Management Chapter 7 Homework Measure And Modify With Built in Milestones Planned

Unlock access to all the studying documents.

View Full Document

6-12

Compare Web 2.0 and Web 3.0.

Web 2.0 refers to second-generation interactive Internet-based services that enable

people to collaborate, share information, and create new services online. Web 2.0 is

distinguished by technologies and services such as cloud computing, software

mashups and widgets, blogs, RSS, and wikis. These software applications run on the

Web itself instead of the desktop and bring the vision of Web-based computing closer

to realization. Web 2.0 tools and services have fueled the creation of social networks

and other online communities where people can interact with one another in the

manner of their choosing.

Web 3.0 focuses on developing techniques to make searching Web pages more

7-4 What are the principal technologies and standards for wireless networking,

communications, and Internet access?

Define Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, WiMax, and 3G and 4G networks.

Standards for wireless computer networks include Bluetooth (802.15) for small

personal area networks (PANs), Wi-Fi (802.11) for local area networks (LANs), and

WiMax (802.16) for metropolitan area networks (MANs). Bluetooth can link up to

eight devices within a 10-meter area using low-power, radio-based communication

and can transmit up to 722 Kbps in the 2.4 GHz band. Wireless phones, keyboards,

computers, printers, and PDAs using Bluetooth can communicate with one another

and even operate one another without direct user intervention.

Wi–Fi is useful for creating wireless LANs and for providing wireless Internet access.

Its access range is limited to anywhere between 300 feet and three miles. Hotspots are

public access points individuals use to obtain high speed Internet access.

6-13

Describe the capabilities of each and for which types of applications each is best

suited.

• Bluetooth: Access very limited; useful for creating small personal area

networks.

• Wi-Fi: Access is limited to 30–50 meters; useful for creating small local area

networks

• WiMax: Access is limited to a range up to 31 miles: useful for creating wide

area networks

Define RFID, explain how it works and describe how it provides value to

businesses.

Mobile wireless technology facilitates supply chain management by capturing data on

the movement of goods as these events take place and by providing detailed,

immediate information as goods move among supply chain partners. Radio frequency

6-14

Define WSNs, explain how they work, and describe the kinds of applications that

use them.

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are networks of interconnected wireless devices

with some processing and radio-transmitting capability that are embedded into the

physical environment to provide measurements of many points over large spaces.

Wireless sensor networks are valuable for monitoring environmental changes, traffic

patterns, security incidents, or supply chain events. Wireless sensor networks can be

Discussion Questions

7-5 It has been said that within the next few years, smartphones will become the

single most important digital device we own. Discuss the implications of this

statement.

Student answers to this question will vary.

7-6 Should all major retailing and manufacturing companies switch to RFID? Why

or why not?

Student answers to this question will vary.

7-7 Compare Wi-Fi and high-speed cellular systems for accessing the Internet. What

are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

Student answers to this question will vary.

Hands-On MIS Projects

Management Decision Problems

6-15

7-8 Floor tile company: Asked by major retailing customers to begin using RFID to

improve management of products. Use the Web to identify the cost of hardware,

software, and networking components for an RFID system for your company. What

factors should be considered? What are the key decisions that have to be made in

determining whether your firm should adopt this technology?

What is the estimated incremental cost for adopting RFID?

If one is discussing incremental costs over and above what was invested in your bar

code infrastructure, then you can say that you will be making an investment in tags,

What is a ballpark figure for implementing RFID in a warehouse and distribution

process?

According to Forrester Research, a typical supplier that attempts to comply with a

mandate can expect to spend as much as $9 million on RFID—depending on the size

How do smart label costs compare to conventional thermal/thermal-transfer printed

labels?

A smart label runs in the vicinity of about $0.50 per label vs. about $0.01 for a

What companies are currently developing RFID software? Is it all customized or are

there off-the-shelf solutions?

Numerous start-up and established software providers—including those who provide

ERP software—have developed applications to deal with RFID reader and

6-16

How will RFID integrate with EDI software?

EDI messages contain data about business transactions. While the format of an EDI

message may change to accommodate “new data” (such as an EPC by comparison

with a GTIN), fundamentally EDI message processors are unaware of the source of

Key decisions that a company needs to make when considering adopting RFID

include:

• Hardware and software costs

(Learning Objective 7.4: What are the principal technologies and standards for

wireless networking, communications, and Internet access? AACSB: Analytical

thinking, Application of knowledge.)

7-9 BestMed Medical Supplies Corporation: Sells products and equipment from more

than 700 different manufacturers to hospitals, health clinics, and medical offices. The

company employs 500 people at seven different locations. Management is

considering adopting a unified communications system. What factors should be

considered? What are the key decisions that have to be made in determining whether

to adopt this technology? Use the Web, if necessary, to find out more about unified

communications and its costs.

