Deck 14: Information Technology and E-Commerce

Question 1

A major consequence of e-commerce for purchasing is that

A) comparison shopping is much more difficult.
B) more products are bought and sold over the Internet.
C) many sellers impose a surcharge for online purchases.
D) smaller companies have less opportunity to display their products.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

"Living with increased visibility" refers to the fact that in the Internet age

A) the government demands more information from companies.
B) most employee recruiting is done over the Internet.
C) newspapers are more likely to publish scandals involving Internet firms.
D) positive and negative comments about the company can readily be posted on the Internet.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Using several electronic devices at once often interferes with a person's ability

A) to evaluate staff members.
B) to concentrate carefully on the major problem at hand.
C) to reward employees based on their performance.
D) to set goals.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The point of an electronic employee self-service system is that employees

A) carry out activities for themselves that required staff assistance in the past.
B) conduct their own performance appraisals.
C) prepare their own meals at lunchtime or other breaks.
D) type their own correspondence.

Question 5

One of the key reasons that the Internet enhances globalization is that

A) computer components can be made inexpensively overseas.
B) music can be downloaded anywhere in the world.
C) rapid communication with business partners around the world is feasible.
D) you can download for free language translators from the Internet.

Question 6

A major purpose of a company intranet is to

A) serve as a Web site for company use only.
B) keep customers informed of price changes.
C) monitor employee use of the Internet.
D) sell products and services by E-commerce.

Question 7

WiFi (wireless fidelity) increases the value of laptop computers because

A) the Internet can be accessed even when telephone line connections are not available.
B) managers know immediately whether field workers are using their laptops.
C) WiFi increases the memory of laptops.
D) laptops last longer when WiFi is applied.

Question 8

The biggest beneficiaries of the Internet revolution have been

A) companies selling online exclusively.
B) well-established companies who integrate the Internet into their current business.
C) companies that carry virtually no inventory.
D) start ups with links to major Web sites.

Question 9

An example of e-leadership would be for the team leader to

A) set up a chat room to deal with an important work issue.
B) have a luncheon buffet for team members.
C) visit workers at their home when they are ill.
D) established a forced-ranking system within the group.

Question 10

A concern about customer service in the information technology era is that the service

A) is so rapid it is difficult to follow.
B) has decreased in quality because it is so complex.
C) requires too much human interaction.
D) is only good at high technology firms.

Question 11

In terms of increasing productivity, information technology has made it easier for organizations to

A) make their hierarchies steeper.
B) add more staff.
C) thin the number of employees.
D) charge more for commodities (basic products where the brand is not key).

Question 12

Information technology gives more workers access to

A) information for decision making.
B) strategic plans.
C) motivational concepts.
D) staffing concerns.

Question 13

Another important way in which information technology benefits managers is

A) by allowing employees to serve themselves.
B) by not requiring managerial or staff assistance.
C) by requiring more staff assistance.
D) both a & b

Question 14

A major consequence of information technology on the daily work of managers is that they

A) have more services from assistants than previously.
B) perform considerable clerical work that was done previously by assistants.
C) have many fewer messages to deal with.
D) spend much more time on the telephone.

Question 15

A person labeled as a computer goof-off

A) sabotages company files.
B) takes naps while pretending to be working at the computer.
C) spends too much time at the computer doing unimportant work.
D) blames computer problems for not getting work accomplished.

Question 16

E-commerce has been a substantial asset to small enterprises because the Internet

A) makes it easier for small businesses to compete with large firms.
B) has strong controls against fraud.
C) enables small firms to borrow money at very low cost.
D) grants more Web sites to small than larger firms.

Question 17

Microblogging refers to

A) sending brief updates online about work activities to employees.
B) e-leadership.
C) wikis.
D) setting up a chat room.

Question 18

In the virtual office, employees

A) work without a team leader.
B) complete one task before moving on to another.
C) are all part-time or temporary workers.
D) coordinate their activities although physically separate.

Question 19

Wendy sets up a pass-protected Web page so work associates can provide input on problems facing the company. The technical name for Wendy's Web page is a

A) personal digital assistant.
B) wiki.
C) domain name.
D) surveillance tool.

Question 20

Information technology has improved business models in the sense that

A) companies now have a clearer analysis of which ventures will be profitable.
B) internal operations can be overhauled.
C) profit margins increase because of efficiencies in shipping.
D) the business can be conducted in new ways such as selling direct.

