Managing Information Technology, 7e (Brown)
Chapter 12 Planning Information Systems Resources
1) A(n) ________ is a written expression of the desired future about how information will be
used and managed in the organization.
A) information resource assessment
B) information vision
C) IT architecture
D) strategic IS plan
2) The ________ contains a set of longer-term objectives (often three to five years) that represent
measurable movement toward the information vision and IT architecture and a set of associated
major initiatives that must be undertaken to achieve these objectives.
A) business strategic plan
B) operational IS plan
C) strategic IS plan
D) information resource assessment
3) Which is a source for measuring current IS performance?
A) annual performance data based on established metrics
B) comparing annual objectives with actual performance metrics
C) matching the IS mission statement with its achievements
D) all of the above
4) Which statement is true?
A) An information vision is the same as an IT architecture.
B) Operational IS plans precede strategic IS planning.
C) A Critical Success Factor (CSF) technique is a tool to support strategic IS planning.
D) none of the above
5) According to the process described in the textbook, which of the following steps in the
information resources planning process would come first?
A) vision for the business
B) IT architecture
C) strategic IS plan
D) assessment of current information resources
6) Which of the following is not a part of the initial IS assessment?
A) compare current actual performance against previous goals
B) envision an ideal or intended state at some point in the future
C) collect IT operational data
D) benchmark performance against competing organizations
7) Which of the following is not a typical approach for formulating a strategic IS plan?
A) value chain analysis
B) SWOT analysis
C) setting forth project budgets and schedules
D) translating the organization’s vision into a set of major initiatives that describes how to
accomplish the organization’s vision of its future
8) Which stage of IT architecture maturity is characterized by individual applications designed
for separate business units without enterprise standards?
A) Application Silos
B) Standardized Technology
C) Rationalized Data and Process
D) Modularity
9) Which stage of IT architecture maturity seeks to both achieve the flexibility needed by local
business units and to retain enterprise-wide standards, such as with ERP systems, for a
multinational firm?
A) Application Silos
B) Standardized Technology
C) Rationalized Data and Process
D) Modularity
10) The strategic IS planning process consists of all of the following steps except:
A) setting objective or goals.
B) conducting internal and external analyses.
C) defining the IS mission statement.
D) establishing strategic initiatives.
11) While conducting internal and external analyses, a firm may develop a series of four
statements that together make up a SWOT analysis. SWOT stands for:
A) strategies, weaknesses, objectives, and targets.
B) systems, weaknesses, opportunities, and targets.
C) strengths, weaknesses, objectives, and threats.
D) strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
12) Recommended tools for identifying IS strategic initiatives do NOT include:
A) bottom-up analysis.
B) critical success factors analysis.
C) value chain analysis.
D) analysis of competitive forces.
13) In a value chain analysis, which is not a method of establishing a competitive advantage in
an industry?
A) make products/services more desirable by offering unique features
B) establish stronger links with suppliers to obtain lower-cost, higher-quality materials
C) replicate other successful companies’ IT architectures
D) inhibit the entry of competitors by raising the stakes for competing in the market
14) All of the following are primary value chain activities except:
A) inbound logistics.
B) human resource management.
C) operations.
D) service.
15) In the value chain of Porter and Millar, which of the following are support activities?
A) inbound logistics
B) information technology
C) human resources
D) both B and C
16) Operational IS plans include plans for projects, such as:
A) expected benefits.
B) due dates.
C) priorities.
D) all of the above
17) Which of the following is a goal of a portfolio approach to managing IS projects?
A) implement only low risk IS systems
B) implement only IS systems that can offer a high business return
C) balance the risks and returns of IS projects
D) avoid implementing any high risk IS systems
18) An IS operational plan is usually created for what time period?
A) monthly
B) for a 6-month or less time period
C) for a 1- to 2-year time period
D) for a 3- to 5-year time period
19) Which of the following is not a guideline for successful IS planning?
A) The strategic IS plan should be developed independent of business managers.
B) The strategic IS plan should be aligned with business goals.
C) IS plans should reflect realistic expectations.
D) The information resources planning effort should be viewed as an iterative effort.
20) According to the textbook, which of the following is not a potential benefit of information
resources planning?
A) provides a context for IS resource decisions
B) aligns IS and business goals
C) balances tradeoffs between standardization and agility goals
D) makes products/services more desirable than those of current competitors
21) The information technology architecture depicts how the technological and human assets of
the IS organization should be organized to support the organization’s operating model and its
information vision.
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22) A critical success factor (CSF) approach is a well-known method for identifying strategic IT
opportunities by eliciting input from key managers about information needs and processes most
important to the success of a business function or to the entire organization.
23) The strategic IS plan contains a set of short-term objectives that represent measureable
movement toward the intended performance metrics.