Principles of Information Systems, 13th Edition
Solutions – Chapter 1
Solution_ManualPrinciples_of_Information_Systems,13th_Edition
Critical Thinking Exercise
Kroger’s QueVision System Improves Customer Service
Review Questions
1. The QueVision system is an enterprise system.
2. The two components that are missing are well-trained workers and better teamwork.
Critical Thinking Questions
1. To address the concerns of the cashiers and baggers, the store manager should observe
the checkout process and performance of cashiers and baggers for a few days before
taking action.
2. The manager should identify and put into place the full set of organizational
complements. This cannot be done without observing where the system is failing.
Critical Thinking Exercise
NARCOMS Database to Aid MS Victims
Review Questions
1. Fundamental hardware components that are likely included in the NARCOMS systems
might include keyboards, mice, servers, hard drives, monitors or displays, routers,
switches, hubs, modems, printers, etc. A variety of equipment to provide input,
processing, storage, and output activities, as well as networking and mobile hardware
are likely included.
2. For the total 100,000 target number of participants the maximum database size would
be 0.05 gigabytes assuming each record contained a maximum of 500 bytes. This would
not be considered a big data project.
Critical Thinking Questions
,Principles of Information Systems, 13th Edition
1. Student responses may vary. Three reasons why most do not participate might include:
concerns over privacy and sharing of personal medical information; unable to complete
a survey due to either limited mobility or lack of resources; and not knowing that this
database exists.
2. Student responses may vary. One course of action might be introducing the database to
patients receiving a diagnosis of MS and then offering help with the surveys during
doctor visits.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Business Analytics for Gaming Firm
Review Questions
1. Business analytics can be defined as the extensive use of data and quantitative analysis
to support fact-based decision making within organization.
2. Data scientists understands the business and business analytics technology while also
recognizing the limitations of their data, tools and techniques. They put all of this
together to deliver real improvements in decision making within an organization.
Critical Thinking Questions
1. Student responses may vary. Three data sources might include customer surveys, a
players’ card, or historical hotel records.
2. Student responses may vary. Some customers may want to enjoy the benefits offered
from a player’s card, for example, but may not be comfortable with the card tracking
their gambling history.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Strategic Plan Review
Review Questions
,Principles of Information Systems, 13th Edition
1. Hallmarks of a good strategic plan could include a clarity of purpose, having well-defined
goals over a specified period of time, focusing energy and resources and strengthening
operations.
2. More funds would be allocated to system development over buying existing software
and using software service providers. The cost to build a system can be very high and,
even small projects, take a significant amount of time.
Critical Thinking Questions
1. Student responses may vary. You may want to become more familiar with the day-to-day
activities and challenges in the IS organization.
2. Student responses may vary. You may want to meet with key stakeholders in the IS
organization to get their input on the strategic plan and budget.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Robo-Advice for Millennials
Review Questions
1. The insurance industry might benefit from the use of a robo-advice system.
2. Students answers will vary. As far as ethics are concerned, a robo-advisor will always lack
the ethical judgement of a human being. In the case of the investment firm, the robo-
advisor lacks the ability to hold the investor accountable to a budget or to encourage the
saving of an emergency fund before investing. The builders of such systems should make
consumers aware of potential pitfalls of using the system.
Critical Thinking Questions
1. Student responses may vary. An alternate strategy could be for the robo-advice service
to work in conjunction with a professional financial planner. The firm might use a call
, Principles of Information Systems, 13th Edition
system where investors can discuss the results of the robo-advice system with a human
to help decide if the given advice is the best course of action.
2. Student responses may vary. You might want to have the members of senior
management try out the service for themselves, or see the service in action with a real
customer.
Review Questions
1. Data is the raw material from which information is composed. Information includes a
context for the data. Knowledge is an awareness of how to apply the information.
2. The student can list any six of the following attributes that describe the quality of data:
Characteristics Definitions
Accessible Information should be easily accessible by authorized
users so they can obtain it in the right format and at
the right time to meet their needs.
Accurate Accurate information is error free. In some cases,
inaccurate information is generated because
inaccurate data is fed into the transformation process.
This is commonly called garbage in, garbage out
(GIGO).
Complete Complete information contains all the important
facts. For example, an investment report that does not
include all important costs is not complete.
Economical Information should also be relatively economical to
produce. Decision makers must always balance the
value of information with the cost of producing it.
