Deck 13: Managing Information Systems and Communication Technology

Question 1

The system designed to transform data into information that can be used for decision-making is called a(n)

A) data system.
B) management data system.
C) management database system.
D) information system.
E) database system.

Answer 1

D
information system.

Question 2

Individuals responsible for managing a firm's data and information must do all of the following except

A) determine what information is needed.
B) convert data into desired information.
C) control the flow of information to only those that need it.
D) gather the data needed.
E) decide who needs data.

Answer 2

E
decide who needs data.

Question 3

In a company that manufactures flooring,________________ need information on the chemical properties of adhesives,while __________ need sales data summarized by product and customer type.

A) top managers; middle managers
B) knowledge workers; top managers
C) knowledge workers; middle managers
D) first-line managers; middle managers
E) top managers; knowledge workers

Answer 3

B
knowledge workers; top managers

Question 4

At which level of management would transaction processing systems most likely be essential?

A) Second-level managers
B) First-level managers
C) Middle-level managers
D) Top-level managers
E) Knowledge workers

Question 5

A(n)________ is a system for transmitting and transforming data into information that can be used in decision making.

A) accounting device
B) management perk
C) expert system
D) information system
E) computer

Question 6

________ are applications of information processing for basic day-to-day business transactions.

A) Decision support systems
B) Electronic information technologies
C) Executive support technologies
D) Transaction processing systems
E) Computer-aided design

Question 7

The four different groups that have information needs are

A) top,middle,and lower management,as well as knowledge workers.
B) top,middle,and lower level management,as well as customers.
C) government regulators,industry associations,knowledge workers,and customers.
D) marketing,production,finance,and HRM personnel.
E) customers,functional managers,government regulators,and knowledge workers.

Question 8

Transaction processing systems are relevant for all of the following except

A) customer order-taking by online retailers.
B) monthly budgeting.
C) payroll processing and bill payment at almost every company.
D) receiving and confirming reservations by airlines.
E) approval of claims at insurance companies.

Question 9

Middle managers need information to _______________,while knowledge workers need information to ____________.

A) set intermediate goals for projects under their supervision; conduct technical projects
B) oversee day-to-day details of projects; set intermediate goals for projects under their supervision
C) conduct technical projects; to carry out long-range planning
D) carry out long-range planning; conduct technical projects
E) none of these

Question 10

In the process of carrying out his duties,an information systems manager like Don must first

A) convert data into information.
B) make sure that the information that is developed gets to the right people.
C) determine what information is needed.
D) gather the relevant data.
E) none of these.

Question 11

At Walmart,sales,profits,and customer service have been boosted by a(n)________ that speeds up deliveries and holds down costs throughout the system.

A) advertising campaign
B) information system
C) handbook
D) distribution channel
E) accounting system

Question 12

Top managers need information to _______________,while knowledge workers need information to ____________.

A) set intermediate goals for projects under their supervision; oversee day-to-day details of projects
B) oversee day-to-day details of projects; set intermediate goals for projects under their supervision
C) conduct technical projects; carry out long-range planning
D) carry out long-range planning; conduct technical projects
E) none of these

Question 13

In the input-process-output model,which of the following is an output?

A) Text and format commands
B) Page proofs
C) Accounting data
D) General ledger program
E) Break-even analysis program

Question 14

Information is

A) names and numbers from a large phonebook.
B) controlled flow of words for a useful purpose.
C) the useful interpretation of facts and figures.
D) proven facts.
E) raw facts and figures.

Question 15

With regard to Walmart's information system,it is correct to say that

A) the system customizes reordering and delivery procedures for suppliers.
B) the system's top priority is customer satisfaction with prices.
C) the system does not allow outside firms to connect to it.
D) the system speeds up deliveries and holds down costs.
E) none of these are correct.

Question 16

In the input-process-output model,all of the following are processes except

A) word processing.
B) income statements and balance sheets.
C) page layout publishing software.
D) general ledger program.
E) break-even analysis program.

Question 17

________ are raw facts,while ________ is the useful interpretation of those raw facts.

A) Data; analysis
B) Data; information
C) Information; analysis
D) Data; MIS
E) Information; data

Question 18

With regard to information system (IS)applications,it is correct to say that

A) they have changed substantially over the years.
B) they were formerly narrow and technically focused activities like processing payroll data.
C) they are now often used to analyze management control and planning problems.
D) they are increasingly interdependent with a company's business strategy.
E) all of these are correct.

Question 19

In the input-process-output model,which of the following is an input?

