CIS - Online Test - CH12

True/False 

1. Unstructured decisions are novel and non routine, and there is no well-understood or agreed-on procedure for making them.

2. A structured decision can be made by following a well-defined set of procedures. No "feel" or intuition is necessary.

3. Middle management tends to face more unstructured decision scenarios, but may include some structured components.

4. Unstructured decision making is most prevalent at lower organizational levels.

5. Rank-and-file employees tend to make more structured decisions.

6. The intelligence phase of decision making consists of discovering, identifying, and
understanding the problems occurring in the organization.

7. The implementation phase of Simon's decision making model includes choosing among
solution alternatives.

8. The first stage in Simon's decision-making process model is the design stage.

9. The classical model of management does not address what exactly managers do when
they plan, decide things, and control the work of others.

10. MIS typically produce fixed, regularly scheduled reports based on data extracted and
summarized from the firm's underlying transaction processing systems.

11. DSS primarily address structured problems.

12. The earliest DSS were data-driven.

13. What-if analysis works forward from known or assumed conditions.

14. Backward sensitivity analysis software is used for goal seeking.

15. Data visualization technologies help distill large amounts of information into easily read textual lists.

16. DSS are a special category of GIS.

17. A geographic information system is a decision support system designed specifically to
work with spatial information.

18. GDSS facilitate the solution of unstructured problems by a set of decision makers
working together as a group in either the same location or different locations.

19. Web-based tools for videoconferencing and electronic meetings are the primary tools for
GDSS.

20. During a GDSS meeting, the attendees control the use of GDSS tools.

1. TRUE 2. TRUE 3. FALSE 4. FALSE 5. TRUE 6. TRUE 7. FALSE 8. FALSE 9. TRUE 10. TRUE 11. FALSE 12. FALSE 13. TRUE 14. TRUE 15. FALSE 16. FALSE 17. TRUE 18. TRUE 19. FALSE 20. FALSE 

Multiple­Choice 

21. Which of the following was NOT a challenge Eastern Mountain Sports was facing in its management information systems and decision making?
A. Employees had to craft most management reports by hand.
B. Datawasstoredinunconnectedsources.
C. Datawasnotbeingacquiredbytheproperchannels.
D. Managers were unable to make good decisions about stocking stores.

22. Which of the following statements best describes the business value of improved decision making? 

A. Improved decision making creates better products.

B. Improveddecisionmakingresultsinalargemonetaryvalueforthefirmas numerous small daily decisions affecting efficiency, production, costs, and more add up to large annual values.

C. Improveddecisionmakingenablesseniorexecutivestomoreaccuratelyforesee
future financial trends.

D. Improved decision making strengthens customer and supplier intimacy, which
reduces costs.

23. When there is no well-understood or agreed-on procedure for making a decision, it is said to be
A. undocumented. B. unstructured. C. documented. D. semistructured.

24. The type of decision that can made by following a definite procedure is called a(n) ________ decision.
A. structured
B. unstructured C. semistructured D. procedural

25. Which type of decision is deciding whether to introduce a new product line?                                                                                            A. structured
B. unstructured C. recurring
D. nonrecurring

26. Which type of decision is calculating gross pay for hourly workers? A. structured
B. unstructured
C. semistructured
D. none of the above

27. The decision to approve a capital budget is an example of a(n) ________ decision. A. semistructured
B. unstructured C. structured
D. undocumented

28. The decisions involved in creating and producing a corporate intranet can be classified as ________ decisions.
A. procedural
B. unstructured C. structured
D. semistructured

29. Checking store inventory is an example of a(n) ________ decision. A. semistructured
B. unstructured
C. structured
D. none of the above

30. Simon's description of decision making consists of which four stages? A. planning, financing, implementation, and maintenance.
B. planning,design,implementation,and maintenance.
C. intelligence,design,choice,andimplementation.
D. intelligence, design, financing, and implementation.

31. Which phase of decision making finds or recognizes a problem, need, or opportunity? A. design
B. intelligence
C. choice
D. implementation

32. The five classical functions of managers are planning, organizing, deciding, controlling, and
A. coordinating. B. leading.
C. managing. D. negotiating.

33. In contrast to the classical model of management, behavioral models see the actual behavior of managers as being more
A. systematic.
B. informal.
C. reflective.
D. well organized.

