Georgia State University, Perimeter College

MIS 4

Chapter 12: Management Support Systems

TRUE/FALSE

1)Information technologies are a major support tool for making structured decisions.

2. Unstructured decisions are often used in sales forecasting.

3. Semistructured and unstructured decisions are challenging because they involve multiple criteria, and often users have to choose between conflicting objectives.

4. In the design phase, a decision maker examines the organization’s environment for conditions that need decisions.

5. Each type of management support system is designed with its own goals and objectives.

6. Criteria are goals and objectives that decision makers establish in order to achieve certain performance.

7. Information technology provides a high level of support for the design phase of decision making.

8. Generally, information technologies are more useful in the design phase than in the intelligence and choice phases.

9. A DSS can do a follow-up assessment on how well a solution is performing.

10. A DSS should incorporate the human element as well as hardware and software.

11. A DSS should use both internal and external data.

12. A DSS typically provides support for only the managerial and higher organizational levels.

13. A database management system (DBMS) is used for creating, modifying, and maintaining the database.

14. A model base management system (MBMS) performs tasks similar to a DBMS in accessing, maintaining, and updating models in the model base.

15. DSS uses the what-if analysis feature to support decision making.

16. A managerial designer defines issues that involve the technological aspects of the system.

17. A model builder is the liaison between users and designers.

18. The costs and benefits of decision support systems can be difficult to assess because these systems are focused on effectiveness rather than efficiency.

19. The benefit of improving communication and interactions between management and employees is easy to quantify using a DSS.

20. EIS designers should focus on simplicity when developing a user interface.

21. An EIS includes statistical analysis techniques for summarizing and structuring data.

22. The administrative and builder modules cannot be combined into a single module.

23. Exception or variance reporting is a useful technique that managers use to flag data that is unusual or out of normal boundaries.

24. Related technologies for group support, such as electronic meeting systems and computer-mediated communication, are considered full-function GSSs because they contain decision-making tools.

25. The most notable disadvantage of a Web-based GSS is its inability to use open network standards.

26. Real-time computer conferencing includes an audio link and video capability.

27. The main drawback of video teleconferencing is that participants can not share text and graphics.

28. The costs of GSS implementation are low because the system includes fewer features.

29. A GIS can integrate maps and database data with queries.

30. When benefits are intangible, the design team should associate the benefit with a measurable factor, such as increased sales.

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1.            decisions, or programmable tasks, can be automated because a well-defined standard operating procedure exists for these types of decisions.
   1. Structured                                                                c.     Unstructured
   2. Semistructured                                                       d. Automated

2. Record keeping, payroll, and simple inventory problems are examples of        tasks.
   1. structured                                                                 c.     unstructured
   2. semistructured                                                       d. automated

3.            decisions include a structured aspect that benefits from information retrieval, analytical models, and information systems technology.
   1. Ad hoc                                                                        c.     Unstructured
   2. Semistructured                                                       d. Automated

4. Sales forecasting is an example of a(n)           task.
   1. structured                                                                 c.     unstructured
   2. semistructured                                                       d. automated

5.            decisions are typically one-time decisions, with no standard operating procedure pertaining to them.
   1. Structured                                                                c.     Unstructured
   2. Semistructured                                                       d. Automated

6. Research and development is an example of a(n)        task.
   1. structured                                                                 c.     unstructured
   2. semistructured                                                       d. automated

7. A merger is a type of            decision at the strategic management level.

8. Resolving conflicts between two divisions is a type of           decision at the tactical management level.
   1. automated                                                               c.     unstructured
   2. semistructured                                                       d. structured

9. Plant location is a type of            decision at the strategic management level.
   1. automated                                                               c.     unstructured
   2. semistructured                                                       d. structured

10. During the            phase of the decision-making process, a decision maker examines the organization’s environment for conditions that need decisions.
    1. intelligence                                                               c.     choice
    2. design                                                                         d. implementation

11. During the            phase of the decision-making process, the decision maker defines associations between alternatives and criteria.
    1. intelligence                                                               c.     choice
    2. design                                                                         d. implementation

12. The            phase of the decision-making process starts with analyzing each alternative and its relationship to the criteria to determine whether it is feasible.
    1. intelligence                                                               c.     choice
    2. design                                                                         d. implementation

13. In the            phase of the decision-making process, the organization devises a plan for carrying out the alternative selected in the previous phase and obtains the resources to execute the plan.
    1. intelligence                                                               c.     choice
    2. design                                                                         d. implementation

14. The            component of a DSS manages and coordinates the other major components.
    1. database                                                                   c.     model base
    2. DSS engine                                                               d. user interface

15. The            component includes mathematical and statistical models that, along with the database, enable a DSS to analyze information.
    1. user interface                                                          c.     model base
    2. DSS engine                                                               d. modeling and simulation