A) Finished document
B) Page proofs
C) Accounting data
D) Income statements and balance sheets
E) Break-even analysis program

Question 20

In the input-process-output model,which of the following is a process?

A) Text images
B) Page proofs
C) Income statements and balance sheets
D) Break-even analysis program
E) Sales and cost of sales data

Question 21

Raj is working on developing a computer system to imitate human thought and behaviour.He is working in the area of

A) artificial intelligence.
B) systems for knowledge workers.
C) management information system.
D) decision support system.
E) executive support system.

Question 22

Computer analysis and graphics programs that are used to create new products are known as

A) computer-aided design.
B) computer operations control.
C) transaction processing systems.
D) computer-aided manufacturing.
E) decision support systems.

Question 23

A management information system is

A) an interactive system that locates and presents information needed to support the decision-making process.
B) an information processing application for routine business activities involving well-defined processing steps.
C) a system of hardware and software that imitates human behaviour.
D) a system that supports an organization's managers by providing daily reports,schedules,plans,and budgets that can be used for making decisions.
E) a quick-reference,easy-access application of information systems specifically designed for instant access by upper-level managers.

Question 24

Alice wants to know what lines of business her company should be in five years from now.What type of information system would she use to answer this question?

A) Transaction processing system
B) Systems for knowledge workers
C) Management information system
D) Decision support system
E) Executive support system

Question 25

The construction and programming of computers to imitate human thought processes is

A) artificial intelligence.
B) data communications networks.
C) multimedia communications systems.
D) office automation.
E) expert system.

Question 26

Sheryl inputs data on anticipated levels of sales and customer delivery requirements into a(n)___________ in order to help her to make plant capacity decisions.

A) artificial intelligence
B) system for knowledge workers
C) expert system
D) decision support system
E) executive support system

Question 27

Products ranging from cell phones to auto parts are created using ________ software because it allows faster designs at lower costs compared to manual modelling methods.

A) operations
B) computer-aided simulation
C) application
D) computer-aided design
E) computer-aided manufacturing

Question 28

Designers at VOX Corp.use ________ software to simulate a real product and display it in three-dimensional graphics.This is an example of

A) operations
B) computer-aided manufacturing
C) computer-aided simulation
D) computer-aided design
E) application

Question 29

Customer order-taking by online retailers is an example of

A) artificial intelligence.
B) a transaction processing system.
C) an expert system.
D) a decision support system.
E) an executive support system.

Question 30

A decision support system is

A) a system of hardware and software that imitates human behaviour.
B) an interactive system that locates and presents information that is needed to support the decision-making process.
C) a system that supports an organization's managers by providing daily reports,schedules,plans,and budgets that can be used for making decisions.
D) an information processing application for routine business activities involving well-defined processing steps.
E) a quick-reference,easy-access application of information systems specifically designed for instant access by upper-level managers.

Question 31

A few years ago,Campbell Soup Co.developed a system to mimic the decision processes of one of its long-time soup makers.This was an example of

A) an executive support system.
B) a decision support system.
C) an expert system.
D) a transaction processing system.
E) computer-aided design.

Question 32

An executive support system is

A) an information processing application for routine business activities involving well-defined processing steps.
B) a system that supports an organization's managers by providing daily reports,schedules,plans,and budgets that can be used for making decisions.
C) a system of hardware and software that imitates human behaviour.
D) a quick-reference,easy-access application of information systems specifically designed for instant access by upper-level managers.
E) an interactive system that locates and presents information needed to support the decision-making process.

Question 33

Barry is using computer-aided design in his work.He is using which type of information system?

A) Transaction processing system
B) Systems for knowledge workers
C) Management information system
D) Decision support system
E) Executive support system

Question 34

A special form of artificial intelligence is called

A) an expert system.
B) applications software.
C) computer diagnostics.
D) an ASCII system.
E) a bridge system.

Question 35

IS knowledge workers include

A) data processors.
B) word processors.
C) administrative assistants.
D) systems analysts and designers.
E) data workers.

Question 36

What is the special form of artificial intelligence that attempts to imitate the thought processes of people who have in-depth knowledge in a given field?

A) Executive support systems
B) Computer-aided manufacturing
C) Decision support systems
D) Robots
E) Expert systems

Question 37

Marilyn approves claims at an insurance company.She would likely use _____________ to help her in her work.

A) artificial intelligence
B) a transaction processing system
C) an expert system
D) a decision support system
E) an executive support system

Question 38

Rosalyn is involved with applications or systems such as CAD,CAM,AI,robotics,and expert systems.She is most likely to belong to which user group?

