Exam 2: Gaining Competitive Advantage Through Information Systems

Describe the differences between operational-level decision making and tactical-level decision making by managers in organizations.

Iver Audio is an all-in-one music management tool that was first marketed in 1999.Most users can use the Basic version that is free,but a $19.99 upgrade provides extra features such as supertagging,faster ripping and burning.Which of the following explains this approach for applying freeconomics?

Define the term freeconomics.Briefly explain the different approaches of freeconomics.

At the ________ level of an organization,functional managers focus on monitoring and controlling operational-level activities and providing information to higher levels of the organization.

________ are new technologies,products,or services that eventually surpass the existing dominant technology or product in a market.

At the ________ level of an organization,managers focus on long-term strategic questions facing the organization,such as which products to produce,which countries to compete in,and what organizational strategy to follow.

Which of the following statements is true about firms pursuing a home-replication strategy?

In an organization,managers use value chain analysis to identify opportunities where information systems can be used to develop a competitive advantage.

Ben White is the manager of a retail store.His work typically includes the routine,day-to-day interactions with customers.Once in a while,he also solves customers' problems and deals with dissatisfied customers.Additionally,he has to keep track of inventory and issue an order for additional inventory with levels below a specified level.Ben is a(n)________ level manager.

________ decision making in an organization is referred to as semistructured decision making because solutions and problems are not clear-cut and often require judgment and expertise.

With respect to decision making in organizations,________ decisions are those in which the procedures to follow for a given situation can be specified in advance.

Which of the following actions is a part of operational planning?

________ decisions are referred to as unstructured decisions because the problems are relatively complex and non-routine.

With reference to assessing value for the IS infrastructure,architectural value is derived from ________.

With respect to the organizational decision making levels,top-level managers typically focus on problems within a specific business function,such as marketing or finance.

The use of information systems has become one of the primary ways that organizations improve their value chains.

Which of the following is a disadvantage for firms pursuing a multidomestic business strategy?

For a firm,reduced prices,need for increased quality,and demand for more services would result due to ________.

Most organizations have three general decision-making levels: operational,managerial,and executive.

The set of activities that add value throughout the organization is known as the value chain within an organization.