Question 1

Managers use software apps that support decisions that would otherwise take a lot of time to figure out.For instance,these tools can help figure out if a customer qualifies for an auto loan or should receive additional credit.These interactive apps are called _________.

Accepted Answer

DSS (Decision Support System) is a software application that assists managers in making informed and effective decisions by providing access to relevant data and analytical tools. DSS enables managers to quickly analyze data and make decisions that would otherwise take a lot of time to figure out manually. In the given scenario, DSS would help managers determine if a customer qualifies for an auto loan or additional credit by analyzing relevant data and providing insights. EIS (Executive Information System) and MIS (Management Information System) are not the best choices as they generally do not have the same level of interactivity and support for decision-making as DSS. JIT (Just-In-Time) is not relevant to the given scenario as it is a production strategy that focuses on minimizing inventory levels.

Question 2

Given the huge number of transactions,the data in databases are constantly in use and/or undergoing change.This characteristic of databases,referred to as ___________,makes it impossible to use them for complex decision making and problem-solving tasks.

Accepted Answer

Volatility refers to the constantly changing nature of data in databases, which makes it difficult to use them for complex decision-making and problem-solving tasks. Velocity refers to the speed at which data is being generated and processed, volume refers to the sheer amount of data, and variability refers to the diversity of the data. While all of these characteristics can impact the use of data for decision-making, volatility is the most relevant in this context.

Question 3

What kind of reports are unplanned reports and generated on request to learn more about a situation,problem,or opportunity?

Accepted Answer

Ad hoc reports are generated on request, usually to address a specific situation, problem, or opportunity. Unplanned reports are a type of ad hoc report. Exception reports are generated automatically when data falls outside of predefined parameters. Periodic reports are generated at regular intervals, such as weekly or monthly. Management reports are designed to provide high-level insights and strategic guidance to decision-makers.

Question 4

Jared is a sales manager at a large company where employees use several cloud apps such as salesforce.com and Google Apps.The company decided to use these apps instead of purchasing apps that would run from their own servers,reducing the cost and complexity associated with their use.Apps like these are known as:

Accepted Answer

Software as a service (SaaS) refers to cloud-based applications that are accessed and used over the internet, eliminating the need to install and maintain software on local servers or individual computers. Examples of SaaS apps include Salesforce.com and Google Apps, which are mentioned in the scenario. This model is often used by companies to reduce the cost and complexity of maintaining their own software and hardware infrastructure. Therefore, choice C is the correct answer.

Question 5

The basic resources for the SDDC are ____________.

Accepted Answer

The SDDC, or Software-Defined Data Center, relies on virtualization technologies to abstract and automate the management of IT resources. The basic resources for the SDDC encompass compute (CPU, memory, and virtualization), storage (local and network-based), networking (physical and virtual layers), and security (protecting data and applications). Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

Question 6

Jackson Stiles is a marketing manager for Rock Hardware.His boss has told him to make sure each product earns at least a 25% net profit margin.When new products come into the store,Jackson enters data into Rock's DSS about the product,shipping and promotional costs associated with carrying the product.The DSS then calculates a target price based on this information.Jackson is using the DSS to conduct a ________ analysis.

Accepted Answer

Jackson is using the DSS to calculate a target price based on the cost of the product, shipping, and promotional costs, all in an effort to ensure that the product earns a 25% net profit margin. This is a goal-seeking analysis, as he is using the DSS to determine the necessary sales price in order to reach a specific financial goal. The other options, input-output and factor analysis, do not accurately describe Jackson's use of the DSS, and while what-if analysis could be used in this situation, it is not explicitly mentioned in the scenario.

Question 7

Data Virtualization has led to a new type of facility called the _______,which optimizes the use of resources,balances workloads,and maximizes operational efficiency by dynamically distributing workloads and provisioning networks

Accepted Answer

The description provided in the question matches the concept of a Software-Defined Data Center (SDDC). SDDC optimizes resource utilization, balances workloads, and provides network provisioning dynamically. The other options do not accurately describe this concept.

Question 8

An information system (IS)is part of an organizational culture that consists of:

Accepted Answer

An information system (IS) is a part of an organizational culture that consists of three main components: business processes, people, and technology. Business processes refer to the set of activities or tasks that enable a business to achieve its objectives. People refer to the employees, managers, customers, suppliers, and stakeholders who are involved in the business processes. Technology refers to the tools, applications, and infrastructure used to support and automate the business processes. Therefore, the most appropriate option is C.

Question 9

Cisco's Data Virtualization Center can _________.

Accepted Answer

Cisco's Data Virtualization Center is specifically designed to significantly speed up integration and consolidation of data from multiple sources, providing a unified view for better decision-making. It is not designed to eliminate data center costs or increase data security and complexity, nor does it run apps on mobile devices.

Question 10

The greatest strategic advantage of cloud computing solutions is that they _______________.