A) Knowledge workers
B) Top-level managers
C) Second-level managers
D) Middle-level managers
E) First-level managers

Question 39

Bill is responsible for designing facilities and plant layouts so that better product flows and productivity are achieved.To achieve this goal,he would use

A) computer-aided design.
B) a spreadsheet.
C) a transaction processing system.
D) computer-aided manufacturing.
E) a decision support system.

Question 40

Paul's job is to construct and program computers that will imitate human thought processes.Paul is working with

A) expert systems.
B) operations information systems.
C) data communications networks.
D) executive information systems.
E) artificial intelligence.

Question 41

When Boeing designed its 777 aircraft,it gathered information not just from engineers,but also from customers about their preferences.This is an example of how information technologies have

A) reduced the capacity for customization.
B) increased collaboration.
C) created leaner,more efficient operations.
D) provided new business opportunities.
E) caused greater independence of company and workplace.

Question 42

Enterprise resource planning is an example of how information technologies have

A) reduced the capacity for customization.
B) increased collaboration.
C) created leaner,more efficient operations.
D) improved management processes.
E) created greater independence of company and workplace.

Question 43

The rapid growth of information technologies has changed the very structure of business organizations.All of the following are examples of changes except

A) increased collaboration.
B) greater independence of company and workplace.
C) less flexible operations.
D) leaner organizations.
E) improved management processes.

Question 44

Mel says that developments in information technology have had a huge impact in communication and in access to data.Marla agrees that information is important,but thinks that how it is used is even more important,and she cites the dramatic developments in online selling as an example.Which of the following is at issue between Mel and Marla?

A) The importance of online selling is an important factor in business today
B) Whether information technology has made a significant difference to businesses
C) Whether businesses have been helped by online communications
D) What the most important effect of information technology has been on business
E) What has changed in business since the advent of the latest information technology

Question 45

Alliance Insurance relies on information technology for a variety of activities.The company is planning to improve its systems,so it needs to determine which areas need improvement.The Chief Information Officer thinks that improvements are needed to the company's wide area network (WAN).If the following facts were known,which one would strengthen the CIO's position?

A) Alliance's various branch offices do a great deal of information-sharing with each other.
B) Alliance's computer hardware has not been upgraded in some time.
C) Alliance sales reps must work collaboratively with other reps in the same office.
D) At many of Alliance's locations,its email servers are often full.
E) Alliance is planning to hire many new sales reps,and they will need extensive training.

Question 46

Vitamin-sized cameras that patients swallow give doctors computer images of the inside of the human body.This is an example of how information technologies have

A) increased the capacity for customization.
B) improved our lives.
C) created leaner,more efficient operations.
D) improved management processes.
E) created greater independence of company and workplace.

Question 47

The manager of an advertising agency may visit the company's office once every two weeks,and spend the rest of the time working through the firm's electronic network from home.This is an example of how information technologies have

A) reduced the capacity for customization.
B) increased collaboration.
C) created leaner,more efficient operations.
D) provided new business opportunities.
E) created greater independence of company and workplace.

Question 48

Henderson Products is a national company that sells office supplies to businesses and household consumers.It is developing an in-house data warehouse so it can identify customers and build long-term relationships with them.The IT department has recommended that the company use data mining to build customer profiles and develop models to predict future purchasing behaviour.However,the CEO is not in favour of data mining,and argues that it shouldn't be used.If the following facts were known,which one would support the CEO's position?

A) Data mining can help build profiles on Henderson's best customers and then use behavioural characteristics to identify new customers.
B) Salespeople find data mining helpful because it can identify customers that would benefit from an individual sales call,or provide them with buying reminders regarding particular products.
C) Data mining can be used to track online behaviour of customers by the use of "cookies."
D) A privacy paradox exists because mining personal information is intrusive,but it also leads to better targeting of customers and potentially higher sales.
E) Trends and patterns in customer purchases can be identified by data mining,and this helps the marketing department to shape advertising around these trends.

Question 49

Alliance Insurance relies on information technology for a variety of activities.The company is planning to improve its systems,so it needs to determine which areas need improvement.Alliance's head of human resources says that improvements must be made in the software that is available to employees.If the following facts were known,which one would strengthen the position of the head of human resources?