34. Behavioral models of managers find that, from observation, managers 

A. perform often fewer than 100 activities a day.

B. operatebestwithstandardized,predictable,printedinformation.

C. createaformalized,hierarchicstructureofcontactstoprovidefilteredinformation.

D. typically work in a fragmented manner, with only 10% of activities exceeding an hour in duration.

35. Mintzberg's classification of managerial roles outlines which three main categories? 

A. interpersonal, informational, and decisional

B. symbolic, decisional, and interpersonal

C. symbolic,interpersonal,andtechnical

D. technical, interpersonal, and informational

36. The role of liaison falls into which of Mintzberg's managerial classifications? A. decisional
B. informational C. interpersonal D. symbolic

37. The role of entrepreneur falls into which of Mintzberg's managerial classifications? A. decisional
B. informational C. interpersonal D. symbolic

38. According to Mintzberg, managers in their informational role act as A. figureheads for the organization.
B. leaders.
C. nerve centres of the organization.
D. negotiators.

39. Which of the following managerial roles is NOT supported by information systems? 

A. spokesperson

B. resource allocator

C. leader

D. nerve center

40. As discussed in the chapter text, the three main reasons that investments in information technology do NOT always produce positive results are 

A. management support, technical logistics, and user compliance.

B. organization,environment,culture.

C. information quality, information integrity, and information accuracy.

D. information quality, organizational culture, and management filters.

41. The concern that data values of an information source fall within a defined range reflects which quality dimension of information?
A. accuracy B. integrity
C. validity
D. consistency

42. The concern that the structure of data is consistent within an information source reflects which quality dimension of information?
A. accuracy B. integrity
C. validity
D. consistency

43. MIS typically produce 

A. new ways of looking at data that emphasize change, flexibility, and rapid response.

B. fixed,regularly scheduled  reports based on data extracted from the organization's TPS.

C. solutionstosemistructuredproblemsappropriateformiddlemanagementdecision
making.

D. assumptions, responses to ad hoc queries, and graphic representations of existing data. 

44. An information system for a building company that tracks construction costs for various projects across the United States would be categorized as a type of
A. DSS. B. MIS. C. GIS. D. CDSS. 

45. Which type of information system supports decision-making by enabling users to extract useful information that was previously buried in large quantities of data?
A. GSS. B. ESS. C. TPS. D. DSS.

46. The components of a DSS are the 

A. internal corporate database, external data sources, and analysis tools.

B. data visualization tools, software, and graphics capabilities.

C. database, graphics capabilities, and analysis tools.

D. database, software system, and user interface.

47. A system that uses data mining to guide senior marketing executive's decisions about customer retention can be categorized as a(n):
A. CDSS. B. MIS. C. DSS. D. ESS.

48. A DSS database is a collection of
A. historical data extracted from transaction processing systems.
B. current or historical data from several applications or groups.
C. externaldatatypicallyminedfromtheInternetandotherthird-partysources. D. the corporation's current transaction data.

49. The chapter case discussing overbooking on airlines illustrates that 

A. inaccuracies that can be magnified throughout a DSS because of incorrect data.

B. organizational and people challenges may defeat a relatively successful technological solution.

C. despitethebesteffortsofindustryexpertsandsophisticatedDSS,overbooking
remains a problem.

D. through the use of DSS, genetic algorithms, and neural networks, the problems of
overbooking and bumped passengers have largely been solved.

50. The chapter case discussing Dick's Sporting Goods stores illustrates the use of A. DSS to enable greater supplier intimacy.
B. MIStoachievegreateroperationalexcellence.
C. ESStoenablebetterdecision-making.
D. CDSS to enable greater customer intimacy.

51. Which type of model asks what-if questions repeatedly to determine the impact on outcomes of changes in one or more factors?
A. optimization
B. sensitivity analysis C. statistical
D. forecasting

52. Which type of model is used to help managers use historical data to estimate future conditions and sales figures resulting from these conditions?
A. optimization
B. sensitivityanalysis C. statistical
D. forecasting

53. You would use an optimization model to

A. project future conditions and predict the effect of these conditions on sales.

B. determine the proper mix of products with in a given market to maximize profits. 

C. determinethepriceofaproductgivenfluctuatingsalesandadvertisingbudget. D. establish the best relationship between price and sales and marketing budgets.

54. Backward sensitivity analysis software is used for A. supply chain optimization.
B. historicalwhat-ifanalysis.
C. goal seeking.
D. reverse forecasting.