Solutions – Chapter 1
Solution_ManualPrinciples_of_Information_Systems,13th_Edition
Critical Thinking Exercise
Kroger’s QueVision System Improves Customer Service
Review Questions
1. The QueVision system is an enterprise system.
2. The two components that are missing are well-trained workers and better teamwork.
Critical Thinking Questions
1. To address the concerns of the cashiers and baggers, the store manager should observe
the checkout process and performance of cashiers and baggers for a few days before
taking action.
2. The manager should identify and put into place the full set of organizational
complements. This cannot be done without observing where the system is failing.
Critical Thinking Exercise
NARCOMS Database to Aid MS Victims
Review Questions
1. Fundamental hardware components that are likely included in the NARCOMS systems
might include keyboards, mice, servers, hard drives, monitors or displays, routers,
switches, hubs, modems, printers, etc. A variety of equipment to provide input,
processing, storage, and output activities, as well as networking and mobile hardware
are likely included.
2. For the total 100,000 target number of participants the maximum database size would
be 0.05 gigabytes assuming each record contained a maximum of 500 bytes. This would
not be considered a big data project.
Critical Thinking Questions
,Principles of Information Systems, 13th Edition
1. Student responses may vary. Three reasons why most do not participate might include:
concerns over privacy and sharing of personal medical information; unable to complete
a survey due to either limited mobility or lack of resources; and not knowing that this
database exists.
2. Student responses may vary. One course of action might be introducing the database to
patients receiving a diagnosis of MS and then offering help with the surveys during
doctor visits.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Business Analytics for Gaming Firm
Review Questions
1. Business analytics can be defined as the extensive use of data and quantitative analysis
to support fact-based decision making within organization.
2. Data scientists understands the business and business analytics technology while also
recognizing the limitations of their data, tools and techniques. They put all of this
together to deliver real improvements in decision making within an organization.
Critical Thinking Questions
1. Student responses may vary. Three data sources might include customer surveys, a
players’ card, or historical hotel records.
2. Student responses may vary. Some customers may want to enjoy the benefits offered
from a player’s card, for example, but may not be comfortable with the card tracking
their gambling history.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Strategic Plan Review
Review Questions
,Principles of Information Systems, 13th Edition
1. Hallmarks of a good strategic plan could include a clarity of purpose, having well-defined
goals over a specified period of time, focusing energy and resources and strengthening
operations.
2. More funds would be allocated to system development over buying existing software
and using software service providers. The cost to build a system can be very high and,
even small projects, take a significant amount of time.
Critical Thinking Questions
1. Student responses may vary. You may want to become more familiar with the day-to-day
activities and challenges in the IS organization.
2. Student responses may vary. You may want to meet with key stakeholders in the IS
organization to get their input on the strategic plan and budget.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Robo-Advice for Millennials
Review Questions
1. The insurance industry might benefit from the use of a robo-advice system.
2. Students answers will vary. As far as ethics are concerned, a robo-advisor will always lack
the ethical judgement of a human being. In the case of the investment firm, the robo-
advisor lacks the ability to hold the investor accountable to a budget or to encourage the
saving of an emergency fund before investing. The builders of such systems should make
consumers aware of potential pitfalls of using the system.
Critical Thinking Questions
1. Student responses may vary. An alternate strategy could be for the robo-advice service
to work in conjunction with a professional financial planner. The firm might use a call
, Principles of Information Systems, 13th Edition
system where investors can discuss the results of the robo-advice system with a human
to help decide if the given advice is the best course of action.
2. Student responses may vary. You might want to have the members of senior
management try out the service for themselves, or see the service in action with a real
customer.
Review Questions
1. Data is the raw material from which information is composed. Information includes a
context for the data. Knowledge is an awareness of how to apply the information.
2. The student can list any six of the following attributes that describe the quality of data:
Characteristics Definitions
Accessible Information should be easily accessible by authorized
users so they can obtain it in the right format and at
the right time to meet their needs.
Accurate Accurate information is error free. In some cases,
inaccurate information is generated because
inaccurate data is fed into the transformation process.
This is commonly called garbage in, garbage out
(GIGO).
Complete Complete information contains all the important
facts. For example, an investment report that does not
include all important costs is not complete.
Economical Information should also be relatively economical to
produce. Decision makers must always balance the
value of information with the cost of producing it.
