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Business Information Systems I > Fundamentals Of Information Systems > Flashcards

Fundamentals Of Information Systems Flashcards

1
Q

Name two advantages of computers and information systems in organisations.

A

Cost reduction
Competitive advantage in the marketplace

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2
Q

Discuss at least 3 common applications of computers and information systems.

A

(Any 3 of the following)
-Students use computers and Office Suite software for university, to grade assignments, generate reports regarding students’ performances.
- Grocery and retail stores use POS systems for sales, inventory and more. UPCs are read on items purchased, saving time (bar codes)
- Banks use information systems for statement generation, ATMs and more
- Mobile devices can be used for work purposes
- The internet is used for social networking, information searches, updates from businesses to customers, entertainment, sporting events, news etc.
- YouTube and Instagram are commonly used for marketing and advertising purposes.

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3
Q

Define computer literacy.

A

Computer literacy is a skill in the use of productivity software and having basic knowledge of the hardware, software, the Internet and collaboration tools and technology.

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4
Q

Name 4 examples of types of productivity software.

A
  • word processors
  • spreadsheets
  • database management systems
  • presentation software
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5
Q

Define information literacy.

A

Information literacy involves understanding the role of information in generating and using business intelligence.

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6
Q

What is business intelligence?

A

Business intelligence involves historical, current and predictive views of business operations and environments.

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7
Q

Define Transaction-Processing Systems (TPSs).

A

TPSs focus on data collection and processing, the major reason for using them is cost reduction.

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8
Q

Name four applications of TPSs.

A
  • payroll
  • record-keeping
  • simple clerical operations
  • inventory control
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9
Q

How do computers and TPSs reduce costs in a company?

A

TPSs involves repetitive operations and large amounts of data, which reduces the cost in personnel needed to perform these tasks.

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10
Q

Define management information systems.

A

MIS is an organised integration of hardware and software technologies, data processes and human elements designed to produce timely, integrated, relevant, accurate and useful information for decision-making purposes.

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11
Q

Name two types of management information systems.

A
  • commercial programmes
  • in-house software development
    (Both can be used by a company)
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12
Q

What is the human element of management information systems?

A

Users, programmers, systems analysts and other technical personnel.

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13
Q

Define data.

A

Data consists of raw facts and the input component of an information system

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14
Q

Name the four main components of an information system.

A

Data, database, process and information.

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15
Q

Give two examples of internal data sources.

A

Sales records and personnel records.

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16
Q

Give five examples of external data sources.

A

Customers, competitors, suppliers, government agencies, financial institutions, labour and population statistics, economic conditions.

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17
Q

Name an example of how time orientation can play a role in data collection.

A

Past data is collected for performance reports and current data is collected for operational reports. Future data is predicted for budgets or cash flow reports.

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18
Q

What determines the type of data collected?

A

The goals and objectives of the organisation.

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19
Q

Define aggregated data and explain what it can be used for.

A

Aggregated data summarises data from multiple sources (TechTarget.com)
It can be useful for reporting overall performance during particular sales quarters.

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20
Q

Define disaggregated data and explain how it can be used.

A

Disaggregated data is data that has been broken down by detailed sub-categories.
It can be used to analyse sales by product, territory or salesperson.

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21
Q

Define ‘database’.

A

A database is a collection of all relevant data organised in a series of integrated files.

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22
Q

What are database management systems (DBMS)?

A

DBMSs are used to create, organise and manage databases.

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23
Q

Name 3 examples of database management systems.

A

Microsoft Access, FileMaker Pro, Oracle or IBM DB2 for large organisations

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24
Q

How are databases beneficial to organisations?

A

Databases reduce personnel time needed to gather, process, and interpret data.

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25
Q

Define the process component of an information system.

A

The process component generates the most useful type of information for decision making, including transaction-processing reports and models for decision analysis.

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26
Q

Define the information component of an information system.

A

Information consists of facts that have been analysed by the process component and is an output of an information system.

27
Q

What should an information system provide to its users?

A

The users should be able to query the information system and generate a variety of reports, and it should enable users to redefine and restructure models and incorporate new information where necessary.

28
Q

Useful information has… (4)

A

Timeliness, integration with other data and information, consistency and accuracy, relevance.

29
Q

How does the information system’s interface (GUI) affect its usefulness?

A

It must be easy and flexible to use, with menus and buttons. It should produce information in different formats, making it easier to understand for users.

30
Q

What is the ultimate goal of an information system?

A

To generate business intelligence.

31
Q

Define ‘information technologies’.

A

Information technologies support information systems and use the Internet, computer networks, database systems, POS systems and RFID tags.

32
Q

What is a strategic information system?

A

A computer system used by organisations to examine market and competitors information to help them plan how to make their business more successful (Cambridge.org).

33
Q

Name five decisions supported by by personnel information systems (PIS) and human resource information systems (HRIS).

A
  • Choosing the best job candidate
  • Scheduling and assigning employees
  • Predicting an organisation’s future personnel needs
  • Providing reports and statistics on employee demographics
  • Allocating human and financial resources
34
Q

What is the purpose of a personnel information system and a human resource information system?

A

PIS and HRIS are designed to provide information that helps decision makers in personnel carry out their tasks more effectively.

35
Q

What is the purpose of a logistics information system?

A

LIS is designed to reduce the cost of transporting materials while maintaining safe and reliable delivery.

36
Q

Name four examples of decisions supported by LIS systems.

