Solutions – Chapter 1
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
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
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 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.
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
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
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 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.