A) Alliance employees regularly complain about having to work with outdated computer hardware.
B) Alliance has been slow to upgrade its employees' web browsers with the latest versions.
C) Alliance's IT department spends a large amount of its time upgrading software.
D) An industry slowdown has meant that Alliance's business is weak.
E) Personal selling is the dominant way that Alliance's sales are achieved.

Question 50

Mel says that developments in information technology have had a huge impact in communication and in access to data.Marla agrees that information is important,but thinks that how it is used is even more important,and she cites the dramatic developments in online selling as an example.What is Mel assuming?

A) Every business now uses information technology for communications and the gathering of information.
B) Very few businesses sell products online.
C) More information is available now than was available before the information technology revolution.
D) Consumers prefer to buy from businesses that use the latest information technology.
E) Selling online is relatively unimportant to most businesses.

Question 51

Bank customers can now access 24-hour information systems and monitor their accounts without employee assistance.This is an example of how information technologies have

A) reduced the capacity for customization.
B) increased collaboration.
C) created leaner,more efficient operations.
D) provided new business opportunities.
E) created greater independence of company and workplace.

Question 52

Mel says that developments in information technology have had a huge impact in communication and in access to data.Marla agrees that information is important,but thinks that how it is used is even more important,and she cites the dramatic developments in online selling as an example.What is Marla assuming?

A) People do not like shopping at traditional bricks-and-mortar retail outlets.
B) Businesses seem reluctant to adopt the latest information technology.
C) The main thing consumers use the internet for is to buy goods.
D) Businesses have been the greatest beneficiaries of the information technology revolution.
E) Products can be sold more efficiently online than in traditional bricks-and-mortar retail stores.

Question 53

When you order a personal computer from the Dell website with exactly the features you want,this is an example of

A) mass customization.
B) unit production.
C) mass production.
D) production management.
E) process management.

Question 54

The rapid growth of information technologies has changed organizational processes in all of the following ways except

A) coordination of remote deliveries.
B) increased collaboration.
C) leaner,more efficient operations.
D) improved global exchange.
E) greater dependence of company and workplace.

Question 55

The rapid growth of information technologies has changed organizational processes in all of the following ways except

A) reduced capacity for customization.
B) increased collaboration.
C) leaner,more efficient operations.
D) providing new business opportunities.
E) greater independence of company and workplace.

Question 56

A ________ network links computers and workstations,often at great distance from one another,through telephone wires or by satellite.

A) local area
B) paging
C) personal digital
D) global positioning
E) wide area

Question 57

At Timbuk2's website,you can build your own messenger bag at different price levels with choices of size,fabric,colour combinations,and accessories.This is an example of how information technologies have

A) increased collaboration.
B) created greater independence of company and workplace.
C) improved global exchange.
D) created leaner organizations.
E) improved flexibility for customization.

Question 58

Alliance Insurance relies on information technology for a variety of activities.The company is planning to improve its systems,so it needs to determine which areas need improvement.Some employees are saying that Alliance's intranet must be overhauled.If the following facts were known,which one would support the employees' position?

A) Alliance is having trouble keeping up with its competitors.
B) Alliance uses an up-to-date,real-time marketing information technology.
C) The company's sales reps work mostly from independent self-run offices.
D) The company makes significant use of internal electronic media when training employees.
E) Alliance's website has not been updated in any significant way for over a year.

Question 59

Ball Corp.has a new flexible production process that generates customized products in high volumes at low costs.The company is using

A) mass customization.
B) mass production.
C) production management.
D) process management.
E) unit production.

Question 60

Mel says that developments in information technology have had a huge impact in communication and in access to data.Marla agrees that information is important,but thinks that how it is used is even more important,and she cites the dramatic developments in online selling as an example.If the following facts were known,which one would be MOST supportive of Marla's position?

A) Business performance is positively correlated with the use of information technology.
B) The fastest-growing businesses are those that sell exclusively online.
C) Businesses that make use of information technology are the most successful.
D) More businesses sell their products over the internet now than previously.
E) Imperishable,high-value consumer goods are best suited to being sold over the internet.

Question 61

Alliance Insurance relies on information technology for a variety of activities.The company is planning to improve its systems,so it needs to determine which areas need improvement.Alliance's marketing director places a lot of emphasis on data mining,and thinks that the company's capability in that area should be upgraded.If the following facts were known,which one would support the marketing director's position?

A) Top managers at Alliance want to use decision support systems to test various business models.
B) Alliance uses VSAT communications to circulate confidential information among its various branches.
C) The various branch offices of the company do a lot of electronic conferencing with one another.
D) Alliance's customers routinely complain that the company's website is not user-friendly.
E) Alliance's ability to acquire new customers has declined during the last two years.