Accepted Answer

One of the key benefits of cloud computing solutions is increased agility, which allows organizations to quickly implement IT solutions and gain competitive advantage. This is due to the ease of access, scalability, and flexibility of cloud-based solutions compared to traditional software applications. While cloud computing solutions may offer superior interfaces, security, and functionality compared to traditional applications, these are not their greatest strategic advantages.

Question 11

Data in databases are constantly in use or undergoing changes.As a result,it is impossible to use them for complex decision making or problem solving tasks.Which of the following is an appropriate solution to this problem?

Accepted Answer

Extracting, transforming, and loading data into a data warehouse is a common practice to make data suitable for analytical purposes. A data warehouse is designed to support complex decision-making and problem-solving tasks by offering a stable and consistent view of the data. Thus, it is the most appropriate solution in this scenario as it separates analytical processing from operational processing and allows for data to be used without interruption. Option A is not ideal as it may disrupt daily operations, and option B may not always be feasible or practical. Option C is not recommended as it may lead to erroneous or incomplete results.

Question 12

What kinds of reports are created only when something deviates from the norm?

Accepted Answer

Exception reports are created only when something deviates from the norm, such as when a specific threshold or limit is exceeded. These reports are designed to highlight unusual or abnormal occurrences that require immediate attention or intervention. Ad hoc, periodic, and management reports may be created on a regular basis or as needed, regardless of whether anything deviates from the norm.

Question 13

All of the following are types of IT infrastructures or computing systems except ________.

Accepted Answer

OLTP (Online Transaction Processing) is not a type of IT infrastructure or computing system, but rather a method for processing business transactions in real-time. The other three options (on-premises data centers, virtualization, and cloud computing) are all types of IT infrastructures or computing systems.

Question 14

Companies or government agencies that need greater security and data confidentiality set up their own ________ clouds on servers that they own.

Accepted Answer

Private clouds are controlled and managed by a single organization, providing greater security and data confidentiality. This option is often used by companies or government agencies that require high levels of security and control over their data. The other options (A, B, and C) do not specifically describe the type of cloud environment that offers this level of control and security.

Question 15

These information systems organize and present data from both internal and external sources in an easy to use dashboard format and are called _________.

Accepted Answer

EIS (Executive Information Systems) are designed to provide top-level managers with a high-level overview of their organization's key performance indicators allowing them to make informed decisions quickly and easily. DSS (Decision Support Systems) are designed to support mid-level management in making complex decisions, while MIS (Management Information Systems) provide operational-level managers with insights into the day-to-day operations of the organization. JIT (Just-in-Time) is a manufacturing process that focuses on minimizing waste and reducing inventory levels.

Question 16

Examples of ___________ include data storage and computing hardware that are accessed via the Internet instead of being company-owned and on-site in a data center.

Accepted Answer

Cloud computing refers to the use of remote servers to store, manage, and process data, as well as access software applications, over the internet. It allows organizations to access computing resources on-demand, without the need for on-site hardware and infrastructure. The other options, TPS (Transaction Processing System), DSS (Decision Support System), and Real-time reporting systems, do not specifically relate to cloud computing.

Question 17

A ___________ consists of a large number of network servers used for the storage,processing,management,distribution,and archiving of data,systems,web traffic,services,and enterprise applications.

Accepted Answer

A data center is a facility composed of network servers for the storage, processing, management, distribution, and archiving of data, systems, web traffic, services, and enterprise applications. This is where all the critical IT infrastructure and hardware are housed. Data centers are designed for maximum reliability, security, and scalability to meet the needs of modern businesses.

Question 18

Jay Garcia is a marketing manager at Fire Mouth,a new hot sauce manufacturer.He is using his company's DSS to determine the best price for a new brand of hot sauce called "Fires of Hell".He inputs figures about his costs,price and desired profit and then checks to see what the app tells him his sales volume would need to be based on those factors.As he works on the problem,he changes his assumptions about the input factors and notes how those changes impact the predicted sales volume.Jay is doing ________ analysis.

Accepted Answer

Jay is using the DSS to explore different scenarios and analyze the impact of changing input factors on the predicted sales volume. This is known as What-if analysis, where the user can vary assumptions about input values to see how they affect the output.

Question 19

What key factor differentiates an MIS from a DSS?

Accepted Answer

The key factor that differentiates an MIS from a DSS is that a DSS contains models that use information to make decisions, whereas an MIS does not necessarily have decision-making models. While the other answer choices may be true characteristics of MIS and DSS systems, they are not the key factor that distinguishes between the two.

Question 20

Which of the following was not a key characteristic of a DSS?

Accepted Answer

DSS are designed or customized for decision-making purposes by a variety of professionals such as IT, business analysts, and decision-makers. It is not solely the responsibility of IT professionals.

Quiz 2: Information Systems, IT Architecture, Data Governance, and Cloud Computing