WGU C268 SPREADSHEETS PA 2026 STUDY
GUIDE COMPLETE EXCEL FUNCTIONS DATA
ANALYSIS AND PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ Data. Answer: Unorganized data that lacks meaning.
◉ Information. Answer: Data that has been organized in a
meaningful manner.
◉ Information system. Answer: An integrated network of
components working together to convert data into useful
information; includes an input, a process, and an output; comprised
of people, processes, machines, and information technology.
◉ Knowledge. Answer: The practical application of information.
◉ Data, Information, and Knowledge example. Answer: Data: The
number of people below the poverty line in the region is 50,000.
Information: The number of people below the poverty line increases
between 2010 and 2018.
,Knowledge: The number of people below the poverty line has
increased due to stagnating wages and cuts to social programs.
◉ Decision support system. Answer: This system uses models and
statistical analysis to help decision makers solve problems
◉ Management information system (MIS). Answer: Provides timely
and accurate information that enables managers to manage their
departments more efficiently; analyzes performance.
◉ Transaction processing system. Answer: information system used
for processing patient admissions, employee time cards, and
purchase orders
◉ Information management. Answer: The management of
organizational processes and systems; helps the organization reduce
costs and adds value to products; helps the organization make better
managerial decisions; stores and processes data.
◉ Information technology. Answer: The use of computer and
telecommunications systems for storing, retrieving, and sending
information; comprised of hardware, software, data, and networks.
◉ information technology management. Answer: the management
of hardware, software, data, networks, and people that facilitate
,access to information and allow the organization to achieve business
objectives.
◉ Strategic information system. Answer: provide tools used by an
organization to accomplish specific tasks to gain competitive
advantage.
◉ Social Networking and interpersonal skills.. Answer: Enhances
interpersonal and relationship-forming skills.
◉ Porters 5 competitive forces. Answer: Intensity competitive
rivalry
bargaining power of customers
bargaining power of suppliers
threat of new entrants
threat of substitutes
◉ Network economics (network-based strategy). Answer: the cost of
adding another business participant to a business venture is small,
the potential gain is great.
◉ Business ecosystems. Answer: Network of businesses involved in
delivering a product through mutual cooperation.
, ◉ Product differentiation (business strategy). Answer: offering a
higher quality product to differentiate from others in the market
◉ growth (business strategy). Answer: adding new products or new
enhancements to existing products
◉ Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). Answer: Involves utilizing
computer technology to link various aspects of a business; a very
complex resource planning system that spans the entire business;
companies often have difficulty implementing the system.
◉ Customer Relationship Management (CRM). Answer: Allows for
personalized communication to customers.
◉ Knowledge Management (KM). Answer: These systems provide
tools to help manage organizational knowledge and create value to
meet business requirements and strategic goals.
◉ chief executive officer (CEO). Answer: also called president or
managing director, is responsible for the success or failure of the
company, creating the company culture, selecting the senior
management team, setting strategy and vision, and selecting
projects to fund.
GUIDE COMPLETE EXCEL FUNCTIONS DATA
ANALYSIS AND PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ Data. Answer: Unorganized data that lacks meaning.
◉ Information. Answer: Data that has been organized in a
meaningful manner.
◉ Information system. Answer: An integrated network of
components working together to convert data into useful
information; includes an input, a process, and an output; comprised
of people, processes, machines, and information technology.
◉ Knowledge. Answer: The practical application of information.
◉ Data, Information, and Knowledge example. Answer: Data: The
number of people below the poverty line in the region is 50,000.
Information: The number of people below the poverty line increases
between 2010 and 2018.
,Knowledge: The number of people below the poverty line has
increased due to stagnating wages and cuts to social programs.
◉ Decision support system. Answer: This system uses models and
statistical analysis to help decision makers solve problems
◉ Management information system (MIS). Answer: Provides timely
and accurate information that enables managers to manage their
departments more efficiently; analyzes performance.
◉ Transaction processing system. Answer: information system used
for processing patient admissions, employee time cards, and
purchase orders
◉ Information management. Answer: The management of
organizational processes and systems; helps the organization reduce
costs and adds value to products; helps the organization make better
managerial decisions; stores and processes data.
◉ Information technology. Answer: The use of computer and
telecommunications systems for storing, retrieving, and sending
information; comprised of hardware, software, data, and networks.
◉ information technology management. Answer: the management
of hardware, software, data, networks, and people that facilitate
,access to information and allow the organization to achieve business
objectives.
◉ Strategic information system. Answer: provide tools used by an
organization to accomplish specific tasks to gain competitive
advantage.
◉ Social Networking and interpersonal skills.. Answer: Enhances
interpersonal and relationship-forming skills.
◉ Porters 5 competitive forces. Answer: Intensity competitive
rivalry
bargaining power of customers
bargaining power of suppliers
threat of new entrants
threat of substitutes
◉ Network economics (network-based strategy). Answer: the cost of
adding another business participant to a business venture is small,
the potential gain is great.
◉ Business ecosystems. Answer: Network of businesses involved in
delivering a product through mutual cooperation.
, ◉ Product differentiation (business strategy). Answer: offering a
higher quality product to differentiate from others in the market
◉ growth (business strategy). Answer: adding new products or new
enhancements to existing products
◉ Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). Answer: Involves utilizing
computer technology to link various aspects of a business; a very
complex resource planning system that spans the entire business;
companies often have difficulty implementing the system.
◉ Customer Relationship Management (CRM). Answer: Allows for
personalized communication to customers.
◉ Knowledge Management (KM). Answer: These systems provide
tools to help manage organizational knowledge and create value to
meet business requirements and strategic goals.
◉ chief executive officer (CEO). Answer: also called president or
managing director, is responsible for the success or failure of the
company, creating the company culture, selecting the senior
management team, setting strategy and vision, and selecting
projects to fund.
