Deck 13: The International Dimension

Question 1

Distributed database processing refers to the processing of multiple databases that reside in a single location.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Distributed database processing refers to the processing of ________.

A)a single database that resides in multiple locations
B)multiple databases that reside in a single location
C)only those databases that contain copies of the same data items
D)only those databases that are divided onto nonoverlapping segments

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The bullwhip effect increases the overall profitability of the supply chain.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Which of the following statements is true of the supply chain?

A)All members of the supply chain of a firm must have geographical proximity.
B)Every supply chain must include suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and customers.
C)Each organization in the chain is connected to just one company up the chain (toward the supplier)and down the chain (toward the customer).
D)The supply chain includes transportation companies, warehouses, and inventories.

Question 5

Because an order processing functional system located in, say, the United States is independent of the manufacturing systems located in, say, Taiwan, it implies that ________.

A)it is necessary to accommodate language, business, and cultural differences in a single system
B)products need not always be customized to suit local preferences
C)lack of integration can be extremely disadvantageous for international organizations
D)they can operate independently as long as there is an adequate data interface between the two systems

Question 6

The process of making a computer program work in a second language is called ________ software.

A)virtualization
B)collaborative filtering
C)localizing
D)enterprise

Question 7

Cross-functional, integrated systems, such as ERP, solve the problems of data isolation by integrating data into a database that provides a comprehensive and organization-wide view.However, this would require ________.

A)all processes to be located in the same geographical place
B)the company to standardize on a single language
C)backshoring processes to the home country
D)the company to customize its product offerings

Question 8

Technical and data safeguards change for international information systems.

Question 9

The business processes that support the competitive strategies of the multinational companies tend to be simpler and easier to implement, as they are isolated from one another.

Question 10

Which of the following components of an international IS is least affected by internationalization?

A)hardware
B)people
C)procedures
D)data

Question 11

The global economy has intensified rivalry by increasing product and vendor choices and by accelerating the flow of information about price, product, availability, and service.

Question 12

Which of the following statements is true of the impact of globalization on value chains and business processes?

A)Companies must develop a standardized global strategy irrespective of where they are operating from.
B)Companies prefer to perform all their processes in-house as it is more cost-effective than outsourcing.
C)Manufacturing of a final product is frequently distributed throughout the world.
D)Increased globalization calls for greater attention to promotional aspects of the marketing mix as opposed to the product.

Question 13

Unlike business processes, information systems procedures need not reflect local cultural values and norms.

Question 14

When localizing a computer program, which of the following must a firm NOT do?

A)translate the user interface
B)avoid redesigning labels in forms and reports
C)adjust sorting order for different character sets
D)redraw and translate diagrams

Question 15

International organizations have more IS and IT assets, and those assets are exposed to more risk and greater uncertainty.

Question 16

As long as there is an adequate data interface between two information systems that are in locations that are diverse in terms of business practices and language, they can operate independently, sharing data when necessary.

Question 17

A supply chain is a network of organizations and facilities that transforms raw materials into products delivered to customers.

Question 18

A(n)________ is a network of organizations and facilities that transforms raw materials into products delivered to customers.

A)organizational hierarchy
B)flat organization
C)organizational architecture
D)supply chain

Question 19

If the distributed database divides the database into nonoverlapping segments, it is called a ________ database.

A)hierarchical
B)partitioned
C)temporal
D)relational

Question 20

The bullwhip effect is a phenomenon in which the variability in the size and timing of orders decreases at each stage up the supply chain, from customer to supplier.

Question 21

Which of the following describes the bullwhip effect?

A)The value of a telecommunications network is proportional to the square of the number of connected users of the system.
B)The performance improvement to be gained from using some faster mode of execution is limited by the fraction of the time the faster mode can be used.
C)The variability in the size and timing of orders increases at each stage up the supply chain, from customer to supplier.
D)New classes create new applications resulting in new markets and new industries.

Question 22

Explain how managing a global IS development project will involve challenges in the areas of time, quality, and costs.

Question 23

Briefly explain the two major ways in which thinking about competitive strategies has changed in today's global economy.

Question 24

How are international business processes likely to be developed to overcome the present challenges of international cross-functional applications?

Question 25

List the issues that need to be addressed when localizing a computer program.

Question 26

One of the challenges for international IS project management is that the development rates vary among cultures and countries, because ________.

A)some cultures have a 35-hour workweek, and some have a 60-hour workweek
B)worker expectations vary among cultures and nations
C)many developed countries have been less willing to invest in quality
D)effective communication is more expensive today

Question 27

How can information reduce or eliminate the bullwhip effect?

Question 28

International outsourcing is most advantageous ________.

A)when control on all aspects of its operations is essential for a firm
B)for those firms that have a strong presence in the domestic market
C)when domestic production costs are low
D)for functions that need to be operational 24x7

Question 29

To overcome challenges in international information systems, some organizations develop alternative versions of the system that support different processes in different countries.This results in ________.

A)a long-term profit preceded by short-term losses
B)standardized development rates across countries
C)system design challenges
D)a set standard for business processes that meets all requirements

Question 30

The bullwhip effect ________.

A)is not related to erratic consumer demand
B)forces distributors, manufacturers, and suppliers to carry smaller inventories than necessary
C)increases the overall profitability of the supply chain
D)can be eliminated by restricting access to consumer-demand information from the retailer to only a few participants in the supply chain

Question 31

The principal planning task for the IT department in an organization is to ________.

A)focus on quantity more than quality
B)align IT and IS resources with the customer requirements
C)integrate the organization's information systems with the outsourced vendors' information systems
D)align IT and IS resources with the organization's competitive strategy