58. Based on your reading of the chapter, why should companies avoid creating an all–encompassing, new
global system when moving towards global operations?
A) “Grand design” approaches typically fail to identify centers of excellence.
B) These may fail due to lack of visibility.
C) It is difficult to quantify and explain the benefits of information systems that are that large.
D) Opposition is strengthened because of requirements for huge resources.
59. From your reading of the chapter case, which of the following best describes the challenge Primark was
facing as a global company?
A) inadequate information for managerial decision making
B) diverse information systems throughout foreign units
C) lack of buy–in for global systems by foreign units
D) managing a global supply chain
60. In order to define centers of excellence in a global firm, you would first need to identify
A) SOPs.
B) functional areas.
C) core competencies.
D) core business processes.
61. Which of the following is not one of the main benefits to implementing global systems?
A) reduced hardware costs
B) new economies of scale at production facilities
C) superior management and coordination
D) vast improvements in operation
62. When developing a global system, bringing the opposition of local groups into the process of designing and
implementing the solution without giving up control over the direction and nature of the change is called
A) change management.
B) advocacy.
C) implementation.
D) cooptation.
63. A global firm can develop transnational centers of excellence as an effective technique to
A) develop a merit–based hierarchy among regional groups.
B) encourage user support of global systems.
C) effectively identify global business processes.
D) ensure connectivity between regional systems.
64. In relation to global systems building, the Internet
A) allows the seamless flow of information through the enterprise.
B) has reduced some networking problems.
C) affords local groups stable broadband access.
D) all of the above.
65. A critical necessity for ensuring the integration of local systems into a global system is
A) use of standard hardware at the local level.
B) use of standard user software at the local level.
C) adherence to data and technical standards.
D) all of the above.
66. VPNs
A) may not be able to support large numbers of remote users, due to the variable traffic on the Internet.
B) provide many of the same services as private networks.
C) use the public Internet for communications.
D) all of the above.
67. Which of the following is not one of the principle problems of international networks?
A) network standards
B) regulatory constraints
C) network capacity
D) poor quality of international service
68. In developing countries, use of the Internet is limited by all of the following except
A) high cost of PCs.
B) unreliable power grids.
C) use of mobile telephones.
D) poor bandwidth capacity.
69. Software localization is the process of
A) translating a user interface into a second language.
B) modifying software so that it can be adopted in other countries without engineering changes.
C) converting software programming to run on a different platform.
D) converting software to operate in a second language and with local conventions.
70. Which types of systems are widely used by manufacturing and distribution firms to connect to suppliers on
a global basis?
A) EDI systems
B) CRM systems
C) TPS systems
D) none of the above
71. A(n) international information systems ________ consists of the basic information systems required by
organizations to coordinate worldwide trade and other activities.
72. The global ________ created by television, the Internet, and other globally shared media permits different
peoples around the world to develop common expectations and values.
73. A(n) ________ is formed by consumers around the world who are interested in consuming similar products
that are culturally approved.
74. Global markets, production, and administration create the conditions for powerful global economies of
________.
75. Japanese consumers who only want to purchase products made in Japan are an example of cultural
________.
76. The movement of information across international boundaries is called ________.
77. ________ firms have no single national headquarters but have many regional headquarters and perhaps a
world headquarters.
78. ________ systems support functions that are absolutely critical to the organization.
79. ________ is defined as the extent to which your authority is accepted on grounds of competence, vision, or
other qualities.
80. ________ is defined as bringing the opposing local organization groups into the process of designing and
implementing an information systems solution without giving up control over the direction and nature of
the change.
81. What steps do the authors recommend be taken to develop an international information systems
architecture?
82. List at least four general cultural factors and four specific business factors driving global business. Which
two factors (one of each) do you feel are most problematic at the current moment? Why?
83. What are the four specific types of business challenges to global business systems? Which one do you think
will be easiest to solve? Why?
84. How do cultural, legal, political, and social expectations affect global business?
85. Describe the four main global strategies that form the basis for global firms‘ organizational structure.
86. What are the organizational principles a company should follow to develop a global company and its
information systems support structure? Do you agree? Would you change these principles, or add others?
Support your answer.
87. List at least four difficult problems for management in the development of the international information
system. Which do you see as the most problematic, and why?
88. You are working for a global electronic parts manufacturing company with divisions in Taiwan, Malaysia,
Australia, and Germany, that has embarked on developing a global enterprise system. To ensure that
overseas divisions comply with the new system, they are considering a cooptation strategy in which they
will permit each country unit the opportunity to develop one transnational application first in its home
territory, and then throughout the world. What are the benefits and drawbacks to this approach? Are there
any other solutions for the company’s cooptation strategy?
89. You work for a business consulting firm, and you have been asked to advise Bamboo Home, a home
furniture retailer on implementing a global information systems. What general benefits can Bamboo Home
expect from a globalized system?
90. How does the Internet benefit the development of a global information system? Should all global systems be
based on the Internet?
