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Har jobbet med review questions kapittel 2  (oppdateres fortløpende) og lest kapittel 3-4

Review questions chapter 2 page 116

1.    List the management levels and their corresponding information systems solutions.

Operational level – information systems at this level are designed to automate repetitive activities, such as sales transaction processing, and to improve the efficiency of business processes at the customer interface.

 

Managerial/tactical level – Information systems here are used not used for the same repetitive routines as on the operational level. For instance could an information system here be used to bring a manager analytics, forecast on sales/income, inventory levels, or overall production capacity.

 

Executive/strategic level – At this level information systems are designed to help with unstructured decisions. They can be used to obtain aggregate summaries of trends and projections of the future. They provide KPIs that are focused on balancing performance across the organization, other KPIs are used to benchmark the organization’s performance against its competitors.

2.    Compare and contrast automating and learning.

Automating – The automating perspective of technology is that it’s there to help complete a task faster, more cheaply, or with a greater accuracy or consistency.

 

Organizational Learning – Using information systems to learn and improve. By analyzing information created when automating a process, improved understanding about the underlying work processes can be developed.

 

The learning mentality builds on the automating mentality because it recognizes an organization to use past behavior and information to improve its business processes.

 

3.    List five general types of organizational strategy.

• Broad differentiation
• Focused differentiation
• Focused low-cost leadership
• Overall low-cost leadership
• Best-cost provider

4.    What are the sources of a competitive advantage?

Quality (Toyota), service (IBM), low cost, proprietary (manufacturing technology, formula or algorithm i.e. Coca-Cola), innovation (Apple), brand (Nike), and value (Nintendo)

.5.    How can information systems add value to a business organization?

Information systems can add value to a business organization in several ways. You can:
1) implement enterprise resource planning system to reduce costs and be able to react more quickly; implement Web site to offer better service to customers.
2) Improve Web site to reach customers and differentiate product; use inventory control system to lower costs and better manage excess capacity.

3) Implement customer relationship management system to serve customers better; implement computer-aided design and/or computer-aided manufacturing system to improve product quality.

4) Use Internet to establish closer electronic ties with suppliers and to create relationships with new suppliers located far away.

5) Use decision support system and customer purchase database to better assess trends and customer needs; use computer-aided design systems to redesign products.

6.    What is a business model and what are its primary components?

A business model is a summary of a business’s strategic direction that outlines how the objectives will be achieved; a business model specifies how a company will create, deliver, and capture value.

Key components of a business model: Customer segments, value proposition, channels, customer relationships, revenue streams, key resources, key activities, key partners, cost structure.

7.    Describe the multidomestic business strategy and how it affects the flow and control of information.

The multidomestic business strategy is particularly suited for operations in markets differing widely. It uses a loose federation of associated business units, each of which is rather independent in their strategic decisions. In other words, the degree of integration is very low, and the individual subunits can respond quickly to their respective market demands. Multidomestic companies can thus be extremely flexible and responsive to the needs and demands of local markets, and any opportunities arising in the local markets can be quickly seized. However, working in a decentralized fashion, much of the knowledge generated is retained at the local subsidiaries, and knowledge transfer between the individual subsidiaries is often limited, leading to inefficiencies and mistakes that potentially can be repeated across subsidiaries. In sum, for companies following a multidomestic business strategy, very little data and control information flow between the home and subsidiary locations.

 

 

 

 

8.    Why is successful application of innovative technologies and systems often difficult?

Information systems are often bought from or built by someone else. They are often either purchased from a vendor or developed by a consultant or outsourcing partner. In these situations, the information systems are usually not proprietary technologies owned by the organization. For example, although a soft-drink company can patent the formula of a cola or a pharmaceutical company can patent a new drug, an organization typically cannot patent its use of an information system, particularly if someone else developed it. The data in the system may be proprietary, but the information system typically is not. One classic counterexample, however, is Amazon.com’s patented “one-click” ordering process that has been successfully defended in the courts.

9.    List the key requirements for implementing innovative projects.

 

Process requirements – To deploy innovative information systems well, people in the organization must be willing to do whatever they can to bypass and eliminate internal bureaucracy , set aside political squabbles, and pull together for the common good.

 

Resource requirements – Organizations deploying the system must also have the human capital necessary to deploy the new systems. The organization must have enough employees available with the proper systems knowledge, skills, time, and other resources to deploy these systems.

 

Risk tolerance requirements – The organization members must have the appropriate tolerance for risk and uncertainty as well as the willingness to deploy and use new systems that may not be as proven and pervasive as more traditional technologies.

10. Using past examples, explain what is meant by a disruptive innovation.     

Disruptive innovations are new technologies, products, or services that eventually surpass the existing dominant technology or product in a market. For example, retail giant Sears nearly failed in the early 1990s when it did not recognize the transformational power of the disruptive innovation discount retailing; today, discounters like Walmart and segment-specific stores like Home Depot dominate retailing. In addition I can mention the collapse of 1970’s midrange computer giant Digital Equipment Company (DEC) clearly illustrates the innovator’s dilemma. DEC was ultimately surpassed in the marketplace by microprocessor-based computers, with the microprocessor being the disruptive innovation.

