Question 1

Which of the following systems builds on a series of rules (frequently,if-then rules)to move from a set of data to a decision recommendation?

Accepted Answer

Expert systems are designed to mimic human decision-making by using a set of rules and knowledge to arrive at a decision recommendation. These rules are often in the form of if-then statements.

Question 2

For many years,the same first-line manager supervised the preparation of Campbell soups.He knew,for instance,that the thermometer on one vat consistently read 2 degrees higher than it actually was.He also knew by smell and consistency when to add additional ingredients and when a soup was ready for canning.A year before his retirement,Campbell hired knowledge workers to follow him around and collect his information in the form of if-then statements.With the information gathered,the knowledge workers were able to create

Accepted Answer

Based on the given scenario, the knowledge workers collected the necessary information to create an expert system that would replicate the decision-making process of the first-line manager. Therefore, option C, expert systems, is the best choice.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a transaction-processing system?

Accepted Answer

Transaction-processing systems are primarily used for routine and recurring situations, such as processing customer orders, payroll, and inventory transactions. They are useful in aggregating large amounts of data and are especially effective when handling large numbers of similar transactions. They were the first computerized form of information system used in many organizations. However, they are not typically used by middle- and upper-level managers, who are more likely to use decision-support systems or executive information systems.

Question 4

For many years,the same first-line manager supervised the preparation of Campbell soups.He knew,for instance,that the thermometer on one vat consistently read 2 degrees higher than it actually was.He also knew by smell and consistency when to add additional ingredients and when a soup was ready for canning.A year before his retirement,Campbell hired knowledge workers to follow him around and collect his information.The knowledge workers were able to use ____ to create computer systems that could smell soups and know when they were finished cooking.

Accepted Answer

Artificial intelligence involves creating computer systems that can perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as sensing and responding to sensory inputs like smell and texture. This type of technology would be needed in order to replicate the soup-making skills of the first-line manager, and therefore is the best choice for this scenario. None of the other options involve creating a system with the ability to sense and respond to sensory inputs.

Question 5

A(n)____ is an interactive computer system that locates and presents information needed by a manager to support the decision-making process.

Accepted Answer

A decision support system is specifically designed to provide interactive access to data and support for decision-making activities to managers. It helps to analyze data, identify patterns and trends, and provide insights, suggestions, and recommendations to support managerial decision-making. Other options mentioned are not specifically designed for this purpose.

Question 6

Information systems that are designed to duplicate,or at least imitate,human thought processes are known as ____ systems.

Accepted Answer

Expert systems are designed to replicate human expertise and decision-making capabilities. They use knowledge bases, inference engines, and rule sets to arrive at conclusions or recommendations. They are used in a variety of fields, such as medicine, finance, and engineering, to assist human experts in making complex decisions or to automate certain tasks. The other options listed are not focused on mimicking human thought processes to the same extent.

Question 7

For many years,the same first-line manager supervised the preparation of Campbell soups.He knew,for instance,that the thermometer on one vat consistently read 2 degrees higher than it actually was.He also knew by smell and consistency when to add additional ingredients and when a soup was ready for canning.A year before his retirement,Campbell hired ____ to follow him around and collect his information in the form of if-then statements and then to create a computerized information system to replicate that knowledge.

Accepted Answer

Knowledge workers are individuals who use their specialized knowledge and expertise to perform their jobs. In this case, the knowledge worker would be responsible for collecting the first-line manager's knowledge and creating a computerized information system to replicate that knowledge.

Question 8

Theresa tracks her credit card spending on her card's website.Each day her purchases are processed by a(n)____ information system.

Accepted Answer

A transaction-processing information system is designed to process daily transactions of a business, such as recording sales, processing payments, and updating inventory. In Theresa's case, each purchase she makes with her credit card is processed by the transaction-processing system on her card's website.  The other options - decision support, management information, expert, and artificial intelligence systems - are not directly related to processing daily transactions.

Question 9

Which of the following statements comparing an MIS and a decision support system is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

An MIS is typically less complex than a decision support system, as its primary function is to provide standardized reports and information to managers while a decision support system is designed to help managers make complex and often nonroutine decisions through advanced analysis and modeling tools.

Question 10

Which of the following is a system designed to handle routine and recurring transactions within an organization?

Accepted Answer

A transaction-processing system (TPS) is designed to handle routine and recurring transactions within an organization. TPSs are used to process transactions such as orders, payments, and other financial transactions. They are designed to be fast and reliable, with the ability to process large amounts of data quickly and efficiently.

Question 11

Administrative assistants who process data and create communications documents use ____ systems.

Accepted Answer

Administrative assistants who process data and create communications documents use standard office applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, for example. They do not necessarily require expert or AI systems, nor executive or decision support systems.

