6204 Sample Midterm
Chapters 1, 2, 3, 12, 14, 4, 5
1. Information systems and technologies have become a vital component of successful businesses and
organizations. Thus, it is important to study information systems and information technology just like any
other major business function.
A) True
B)
False
2. The information systems framework outlined in Chapter 1 of this text indicates five major areas of
information systems knowledge. The foundation concepts outlines what end users need to know about
hardware, software, telecommunications, and data management issues.
A) True
B)
False
3. Your textbook states that anyone who uses an information system or the information it produces can be
called an end user. This definition usually applies to most people in an organization.
A) True
B)
False
4. The success of an information system should not be measured only by its efficiency in terms of minimizing
costs, time, and the use of information resources. Success should also be measured by the effectiveness of
the information technology in supporting an organization's business strategies, enabling its business
processes, enhancing its organizational structures and culture, and increasing the business value of the
enterprise in a dynamic business environment.
A) True
B)
False
5. Network computing or the network-centric concept views networks as the central computing resource of
any computing environment, and it appears to be the architecture destined to take computing into the next
century.
A) True
B)
False
6. According to your text, a system has three basic interaction components or functions. The input component
involve capturing and assembling elements that enter the system to be processed.
A) True
B)
False
7. A system exists and functions in an environment containing other systems. In this environment, a business
firm can be depicted as an open, adaptive organizational system operating in a business environment.
A) True
B)
False
8. In the context of the information systems model, computer systems typically consist of central processing
units and a variety of interconnected peripheral devices.
A) True
B)
False
9. In the context of information systems, data are considered objective measurements of the attributes (the
characteristics) of entities (such as people, places, things, and events).
A) True
B)
False
10. Enterprise collaboration systems are information systems that use a variety of information technologies to
help people work together. Enterprise collaboration systems help us to communicate ideas, share resources,
and coordinate our cooperative work efforts.
A) True
B)
False
11. Your text defines a systematic problem solving process known as the systems approach. This systems
approach is useful for solving business problems, but does not lend itself easily to exploiting business
opportunities.
A) True
B)
False
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12. Developments such as prototyping, CASE, and end user development are automating and changing some of
the activities of the traditional way of doing information systems development.
A) True
B)
False
13. When developing or improving an information system, it is important to study the system that will be
improved or replaced. You should analyse how this system uses hardware, software, network, and people
resources to convert data resources.
A) True
B)
False
14. When using the systems approach to problem solving, design specifications typically describe the detailed
characteristics and capabilities needed for the new system. This includes the:
A) People, hardware and software.
B) Data resources.
C) Information activities.
D) All of the above.
15. Once a new system has been designed, it must be implemented. Types of implementation can involve a
conversion process from the use of the present system to the operation of a new or improved application.
_________________ conversion involves operating both new and old systems for a trial period.
16. According to your text, a firm can survive and succeed in the long run if it successfully develops strategies
to confront five competitive forces that shape the structure of competition in its industry. These forces
include: rivalry of competitors, bargaining power of customers, bargaining power of suppliers, threat of
substitute products/services, and threat of new entrants.
A) True
B)
False
17. Information systems allow a firm to develop a strategic information base that can provide information to
support the firm's competitive strategies. A firm can leverage its investment in information technology by
linking its databases to its strategic planning and marketing systems.
A) True
B)
False
18. Business process reengineering (BRP) combines a strategy of promoting business innovation with a
strategy of making major improvements to business operations so that a company can become a much
stronger and more successful competitor in the marketplace.
A) True
B)
False
19. Your text discusses the concept of a knowledge-creating company. Successful knowledge management
creates techniques, technologies, and rewards for getting employees to share what they know and to make
better use of accumulated workplace knowledge.
A) True
B)
False
20. When using telecommunications technologies to communicate with businesses anywhere in the world, a
businesses is using it to break:
A) Time barriers.
B) Geographic barriers.
C) Cost barriers.
D) Structural barriers.
