization consider when making make/buy/rent decisions for a given software system? Legal and compliance Cost Competitive advantage Time Skills, expertise, and labor None of the above All of the above

All of the above

Another reason fueling the boom in fast-growing technology services is ___________________, which, when done right, can virally spread awareness of a firm with nary a dime of conventional ad spending. legacy systems big data and business analytics App stores Sproxil Esoko and M-Pesa

App stores

One contributor to the easy ways in which young entrepreneurs can have success is low-cost distribution to massive markets worldwide. This is enabled by: big data and business analytics. Sproxil. App stores. legacy systems. Esoko and M-Pesa.

App stores

Which of the following is true about cloud computing? Cloud computing is not as green as traditional computing. Cloud infrastructure is often located in warehouse-style buildings designed for computers, not people. Cloud firms are usually crammed inside inefficiently cooled downtown high-rises. Cloud computing firms often have data centers that are not designed to pool and efficiently manage computing resources. Cloud firms require their customers to move all of their software off site and onto the cloud in order to meet legal requirements demanded by US regulators and European regulators.

Cloud infrastructure is often located in warehouse-style buildings designed for computers, not people.

_____ refers to a software package that integrates the many functions of a business, such as accounting, finance, inventory management, and human resources. Database management system Enterprise resource planning Customer relationship management Desktop software Supply chain management

Enterprise resource planning

A Microprocessor is a fast chip-based volatile storage in a computing system. False True

False

Firms are increasingly shifting spending from the Web to other media such as print, radio, and television as these are often easier to track and analyze. True False

False

Flash memory is slower (meaning it transfers data at a slower rate) than conventional disk-based hard drives. False True

False

Hard drive storage is considered to be solid state. False True

False

Which of the following is one of the reasons for the failure of technology projects? Prolonged project periods Disallowing "feature creep" during development Use of matured technology Inadequate testing of systems before deployment Insufficient expenditure on information systems

Inadequate testing of systems before deployment

Tech impact is reaching even beyond the confines of Earth itself. According to an example in your chapter, how was a tool on the International Space Station recently acquired? It was printed on-demand using 3D printing technology. It was delivered to the launch site when summoned from Space using the FedEx app. It was purchased via China's Alibaba - showing global sourcing extends to the extraterrestrial. It was an out-of-print product that an Etsy producer was able to craft and deliver for the next resupply flight.

It was printed on-demand using 3D printing technology.

_____ is a technique in which computers are designed with many microprocessors that work together, simultaneously, to solve problems. Grid computing Cloud computing Massively parallel processing Nanocomputing Quantum computing

Massively parallel processing

Many of the careers in marketing are highly tech-centric. False True

True

Installing a complex set of an organization's legacy systems on someone else's hardware can be a brutal challenge. For that reason we can expect most cloud computing efforts to focus on: improving quality of existing code. new software development projects. the development of large pools of in-house specially suited hardware. bettering the options for old software. migrating to a set of robust and well-defined standards.

New software development projects

_____ refers to software that is free and where anyone to look at and potentially modify the code. Social software Software as a service Licensed software Open source software Proprietary software

Open source software

Which of the following is true of the difference between operating systems and application software? Operating systems are software packages offered by a third party, while application software contains programs that are designed in-house. Operating systems are software packages that integrate the many functions of a business, while application software works with a minimal degree of overlap. Operating systems support tasks performed by a single user, while application software support tasks performed by multiple users. Operating systems control the hardware, while application software performs the work that users and firms are directly interested in accomplishing. Operating systems control the hardware elements visible to the human eye, while application software controls the hardware elements invisible to the human eye.

Operating systems control the hardware, while application software performs the work that users and firms are directly interested in accomplishing.