Question 12

The organizational information system that gathers and organizes comprehensive data,puts them in a form useful to managers,and then provides the managers with the information they need to do their work is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

The description matches that of a Management Information System (MIS), which is designed to collect and analyze data in a way that is useful for managerial decision-making. Transaction-processing systems (A) are focused on processing individual transactions, rather than providing comprehensive data analysis. Decision support systems (B) are more focused on providing analytical tools for decision-making, rather than organizing data. Structured information systems (D) and functional information systems (E) are not commonly used terms in the field of information systems.

Question 13

Geoff placed an order with Amazon.The processing of day-to-day transactions takes place in a(n)____ information system.

Accepted Answer

The processing of day-to-day transactions, such as an order being placed with Amazon, takes place in a transaction-processing information system. These systems are designed to handle high volumes of routine, recurring transactions in an efficient and accurate manner.

Question 14

The information systems department is

Accepted Answer

The information systems department consists of both knowledge workers (such as programmers and system analysts) and data workers (such as data entry clerks and data analysts), therefore option C is the best choice. Option A is incorrect because the information systems department is often part of an organization's hierarchy. Option B is incorrect because the information systems department is not purely a staff department. Option D is incorrect because the information systems department is a functional department. Option E is incorrect because not all choices are correct.

Question 15

Joan is the CEO of a marketing firm.At the start of each day,she logs on to her computer and reviews the trends and patterns of information important to her business.The type of system she is using is a(n)

Accepted Answer

An executive support system (ESS) is designed to provide strategic information and support to senior executives and top-level management. It provides easy access to internal and external information, as well as analytical and visual tools that can help executives analyze complex data and make important decisions. Reviewing trends and patterns of information important to the business is a task that falls under the purview of an ESS, hence A is the correct answer. Decision support systems are designed to provide support to middle management and operational staff to make semi-structured and unstructured decisions. Management information systems are designed to provide reports and information to managers to help them make operational decisions. Transaction processing systems are designed to record and process transactions that occur in an organization. A computerized database is a collection of data organized in a way that allows for easy access and retrieval.

Question 16

A marketer for a motion picture company is determining when to release a movie to gain maximum exposure and viewers.The marketer needs to use a(n)

Accepted Answer

A decision support system (DSS) would be the best choice for the marketer to use because it can analyze data and provide potential outcomes based on different release dates, target audiences, competition, and other factors. A DSS can help the marketer make an informed decision on when to release the movie to gain maximum exposure and viewership.

Question 17

NCC Incorporated has a complex,computerized information system that can calculate projected sales,market share,and profit profiles for each of the potential price-increase levels that a manager is considering.This is an example of a(n)

Accepted Answer

The complex, computerized information system described in the scenario is an example of a decision support system. It is designed to assist managers in making decisions by providing them with projections for different price increase levels. This system goes beyond generating reports and instead offers analytical capabilities that support decision-making.

Question 18

A ____ is a system that gathers,organizes,summarizes,and reports data for use by managers.

Accepted Answer

A management information system (MIS) is specifically designed to gather, organize, summarize, and report data for use by managers. It typically provides both routine and ad-hoc reports, as well as tools for data analysis and decision-making support. While a decision support system (B) may also be used by managers, it is focused on providing analytical tools and models to help with specific decisions. A transaction-processing system (C) is designed to process data from daily operations, such as sales, inventory, or payroll, and is not necessarily focused on providing management with information. A distributed system (D) refers to a computing environment that spans multiple interconnected computers, and a software system (E) is a broad term that could refer to any type of software, including MIS, DSS, or transaction-processing systems.

Question 19

USAA provides financial services to U.S.military personnel and their families.It maintains a customer database built from customer purchasing histories and information collected directly from the customers.Through skillful use of its database,USAA serves each of its customers uniquely.For example,marketers can check the system to see who has recently wrecked a car and send him or her car loan information.This computerized database lets managers track customer retention rates and add-on sales as well as new customer activities.This is an example of

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a management information system, as it provides managers with information about customer retention rates, add-on sales, and new customer activities. It is not an expert system or artificial intelligence as it does not utilize advanced algorithms or decision-making processes beyond database queries. It is not a transaction-processing system as it is not primarily focused on processing individual transactions.

Question 20

Before Randall goes to the mall he checks the Internet for coupons to various stores.In this way the Internet is a(n)

Accepted Answer

The Internet helps Randall in making a decision by providing him coupons to various stores, which is a characteristic of a decision support system. It is not a transaction-processing system as it does not involve processing of transactions. It is not a management information system as it does not provide information to help manage resources, and it is not an expert system or an artificial intelligence system as it is not providing specialized knowledge or decision-making abilities beyond what is available through coupons.

Quiz 22: Managing Information and Information Technology

Which of the following systems builds on a series of rules (frequently,if-then rules) to move from a set of data to a decision recommendation?