55. A pivot table is a 

A. spreadsheet tool that displays two or more dimensions of data in a convenient format. 

B. typeofrelationaldatabase. 

C. charttoolthatcanrotatecolumnardataquicklyandvisually. 

D. tool for performing sensitivity analysis. 

56. Which type of information system uses data visualization technology to analyze and display data for planning and decision making in the form of digitized maps?
A. GIS B. DSS C. MIS D. TPS

57. Dell Computer's online tools that allow users of their Web site to customize and order a new PC are a type of
A. DSS.
B. CDSS.
C. Web-basedGIS. D. Intelligent agent. 

58. As discussed in the chapter case, the system used in South Carolina to estimate and map the regional damage and losses resulting from an earthquake was a type of 

A. CDSS B. GSS C. GIS D. GDSS 

59. Saturn.com's "Build Your Own" feature, allowing customers to select the trim, transmission, engine, and other features of a car model is an example of a 

A. CDSS B. GSS C. GIS D. GDSS

60. GDSS 

A. are designed to allow meeting attendees to share their thoughts in real-time with
their peers. 

B. supportdecisionsthatrequireknowledgeaboutthegeographicdistributionof
resources. 

C. aretypicallyusedwithgeographicallydispersedattendees. 

D. implement structured methods for organizing and evaluating ideas.

61. An essential component in the ability of GDSS to contribute to a collaborative environment is 

A. allowing users to contribute simultaneously. 

B. usingstructuredmethodsforevaluatingideas. 

C. identifyingusersinformally. 

D. the guarantee of user anonymity.

62. GDSS 

A. require a small number of attendees in order to maintain high levels of
productivity. 

B. enable increasing a meeting size without reducing productivity. 

C. includespecificproceduresforpriorityrankingtheorderinwhichparticipants
can respond. 

D. utilize shared desktop computers to foster collaboration.

63. The information system used by Caesar's Entertainment, which combines data from internal TPS with information from financial systems and external sources to deliver reports such as profit-loss statements, impact analyses, is an example of
A. DSS. B. ESS. C. CDSS. D. MIS.

64. The leading methodology for understanding the really important information needed by a firm's executives is called the ________ method.
A. digital dashboard B. balanced scorecard C. KPI
D. data visualization

65. Which of the following features of an ESS displays traditional financial metrics with measurements from additional perspectives, such as customers, or learning and growth, on a single screen? 

A. balanced scorecards 

B. digitaldashboard 

C. graphic visualization tools 

D. drill-down capabilities

66. A system that displays performance overviews of the firm in an easy-to-read graphical interface, along with the ability to drill down into fine-grained sales data can be categorized as a(n) 

A. CDSS 

B. MIS 

C. DSS 

D. ESS 

67. ESS 

A. support the structured decision making of senior executives. 

B. have the ability to drill down into lower levels of detail. 

C. easilyintegratedatafromdifferentsystems. 

D. are primarily driven by information derived from a company's transaction processing systems. 

68. The easy use of graphics in an ESS allows the user to
A. look at more data in less time with greater clarity. B. use creative analysis.
C. quicklymanipulateTPSandhistoricaldata.
D. decentralize decision making.

69. Executives need a wide range of ________ as well as internal data. A. structured
B. informal C. system D. external

70. A well-designed ESS will allow management to
A. have greater span of control.
B. assign lower levels of management greater control. C. reduce their need to review lower levels of operation. D. all of the above.

Fill­In 

71. A(n) ________ decision is repetitive and routine, for which known algorithms provide solutions.

72. The third stage in Simon's description of decision making is ________.

73. The concept of management ________ describes situations in which managers act on
biases that reject information that does not conform to their expectations.

74. ________-driven DSS have analysis capabilities based on strong theories and used to
perform "what-if" and similar kinds of analyses.

75. Of the three main DSS components, the ________ system comprises the tools used for
data analysis.

76. A(n) ________ is an abstract representation illustrating the components or relationships 

of a phenomenon.

77. A(n) ________ model determines the best resource allocation to maximize or minimize
specified variables.

78. A(n) ________ supports the decision-making processes of an existing or potential
customer.

79. A(n) ________ facilitates the solution to unstructured problems by a set of decision-
makers working together as a group.

80. A(n) ________ uses easy-to-understand displays of information to provide management
with a comprehensive view of firm performance on a single screen. 

ANSWERS: 

71. structured 

72. choice 

73. filters 

74. Model 

75. software 

76. model 

77. optimization 

78. customer decision-support system, CDSS 

79. group decision-support systems, GDSS 

80. digital dashboard, executive dashboard