Exam Review for MBUS626
Fall 2015 Dr. Chen
Chapters: chapters Introduction, 1, 2,3 and 4.
Case studies: All cases up to mid-term exam.
PART I. Multiple-Choice Questions (40 -70 points)
1. 25 Multiple Choice Questions (from Main text)
2. 10 Multiple Choice Questions (Based on IT Seminar)
PART II. Essays (80-110 points)
3-4 Essays: from chapters 1 thru 4, lectures and case studies
1. SDLC (What and Why?)
2. Virtual organization: definitions, characteristics and others
3. IS Triangle Strategy
4. Business and Revenue Models, Porter’s Model, and D-Aveni’s disruption model
5. Three essentials for a successful enterprise
6. Value-Chain and Value Systems
7. Organizational Design: its challenge and role of IT
8. Extra lecture(s) (e.g., Strategic IT Resources, Four Action Framework – Blue Ocean Strategy)
with a business example using one of the models listed above
9. Strategic Advantage and Potential Risks of using IS/IT
10. What is the “Free Advantage” (also known “The Future of a Radical Price”) and how is it
related to Network Effect? (“PlentyofFish” case)
11. What is integrated supply chain? And why businesses need it?
12. Analyze a mini case using one of the model/strategy learned from the class
13. Review all cases
In general, you should study and prepare for accomplishing the following tasks:
A.
Identify issues of business strategy, organizational design, and information technology
strategy present in the case.
B.
Identify appropriate framework/model to assess the case.
C.
Identify issues related to fundamental elements of IS/IT projects.
D.
Estimate the risk/complexity level of an IS/IT project.
Evaluate effectiveness of techniques and tools used by the subject company.
Potential Risks
There are many potential risks that a firm faces when attempting to use IT to outpace their competition.
1. Awakening a sleeping giant – a large competitor with deeper pockets may be nudged into
implementing IS with even better features
2. Demonstrating bad timing – sometimes customers are not ready to use the technology designed to
gain strategic advantage
3. Implementing IS poorly – information systems that fail because they are poorly implemented
4. Failing to deliver what users want – systems that don’t meet the firm’s target market likely to fail
5. Web-based alternative removes advantages – consider risk of losing any advantage obtained by
an information resource that later becomes available as a service on the web
6. Running afoul of the law – Using IS strategically may promote litigation