Matthew Moss
BUS381
Ch 12 HW
1. (6 points) Describe the different levels of decision-making and decision-making constituencies in
organizations. Explain how their decision-making requirements differ.
The different levels of decision making and constituencies in organizations are
Unstructured, Semi structured, and Structured. Unstructured decisions usually take place
in Senior Management where decisions consist of providing judgment, evaluation and
insight to solve the problem. Semi structured decisions take place in Middle Management
where only parts of a problem are solved. Structured decisions take place within
Operational Management which provide a definite procedure when making decisions.
Each of these levels differ from each other; Senior Management face many unstructured
decision situations such as 5 or 10 year goals or deciding for the long term. Middle
Management face more structured decision situations but may face some unstructured
decisions as well. Operational Management make more structured decisions than middle
or senior management and their decisions deal with the short term such as when a
supervisor has to decide which employee gets overtime.
2. (6 points) Describe business intelligence and business analytics. Describe the elements of a business
intelligence environment.
Business Intelligence and Business Analytics is the infrastructure for warehousing, integrating, reporting,
and analyzing data that comes from the business environment.
Data from the business environment is the data from mobile device and from the internet that are collected
and used for human decision makers.
Business intelligence infrastructure is the foundation of a business which captures all the relevant data to
operate the business.
Business analytics toolset is the set of software which is used to analyze data and produce reports, respond
to questions posed by managers and trackprogress of the business.
Managerial users and methods are the managers which are trained to formulate and use
analyzed data to make decisions.
3. (6 points) As a manager or user of information systems, what would you need to know to participate in the
design and use of a DSS or an ESS? Why?
You would have to have experience with DSS/ESS software. And have the knowledge and know how of
setting up databases that will be used SQL, Oracle, etc.
Matthew Moss
BUS381
Ch 12 HW
4. (14 points) This problem help develop your skills in using Web-based DSS for financial planning.
The Web sites for CNN Money (money.cnn.com) and MSN Money Magazine (money.msn.com) feature
Web-based DSS for financial planning and decision making. Select both sites to plan for retirement and
determine how much you need to save to have enough income for your retirement. Assume that you are 50
years old and plan to retire in 16 years. You have one dependant and $100,000 in savings. Your current
annual income is $85,000. Your goal is to be able to generate an annual retirement income of $60,000,
including Social Security benefit payments. To calculate your estimated social security benefit, use the
Quick Calculator at the Social Security Administration Web site (www.ssa.gov/planners/calculators.htm).
Summarize your calculation. And then critique both Web sites – its ease of use, its clarity, the value of any
conclusions reached, and the extent to which the site helps investors understand their financial needs and
the financial markets.
Unfortunately both web sites were incredibly poor and offered no links or help via the search engines.
Matthew Moss
BUS381
Ch 12 HW
5. (8 points) Problem solving skill: Mind Reader Game
This exercise help develop your critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. Please open the attached
Excel file, play the mind-reader game. How can your computer read your mind? Find out and report the
secret.
It sets each number with a symbol and the "crystal ball" symbol will always match the numbers even
though the symbols may change. An easy way to would be to look at #9 on the list and that will be the
number in the crystal ball.
Upload your work (one Word file) by the midnight of the due date.