1.

(C1)How are information systems transforming business, and why are they
so essential for running and managing a business today?
Information systems are the foundation of fast-paced supply chains. The Internet
allows many businesses to buy, sell, advertise, and solicit customer feedback
online.
Organizations are trying to become more competitive and efficient by digitally
enabling their core business processes and evolving into digital firms.
The Internet has stimulated globalization by dramatically reducing the costs of
producing, buying, and selling goods on a global scale. New information system
trends include the emerging mobile digital platform, big data, and cloud
computing.

2.(C1) What academic disciplines are used to study information systems, and how
does each contribute to an understanding of information systems?
- Technical approach
Technical approach emphasis on three things
+ mathematically based models to study an information system,
+ looks at physical technology and formal capability of the system,
+ identifying solutions that can be represented by formulas
- The disciplines that contribute to the technical approach are
Computer science focuses on theories of computability, computation methods, and
efficient data storage and access. Management science develops decision-making
and management models.
Operations research uses mathematical techniques to optimize organizational
parameters like transportation, inventory control, and transaction costs.
Behavioral approach
This approach is fields of an information system that deals with behavior issues
arising from the developed system and longtime maintenance of the information
system, and issues that cannot be explode using formulas.
Sociotechnical view
In this view, optimal organizational performance is achieved by jointly optimizing
both the social and technical systems used in production. Although information
systems are composed of machines, devices, and "hard" physical technology, they
alsorequire substantial social, organizational, and intellectual investments to make
them work properly. Adopting this view can help to avoid a purely technological
approach to information systems.
That's why the information system is also called sociotechnical system.
2. (C1)What is an information system? How does it work? What are its
management, organization, and technology components?
An information system is a system that collects, stores, and disseminates
information from an organization’s environment and internal operations to support
organizational functions and decision-making, communication, coordination,
control, analysis, and visualization.
Information systems transform raw data into useful information through three
basic activities: input, processing, and output.
An information system addresses business problems by integrating management,
organization, and technology elements. The management aspect involves
leadership, strategy, and behavior; the technology aspect includes hardware,
software, data management, and networking; and the organization aspect covers
hierarchy, functional specialties, processes, culture, and political interests
3. Why is it important to understand the difference between computer literacy
and information literacy?
Information literacy enables applying knowledge effectively, addressing industry
problems, and advancing businesses. In contrast, computer literacy provides the
ability to access information without necessarily knowing how to apply it.
Both literacies are crucial in the digital world, but effectively acquiring and
applying information is challenging. Online information may be biased, deceptive,
or incorrect, so it's essential to think critically, verify sources, check dates, and
compare with other resources.
4 (C1)Define complementary assets and describe their relationship to
information technology?
Additional assets required to derive value from a primary investment. Firms failing
to make complementary investments receive less or no returns on their information
technology investments
The relationship between complementary assets and IT is symbiotic. While IT
investments can provide significant benefits, the presence of complementary assets
is crucial for realizing these benefits. Complementary assets enable organizations
to effectively integrate IT into their operations, enhance productivity, improve
decision-making, and gain a competitive advantage.
5 How can a good CRM system increase profits for a company?
1. Accelerate the Sales Lifecycle
A CRM system can:
Monitor Sales Process: Track each sales stage, identifying bottlenecks for timely
interventions.
Provide Insights: Offer valuable customer behavior insights to tailor sales
approaches.
Personalize Communication: Facilitate personalized marketing to boost
engagement and conversion.
Boost Revenue: Accelerate the sales cycle, leading to quicker revenue generation.
2. Regular and Meaningful Communication / Personalized User Experience
A CRM system enhances communication by:
Tracking Interactions: Monitor customer behaviors and needs for tailored
interactions.
Personalizing Experiences: Create meaningful, personalized communication to
boost satisfaction and loyalty.
Ensuring Consistency: Maintain consistent interactions across departments.
Increasing Loyalty and Revenue: Foster loyalty through regular, personalized
communication, leading to repeat business.
3. Increased Employee Productivity
CRMs boost productivity by:
Integrating Workflows: Unify processes across departments, reducing redundancy.
Automating Tasks: Automate administrative tasks, freeing up employee time for
strategic activities.
Streamlining Processes: Improve efficiency and transitions between departments.
Enhancing Sales Activities: Allow sales reps to focus more on customer
engagement and sales.
4. Integration of Different Departments
CRM systems facilitate integration by:
Centralizing Data: Enable easy data transfer across sales, marketing, finance, and
production.
Automating Processes: Streamline operations like ordering and billing.
Customizable Solutions: Tailor features to meet specific business needs.
Boosting Performance: Improve customer service, financial insight, production,
and reduce manual processes.
5. Targeting New Customers
CRMs help attract new customers by:
Filtering Leads: Segment potential customers for targeted marketing.
Leveraging Social Channels: Connect with prospects on social platforms to attract
new leads.
Integrating Communication: Reach a broader audience with personalized offers.
Increasing Sales: Convert prospects into customers through effective targeting and
engagement.
6. Process Automation
CRM automation includes:
Managing Repetitive Tasks: Automate tasks like reports, emails, and data entry.
Enhancing Efficiency: Improve workflow efficiency and productivity.