Question 21

At Staples, customers can purchase from its catalog, retail stores, or Web site. This illustrates that technology can

A) integrate the traditional way of doing business with e-business.
B) integrate the new economy with the old economy.
C) increase the visibility of companies.
D) all of the choices

Question 22

A major justification for installing information technology is its capability for improving productivity.

Question 23

A disadvantage of a wiki is that employees are blocked from providing input directly on the site, and must send separate e-mail messages with the comments.

Question 24

A problem of considerable magnitude comes from the deterioration in customer service that sometimes accompanies information technology.

Question 25

The main purpose of the dashboard for managers is to indicate when work processes are moving too slowly or too rapidly.

Question 26

Members of a virtual office typically work in the same building or office complex.

Question 27

The beauty of a company extranet is that anybody around the world with online access can acquire important information about a company.

Question 28

A computer goof-off is an individual who illegally breaks into the company computer system and then destroys valuable data.

Question 29

A major purpose of social networking for business is

A) to establish a means for people to connect to the company's brand.
B) to make new friends.
C) to locate old friends.
D) to form interest groups.

Question 30

A company involved in data mining probably wants to

A) find new ways of squeezing profits out of old products.
B) outsource its IT function.
C) form a strategic alliance with a mining company.
D) make additional use of information already on hand.

Question 31

Because such excellent software is now available, innovation is now less important to remain competitive.

Question 32

Which one of the following is the least likely to contribute to the success of an e-business?

A) minimize the opportunity for customers to telephone the company.
B) reveal very little information to customers about the progress of their orders.
C) develop a global presence.
D) decide whether to be bricks or clicks.

Question 33

The trend toward globalization has been facilitated by the Internet because it is now relatively easy to access employees all over the world at nominal cost (not including the purchase and installation of equipment).

Question 34

The Internet era has resulted in an increase in the staff (secretarial) support available to managers at all levels in organizations.

Question 35

Computerized surveillance of workers has led many managers to establish new standards of work performance.

Question 36

A manager provides e-leadership when he or she takes the group to lunch at an Internet café.

Question 37

Another challenge for managers in dealing with consumers in the information age is that some electronic products are baffling to use for many people.

Question 38

An important use of company intranets is to enable workers to share information they can use to solve company problems.

Question 39

An effective call center for an E-business

A) allows customers to use e-mail and the telephone at the same time.
B) limits calls to normal working hours.
C) virtually eliminates telephone contact with customers.
D) allows customers to follow up by telephone.

Question 40

An example of how information technology has enhanced business models would be Cisco Systems being able to sell servers directly over the Internet instead of using dealers.

Question 41

The Internet facilitates globalization in part because more and more countries throughout the world have developed their telecommunications infrastructure.

Question 42

The presence of the Internet has eliminated some intermediaries, yet created some others such as eBay stores.

Question 43

A widespread complaint is that information technology has produced many awkward customer-service systems.

Question 44

The difference between "bricks and clicks" refers to the difference between the old economy and the new economy.

Question 45

Describe at least four positive consequences of information technology on the manager's job.

Question 46

The major purpose of data mining is to look for ways to reduce costs, such as recycling old parts.

Question 47

FourSquares Labs Inc. is a company in the forefront of the mobile advertising by integrating social media with marketing. "Foursquare" itself is a game for the mobile phone that provides players incentives to check it at restaurants, bars, and retailers-broadcasting the location
of players to friends and potential advertisers.
1. What does this example illustrate about new technologies?
2. Why do managers need to know about new technologies?

Question 48

Among the potential advantages of voice recognition systems is that they will decrease the frequency of repetitive motion disorders among computer workers.

Question 49

Small businesses appear to make more extensive use of sites such as Facebook and Twitter to find and interact with customers.

Question 50

E-commerce managers no longer have to worry about Internet fraud because consumer protection groups have successfully combated most types of such fraud.

Question 51

Describe how information technology, including E-commerce, had negative consequences for managers.

Question 52

A notable advantage of information technology for the manager is that it has facilitated work streamlining.

Question 53

How has the Internet enhanced globalization?

Question 54

E-commerce can bring about a challenge to sales volume even more quickly than with traditional marketing.