C) GDSS.
D) GIS.
59. Which of the following is not one of the five observed ways in which managerial behavior differs from the
classical description of managers?
A) Managers prefer oral forms of communication.
B) Managers perform a great deal of work at an unrelenting pace.
C) Managers prefer regular, written reports on firm activities.
D) Managerial activities are fragmented.
60. A pivot table is a
A) chart tool that can rotate columnar data quickly and visually.
B) spreadsheet tool that displays two or more dimensions of data in a convenient format.
C) tool for performing sensitivity analysis.
D) type of relational database.
61. 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 and
impact analyses, is an example of
A) CDSS.
B) ESS.
C) DSS.
D) MIS.
62. The leading methodology for understanding the really important information needed by a firm’s executives
is called the ________ method.
A) KPI
B) balanced scorecard
C) digital dashboard
D) data visualization
63. Which of the following types of systems would be used to present senior marketing executives with in–depth
information about customer retention, satisfaction, and quality performance?
A) DSS
B) MIS
C) CDSS
D) ESS
64. Measures defined by management and used to internally evaluate the success of a firm’s financial, business
process, customer, and learning and growth are called
A) BPM.
B) the balanced scorecard method.
C) benchmarks.
D) KPIs.
65. The management methodology of using a firm’s strategy to generate operational targets for the business and
measuring progress towards them using the firm’s enterprise systems is called
A) the balanced scorecard method.
B) benchmarks.
C) KPIs.
D) BPM.
66. ESS
A) are primarily driven by information derived from a company’s transaction processing systems.
B) support the structured decision making of senior executives.
C) have the ability to drill down into lower levels of detail.
D) easily integrate data from different systems.
67. A well–designed ESS will allow management to
A) reduce their need to review lower levels of operation.
B) have greater span of control.
C) assign lower levels of management greater control.
D) all of the above.
68. GDSS
A) are typically used with geographically dispersed attendees.
B) are designed to allow meeting attendees to share their thoughts in real–time with their peers.
C) support decisions that require knowledge about the geographic distribution of resources.
D) implement structured methods for organizing and evaluating ideas.
69. An essential component in the ability of GDSS to contribute to a collaborative environment is
A) the guarantee of user anonymity.
B) using structured methods for evaluating ideas.
C) allowing users to contribute simultaneously.
D) identifying users informally.
70. 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) utilize shared desktop computers to foster collaboration.
D) include specific procedures for priority ranking the order in which participants can respond.
71. A(n) ________ decision is repetitive and routine, for which known procedures provide solutions.
72. The third stage in Simon’s description of decision making is ________.
73. When managers represent their company in the outside world and perform symbolic duties, they are acting
in their ________ role.
74. The concept of management ________ describes situations in which managers act on biases that reject
information that does not conform to their expectations.
75. The dimension of ________ in information quality describes whether data is available when needed.
76. BI that is designed to determine the most likely effects of changes in the business environment is called
________.
77. A(n)________ report is produced when a user enters various values in a pivot table to filter data.
78. A(n) ________ is a BI feature that presents users with an easy–to–understand display of information designed
to convey a comprehensive view of firm performance.
79. The ________ is the leading methodology for understanding the most important information needed by a
firm’s executives.
80. A(n) ________ facilitates the solution to unstructured problems by a set of decision makers working together
as a group.
81. In your position of office manager at a legal firm, you are in charge of hiring temporary legal assistants and
clerical workers. Describe how Simon’s decision–making process applies to this decision. Could that decision
be aided by an information system in any way, and if so, how?
82. A key business decision in your sporting goods manufacturing company is determining what suppliers to
use for your raw materials. How can you determine if a manager in charge of selecting suppliers is making
the best choice?
83. You are evaluating BI software from a variety of vendors. Identify six elements in the BI environment. Use
your understanding of the importance of these elements to formulate six questions to ask the vendor in order
to determine how their software will interplay with your needs.
84. What is a GIS? Describe at least three ways in which a GIS could be used by modern business.
85. You are an analyst for a firm that imports and distributes specialty oils and vinegars and your company
wants you to evaluate their options for taking advantage of cutting edge business analytics. What are their
choices? What will you recommend?
86. Describe MIS and DSS and differentiate between them.
87. What is the business value of a DSS?
88. Explain why even well–designed information systems do not always help improve a firm’s decision making.
Objective: 12.4
89. Describe the balanced scorecard model and its role in ESS.