6 Describe the complementary social, managerial, and organizational assets

required to optimize returns from information technology investments?
Information systems allow business to connect to global markets. The use of
technology, social sites and advertising in the digital rim drastically cuts the cost
associated with scaling business.
A list of required assets :

Social Assets:
Managerial Assets:
Organizational Assets:

By considering and investing in these complementary social, managerial, and

organizational assets, organizations can optimize returns from their IT investments.
It enables them to leverage technology effectively, drive innovation, and gain a
competitive advantage in the digital era.
7 What is the role of the information systems function in a business?
1.Supporting Decision Making
Data Management: Collects and manages data for informed decisions.
Analytics: Provides insights and generates reports.
2. Enhancing Operational Efficiency
Process Automation: Automates routine tasks to boost productivity.
Workflow Management: Streamlines processes to reduce delays.
3. Improving Communication and Collaboration
Communication Tools: Facilitates internal and external communication.
Collaboration Platforms: Enhances teamwork with project management tools.
4. Supporting Strategic Goals
Alignment with Objectives: Ensures IS initiatives support business goals.
Competitive Advantage: Implements technologies like CRM and ERP.
5. Managing Information Security
Data Protection: Safeguards information from unauthorized access.
Compliance: Ensures adherence to legal and regulatory standards.
6. Customer Relationship Management
Customer Data: Manages information to enhance relationships.
Personalization: Provides tailored customer experiences.
7. Supporting Innovation and Development
R&D Support: Aids in developing new products and services.
Emerging Technologies: Evaluate and implement new tech.
8. Enhancing Financial Management
Reporting: Delivers accurate financial data.
Budgeting: Aids in financial planning and cost management.

8 What are business processes? How are they related to information systems?
Define business processes and describe the role they play in organizations.
A business process is a logically related set of activities that define how specific
business tasks are performed. Business processes are the ways in which
organizations coordinate and organize work activities, information, and knowledge
to produce their valuable products or services.
How well a business performs depends on how well its business processes are
designed and coordinated. Well-designed business processes can be a source of
competitive strength for a company if it can use the processes to innovate or
perform better than its rivals. Conversely, poorly designed or executed business
processes can be a liability if they are based on outdated ways of working and
impede responsiveness or efficiency.
Describe the relationship between information systems and business processes.
Information systems automate manual business processes and make an
organization more efficient. Data and information are available to a wider range of
decision-makers more quickly when information systems are used to change the
flow of information. Tasks can be performed simultaneously rather than
sequentially, speeding up the completion of business processes. Information
systems can also drive new business models that perhaps wouldn’t be possible
without the technology.
9 I)How do systems serve the different management groups in a business, and
II)how do systems that link the enterprise improve organizational performance?
I
TPS: transaction processing systems
payroll or order processing that track the flow of the daily routine transactions necessary to
conduct business.
MIS: management information systems
produce reports serving middle management by condensing information from TPS
DSS: decision-support systems
support management decisions that are unique and rapidly changing using advanced analytical
models
ESS: executive support systems

II
Enterprise systems integrate the key internal business processes of a firm into a single software
system to improve coordination and decision making.

10 Describe the information systems supporting the major business functions:

sales and marketing, manufacturing and production, finance and accounting, and
human resources?
help firm identify customers for the firm's production and services , develop production and
services to meet customer' need, sell the production and services , and support customer

Manufacturing and production systems deal with the planning, development, and production of
products and services, and controlling the flow of production.

Finance and accounting systems keep track of the firm's financial assets and fund flows.