 

 

 

11. Describe the competitive forces model.

 

12. What is freeconomics, and what are several approaches for applying its concepts to various industries?

 

 

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Review questions page 72

 

Review questions

 

1. List three distinct phases of change within the world’s civilizations.

The first big change and new phase of our civilization is when humans started working with agriculture and handwork, as opposed to the nomad lifestyle of hunting and gathering.

 

The second major change is what we call the industrial revolution, which started off in Great Britain in the late 18th century. People started working in factories for wage as opposed to working the land and farming their own food. Machines were developed and industry became the leading source of family income.

 

The third major change arrived with the information age. Information became the currency of the realm. For thousands of years information was limited, it was transmitted verbally between people, this was about to change. With help of the printing press information could be saved, absorbed, debated, and written about in publications.

2. List three examples of technology usage at Starbucks.

 

Connecting with Customers- Connectivity is one of Starbucks’ atmosphere key components. Free Wi-Fi, access to music, and content from big newspapers makes it more than a simple coffee shop. It’s a place where you can meet friends or coworkers, study, work, or just hang out.

 

Mobile Payments- A smartphone app that allows customers to pay with their phones by creating a 2D bar code that can be read by an in-store terminal. In addition to allowing transactions this generates a wealth of information about Starbucks’ customers.

 

Contextual Retailing- Creating an individualized experience for every customer. With the information gathered from mobile payments the baristas at Starbucks can be alerted if a regular customer enters the store, know the customers preferred drinks, or suggest alternatives based on their preferences.

 

3. What are cloud-based systems? Give examples.

Cloud computing is one of the “megatrends” in the information age, where things such as applications are stored in a “cloud”, which means using the Internet as a platform for applications and data, as opposed to the user storing this on their own devices (PC, phone, etc.).

 

Google has several examples of this, such as Gmail, Google docs, or Google Calendar, all of which are accessed via a Web browser, freeing the user from tasks such as installing or updating traditional desktop applications. This also means you don’t have to worry about backing up your data, if your computer is destroyed, you can access the files from any other computer.

4. Describe and contrast the economic, cultural, and technological changes occurring in the world.

Economic Changes-

• For instance increase in international trade has given us a wealth of products and services that otherwise wouldn’t be available.
• It has increased the development of global financial systems and currency, and increased the outsourcing of labor.

 

Cultural Changes-

• There’s a big increase in multiculturalism made available through television, movies and the internet.
• A big increase of the frequency of international travel, tourism and immigration.
• The availability of ethnic foods and restaurants greatly increasing.
• Increase in worldwide fads and phenomena such as Pokémon, Sudoku, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

 

Technological Changes-

• Development of low-cost computing platforms
• Availability of communication systems such as e-mail, Skype, Instant messaging etc.
• Low-cost global telecommunication infrastructures like the Internet, and the enforcement of global copyright laws.

5. What is information technology and how is it different from information systems?

Information Systems is a large umbrella referring to systems designed to create, store, manipulate, or disseminate information. Example: a pencil and a piece of paper, the two are just separate tools, but put together they form a system.

Information technology is a single object, a part of an information system. For instance servers, computers, and an operating system are objects that together form an information system.

6. List and describe several reasons why companies are choosing to outsource business activities.

Economic – Perhaps the most common reason to outsourcing is the economic side. In big parts of western society employees have very high wages compared to countries such as China or India. So relatively big services such as tech support can be outsourced to India and it will save a lot of resources for the company, and the bottom line in business is making as much money as possible.

 

Knowledge- Outsourcing to other cultures in other parts of the world will provide a chance to tap in to and leverage a global knowledge base, having access to world class capabilities.

 

Delegating- Some companies prefer to keep their own resources focused on their core business, and delegate mundane time consuming processes to external agencies.

7. List and contrast several challenges of operating in the digital world.

Business- In a digital and globalized world the competition will increase significantly. Every customer or user has a wider variety of services and products offered. Harder competition means you will have to adjust your prices and support, and this will push companies to the limit. Less profit means less resources, and this might increase unemployment rates and lower wages throughout the world.

 

Privacy- The loss or danger of having your privacy exposed. We leave digital footsteps everywhere, apps and social networks save and share information about ourselves, maybe more than you know. For instance Google will save information about your searches and activity on the internet. They use this to find your preferences and tailor ads and sponsored links for you. There’s also the danger of hackers and criminals accessing information you think is safe. Recently apples “i-cloud” (a cloud service provided by apple) was hacked in to, and several celebrities had private photos and videos leaked for the public to see.

8.Define the term “information systems” and explain its data, technology, people, and organizational components.

Information Systems are combinations of hardware, software and telecommunications networks that people build and use to collect, create, and distribute useful data, typically in organizational settings.