Which of the following refers to a variant of utility computing where vendors provide the operating system and supporting software like database management systems but where client firms write their own code? Host service vendor Infrastructure as a service Platform as a service Application service provider Software as a service

Platform as a service (PaaS)

The _____ is a piece of U.S. legislation that raises executive and board responsibility and ties criminal penalties to certain accounting and financial violations. Sarbanes-Oxley Act Norris-LaGuardia Act Fair Labor Standards Act Sherman Antitrust Act Civil Rights Act

SOX

What is the most common function performed by electronic data interchanges? Providing electronic reporting and analysis for organizational decision making Integrating various electronic functions of a business, such as accounting, finance, inventory management, and human resources Sending electronic equivalents of structured documents between different organizations App store downloads and the serving of other types of rich media. Housing and serving business logic for use and reuse by multiple electronic applications

Sending electronic equivalents of structured documents between different organizations

Technology experts in the area of _____ specialize in technology for competitive advantage. database design user-interface design hardware strategy process design

Strategy

Which of the following factors is responsible for enabling the advance of Moore's Law? Constant interaction among three forces-size, heat, and power-makes Moore's Law practical and ensures that it will endure for decades to come. With the exponential growth in information technology-enabled businesses, the demand for computers makes Moore's Law possible. The distance between pathways inside silicon chips gets smaller with each successive generation. The availability of better cooling technologies ensures chips can continue growing smaller and more power efficient. Silicon is commonly available in the form of sand or silicon dioxide, which helps keep the costs of chip production low.

The distance between pathways inside silicon chips gets smaller with each successive generation.

Moore's Law has impacted the camera industry such that the firms that sell the most cameras aren't camera companies, but phone manufacturers. True False

True

Palmer Luckey, the founder of Oculus, was able to get early funding for his product via Kickstarter, exceeding the fundraising goal set by his campaign without giving up a share of equity from this campaign. False True

True

Sales in Apple's app store are so large, that they would be ranked as a Fortune 500 firm if the figure were broken out as a firm separate from Apple. False True

True

Today's job seekers are writing résumés with keywords in mind, aware that the first cut is likely made by a database search program, not a human being. False True

True

Data analytics and business intelligence are driving discovery and innovation. False True

True

Desktop applications are typically designed for a single user. False True

True

Firms that want significant control over the operating system and applications they put 'in the cloud' should choose an IaaS service over an SaaS offering. False True

True

Many SaaS vendors have improved system customization options and integration with standard software packages. True False

True

The scalability of a software product is defined as the: ability to take advantage of complementary products developed for a prior generation of technology. ability to be easily expanded to manage workload increases. long-term market viability of a software product. capability to continue operations even if a component fails. ability to replace a technically superior product upon market inception.

ability to be easily expanded to manage workload increases

Moore's Law states that: chip performance per dollar doubles every eighteen months. magnetic disk storage density doubles annually. the cost per unit of useful light emitted by an LED falls by a factor of 10 every decade. the value of a telecommunications network is proportional to the square of the number of connected users of the system. the cost of a semiconductor chip fabrication plant is cut in half every four years.

chip performance per dollar doubles every eighteen months.

Which of the following statements regarding cloud computing is true? The shift to cloud computing does not alter the margin structure for many in the computing industry. Cloud computing has led to decreased hardware and software sales at many firms, while increasing service expenses. Cloud computing discourages innovation and therefore changes the desired skills mix and job outlook for IS workers. Cloud computing has shifted power towards venture firms in those industries that had previously needed little startup capital. Cloud computing has raised the barriers for entry to new entrants to the information technology markets.

cloud computing has led to decreased hardware and software sales at many firms, while increasing service expenses

This process of converting a code into machine-readable form is known as: assimilating. compiling. sequencing. debugging. integrating.

compiling

_____ refers to the practice of ensuring that an organization's systems operate within required legal constraints, and organizational obligations. Integration Compliance Immunity Parallelism Security

compliance

Employees, at their own initiative, can go to SocialText or Google Sites and set up a wiki, WordPress to start blogging, or subscribe to a SaaS offering like SalesForce.com, all without corporate oversight and approval. This _____ of technology is one of the challenges associated with the adoption of SaaS models. disintermediation crowdsourcing integration consumerization scalability

consumerization

Microsoft's Xbox operating system provides Xbox programmers with a set of common standards to use to access controllers, the Kinect motion sensor, play sounds, draw graphics, save files, and more. Without this, games would: look same. be a lot easier to write. be more reliable. cost more. not be restricted to just Microsoft's platforms.

cost more

One of the implications of price elasticity of technology products is that: customers not only buy more products as they become cheaper, but whole new markets employing new technology open up. the cost of a semiconductor chip fabrication plant doubles every four years. firms stock up on tech products and sell them once their prices increase. the magnetic disk areal storage density doubles annually. the value of chips in semiconductor-based devices appreciates every six months.

customers not only buy more products as they become cheaper, but whole new markets employing new technology open up.