From a broad perspective, Verizon Business suggests that organizations need to

evaluate and measure how UC&C will benefit their organizations, determine whether

At a more detailed level, Verizon Business suggested that in preparation for UC&C,

enterprises should:

• Invest in advanced IP networks because “UC&C starts with a capabilities-rich

6-17

• Inventory technology and personnel resources to better understand the

technological scope of UC&C deployments and “help identify potential

• Create a comprehensive roadmap that is “far reaching and covers areas such

as technology and finances, as well as detailed deployment and

implementation plans.”

• Tackle security at the onset, with a design that integrates “seamlessly with a

• Develop support systems and processes so that the corporate IT staff is

prepared to address end-user performance issues and questions.

Improving Decision Making: Using Spreadsheet Software to Evaluate Wireless

Services

Software skills: Spreadsheet formulas, formatting

Business skills: Analyzing telecommunications services and costs

7-10 You would like to equip your sales force of 35, based in St. Louis, Missouri with

mobile phones that have capabilities for voice transmission, text messaging, Internet

6-18

Achieving Operational Excellence: Using Web Search Engines for Business

Research

Software skills: Web search tools

Business skills: Researching new technologies

7-11 Use Google and Bing to obtain information about ethanol as an alternative fuel for

motor vehicles. If you wish, try some other search engines as well. Compare the volume

and quality of information you find with each search tool. Which tool is the easiest to

use? Which produced the best results for your research? Why?

Answers will vary according to the search phrases students enter in the search engines.

The object of this question should be for students to explore new search engines and Web

Collaboration and Teamwork Project

7-12. In MyMISLab, you will find a Collaboration and Teamwork Project dealing

with the concepts in this chapter. You will be able to use Google Drive, Google Docs,

Google Sites, Google +, or other open source collaboration tools to complete the

assignment.

Case Study: Google, Apple, and Facebook Battle for Your Internet

Experience

6-19

7-13 Compare the business models and core competencies of Google, Apple, and

Facebook.

Google: Its business model has always focused on the Internet and the Web. It began

as one of many search engines. It quickly ran away from the pack with its copyrighted

Apple: Its business model focuses on centralized control of almost all aspects of its

hardware and software. It believes smartphones and tablets should have proprietary

Facebook: Facebook has built its business around social networking better than any

other company. It has more worldwide users than any other company. Facebook

Platform enables developers to build applications and Web sites that integrate with

7-14 Why is mobile computing so important to these three firms? Evaluate the

mobile strategies of each firm.

This case demonstrates the fundamental paradigm shift from primarily desktop PC

computing to mobile computing devices accessing services through the Internet that

is currently taking place. This environment is projected to be a $400 billion

6-20

Apple: by far the current leader in the number of apps users can download—more

than one million. Apple takes a 30% cut of every app purchased. Uses a closed

Facebook: Realized that much of its advertising revenue will come from mobile

device searches. Introduced Sponsored Stories as a way to triple its revenue. It

overhauled its home page to increase the size of both photos and links and allow users

7-15 What is the significance of search to the success or failure of mobile

computing? How have Apple and Facebook attempted to compete with Google?

Will their strategies succeed?

Mobile computing is eclipsing desktop computing as the main entry point to the

Internet. Today people spend more than half their time online using mobile devices.

Mobile devices take advantage of a growing cloud of computing capacity available to

anyone with a smartphone and Internet connectivity.

Apple’s attempt to compete with Google came in the form of Siri, a combined search,

navigation, and personal assistant app. Siri uses Yelp for local business searches,

6-21

7-16 Which company and business model do you think is most likely to dominate the

Internet and why?

Students should consider these principles in their answers:

• The size, complexity, and bureaucracy of organizations affect the ability of

any company to continue to innovate, grow, and expand its reach. (see

Chapter 3) As all three companies try to expand into mobile computing, their

ability to “turn on a dime” in the face of other competitors may be in serious

jeopardy.

• Google currently has the major share of the Web-based advertising market,

however Facebook and other market entrants will be a major threat to them.

7-17 What difference would it make to a business or to an individual consumer if

Apple, Google, or Facebook dominated the Internet experience? Explain your

answer.

Right now Apple leads Google in the number of apps available to users. That gap is

closing quickly thanks to Google’s improvements of the Android operating system

and its encouragement to app developers. Open, non-proprietary systems historically

6-22

7-18 Compare Web 2.0 and Web 3.0.

Visit MyMISLab for suggested answers.

7-19 How do social search, semantic search, and mobile search differ from searching

for information on the Web using conventional search engines?

Visit MyMISLab for suggested answers.

For an example illustrating the concepts found in this chapter, view the

videos in mymislab.com.