University of Massachusetts Boston
College of Management
MSIS 110: Introduction to Computers (Instructor: S. Mathiyalakan)
Chapter 2: Q & A
1. A(n) ______is a formal collection of people and other resources established to accomplish a set of goals.
a. Business entity
b. organization
c. computer-based information system
d. information system
2. Which of the following activities is included as part of the value chain?
a. Inbound logistics
b. Accounting
c. Human resources
d. All of the above
3. ______is a downstream management activity of the value chain.
a. Raw materials management
b. Production
c. Customer service
d. Inbound logistics
4. Upstream management often includes:
a. Raw material management.
b. outbound logistics.
c. production.
d. shipping.
5. Empowerment can result in:
a. Confusion in problem resolution.
b. more upper management involvement.
c. faster decision making.
d. more red tape.
6. A ______organizational structure incorporates several structures at the same time.
a. project
b. team
c. multidimensional
d. traditional
7. A set of major understandings and assumptions shared by are group are:
a. culture.
b. society rules.
c. laws.
d. policies.
8. Seeking to incremently enhance business processes is called:
a. continuous improvement.
b. downsizing.
c. outsourcing.
d. reengineering.
9. Although PCs sat on each employee's desk, the technology was rarely used. Which statement best describes the situation?
a. Technology diffusion was present but technology infusion was not.
b. Technology infusion was present but technology diffusion was not.
c. Technology diffusion was present and so was technology infusion.
d. Neither technology diffusion nor technology infusion was present.
10. Eddy Granby bought a new MP3 player. It exceeded his expectations greatly. This product:
a. has been reengineered.
b. has been subjected to continuous improvement.
c. is a quality product.
d. is the product of organizational change.
11. When a telemarketing firm decides to open a store in the mall and discontinue using the telephone as the primary means of reaching customers, a process redesign has taken place.
a. True b. false
12. Technology infusion is the measure of how widely technology is spread through an organization.
a. True b. false
13. A(n) ______organizational structure is generally associated with empowerment.
14. Technology ______is a measure of how widely technology is spread throughout an organization.
15. ______is a significant and long-term benefit to a company over its competition.
16. ______is output per unit of input. An example is corn harvested per acre.
17. A common measure of IS value is the increase of profit or ______.
18. Ideally, a competitive advantage should be:
a. shared with the competition.
b. focused in the IT area.
c. a long-term benefit.
d. an operational goal.
19. Having an industry with many interchangeable products can encourage manufacturers to seek competitive advantage. Porter calls this:
a. the threat of substitute products.
b. the threat of new entrants.
c. the threat of rivalry.
d. the threat of suppliers.
20. The threat of new entrants is most strongly felt in an industry when:
a. entry costs are high and exit costs are low.
b. entry and exit costs are low.
c. entry costs are low and exit costs are high.
d. entry and exit costs are high.