21. Planning is deciding what to do before you do it. Your text discusses six processes involved in
organizational planning. An objective is one of the terms used in the organizational planning process.
Objectives are not as specific, or as measurable as goals.
A) True
B)
False
22. Information systems planning is an important component of organizational planning. Your text discusses
four main objectives of strategic information systems planning. Resource management refers to developing
plans for the efficient and effective management of a company's information system resources, including IS
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personnel, hardware, software, data, and network resources.
A) True
B)
False
23. Operational information systems planning involves detailed planning for the accomplishment of new
information systems development projects, including the preparation of operating budgets.
A) True
B)
False
24. Planning is discussed, typically, in terms of the level of planning (strategic, tactical, and operational) and
the planning time frame. Operational planning deals with
A) The development of an organization's missions, goals, strategies, and policies.
B) The design of tactics and the development of procedures, rules, schedules, and budgets.
C) Planning on a day-to-day basis to implement and control operations.
D) The setting of objectives.
25. Planning is deciding what to do before you do it. Your text discusses six processes involved in
organizational planning. _____________________ planning deals with the development of an
organization's mission, goals, strategies, and policies.
26. Your text discusses the major changes and trends which have occurred during the major stages - or
generations of computers. The third generation of computers transformed during the 1970s, and featured
the use of integrated semiconductor circuits which were etched on tiny chips of silicon.
A) True
B)
False
27. When discussing the various categories of computers, midrange computer systems generally cost more to
buy, operate, and maintain than mainframe computers as they cannot function in ordinary operating
environments.
A) True
B)
False
28. The central processing unit (CPU) is the most important hardware component of a computer system. The
CPU can be subdivided into two major subunits: the arithmetic-logic unit and the control unit.
A) True
B)
False
29. A touchpad is a type of input device which is a small rectangular touch-sensitive surface usually placed on
the keyboard. The cursor moves in the direction your finger moves on the pad.
A) True
B)
False
30. There are two basic types of semiconductor memory: random access memory (RAM) and read only
memory (ROM). ROM memory chips are nonvolatile chips which are used for permanent storage. ROM
can be read but not erased or overwritten.
A) True
B)
False
31. Your text gives a conceptual overview of computer software and illustrates them as either application or
system software. Systems software consists of computer programs which control and support the resources
and operations of a computer system as it performs various information processing tasks.
A) True
B)
False
32. One of the greatest disadvantages of the Microsoft Word processing package is that it does not have the
capability to convert documents to HTML format for publication as web pages on corporate intranets or the
World Wide Web.
A) True
B)
False
33. Presentations graphics packages help end users convert numeric data into graphics displays such as line
charts, bar charts, pie charts, and many other types of graphics.
A) True
B)
False
34. Examples of system management software programs which perform routine support functions for the users
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of a computer system are utility programs, performance monitors, and security monitors.
A) True
B)
False
35. In programming packages, a compiler is used to translate high-level language statements into machine
language instructions.
A) True
B)
False
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Answer Key -- 2001 Spr Sample Midterm
1. A
Page: 6
2. B
Page: 8
3. A
Page: 10
4. A
Page: 10
5. A
Page: 20
6. A
Page: 40
7. A
Page: 42
8. A
Page: 45
9. A
Page: 46
10. A
Page: 57
11. B
Page: 80
12. A
Page: 92
13. A
Page: 96
14. D
Page: 85
15. Phase
Page: 104
16. A
Page: 510
17. A
Page: 517
18. A
Page: 525
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19. A
Page: 538
20. B
Page: 518
21. B
Page: 619
22. A
Page: 620
23. A
Page: 622
24. C
Page: 619
25. Strategic
Page: 619
26. A
Page: 130
27. B
Page: 136
28. A
Page: 142
29. A
Page: 148
30. A
Page: 159
31. A
Page: 179
32. B
Page: 184
33. A
Page: 187
34. A
Page: 199
35. A
Page: 205
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