Exam 3: Strategic Use of Information Resources

Information resources are defined as the available data, technology, people, and ______ available in an organization to be used by managers to complete business tasks.

An inter-organizational relationship that affords one or more companies in the relationship a strategic advantage:

Starbucks allows customers in the US to use smartphones to pay for their purchases in an effort to drive sales. Starbucks uses a reader in the store to scan a bar code displayed on the customer's smartphone screen. While this use of information resources may be used to gain a strategic advantage, there are possible risks. Match the potentially harmful experience below with the IT risk it represents:

A firm that acquires a supplier is looking to reduce the "bargaining power of suppliers" force.

Porter's value chain framework suggests that a competitive advantage can stem from:

All of the following benefit from the network effect EXCEPT:

In order to maximize the effectiveness of an organization's business strategy, the manager must be able to identify and use information resources.

Explain how Zara has aligned its information systems strategy with its business strategy

Match Zara's support activity to the Porter's value chain activity it represents.

Many companies like Zara use POS to capture information on what has sold, to whom and when. This use of technology to realize efficiencies supports which one of Porter's value chain activities?

Suppose Zara has a linked supply chain with Silk City, a fabric supplier. Zara and Silk City use IT to seamlessly exchange data, communicating requirements as well as delivery expectations. The relationship between Zara and Silk City is best described as:

Match the methodology used to align a firm's business strategy with its information strategy.

The Nike + iPod Sports Kit is a sensor in your shoe that syncs with your iPod and provides details about your workout. This inter-organizational relationship affords both Nike and Apple a business advantage. This relationship between Nike and Apple is best described as:

This is a collection of firms that, using technology, extend their business relationships and connect their value chains.

The supply chain:

Give an example of a company whose switching costs are too high, effectively keeping its customer captive. How is this company using technology to maintain high switching costs?

This IT asset is business data that has been captured, organized and made available to an organization.

Provide an example of two companies that have built a strategic alliance. Briefly explain the benefits of the relationship.

A link beween a firm's IS strategy and business strategy focuses more on its external requirements than internal requirements.

Facebook has for some years offered services that many individuals have adapted to, making it difficult for them to choose another social networking site. It can be said that Facebook has protected itself well from which competitive force since the beginning?