Human resources systems is employee records, employee skills, job, and training

11 Define operational excellence. How can information systems help achieve

it?
Operational excellence refers to the ability of an organization to consistently
deliver high-quality products or services, while optimizing resources, minimizing
waste, and continuously improving processes to meet or exceed customer
expectations. Information systems play a crucial role in achieving operational
excellence by:
Process Automation: Information systems automate repetitive tasks, reducing
manual effort and errors, and improving efficiency across various operational
processes.
Data Analytics: By collecting and analyzing data from different sources,
information systems provide insights into operational performance, allowing
organizations to identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions.
Standardization and Integration: Information systems facilitate the
standardization and integration of processes across departments and functions,
ensuring consistency and efficiency in operations.
Real-time Monitoring and Reporting: Information systems enable real-time
monitoring of key performance indicators (KPIs) and provide timely reports on
operational metrics, allowing organizations to quickly identify and address issues
as they arise.
Resource Optimization: Information systems help organizations optimize the use
of resources, including human resources, equipment, and inventory, leading to cost
savings and improved operational efficiency.

Customer Relationship Management: Effective CRM systems help

organizations better understand and respond to customer needs, leading to
improved customer satisfaction and loyalty, which are essential components of
operational excellence.
Overall, information systems empower organizations to streamline processes,
optimize resources, and make informed decisions, thereby contributing to the
achievement of operational excellence.
12 List and describe the major components of IT infrastructure?
1. Hardware
Servers: These are computers designed to process requests and deliver data to other
computers over a network.
Network Devices: Routers, switches, and firewalls manage and direct data traffic
across networks.
Client Devices: Computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and other devices used
by end-users to access and interact with data and applications.
2. Software
Operating Systems: Software that manages computer hardware and provides
common services for other software applications.
Application Software: Programs designed to perform specific tasks or functions,
such as word processing, accounting, or customer relationship management.
Middleware: Software that connects different software applications and enables
communication and data exchange between them.
3. Networking Infrastructure
Networks: Wired or wireless connections that enable communication and data
exchange between devices.
Internet Connectivity: Access to the internet, usually provided through internet
service providers (ISPs).
Intranets and Extranets: Private networks used within an organization or between
organizations to share information securely.
4. Data Storage and Management
Storage Systems: Devices such as hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state drives
(SSDs), and network-attached storage (NAS) systems used to store data.
Database Management Systems (DBMS): Software for creating, managing, and
accessing databases, which organize and store data in a structured format.
5. Security Infrastructure
Firewalls: Hardware or software-based security measures that monitor and control
incoming and outgoing network traffic to prevent unauthorized access.
Antivirus Software: Programs that detect, prevent, and remove malware and other
malicious software.
Encryption: Techniques for encoding data to prevent unauthorized access and
protect sensitive information.
6. Human Resources
IT Personnel: Employees responsible for managing and maintaining IT
infrastructure, including system administrators, network engineers, and
cybersecurity specialists.
Training and Support: Programs and resources to train employees on IT systems
and provide ongoing support for technical issues.
7. Policies and Procedures
IT Governance: Frameworks, policies, and procedures for managing and
controlling IT resources and ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
Compliance: Adherence to regulatory requirements and industry standards related
to IT security, data privacy, and other areas.
Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity: Plans and protocols for responding to
and recovering from IT failures, natural disasters, or other emergencies.
13 Distinguish between grid computing, edge computing, on-demand
computing, and autonomic computing?
Grid computing involves connecting geographically remote computers into a single
network to create a computational grid that combines the computing power of all
the computers on the network with which to attack large computing problems.
Edge computing balances the processing load for Web-based applications by
distributing parts of the Web content, logic, and processing among multiple
servers.
On-demand computing also depends on networks for firms to purchase additional
processing power from large computer service firms and to have that power
delivered when they need it over a network.
Autonomic computing seeks to develop systems that can configure themselves,
optimize and tune themselves, heal themselves when broken, and protect
themselves from internal and external threats.
14 Identify and describe five or more of the current trends in contemporary
software platforms?
1. Growing use of Linux and open-source software—Open-source software is
produced and maintained by a global community of programmers and is
downloadable for free.
2. HTML5—This is the next evolution of HTML which simplifies embedding
multimedia, rich media, and animation in the browser.
3. Cloud-based services—In cloud-based services and software, users rent
applications or storage space from online providers rather than running these
applications or themselves or using local storage.
4. Web services and service-oriented architecture—Web services are loosely
coupled software components based on open Web standards that are not product-
specific and can work with any application software and operating system.
5. Software outsourcing—Companies are purchasing their new software
applications from outside sources, including application software packages, by
outsourcing custom application development to an external vendor (that may be
offshore), or by renting software services from an application service provider.
15 Identify and discuss the four major types of systems in a business (TPS,
MIS, DSS, ESS). What is the relationship between these systems?
A transaction processing system (TPS) allows operational managers to access the
information needed in the daily transactions necessary to conduct business. An
example of a TPS is a payroll system; my company personally uses Paycom. With
the payroll system, each clock in and clock out counts as one transaction. Once
these transactions are in the system they're recorded and added to the database.
This information can then be used to create payroll reports, check on overtime
hours, or manage available vacation days.

