Solution Manual For Fundamentals of Information Systems, 9 th Edition by Ralph stair and George Reynolds

Reducing New Product Stockouts at Coles Review Questions 1. One benefit of virtual teams is that they enable organizations to enlist the best people in different geographical regions to solve important organizational problems. Another benefit is that they provide the ability to staff a team with people who have a range of experience and knowledge that stems from a variety of professional experiences and cultural backgrounds. 2. Virtual organization members must be sensitive to the different cultures and practices of the various team members to avoid misunderstandings that can destroy team chemistry. Critical Thinking Questions 1. Student responses will vary. Student should provide a paragraph briefly outlining background and experience. 2. Student responses may vary. Communications are greatly improved when participants can see one another and pick up facial expressions and body language. I would recommend initial face-to-face meetings while the team is forming and defining goals, roles, and expectations on how its members will work together. It helps if virtual team members take the time to get to know one another by sharing experiences and personal background information. 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. Flexible Flexible information can be used for a variety of purposes. For example, information on how much inventory is on hand for a particular part can be used by a sales representative in closing a sale, by a production manager to determine whether more inventory is needed, and by a financial executive to determine the total value the company has invested in inventory. Relevant Relevant information is important to the decision maker. Information showing that lumber prices might drop is probably not relevant to a computer chip manufacturer. Reliable Reliable information can be trusted by users. In many cases, the reliability of the information depends on the reliability of the data-collection method. In other instances, reliability depends on the source of the information. A rumor from an unknown source that oil prices might go up may not be reliable. Secure Information should be secure from access by unauthorized users. Simple Information should be simple, not complex. Sophisticated and detailed information might not be needed. In fact, too much information can cause information overload, whereby a decision maker has too much information and is unable to determine what is really important. Timely Timely information is delivered when it is needed. Knowing last week’s weather conditions will not help when trying to decide what coat to wear today. Verifiable Information should be verifiable. This means that you can check it to make sure it is correct, perhaps by checking many sources for the same information. 3. An information system is a set of interrelated elements or components that collect (input), manipulate and store (process), and disseminate (output) data and information and provide a feedback mechanism to meet an objective. In information systems, feedback is information from the system that is used to make changes to input or processing activities. 4. The components of computer-based information system (CBIS) include hardware, software, databases, networks, people, and procedures. 5. A business’s technology infrastructure includes all the hardware, software, databases, telecommunications, people, and procedures that are configured to collect, manipulate, store, and process data into information. The technology infrastructure is a set of shared IS resources that form the foundation of each computer-based information system. 6. The three types of information systems are as follows: Type Description Personal IS An information system that improves the productivity of individual users in performing stand-alone tasks. Group IS An information system that improves communications and support collaboration among members of a workgroup. Enterprise IS An information system that an organization uses to define structured interactions among its own employees and/or with external customers, suppliers, government agencies, and other business partners. 7. The organizational complements include: • Well-trained workers. Employees must be well trained and understand the need for the new system, what their role is in using or operating the system, and how to get the results they need from the system. • System support. Trained and experienced users who can show others how to gain value from the system and overcome start-up problems. • Better teamwork. Employees must understand and be motivated to work together to achieve the anticipated benefits of the system. • Redesigned processes. New systems often require radical redesign of existing work processes as well as the automation of new processes. • New decision rights. Employees must understand and accept their new roles and responsibilities including who is responsible for making what decisions. Roles and responsibilities often change with introduction of a new system. 8. A value chain is a series (chain) of events that includes inbound logistics, warehouse and storage, production, finished product storage, outbound logistics, marketing and sales, and customer service. A supply chain is a network of suppliers, distributors, and retailers that participate in the production of a product.