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ISTM 210 Questions with Detailed
Verified Answers
why is decision making getting harder Ans: more data, more
competition (globalization, ecommerce), more regulation
(Sarbanes oxley), less time (expectations are shorter timeframes
and communication is instantaneous)
what are the steps of the decision making prpcess Ans: problem,
alternatives, decision/choice, outcome
how can decisions be categorized Ans: by the level of structure or
the amount of uncertainty
What are the three types of decisions in the structure continuum
Ans: structured, semi-structured, unstructured
structured Ans: a decision that can be automated because a
well-defined standard operating procedure exists. A programmed
task. (ex: Low inventory problem, barcodes are scanned so
inventory is updated continuously and when inventory is low you
order more)
Semi-structured Ans: a decision that is not as well-defined by
standard operating procedures but still includes some structured
aspects (ex: Sales forecasting)
unstructured Ans: a unique, one time, decision with no standard
operating procedures (ex: Hiring and firing employees, not
common, example is marriage, less computers and more you)
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what are the decision types of the certainty continuum Ans: total
certainty, risk, total uncertainty
total certainty Ans: A decision where the outcome can be
predicted with 100 percent certainty. If a then b, every time.
risk Ans: A decision where the outcome cannot be predicted with
certainty but a probability can still be applied (coin toss). Human
spend most of their lives here.
Total uncertainty Ans: A decision where the outcome cannot be
predicted at all, 0 percent certainty
decision making hierarchy Ans: 1. Strategic (problems that are
once in a lifetime, executive class, broad detail, high complexity)
2. Tactical (semi-structured problems, regional manager)
3. Operational (structured problems, retail manager, very specific,
low complexity)
How do information systems improve decision making? Ans: More
alternatives considered, faster decisions, more reliable decisions
Data analytics Ans: the process of examining raw data to draw
conclusions about that information. It involves techniques to
extract, clean, transform, and analyze data to discover trends,
patterns, and actionable insights for business decisions. Every
discipline has data analytics
ISTM 210 Questions with Detailed
Verified Answers
why is decision making getting harder Ans: more data, more
competition (globalization, ecommerce), more regulation
(Sarbanes oxley), less time (expectations are shorter timeframes
and communication is instantaneous)
what are the steps of the decision making prpcess Ans: problem,
alternatives, decision/choice, outcome
how can decisions be categorized Ans: by the level of structure or
the amount of uncertainty
What are the three types of decisions in the structure continuum
Ans: structured, semi-structured, unstructured
structured Ans: a decision that can be automated because a
well-defined standard operating procedure exists. A programmed
task. (ex: Low inventory problem, barcodes are scanned so
inventory is updated continuously and when inventory is low you
order more)
Semi-structured Ans: a decision that is not as well-defined by
standard operating procedures but still includes some structured
aspects (ex: Sales forecasting)
unstructured Ans: a unique, one time, decision with no standard
operating procedures (ex: Hiring and firing employees, not
common, example is marriage, less computers and more you)
, Page | 2
what are the decision types of the certainty continuum Ans: total
certainty, risk, total uncertainty
total certainty Ans: A decision where the outcome can be
predicted with 100 percent certainty. If a then b, every time.
risk Ans: A decision where the outcome cannot be predicted with
certainty but a probability can still be applied (coin toss). Human
spend most of their lives here.
Total uncertainty Ans: A decision where the outcome cannot be
predicted at all, 0 percent certainty
decision making hierarchy Ans: 1. Strategic (problems that are
once in a lifetime, executive class, broad detail, high complexity)
2. Tactical (semi-structured problems, regional manager)
3. Operational (structured problems, retail manager, very specific,
low complexity)
How do information systems improve decision making? Ans: More
alternatives considered, faster decisions, more reliable decisions
Data analytics Ans: the process of examining raw data to draw
conclusions about that information. It involves techniques to
extract, clean, transform, and analyze data to discover trends,
patterns, and actionable insights for business decisions. Every
discipline has data analytics