 

Data- Data is the root of any information system. Data are raw symbols or numbers that have little meaning before processed. For instance, if I asked someone to tell me what the number 11 meant, they wouldn’t know.

 

Components/technology- When we talk about information systems we are talking about computer based information systems. This system consists of hardware, software and a telecommunication network. Hardware components are the physical computers, monitors, keyboards, etc. , Software is the operative system and applications that run the hardware, and the telecommunication network refers to a group of two or more computer systems linked together with communications equipment.

 

People- The builders, managers and users of information systems, we develop, maintain and study IS. Almost everyone is a user of IS these days, and this increases the demand for IS personnel. IS professionals do not only work with technology anymore, they are also highly involved in management and organizational tasks in companies.

 

 

 

 

9. Define and contrast data, information, and knowledge.

Data- Data is the root of any information system. Data are raw symbols or numbers that have little meaning before processed. For instance, if I asked someone to tell me what the number 11 meant, they wouldn’t know.

 

Information- Information is basically formatted, organized or processed data. Contextual cues, such as labels, are needed to turn data into information. The number 11, as mentioned above, is raw data and doesn’t mean anything. If we label it as the age of a person, 11 is now information.

 

Knowledge- This is what we know. You can’t store knowledge in anything other than a brain (currently). A computer processes data and gives us information, but the computer doesn’t know what it’s doing, we, users/humans turn the data and information into knowledge.

10. Explain how decision support systems are different from knowledge management systems.

A decision support system (DDS) is a computer-based IS that supports business or organizational decision-making activities. DSS serves the management, operations, and planning levels of organization and help to make decisions.

 

Knowledge management (KM) is the process of capturing, developing, sharing, and effectively using organizational knowledge. It refers to a multi-disciplined approach to achieving organizational objectives by making the best use of knowledge.

 

A DDS is computer-based and uses data and information to make decisions, while as KM uses knowledge from people.

11. List and define three technical knowledge and/or skills core competencies.

12. Define the term “knowledge economy”.

Knowledge economy is the use of knowledge to generate value. Quite obvious this means using knowledge in your business, for instance in a KMS (knowledge management system).

13. List and define four of the systems knowledge and/or skills core competencies.

 

 

14. List the effects of globalization on business.

In a digital and globalized world the competition will increase significantly. Every customer or user has a wider variety of services and products offered. Harder competition means you will have to adjust your prices and support, and this will push companies to the limit. Less profit means less resources, and this might increase unemployment rates and lower wages throughout the world.

On the other hand the market size and user groups become bigger, this gives opportunities. Businesses that supply a rather unique service or product will flourish.

It’s easier for businesses to outsource or bring in ideas and resources from other nations and cultures. Many nations are multicultural, and the possibility to make your business multicultural might be beneficial to your profits.

15. Describe the evolution of the information systems function within organizations.

The business applications of information systems have expanded significantly over the years.

 

From 1950s to 1960s: The role of most information systems was simple: transaction processing, record keeping, accounting, and other electronic data processing applications.

 

From 1960s to 1970s: Another role was added. Processing all this data into useful information reports, to help the manager in the decision making. The concept of management information system was born.

 

From 1970s to 1980s: The previous IS were effective in the company organization. However, the manager during this stage needed a special suitable support factor to deal with different management facts. So the concept of DDS was born.

 

From 1980s to 1990s: Computers became normal, and “end user computing” became a thing. Managers needed a new system to provide the corporate executes with some simple information, so the concept of “executive information systems” was born. The systems role was to provide top executives with the right way of finding the critical information when they wanted it.

 

From 1990s to 2000s: Rapid growth of internet, intranet, extranet, and other interconnected global networks in the 1990s dramatically changed the capabilities of information systems in business at the beginning of the 21^st century. Internet- and web-based enterprises, e-business and commerce systems.

 

 

 

16. Discuss the issues surrounding information privacy, and how you can protect yourself.

In our digital world information privacy is an increasingly important topic. Facebook, web-based banking, and e-mail contains a lot of information about both you and your friends.

Examble, Facebook: Think before you post. Everything you type or post to facebook will be stored, this means other people can access it (in theory). There’s been talk about criminals scouting people on facebook, and when the victim goes on vacation, the criminal breaks into their home. You should think about what you post online, the information is never truly safe.

 

A general tip is to rethink what information you’re putting out there. Don’t post about everything you do and everywhere you go, don’t keep sensitive information stored on the internet. You should have a firewall enabled on your computer, and have an anti-adware application on your computer to keep your computer clean from things such as viruses and keyloggers. Adware can compromise your passwords and extract information from your computer.

17. How are the digital divide and computer literacy related?

 

The digital divide is an economic and social inequality. It is based on the amount of people in a given population that has access to, use of, or knowledge of information and communication technologies (internet, smart phones, etc.)

 

Computer literacy is defined as the knowledge and ability to utilize computers and related technology efficiently, in a range from elementary use to programming and advanced problem solving.

 

Just by looking at the definition of the two you can see that they are related. The people with access to computers are also the ones who knows how to use the technology.