Deck 8: Using It for Coordination and Control

Question 1

____ are typically based on software that can convert large amounts of complex data into pertinent information and provide that information to top managers in a timely fashion.

A) DSS
B) EIS
C) Information reporting systems
D) TPS

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The evolution of organizational applications of information technology move from first-line to the top as follows:

A) business resource, networking, transaction processing systems.
B) management information systems, business resource and operations.
C) operations, business resource, strategic weapon.
D) work flow redesign, transaction processing systems, decision support systems.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

____ is typically concerned with well-defined problems about operational issues and past events.

A) Top management
B) First-line management
C) Employees
D) Middle-management

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Six Sigma is based on a methodology referred to as ____, which provides a structured way for organizations to approach and solve problems.

A) DMAIC
B) data warehousing
C) EIS
D) benchmarking

Question 5

The use of huge databases that combine all of a company's data and allow users to access the data directly, create reports, and obtain responses to what-if questions is referred to as:

A) data mining.
B) data processing.
C) transaction processing systems.
D) data warehousing.

Question 6

____ software uses sophisticated decision-making processes to search raw data for patterns and relationships that may be significant.

A) Data warehousing
B) Data mining
C) Analytical
D) Decision support system

Question 7

Which of the following is not a step of a simplified feedback control model?

A) Take corrective action as needed
B) Establish standards of performance
C) Measure actual performance and compare to standards
D) Set organizational mission and vision

Question 8

The ____ is a comprehensive management control system that balances traditional financial measures with operational measures relating to a company's critical success factors.

A) benchmarking
B) balanced scorecard
C) management control system
D) Six Sigma

Question 9

The process of continually measuring products, services, and practices against tough competitors or other organizations recognized as industry leaders is referred to as:

A) balanced scorecard.
B) benchmarking.
C) Six Sigma.
D) ERP.

Question 10

Which of the following provides mid-level managers with reports that summarize data and support day-to-day decision making?

A) Executive information systems
B) Decision support systems
C) Information reporting systems
D) Feedback control systems

Question 11

What is the highest level of application of use of information technology?

A) Internal control for profitability
B) External application for new business forms
C) Strategic weapon
D) Networking

Question 12

Which of the following is an interactive information system that is designed to help managers at all levels make decisions through integrated databases in which a series of "what if" questions can be posed?

A) Decision support systems
B) Transaction processing systems
C) Management information systems
D) Enterprise resource planning

Question 13

____ is a highly ambitious quality standard that specifies a goal of no more than 3.4 defects per million parts.

A) Benchmarking
B) Balanced scorecard
C) Knowledge management
D) Six Sigma

Question 14

The systems that automate the organization's routine, day-to-day business transactions such as data from sales or purchases from suppliers are called:

A) transaction processing systems.
B) automated analysis systems.
C) inventory control systems.
D) decision support systems.

Question 15

The initial applications of information technology by organizations was in the area of:

A) decision support systems.
B) transaction processing systems.
C) management information systems.
D) enterprise resource planning.

Question 16

____ specify standards for employee participation, teamwork, and problem solving.

A) Budgets
B) Quality control systems
C) Reward systems
D) Statistical reports

Question 17

____ refers to the high-tech analysis of a company's data in order to make better strategic decisions.

A) Data warehousing
B) Data mining
C) Transaction processing
D) Business intelligence

Question 18

Which of the following is not a management control system?

A) Statistical reports
B) Quality control system
C) Discipline policies
D) Reward system

Question 19

Which of the following is a software program that presents key business information in graphical, easy-to-interpret form and alerts managers to any deviations or unusual patterns in the data?

A) Executive dashboard
B) Transaction processing system
C) Executive information system
D) Information reporting system

Question 20

____ are defined as the formal routines, reports, and procedures that use information to maintain or alter patterns in organization activities.

A) Management control systems
B) MIS
C) DSS
D) TPS

Question 21

____ can create a level of cooperation not previously imaginable if managers approach the practice with an attitude of trust and partnership.

A) Enterprise integration
B) Networking
C) Knowledge management
D) TPS

Question 22

Which of the following is not a perspective of the balanced scorecard?

A) Financial performance
B) Employee performance
C) Customer service
D) Quality control

Question 23

The ____ helps managers focus on the key strategic measures that define the success of a particular organization over time and communicate them clearly through the organization.

A) networking
B) data warehousing
C) EDI
D) balanced scorecard

Question 24

____ measure such thins as how customers view the organization, as well as customer retention and satisfaction.

A) Customer service indicators
B) Business process indicators
C) Financial indicators
D) Retention indicators

Question 25

The form of corporate networking which is a private internal network that uses the infrastructure of the World Wide Web, but is cordoned off from the public, is called:

A) WebNet.
B) Intranet.
C) InterWeb.
D) CorpNet.

Question 26

With a modular structure, most activities are:

A) outsourced.
B) eliminated.
C) performed by in-house professionals.
D) simplified.

Question 27

____ provides a visual representation of the key drivers of an organization's success and shows how specific outcomes in each area are linked.

A) Enterprise resource planning
B) A feedback control model
C) A strategy map
D) A customer relationship management model

Question 28

Access to management information systems and executive information systems are typically controlled by placing them on the:

A) Internet.
B) individual PCs of authorized managers.
C) intranet.
D) extranet.

Question 29

Which of the following provides an unprecedented peer-to-peer communication channel, where people interact in an online community, sharing personal data and photos, producing and sharing all sorts of information and opinions?

A) Extranets
B) Wikis
C) Blogs
D) Social networking sites

Question 30

All of the following are basic strategies for setting up an Internet operation except:

A) in-house divisions.
B) strategic partnerships.
C) spin-off companies.
D) franchising.