Software (often on firmware) designed to make physical products and devices "smarter" by doing things like sharing usage information, helping diagnose problems, indicating maintenance schedules, providing alerts, or enabling devices to take orders from other systems is referred to as ___________. Enterprise Resource Planning systems Desktop software programs Application servers Multi-threaded Embedded systems

embedded systems

Some firms write their own enterprise software from scratch as it can save time and reduce development costs. True False

false

Which of the following functions is likely to be performed by enterprise software? Inventory tracking Spreadsheet accounting Making PowerPoint presentations Word processing Internet browsing

inventory tracking

Sony, a firm once synonymous with portable music, has ceded its market dominance to Apple because: it did not provide tracks from Sony Music artists to the Apple iTunes store. it failed to take advantage of opportunities presented by Moore's Law. its technology offerings were too futuristic and out of sync with the waves of computing to appeal to customers. it attempted to straddle the twin markets of online music retail and electronic music players, and could not capitalize on either. its music players contradicted the price/performance phenomenon predicted by Moore's Law.

it failed to take advantage of opportunities presented by Moore's Law.

Technology experts in the area of process design: focus on systems dealing with critical business data. specialize in technology for competitive advantage. provide direction on technology-related security issues. leverage technology to make firms more efficient. work to make sure systems are easy to use.

leverage technology to make firms more efficient.

Which of the following is one of the benefits enjoyed by SaaS vendors? Development across multiple platforms Lower distribution costs Faster product deployment Lower hardware maintenance costs Limits accessibility to resources by just about anybody

lower distribution costs

The cost of producing an additional unit of a product is known as its: redundancy cost. implicit cost. isocost. transaction cost. marginal cost.

marginal cost

Less popular open source products are not likely to attract the community of users and contributors necessary to help improve these products over time. This situation reiterates the belief that _____ are a key to success. brand strategies proprietary products advertising campaigns network effects technology expenses

network effects

Vendors frequently sign _____ with their customers to ensure a guaranteed uptime and define their ability to meet demand spikes. host vendor terms open source contracts infrastructure provider contracts service level agreements requests for information

service level agreements

Which of the following was an outdated notion regarding open source software and has been shown to be inaccurate? Open source is fueled on the contributions of loners tooling away for the glory of contributing to better code. The majority of persons who work on open source projects are paid by commercially motivated employers. Open source software code can be changed and redistributed, provided the modified software remains open and free. Open source software is free and its code is available for anyone to look at and potentially modify. Open source software is to technology what capitalism is to economics.

open source is fueled on the contributions of loners tooling away for the glory of contributing to better code.

Price elasticity refers to the: rate at which product prices vary in response to changes in customer demand. rate at which demand for a product or service fluctuates with price change. change in the demand for a good in response to a change in income. numerical measure of the responsiveness of the supply of a product to a change in its production cost. range of production costs that change as a direct function of the availability of raw materials.

rate at which demand for a product or service fluctuates with price change.

Moore's Law kicked in during the 1970s for the _____________, and minicomputers were a hit. third wave government big corporations second wave first wave

second wave

Which of the following sets of interrelated forces threatens to slow down the progression of Moore's Law? Density, clock speed, and wafer thickness Memory, cache size, and speed Weight, speed, and capacity Size, heat, and power Silicon availability, efficiency, and energy

size, heat, and power

_____ refers to a precise set of instructions that tell the computer hardware what to do. An output device An input device Desktop Software A mnemonic

software

All of the costs associated with the design, development, testing, implementation, documentation, training and maintenance of a software system are collectively termed as: economic value added. economies of scale. return on investment. total cost of ownership. cost to company.

total cost of ownership