Short Questions:

Chapter 1.1, 1.2 (Topic: Foundations of Information System)

1. What are the benefits of Cloud Computing and mobile digital platform for
organizations? (p-39)

Ans: The strength of cloud computing and the growth of the mobile digital platform
allow organizations to 1. Rely more on telework, 2. Remote work, 3. Distribute decision
making. 4. Outsource more work, 5. Rely on markets (rather than employees) to build
value. 6. Collaborate with suppliers and customers to create new products, or make
existing products more efficiently.

2. What is the business impact of co-creation of business value? (p-40)

Ans: The business impact of co-creation of business value are, 1. Sources of business
value shift from products to solutions and experiences, 2. from internal sources to
networks of suppliers and collaboration with customers. 3.Supply chains and product
development become more global and collaborative; 4. customer interactions help
firms define new products and services.

3.What does globalization have to do with MIS? (p-43)

Ans: Everything. The emergence of the Internet, into a full-blown international

communications system has drastically reduced the costs of operating and transacting
on a global scale. Firms producing goods and services on a global scale, achieve
extraordinary cost reductions by finding low-cost suppliers and managing production
facilities in other countries.

4.What are the functions of different levels of an organization? (p-51)

Ans: 1. Senior management makes long-range strategic decisions about products and
services, as well as ensures financial performance of the firm. 2. Middle management
carries out the programs and plans of senior management, and 3. Operational
management is responsible for monitoring the daily activities of the business.

Knowledge workers, such as engineers, scientists, or architects, design products or

services and create new knowledge for the firm, whereas data workers, such as
secretaries or clerks, assist with scheduling and communications at all levels of the firm.
Production or service workers actually produce the product and deliver the service

5.Define the followings: Digital firm, Business processes, Key Corporate Assets, Space
Shifting, Time Shifting (p-44), Internet (53)

Ans: Digital firm: A digital firm is one in which nearly all of the organization’s significant
business relationships with customers, suppliers, and employees are digitally enabled
and mediated
Business processes: Business processes refer to the set of logically related tasks and
behaviors that organizations develop over time to produce specific business results and
the unique manner in which these activities are organized and coordinated.

Key corporate assets— Key corporate assets -- intellectual property, core competencies,
and financial and human assets—are managed through digital means. In a digital firm,
any piece of information required to support key business decisions is available at
anytime and anywhere in the firm.
 Space shifting means that work takes place in a global workshop, as well as within
national boundaries. Work is accomplished physically wherever in the world it is best
accomplished.

Time shifting refers to business being conducted continuously, 24/7, rather than
in narrow “work day” time bands of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Internet. The Internet is a global “network of networks” that uses universal standards to
connect millions of different networks with nearly 3 billion users in over 230 countries
around the world.

6.What is an Information System? List the functions of an Information System. (p-48,49)

Ans: An information system can be defined technically as a set of interrelated

components that collect (or retrieve), process, store, and distribute information to
support decision making and control in an organization. Information systems may also
help managers and workers analyze problems, visualize complex subjects, and create
new products.

Information system has 3 functions: 1. Input, 2. Processing, 3. Output

Input: captures or collects raw data from within the organization or from its external
environment.

Processing: converts this raw input into a meaningful form.

Output transfers the processed information to the people who will use it or to the
activities for which it will be used.

7.What is Information Technology? Briefly describe each Information technology. (p-53)

Ans: Information technology is one of many tool managers use to cope with change.
Computer hardware is the physical equipment used for input, processing, and output
activities in an information system.
Computer software consists of the detailed, preprogrammed instructions that control
and coordinate the computer hardware components in an information system.
Data management technology consists of the software governing the organization of
data on physical storage media.

Networking and telecommunications technology, consisting of both physical devices

and software, links the various pieces of hardware and transfers data from one physical
location to another.

A network links two or more computers to share data or resources, such as a printer.

8.Define complementary assets. Why is it important? (59)

Ans: Complementary assets are those assets, required to derive value from a primary
investment. For instance, to realize value from automobiles requires substantial
complementary investments in highways, roads, gasoline stations, repair facilities, and
legal regulatory structure to set standards and control drivers.

9.Draw the diagram of Retail Link system between Wal-Mart and P&G. Briefly discuss the
benefits.
Ans: (Check out the diagram file sir posted on classroom)

10.Discuss the 6 strategic business objectives firms are trying to achieve by investing
heavily in Information System
  Ans: 1. Operational Excellence: Improvement of efficiency to attain higher
profitability

 2. New products, service, Business models: Information systems and technology

a major enabling tool for new products, services, business models

 3.Suppliers Customer Intimacy: Intimacy with suppliers allows them to provide

vital inputs, which lowers costs

 4. Improve decision making: Managers must use forecasts, best guesses, luck
Leads to: Overproduction, underproduction of goods and services, Misallocation
of resources, Poor response time

 5. Competitive advantage: Delivering better performance, charging less for

superior products, Responding to customers and suppliers in real time

 6. Survival: Information technologies as necessity of business. Industry-level

changes, e.g., Citibank’s introduction of ATMs.

#Assignment 2. Case Rugby Football Union tries Big Data (Chapter 1, on page 35)

1. Why did RFU enter into a 5 years deal with IBM?

Ans: The RFU entered into a five-year deal with IBM to capture and analyze Big Data.

2. What is Try-Tracker?

Ans: The RFU entered into a five-year deal with IBM to capture and analyze Big Data that
will be useful to both fans, and later—it is hoped—the players themselves. The system is
called Try-Tracker.

3. What do Try-tracker track?

Ans: Try-tracker track tries and also use to analyze three categories of data: 1. keys to
the game, 2. momentum, and 3. key players.

4. What is the goal of Try-tracker?

Ans: The goal of Try-Tracker is to provide data visualization and real-time statistics to
draw
in fans.

5. How are the keys to the game determined?

Ans: The keys to the game are determined ahead of a specific contest by analyzing a
historical database of past matchups between a pair.

6. RFU entered into a 5 years deal with IBM. The ultimate objective is to enhance
communication so that the Rugby game can attract more fans. How will this turn
casual fans into dedicated ones?
Ans: The RFU hopes that enhanced communication will increase fan engagement. As
their understanding of game mechanics and emotional investment in what their team
needs to do in order to prevail grows, casual fans will become dedicated fans who
return again and again.