Question 31

The impact of information technology on organization design includes:

A) larger size.
B) more decentralized organization structures.
C) technology is a substitute for professional staff, thereby decreasing the need for them.
D) decreased levels of employee participation.

Question 32

EIS collects data from transactions such as sales, purchases from suppliers, and inventory changes and stores them in a database.

Question 33

Data mining software is designed to print out data from the government sector, particularly from census reports.

Question 34

____ is based on monitoring and rewarding results, and managers might pay little attention to how those results are obtained.

A) Outcome control
B) Behavior control
C) Feedback control
D) Management control

Question 35

As the complexity of computer-based information technology systems has increased, applications have grown to support effective top management control and decision making about complex and uncertain problems.

Question 36

Explicit knowledge includes:

A) investing time at meetings in the sharing of stories and learning of histories.
B) a strong "feel" for the corporate culture.
C) development of a electronic document system that codifies, stores, disseminates, and allows reuse of knowledge.
D) channeling individual expertise to provide creative advice on problem solving.

Question 37

An important aspect of integrated enterprise is:

A) Six Sigma.
B) networking.
C) supply chain management.
D) the intranet.

Question 38

Management information systems facilitate rapid and effective decision making.

Question 39

____ is the efforts to systematically find, organize, and make available a company's intellectual capital and to foster a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing so that organizational activities build on what is already known.

A) ERP
B) Six Sigma
C) Knowledge management
D) Benchmarking

Question 40

The purpose of data warehousing is to combine all of a company's data and allows users to access the data directly, create reports, and obtain responses to what-if questions.

Question 41

Approaches of explicit knowledge management include the use of dialogue and communities of practice.

Question 42

Today, most companies with intranets have moved their management information systems, executive information systems, and so forth over to the intranet so they can easily be accessed by anyone who needs them.

Question 43

Six Sigma is a comprehensive management control system that balances traditional financial measures with operations measures relating to a company's critical success factors.

Question 44

Knowledge management can serve as the backbone for an entire organization by integrating and optimizing all the various business processes across the entire firm.

Question 45

The MIS is supported by the organization's transaction processing systems and by organizational databases.

Question 46

Effective control systems involve the use of feedback to determine whether organizational performance meets established standards to help the organization attain its goals.

Question 47

The four systems of a management control system form an overall management control system that provides top management with control information about resource inputs, process efficiency, and output. This information allows them to create new strategies.

Question 48

Managers use periodic statistical reports to evaluate and monitor nonfinancial performance, such as customer satisfaction, employee performance, or rate of staff turnover.

Question 49

The balanced scorecard is an information system used for making decisions.

Question 50

The components of the scorecard are designed in an integrative manner so that they reinforce one another and link short-term actions with long-term strategic goals.

Question 51

The formal routines, reports, and procedures that use information to maintain or alter patterns in organization activities are referred to as the balanced scorecard.

Question 52

Managers use quality control systems to train employees in quality control methods, set targets for employee participation, establish benchmarking guidelines, and assign and measure Six Sigma goals.

Question 53

Enterprise resource planning can integrate key management processes by integrating order processing, product design, purchasing, inventory, distribution, and other areas of organizational activity.

Question 54

A strategy map provides a visual representation of the key drivers of an organization's success and shows how specific outcomes in each area are linked.

Question 55

Transaction processing systems facilitates decision making at the highest levels of management.

Question 56

The first step of the feedback control model is to set strategic goals.

Question 57

The statistical report is typically used to set targets for the organization's expenditures for the year and then report actual costs on a monthly or quarterly basis.

Question 58

Tacit knowledge is formal, systematic knowledge that can be written down and passed on to others.

Question 59

The executive control system is a comprehensive management control system that balances traditional financial measures with operational measures relating to a company's critical success factors.

Question 60

Information reporting systems are designed for non-managerial and non-supervisory personnel to have access to basic information on the status of product orders.

Question 61

Describe your use of explicit knowledge when you prepare for an examination. Do you also use tacit knowledge regarding this activity? Explain.

Question 62

What is "knowledge" and "knowledge management?"

Question 63

Discuss the balanced scorecard.

Question 64

Draw a picture that illustrates the contrast between the two approaches to knowledge management that are discussed in our text. Then explain how your picture shows the difference between the two approaches.

Question 65

Take a position relative to this statement: "The more data a manager has, the better his or her decision making will be. The more, the better!" Defend your position.

Question 66

Describe each subsystem of management control systems.

Question 67

Customer relationship management (CRM) systems help companies track customers' interactions with the firm and allow employees to call up a customer's past sales and service records, outstanding orders, or unresolved problems.

Question 68

Realizing that managers spend about 80 percent of their time exchanging information, develop and defend your own theory or strategy for managing knowledge.

Question 69

Draw and explain the feedback control model.

Question 70

Explain the evolution of organizational applications of information technology.

Question 71

Discuss transaction processing systems and give an example of how a company utilizes the system.

Question 72

One effect of IT on organization design is overall growth in size from the hiring of technical personnel.

Question 73

Define and explain the Web 2.0 tools: A blog, A wiki, and social networking.

Question 74

With a network structure, most activities are outsourced, so that different companies perform the various functions needed by the organization.

Question 75

Contrast the two approaches for explicit knowledge management against two approaches for tacit knowledge management.

Question 76

Compare executive information systems and decision support system.

Question 77

An important aspect of the EIS is supply chain, which means managing the sequence of suppliers and purchasers covering all stages of processing from obtaining raw materials to distributing finished goods to consumers.

Question 78

What is the information reporting system? Give on example.

Question 79

Describe the ERP systems.

Question 80

How can information technology be used as a strategic weapon in business today?