25 General Information System Questions

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1. Why is it important for business managers to not leave the management of Information Systems solely to the technology professional? List and briefly discuss 6 areas of decision that business executives should not leave to IT managers.

Information systems deals with sensitive information in the organization. Managers are involved to approve some factors like decision making and setting credentials in the systems (McNurlin & Sprague, 2011). Other areas are on internal control and auditing the systems, management of all the organizational activities and planning. These among others are duties of managers which cannot be delegated.

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2. What is meant when we say IT is an enabler of business processes?

This means that the roles of IT are aimed at Identifying and pursuing opportunities for enlightening and improving business process performance.

3. Explain the role that the CIO plays in the business organization. Include discussion as to the qualifications and abilities that are typically necessary for a CIO to be successful and how this has changed in recent years.

The current roles of CIO (chief Information Officer) are; creating business value through use of the developing technology, leading in strategic plans of growing the business and ensuring that the systems and procedures in the organization are up to date and in line with the goals of the organization.

4. What is an Information System? Briefly define TPS, MIS, DSS and ESS.

Information system involves an organized system that is meant for collecting, storing and organizing information. TPS (transaction processing systems) is a system that is used to track down the accounting processes in the business (McNurlin & Sprague, 2011). MIS (management information systems) are systems that are used to offer reports from all the other databases. DSS (decision support systems) are systems that are used by managers to offer solutions to the recurring problems in the organization. ESS (executive support systems) use by executives to assist in solving various organizational problems.

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5. Why is the people component a vital part of an IS?

People are the most vital component in that the systems are made by them and for them.

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6. Why do organizations build Information Systems?

Reasons for IS in organizations. IT systems are developed in an organization for improving competitiveness, supporting innovation and developing efficient systems that will boost growth and development in the organization.

7. Why is constant re-evaluation of Information Systems necessary?

Evaluating IT systems helps in analyzing whether the systems are working accordance with the required roles.

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8. Explain why it is necessary for managers to be aware of the four components of an information system. Include discussion regarding what the four components are, along with examples.

The four components are; input components that are used to key in data in to the computer system, processing systems which are used to process the required data, output systems which are used to display information after processing and the output storage systems used to store the required information.

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9. What are the three levels in the hierarchical organizational planning?

The first is the top-level management, middle-level management and the low-level management.

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10. What are the drawbacks of the functional and hierarchical business management schemes? How does the process perspective help solve the problems associated with the hierarchical and functional perspectives?

The main drawbacks are communication and coordination challenges. Process perspective can be used to train the managing body on how to pass information to the employees.

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11. What is Business Process Reengineering (BPR)? What is the role of modern Information Technology in BPR? In your explanation show your understanding of BPR and be sure to explain why BPR needs IT to be implemented.

This is a business strategy that aims at analyzing the business workflows and processes (Attaran, 2014). IT is crucial in business processes reengineering as it can be implemented in boosting efficiency and accuracy of the workflows and processes.

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12. Define and describe Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

CRM are the strategies, processes and technologies that are implemented to boost customer’s relations. They ensure that the organization have a good relationship with the customers in terms of services and interaction.

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13. What are the defining characteristics of transaction processing systems, management information systems, and executive information systems. How are they different from each other?

Transaction processing system is a system that is used to track down the accounting processes in the business (Venkatesh, Morris, Davis, & Davis, 2013). Management information systems are systems that are used to offer reports from all the other databases.

Executive information systems are used by executives to provide specific information.

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14. What is meant by the term, “Best of Breed” as it relates to system integration?

This involves integration is supply chain management applications. This allows organizations to use different applications from different vendors.

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15. What is the difference between explicit and tacit knowledge, and how are they managed differently?

Explicit knowledge is the kind of knowledge that is easily formalized, stored and retrieved. Tactic knowledge is know-how knowledge that is based on the intuitive.

16. What is the internet? Why is it important to business today?

Internet is the global computer internet created by a variety of computers. Internet provides a channel of communication and accessibility of vast information.

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17. Provide six examples of internet services.

They include emailing, file transfer, storage of information, searching information and clarifying data.

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18. What is the difference between “data” and “information”?

Data is the raw input of the user while information is processed output from the computer.

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19. What is a “disruptive technology.”? Provide 3 current examples.

This is the technologies that emerge from new business models. Examples are cloud computing, machine-learning techniques and advanced robots.

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20. Please define the terms e-Commerce and e-Business. What’s the difference?

E-Commerce entails electronic activities that involves transfer of ownership or rights to use goods and services. E-business is incorporating the e-commerce activities as well as the offline services.

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21. What are disintermediation and re-intermediation and provide examples.

Disintermediation is basically removing the third person from the supply chain. Re-intermediation is adding a third party in the supply chain from their new offers and motives.

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22. Explain the concept of “Total Cost of Ownership” as a means of costing a company asset.

This is a financial estimate that helps buyers in determining direct and indirect cost of products. Used in full accounting concept.

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23. What are the six key Information Systems decisions business managers must be involved with?

Key information Systems decisions for managers. These include; financial decisions, job allocation, who to blame in case of a failure, risks involved, the standards and capabilities.

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24. What is the relationship between the overall business plan and the IS plan? Should one support the other and, if so, which one?

Overall business plan is the general document that outlines the business’s main goal. IS plan being a list of organizational goals and resources with timings and resources.

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25. What are the two ways for business value to be created?

The main ways for the business to boost the values for the business are team working and coordination.

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References

Attaran, M. (2014). Exploring the relationship between information technology and business process reengineering. Information & management, 41(5), 585-596.

McNurlin, B. C., & Sprague, R. H. (2011). Information systems management in practice. Prentice Hall PTR.

Venkatesh, V., Morris, M. G., Davis, G. B., & Davis, F. D. (2013). User acceptance of information technology: Toward a unified view. MIS quarterly, 425-478