A

Improving routing and delivery schedules
Selecting the best modes of transport
Improving transportation budgeting
Improving shipment planning

37
Q

What is the purpose of a manufacturing information system?

A

MFIS is used to manage manufacturing resources so companies can reduce manufacturing costs, increase product quality and make better inventory decisions.

38
Q

Name five examples of decisions that manufacturing information systems support.

A

Ordering decisions
Product cost evaluations
Space utilisation
The bid evaluation process used with vendors and suppliers
Analysis of price changes and discounts

39
Q

What is the purpose of a financial information system?

A

To provide information to financial executives in a timely manner.

40
Q

Name five examples of decisions supported by a financial information system.

A

Improving budget allocation
Minimising capital investment risks
Monitoring cost trends
Managing cash flows
Determining portfolio structures

41
Q

Name five IT tools used for marketing.

A

Business, Web and mobile analytics
E-mail marketing
Search engine marketing
Mobile technologies
Marketing automation

42
Q

Name three examples of decisions that are supported by marketing information systems.

A

Analysing market share, sales and sales personnel
Sales forecasting
Price and cost analysis of items sold

43
Q

Name the five functional areas of business that can each have their own information system.

A

Human resource (HRIS)/personnel (PIS)
Logistics (LIS)
Manufacturing (MFIS)
Financial (FIS)
Marketing (MKIS)

44
Q

How do information technologies offer a competitive advantage to organisations?

A

Information systems can help organisations reduce the cost of products and services and if designed correctly, can assist with differentiation and focus strategies. They can help bottom-line strategies by reducing overall costs, and top-line strategies by generating new revenue by offering new products, or increasing revenue by selling existing products and services to new customers. Enterprise systems can also be used to reduce costs and improve customer service. Differentiation strategies means that organisations make their products and services different to competitors.

45
Q

Name the five forces of Porter’s Five Forces model.

A

Buyer power
Supplier power
Threat of substitute products or services
Threat of new entrants
Rivalry among existing competitors

46
Q

Explain the concept of buyer power in the five forces model.

A

Buyer power is high when customers have many choices and low when they have few choices. Organizations typically try to limit buyers’ choices to make it difficult for customers to switch. Club cards also encourages customers to stay with an organization, by offering them discounts. Information systems make managing these strategies easier.

47
Q

Explain the concept of supplier power in the five forces model.

A

Supplier power is high when customers have fewer options and low when customers have more options. Organizations may use information systems to make their products and services cheaper or to offer more services in order to distinguish themselves from competitors.

48
Q

Explain the threat of customers choosing substitute products and services and how this is avoided by businesses.

A

When alternatives to an organization’s products or services exist, the threat is high. Some organizations will add more products and services to distinguish themselves in the marketplace. Others use fees to discourage customers from switching to a competitor.

49
Q

Explain the threat of new entrants into the marketplace and how organization strategize when this happens.

A

If duplicating a company’s product/services is difficult, the threat of new entrants is low. Organizations use focus strategies to ensure that this happens. They will also use information technologies to increase customer loyalty.

50
Q

Explain the rivalry among existing competitors in the five forces model.

A

When many competitors occupy the same marketplace, the rivalry between them is high. Information technologies can help to make their services unique to their competitors’.

51
Q

How can businesses use the five forces model and three strategies?

A

New businesses must carefully analyze the three strategies as it relates to their business, before the business starts its operation and when it is in the planning phase.
Existing businesses could analyze the three strategies and evaluate their position within the market they are serving and deploy selected information tech tools and information systems that could improve their market position.

52
Q

Name the seven broad categories of the IT job market.

A

Operations and help desk
Programming
Systems design
Web design and web hosting
Network design and maintenance
Database design and maintenance
Robotics and AI

53
Q

What does a chief of technology/chief of information officer do?

A

They oversee long-range planning and stay up to date with new developments in the field that can help the company achieve success.

54
Q

What is the purpose of a manager of information systems?

A

They are responsible for managing all the hardware, software and personnel within the information systems department.

55
Q

What is the purpose of a systems analyst?

A

They are responsible for the design and implementation of information systems within the business.

56
Q

What is the purpose of a network administrator?

A

They oversee the company’s internal and external network systems, designing and implementing network systems that deliver correct information to the right decision maker in a timely manner. Network and cybersecurity is also part of the job.

57
Q

What is the purpose of a chief information security officer?

A

They establish and implement policies in order to ensure that information assets and technologies are protected against internal and external threats.

58
Q

What is the purpose of a database administrator?

A

They are responsible for database design and implementation. They also work with data warehouses and data-mining tools.

59
Q

What is the purpose of a computer programmer?

A

They write computer programs or software segments that allow the information system to perform specific tasks. This can also include designing applications for mobile devices.

60
Q

What is the purpose of a webmaster?

A

They design and maintain the business’s website.

61
Q

Name a few specific tasks that data scientists perform.

A

Identify problems that an organization faces
Identify and collect data sets and variables
Ensure accuracy and completeness of data sets
Apply models and algorithms to data sets
Analyze and interpret results for decision makers

62
Q

Briefly discuss what the future of information systems and information technology looks like.

A

Hardware and software costs will continue to decline
AI and related technology will continue to improve
Computer literacy of IS users will improve
Networking technology will improve, connecting computer will be easier and faster
Personal computers and tablets will continue to improve in power and quality
Internet growth
Computer criminals will become more sophisticated
And more.

63
Q
A

Business Information Systems I (2 decks)

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