Exam 2: Gaining Competitive Advantage Through Information Systems

According to ________,the number of transistors that could be squeezed onto a silicon chip would double every 18 months.

Web sites like Ultramuzzic.com and Sonetz.com pursue a(n)________ approach for applying freeconomics when they offer free music downloads for users because reproduction and distribution of these products come at no cost.

Define disruptive innovation and how it leads to the innovator's dilemma.

Which of the following is a disadvantage for firms that pursue a global strategy?

Mystic Co.,a Texas-based fashion apparel company with subsidiaries in more than 25 countries across the world,is one of the most recognized brands in the global and domestic markets.In a recent interview with The New York Times,the CEO and spearhead of Mystic Co.,Burt Swager said,"The secret of the company's success is its ability to strike the right balance between centralization and decentralization." Mystic Co.is a firm that successfully pursues a(n)________ business strategy.

In an organizational setup,a functional area represents a discrete area of an organization that focuses on a specific set of activities.

A ________ strategy is attempted by companies that are extremely flexible and responsive to the needs and demands of local markets.

At the ________ level of a firm,the routine,day-to-day business processes and interactions with customers occur.

Unilever decides when to centralize and when to decentralize depending on the products and the local markets.This is an example of a(n)________ company.

Walmart pursues a ________ strategy by which it offers the best prices in its industry on its goods and/or services.

In contrast to global organizations where most of the resources are centralized in different countries,different resources in a transnational company need to be centralized in the company's home country.

Information systems at the ________ level of an organization often help in automating repetitive activities.

With respect to organizational decision-making levels,for ________ decisions,some procedures to follow for a given situation can be specified in advance,but not to the extent where a specific recommendation can be made.

While assessing value of the IS infrastructure,"before-and-after" assessments of infrastructure characteristics such as interoperability,portability,scalability,recoverability,and compatibility can be taken to measure ________ value.

Identify the focus of managers at the tactical level of an organization.

According to the disruptive growth engine,executive leadership will allow a firm to ________.

For unstructured organizational decisions,few or no procedures to follow for a given situation can be specified in advance.

Identify an advantage of a transnational business strategy.

A(n)________ refers to anything that occurs as part of a daily business of which a record must be kept.

Any industry that utilizes digital technologies is on a path toward increasingly lower costs,ultimately toward a price of free-or at least "free" for consumers.