16. The            is responsible for specifying data requirements, what models are needed, how these models might be used, and how users want to view the results.
    1. managerial designer                                             c.     model builder
    2. technical designer                                                 d. database builder

17. The            focuses on how the DSS is implemented and usually addresses questions about data storage, file structure, user access, response time, and security measures.
    1. managerial designer                                             c.     model builder
    2. technical designer                                                 d. database builder

18. The            acts as a liaison between users and designers.
    1. managerial designer                                             c.     model builder
    2. technical designer                                                 d. database builder

19. An executive information system (EIS) is a branch of          .
    1. DSS                                                                              c.     GIS
    2. GSS                                                                              d. CRM

20. The            module component of the EIS is responsible for managing data access.
    1. administrative                                                         c.     tracking
    2. builder                                                                        d.   runtime

21. The            module component of the EIS is used by developers to configure data mapping and screen sequencing.
    1. administrative                                                         c.     tracking
    2. builder                                                                        d.   runtime

22. The            module component of the EIS is responsible for using the system.
    1. administrative                                                         c.     tracking
    2. builder                                                                        d.   runtime

23. Which of the following tasks is performed by managers for which an EIS is useful?
    1. Communicating via videoconferencing         c.     Tracking inventory
    2. Working in groups                                                 d.   Spotting trends

24. The intervention aspect of a(n)          reduce communication barriers and introduce order and efficiency into situations that are inherently unsystematic and inefficient.
    1. EIS                                                                                c.     GSS
    2. DSS                                                                              d. GIS

25.            conferencing includes an audio link but no video capability.
    1. Real-time computer                                             c.     Analog
    2. Multicast                                                                   d. Desktop

26. Which of the following geographic objects of a GIS is most likely used to show the location of an airport?
    1. Points                                                                         c.     Areas
    2. Lines                                                                            d. Regions

27. Which of the following geographic objects of a GIS is most likely used to show the location of a river?
    1. Points                                                                         c.     Areas
    2. Lines                                                                            d. Regions

28. Which of the following geographic objects of a GIS is most likely used to show a large tourist attraction?
    1. Points                                                                         c.     Areas
    2. Lines                                                                            d. Regions

29. Tracking changes in ridership on mass-transit systems is an example of a(n)        GIS application.
    1. transportation and logistics                               c.     education planning
    2. government                                                             d. urban planning

30. Dispatching personnel and equipment to crime and fire locations is an example of a(n)       GIS application.
    1. transportation and logistics                               c.     government
    2. urban planning                                                        d. insurance

COMPLETION

1.                                                   decisions, or programmable tasks, can be automated because a well-defined standard operating procedure exists for these types of decisions.

2.                                                   decisions include a structured aspect that benefits from information retrieval, analytical models, and information systems technology.

3.                                                   decisions are typically one-time decisions, with no standard operating procedure pertaining to them.

4.                                                     are the different types of information systems developed to support certain aspects and types of decisions.

5. In the                                                   phase of the decision making process, a decision maker examines the organization’s environment for conditions that need decisions.

6. In the                                                   phase of the decision making process, the objective is to define criteria for the decision, generate alternatives for meeting the criteria, and define associations between the criteria and the alternatives.

7. The                                                   phase of the decision making process starts with analyzing each alternative and its relationship to the criteria to determine whether it is feasible.

8. During the                                                   phase of the decision making process, ideas are converted into actions.

9. The                                                   component of a DSS includes mathematical and statistical models that, along with the database, enable a DSS to analyze information.

10. The                                                   focuses on how the DSS is implemented, and usually addresses questions about data storage, file structure, user access, response time, and security measures.

11. A(n)                                                    is the liaison between users and designers.

12. A(n)                                                    integrates information from multiple sources and presents it in a unified, understandable format, which often includes charts and graphs.

13.                                                   assists groups in communicating, collaborating, and coordinating their activities.

14.                                                   is a type of electronic meeting system that combines the advantages of video teleconferencing and real-time computer conferencing.

15. A(n)                                                    captures, stores, processes, and displays geographic information or information in a geographic context.

SHORT ANSWER

1. Provide examples of when semistructured decisions might be used.

2. What is a management support system?

3. Provide an example of the type of activities that take place during the intelligence phase of decision-making.

4. Briefly describe the choice phase of the decision-making process.

5. What are the requirements of a DSS?

6. Describe the user interface component of a DSS.

7. List the roles involved in designing, implementing, and using a DSS.

8. What is the role of the model builder?

9. List four benefits of a DSS.

10. What is the function of a digital dashboard?

11. Describe any one reason for using an EIS.

12. What tasks does a manager perform using an EIS?

13. List one advantage and one disadvantage of Web-based GSS.