MIS Midterm Exam

In which of these situations would an enterprise resource planning system (ERP) be clearly helpful? More than one answer may be correct.

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• A hospitality brand needs to know how directly its marketing and advertising efforts effect room sales.A hospitality brand needs to know how directly its marketing and advertising efforts effect room sales.

• An international automaker must coordinate its new-vehicle production line with elements of its supply chain.An international automaker must coordinate its new-vehicle production line with elements of its supply chain.

• A recruiting firm must build a web search application to pull job candidates from an international pool.A recruiting firm must build a web search application to pull job candidates from an international pool.

• To make sure each upcoming week’s food order is freshly sourced, a local restaurant manager keeps track of how quickly the current week’s specials sell out.

• A hospitality brand needs to know how directly its marketing and advertising efforts effect room sales.A hospitality brand needs to know how directly its marketing and advertising efforts effect room sales.

• An international automaker must coordinate its new-vehicle production line with elements of its supply chain.An international automaker must coordinate its new-vehicle production line with elements of its supply chain.

• A recruiting firm must build a web search application to pull job candidates from an international pool.A recruiting firm must build a web search application to pull job candidates from an international pool.

Describe who might use mainframe computers. More than one option may be correct.

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• An airline taking reservations.An airline taking reservations.

• A warehouse restocking a recently published book.A warehouse restocking a recently published book.

• A company seeking better operational efficiency.A company seeking better operational efficiency.

• A company with off-site employee who need access to company files

• An airline taking reservations.An airline taking reservations.

• A warehouse restocking a recently published book.A warehouse restocking a recently published book.

• A company seeking better operational efficiency.A company seeking better operational efficiency.

What is an important step in integrating cloud computing into a business’s IT structure?

Multiple Choice

• connect all individual computers to the client-server network

• secure a dependable, high-speed Internet service

• install appropriate software programs

• train users in Internet security

• secure a dependable, high-speed Internet service

How does supply chain visibility provided by a supply chain management system reduce the bullwhip effect?

Multiple Choice

• Supply chain management systems provides insight into different retailers’ component pricing, allowing you to source component items from the least expensive wholesaler.

• Processing purchase orders through a supply chain management system allows managers to know who their biggest customers are and make sure their best salespeople are working those accounts.

• Using a supply chain management system to understand how much inventory you have on hand will allow you to press your salespeople to focus on selling that product.

• Accurately predicting how many units of an item are expected to sell allows manufacturers to accurately source for the correct amount of raw materials and avoid overreacting to fluctuations in consumer demand.

• Accurately predicting how many units of an item are expected to sell allows manufacturers to accurately source for the correct amount of raw materials and avoid overreacting to fluctuations in consumer demand.

Describe examples of how client-server networks are used. More than one answer may be correct.

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• Data storage

• Printing

• Data backup

• Storing Data on the Internet

• Data storage

• Printing

• Data backup

Which of the following is an example of an individual using a decision support system? More than one answer may be correct.

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• A PR company wants to provide its clients with information regarding how a national campaign is affecting sales in different regions of the country and help them decide where more advertising money should be spent to have a larger impact.

• A nurse monitoring intake for tele-health patients enters symptoms, duration, and health history into a proprietary database. The database provides her with a suggestion to recommend to the patient, from seeking urgent, emergency medical attention to discussing symptoms with a doctor via the tele-health platform, to monitoring symptoms at home. However, the nurse has the final authority for what path she places the patient on.

• The assistant manager at Best Buy needs to know when she needs to order more computers during the back to school sales

• A sales manager wants to know which of her reps are not on target for hitting their monthly quota.

• A PR company wants to provide its clients with information regarding how a national campaign is affecting sales in different regions of the country and help them decide where more advertising money should be spent to have a larger impact.

• A nurse monitoring intake for tele-health patients enters symptoms, duration, and health history into a proprietary database. The database provides her with a suggestion to recommend to the patient, from seeking urgent, emergency medical attention to discussing symptoms with a doctor via the tele-health platform, to monitoring symptoms at home. However, the nurse has the final authority for what path she places the patient on.

Computing is considered “green” or environmentally responsible when

Multiple Choice

• it relies on smaller, less energy-intensive devices such as smartphones and smart watches.

• it reduces the consumption of natural resources and the associated environmental impact

• it lowers the immediate and long-term costs of operations, making them more sustainable.

• it employs information technology (IT) specialists and technicians in developing countries.

• it reduces the consumption of natural resources and the associated environmental impact

A retail chain store uses a centralized mainframe system that connects all of the cash registers within a region. Regional managers are able pull sales reports for all units on this mainframe. Salespeople are able to easily ring up and total customers purchases, as well as communicate with other associates at different machines. What is his mainframe system an example of? More than one answer may be correct.

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• mobile POS station

• transaction processing system

• cloud computing system

• client-server network

• mobile POS station

• client-server network

What function of a micro-networked POS systems is responsible for increased accuracy of employees when ringing up customer purchases?

Multiple Choice

• Increased training on how to use POS systems

• Centralized mainframes that allowed different cash registers to be connected to one network

• Data backups that occur while items are being rung up

• The total button which automatically added up the amount owed for items purchased

• The total button which automatically added up the amount owed for items purchased

Which of the following is an example of a business that would benefit from scheduling software? More than one answer may be correct.

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• A local gym offers personal training and group fitness classes throughout the day. Different employees lead the group fitness classes; personal trainers must have completed a specified number of annual certification hours. Another employee is needed to check guests in at the front desk.