Management information systems (MIS) gathers information from transaction

processing systems (TPS) from different departments across an organization and
organizes them into a summarized report for middle management to have a general
view a business performance. The service center at an automobile dealership
would be a good example of the somewhere you could find a MIS. The system
would allow management to track customers vehicles while being serviced, status
on out of stock parts and the number of mechanics on duty, giving them the ability
to allocate resources more responsibly and enhance the customer experience.

Decision-support systems (DSS) is another system for middle management to use.

DSS unlike MIS is for non-routine decision-making. Information is taken from a
company's TPS and MIS and sometimes external sources and then runs through
sophisticated analytics and models to analyze the data. DSS answers the "what if"
questions companies have. Crystal Reports by SAP, is an example of a pre-
designed application that small businesses can use for decision-making, instead of
creating a custom company DSS that can be costly.

Executive support systems (ESS) assistant senior management in their decision-

making. This system is the often not delivered to management via a portal, offering
managers data from multiple sources. These sources include external resources,
like local government regulations, but also internal information from the
company's MIS and DSS. An example of a ESS is a digital dashboard. The Census
Bureau has The Census Dashboard Application which can compare state
employment data over time by age, industry, and location, presenting the data in an
easy to understand, interactive format.
RELATIONSHIP
Flow of Information: TPS captures transactional data, which is then processed
and summarized by MIS into structured reports for middle managers. DSS uses
this data, along with additional external sources, to provide analytical insights for
decision-making. ESS aggregates information from MIS and DSS to provide
strategic guidance to top executives.
Hierarchy of Management Support: TPS primarily supports operational-level
managers, MIS supports middle-level managers, DSS supports managers at various
levels, and ESS supports top-level executives.
Interdependence: While each system serves a specific managerial level and
purpose, they are interdependent. TPS provides the foundational data for higher-
level systems, while MIS, DSS, and ESS build upon this data to provide
increasingly sophisticated analysis and decision support.
16 What is the purpose of systems analysis? What does the systems analyst do
to achieve these goals?
The purpose of systems analysis is to study, understand, and improve
organizational systems by identifying problems, defining requirements, and
proposing solutions that enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity.

17 List the identifying features of each of the five systems development

approaches?
1. Systems lifecycle is a sequential step-by-step formal process, written specification and
approvals, limited role of users.
2. In prototyping, requirements are specified dynamically with experimental systems in a rapid,
informal, and iterative process; users continually interact with the prototype.
3. An applications software package is commercial software that eliminates the need for
internally developed software programs.
4. In end-user development, systems are created by end users using fourth-generation software
tools, rapid and informal, minimal role of information systems specialists.
5. In outsourcing, systems are built and sometimes operated by an external vendor.
18 What are the advantages and disadvantages of prototyping? Describe the
steps in prototyping. Give at least two circumstances under which prototyping
might be useful?
Advantages of Prototyping:
users can really feel the product

Test the usability of the product to find problems

Easy to communicate with users, leaders and other relevant people

Improve the efficiency of product design

Disadvantages of Prototyping
Time-consuming with great expense, especially when you in the tight budget.
Prototype design may constrain the designer's ideas, the more you design, the
smaller space available to the designer. It may decrease the designer's enthusiasm.
If you don’t require much design capability, you can’t design high fidelity
prototype.
If the designer's knowledge is limited, it may not be possible to estimate the
difficulty degree of implementation and will cause unlimited development time.
The steps in prototyping are:
1. Define objectives: Determine the purpose and goals of the prototype.
2. Create a design: Sketch or model the prototype based on the objectives.
3. Build the prototype: Construct the prototype using appropriate materials and
tools.
4. Evaluate and refine: Test the prototype, gather feedback, and make
improvements as necessary.
5. Finalize the design: Complete the design based on the evaluation results and
prepare for implementation.
Two circumstances under which prototyping might be useful are:
1. When developing a new product or system, it helps identify potential issues and
gather user feedback before committing to full-scale production.
2. When making changes to an existing product or system, it allows testing of new
features or modifications without disrupting the current implementation.
19 (C3)Which features of organizations do managers need to know about to
build and use information systems successfully?
All modern organizations are hierarchical, specialized, and impartial, using explicit
routines to maximize efficiency. All organizations have their own cultures and
politics arising from differences in interest groups, and they are affected by their
surrounding environment. Organizations differ in goals, groups served, social
roles, leadership styles, incentives, types of tasks performed, and type of structure.
These features help exlpain differences in organizations' use of information
systems.