Type:
Solution Manual
Introduction to Information Resource: Systems Enabling and Transforming Business Edition:
3rd Edition
Author(s):
R. Kelly Rainer Casey G. Cegielski
Page 1
CHAPTER 1: The Modern Organization Functioning in a Global Environment Chapter Overview 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4
1.5 1.6
Business Processes and Business Process Management Information Systems: Concepts and Definitions The Global Web-Based Platform Business Pressures, Organizational Responses, and It Support Why are Information Systems Important to Me? The Plan of the Book
Teaching Tips and Strategies It is necessary for students to learn the basic terms that define the foundation of Management Information Systems but students will often find this task boring or uneventful. Students often fail to see the importance of Management Information Systems (MIS) and how it relates to them. In order to involve students in the class, it is vital to let them know what is in it for them. This should be done early to engage the students from the beginning. You may want to find out each student’s major course of study and show them how MIS knowledge can enhance their major and their chosen careers. Knowing each student’s major and career goals will help you tailor examples, classroom assignments and discussion to the interests of the students. Point out the end of the chapter “What’s In It For Me” section so that students know there are links to each major for each chapter. Explaining how MIS has affected businesses as well as workers alike helps to get students interested in this class. It helps students to understand the importance when they are told stories of how computers have evolved and how MIS and DSS applications have made management decision making easier and more reliable. The importance of computer technology is underscored by examples of how companies save money by using email as another option to the postal service. Students should be introduced to the concept that IT must be paired with business processes to harness IT’s potential. IT is important to business leaders all over the world. There are salary statistics for all majors (you can get this information from USA Today’s website www.usatoday.com). Salary information gets student’s attention, especially if they realize that if they are more technology savvy they will tend to make more money. This really seems to get their interest.
Review Questions
Page 2 Section 1.1 – Before you go on… 1. What is a business process? A business process is a collection of related activities that produce a product or a service of value to the organization, its business partners, and/or its customers. A process has inputs and outputs, and its activities can be measured. 2. What is business process management, and why is BPM so important to organizations? Organizations use business process management (BPM) to support the design, analysis, implementation, management, and optimization of their business processes. Short term, BPM can help companies improve profitability by decreasing costs, improve customer satisfaction and increasing revenues. Long time, BPM can create a competitive advantage by improving organizational flexibility. Section 1.3 - Before you go on…
1. What are the characteristics of the modern business environment? The environment is global, massively interconnected, intensely competitive, 24/7/365, real-time, rapidly changing, and information-intensive. 2. Describe the Web-based, global platform. This platform spans the world and is best represented by the Internet and the functionality of the World Wide Web. It enables individuals to connect, compute, communicate, collaborate, and compete everywhere, anytime and to access limitless information, services and entertainment. It allows for the exchange of knowledge, and production and sale of goods and services without concern for geography, time, distance or language barriers. 3. Describe the global, Web-based platform used by modern organizations. The global, Web-based platform that most organizations use spans the world and is based on the Internet and the World Wide Web. By connecting to the internet, any user can use this platform. The platform enables individuals to connect, compute, communicate, collaborate, and compete from everywhere and anywhere, anytime and all the time; to access limitless amounts of information, services, and entertainment; to exchange knowledge; and to produce and sell goods and services. It operates without regard to geography, time, distance, and even language barriers.
Page 3 Section 1.4 – Before you go on… 1. Describe some of the pressures that characterize the modern global business environment. Pressures are generated by the • global economy and strong competition facilitated by the global, Webbased platform • the changing nature of the workforce which is becoming more diversified, and able to work from home • powerful customers whose expectations increase as the become more knowledgeable about products and services • technology innovations, and in some cases, overload • societal issues 2. What are some of the organizational responses to these pressures? Are any of the responses specific to a particular pressure? If so, which ones? Some responses are: • Strategic systems • Customer focus • Make to order and Mass customization • E-business Yes, some of the responses are related to specific pressures. Strategic systems are directly related to global economy and strong competition and the changing nature of the workforce. Customer focus and make to order/mass customization are specific to pressure from powerful customers. Section 1.5 – Before you go on… 1. What are the major reasons why it is important for employees in all functional areas to become familiar with IT? Information systems are important for several reasons, regardless of the employee’s functional area of responsibility. (1) IT facilitates the organizational activities and processes of today’s businesses. (2) Most jobs students will go to after graduating will require some knowledge of information technology. (3) Employees’ that are able to use information technology will be able to give themselves an important advantage over their peers in the workplace. (4) Students will find that information systems will make their job easier and more efficient. 2. Why is it important to become knowledgeable about IT if you are not working as an IT employee?
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Information technology is vital for every functional area of an organization, and IT systems are integral to every functional area. Knowledge of information systems will make students more effective, productive, and valuable to the organization.
“IT’s About Business” Questions 1.1 – Zero-Footprint Information Technology at State Street 1. Discuss the relationship between State Street’s zero-footprint IT model and the global, Web-based platform. For a very low cost, individuals can now connect to the Internet and be in contact when previously they were unable to because there were no land lines. Once connected, they have accesses to State Street’s resources all over the world. This allows the company to not have to distribute its IT resources all over, but rather have data centers in a few locations. State Street’s IT model is built on the global web based platform. 2. What are potential disadvantages of State Street’s zero-footprint IT model?
The company is usually able to deploy resources and have an office or operation running within a few weeks. The firm is able to reduce IT infrastructure requirements by leveraging applications and support servers operating in its secure data centers. State Street has to focus only on the relocation of business staff, because there are no systems or data that need to be relocated. This approach also saves them money in less energy usage for cooling and IT equipment. On the downside, networks become critical and downtime and the potential for loss of service is greater in the zero footprint IT model. 1.2 – The Internet Facilitates Linkages between Borrowers and Lenders 1. Discuss how the Internet facilitates the linkage between borrowers and donors at Kiva and DonorsChoose. Kiva’s system provides a way to link First World lenders with developing-world entrepreneurs. In Kiva’s system, users pledge interest-free loans rather than taxdeductible donations. The systems lists potential lenders who submit funding proposals and a potential donor can search these proposals based on their area of interests and contribute whatever they can afford.