• A medi-spa offers the following services: manicures, pedicures, massages, laser hair removal, Botox, and chemical peels. Local agencies require different levels of training and certification for the technicians performing these different services. Weekends are the most popular time for manicure and pedicure services, while the beginning of the week is the most popular time for services that use a chemical or a laser.

• A library that has six locations within a city. Each location offers different services—targeting preschool aged children, seniors, out of work adults, and school aged children—on different days. The programs are generally run by the same employee at different locations so care needs to be taken not to schedule the same programs for different locations on the same day and that each employee is scheduled for the right location on the right day.

• A software company has 200 employees spread across three cities. All employees are given the freedom to work from home when they chose, but the company still maintains dedicated office space for each employee. There are team building exercises a few times a year when all employees are required to be on site at the office location in their city.

• A local gym offers personal training and group fitness classes throughout the day. Different employees lead the group fitness classes; personal trainers must have completed a specified number of annual certification hours. Another employee is needed to check guests in at the front desk.

• A medi-spa offers the following services: manicures, pedicures, massages, laser hair removal, Botox, and chemical peels. Local agencies require different levels of training and certification for the technicians performing these different services. Weekends are the most popular time for manicure and pedicure services, while the beginning of the week is the most popular time for services that use a chemical or a laser.

• A library that has six locations within a city. Each location offers different services—targeting preschool aged children, seniors, out of work adults, and school aged children—on different days. The programs are generally run by the same employee at different locations so care needs to be taken not to schedule the same programs for different locations on the same day and that each employee is scheduled for the right location on the right day.

A videoconference may be a better choice than a voice conference call because it allows

Multiple Choice

• less travel time and expense.

• better communication through nonverbal cues.

• increased use of technology.

• frequent contact among managers.

• better communication through nonverbal cues.

Which is the best description of a typical flextime policy?

Multiple Choice

• Employees “bank” their work hours: they can work extra hours to earn equivalent paid time off later.

• Employees create their own work schedules: they can change when they start and stop their workday

• Employees work from anywhere: they can decide whether they need to go to the office or worksite.

• Employees take paid family leave: they can take paid time off to manage various family situations.

• Employees create their own work schedules: they can change when they start and stop their workday.

An executive support system (ESS) would be most useful in which of the following situations? More than one answer may be correct.

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• Reports from all divisions are needed quickly for a crucial decision.=

• The Board needs detailed information about a new product from the research and development group.

• Human resources are needed to assist certain work groups who are showing overtime stress.

• All divisions need integrated data centralization and relationship creation.

• Reports from all divisions are needed quickly for a crucial decision.

• The Board needs detailed information about a new product from the research and development group.

Remote desktop software

Multiple Choice

• is as susceptible to abuse as employee monitoring software.

• uses the same technology as an Internet filter.

• is a market leader in surveillance technology.

• provides access to all networked devices from a separate computer

• provides access to all networked devices from a separate computer

Choose a phrase from below that pinpoints when in-person meetings may be a better choice than video conferencing.

Multiple Choice

• a meeting’s content is sensitive

• middle managers need quick project status updates from line managers

• expense is not a major consideration

• businesses direct all employees to work remotely

• a meeting’s content is sensitive

Although Miguel does not want to give up the option to work from both home and office, he’s starting to feel his personal and work lives blending together, and not in a good way. What are some strategies he should try to improve his work-life balance? More than one answer may be correct.

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• When at the office, Miguel can break for informal chats with colleagues in person and on video chat or phone when he’s home. At the end of the day, he should take time to wind down and get enough rest.

• Wherever he is, Miguel should plan his day according to achievable priorities. A first step may be scheduling a specific time for responding to messages and calls.

• He should include both personal and business goals on his office calendar to make sure not to miss something. He also can speak to a manager about his workload.

• Miguel can create a physical work-life boundary by moving to the office exclusively. Also, he can be sure not to respond to any business requests outside of work hours.

• When at the office, Miguel can break for informal chats with colleagues in person and on video chat or phone when he’s home. At the end of the day, he should take time to wind down and get enough rest.

• Wherever he is, Miguel should plan his day according to achievable priorities. A first step may be scheduling a specific time for responding to messages and calls.

In which of the following situations does remote desktop software have advantage over employee monitoring software? More than one answer may be correct.

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• when monitoring a large number of employees is not practical l

• when employee privacy is a serious concern

• when integration with other business systems is necessary

• when digitized information about individual workstation use is necessary

• when monitoring a large number of employees is not practical l

• when employee privacy is a serious concern

Which statement best describes the impact of management information systems (MIS) for communication?

Multiple Choice

• They have created a new, upper level of management in many technology organizations.

• They have popularized the use of video, such as for video conferencing and webcasts.

• They have made information technology (IT) the most profitable department in organizations.

• They have vastly improved organizations’ ability to communicate effectively and efficiently.

• They have vastly improved organizations’ ability to communicate effectively and efficiently.

The development and growing popularity of flextime arrangements can largely be attributed to

Multiple Choice

• long periods of low unemployment and fierce competition for competent workers at all skill levels.

• the spread of high-speed Internet and technologies such as telecommuting and teleconferencing.

• the rise of strong workers’ unions that can negotiate fair flextime policies with corporate employers.

• the low costs of personal computers for employees and management information systems (MIS) for employers.

• the spread of high-speed Internet and technologies such as telecommuting and teleconferencing.

Smaller businesses are able to get the benefits of an enterprise resource (ERP) system through

Multiple Choice

• partnering with businesses with similar business plans.

• performing all the functions that an enterprise resource system encompasses.

• scalable cloud-based ERP systems.

• significant investments in their IT budgets.

• scalable cloud-based ERP systems.