Question 62

Ford Motor Co.'s ________ connects 175 000 workstations in Asia,Europe,and the U.S.to thousands of Ford websites containing private information on Ford activities in production,engineering,distribution,and marketing.

A) email
B) web servers
C) intranet
D) extranet
E) groupware

Question 63

The application program with a row-and-column format that allows users to compare the effect of changes is

A) graphics.
B) spreadsheets.
C) word processing.
D) the internet.
E) database management.

Question 64

Why is software important to a computer's functioning?

A) It allows for spreadsheet operations.
B) It shows information on the screen of a video display terminal.
C) It is the printed copy of the computer's output.
D) It is the primary storage unit for the computer.
E) It contains the instructions that tell the computer what to do.

Question 65

When cable TV's Home Shopping Network links hundreds of operators seated at monitors in a large room to a single computer to enter call-in orders,it is using a

A) local area network.
B) supercomputer.
C) wide area network.
D) mainframe.
E) decentralized system.

Question 66

________ is software that connects members of a group for shared email distribution,electronic meetings,appointments,and group writing.

A) An internet service provider
B) Groupware
C) Electronic conferencing
D) The internet
E) A data communication network

Question 67

What are software programs such as Word and Excel?

A) Graphical user interfaces
B) Application software programs
C) Systems written by systems software programmers
D) PASCAL programs
E) System software programs

Question 68

When Walmart depends upon its private satellite network to link more than 2000 retail stores to its headquarters,it is using a

A) decentralized system.
B) wide area network.
C) supercomputer.
D) mainframe.
E) local area network.

Question 69

Three different product development groups at LSX Ltd.are simultaneously working from three separate locations on a product development document.They are involved in

A) electronic conferencing.
B) extranets.
C) intranets.
D) groupware.
E) data conferencing.

Question 70

The ________ is the system of universally accepted standards for storing,retrieving,formatting,and displaying information.

A) Internet Service Network
B) Arpanet
C) World Bank
D) Federal Information Exchange
E) World Wide Web

Question 71

A ________ network links computers and workstations,usually within one company,through fibre optic,coaxial,or twisted wire cable.

A) local area
B) wide area
C) global positioning
D) paging
E) personal digital

Question 72

________ allows people in remote locations to work simultaneously on one document.

A) Digital information service
B) An internet service provider
C) Videoconferencing
D) Data conferencing
E) Voice mail

Question 73

________ is a computer-based system that allows people to communicate simultaneously from different locations via software or telephone.

A) A data communication network
B) Groupware
C) The internet
D) An internet service provider
E) Electronic conferencing

Question 74

________ allow outsiders limited access to a firm's internal information systems.

A) Indexes
B) Directories
C) Firewalls
D) Extranets
E) Intranets

Question 75

The software programs that actually process data according to the needs of the user are known as

A) artificial intelligence.
B) word processing.
C) computer analysis.
D) application programs.
E) data processing.

Question 76

Alliance Insurance relies on information technology for a variety of activities.The company is planning to improve its systems,so it needs to determine which areas need improvement.Many employees at Alliance feel that the information systems at the company are not sufficiently customized for the various departments in the company.Which of the following questions is most relevant to deciding whether customization should be a priority?

A) To what extent are work functions in the various departments different?
B) When was the last time that hardware at employees' workstations was updated?
C) To what extent are customers satisfied with their online experience with the company?
D) Does the marketing department use data mining to get information on customers?
E) Are the company's executives are confident about the direction the company is taking?

Question 77

Which software programs tells the computer which resources to use and how to use them?

A) Application programs
B) System programs
C) Arithmetic logic unit
D) Resource differentiation unit
E) Artificial intelligence

Question 78

Industrial suppliers are often linked into customers' information networks so that they can see planned production schedules and prepare supplies for customers' upcoming operations.This is an example of

A) electronic conferencing.
B) extranets.
C) intranets.
D) groupware.
E) VSAT satellite communication.

Question 79

The sales manager wants to show projected sales for each of the company's major products for the next five years assuming that there is 12 percent annual sales growth.What type of application program would most likely be used to obtain these results?

A) Electronic spreadsheet
B) Desktop publishing
C) Database management system
D) Word processing
E) Computer-assisted design

Question 80

A(n)________ is a private network of internal websites and other sources of information available to a company's employees.

A) index
B) directory
C) intranet
D) firewall
E) extranet