Melendrez, Vincent – CIS2 – 47722 – Chapter 1

Review Questions – PG40: #1 - 10

1. What is information technology, and why is it important to a business?

a. Information technology is a field that encompasses any components used to

manage, communicate, and share information. It is important to a business

because technology/connectivity is essential in today’s times as well as the digital

economy that is present.

2. Define business profiles, processes, and modeling.

a. A business profile is an overview of a company’s mission, processes, future

direction, assets, etc. A business process describes specific events, tasks, and

desired results. Both the business’s profile and process are necessary to

understand a company’s operations via a series of business models based on a

business profile. A business model is a graphical representation of the business

that consists of business processes such as sales.

3. Identify the main components of an information system and describe the system's

stakeholders.

a. There are five key components of an information system: Hardware, software,

data, processes, and people. The system’s stakeholders are people who have an

interest in an information system. This includes the management group

responsible for the system, end users, and IT staff members.

4. Explain the difference between vertical and horizontal systems packages.

a. A horizontal system package can be adapted for use in many different types of

companies. On the other hand, a vertical system package is designed to meet the

specific requirements of a certain business or industry

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5. How do companies use EDI? What are some advantages of using XML?

a. EDI (electronic data interchange) allows companies to transfer data between

computers from an information system using telecommunication lines. XML

(extensible markup language) is a flexible data description language that allows

company-to-company traffic to migrate to the internet. Some of the advantages of

XML include standard protocols, universal availability, low communication costs,

and web-based communication.

6. Describe five types of information systems and give an example of each.

a. Enterprise computing: Refers to information systems that support company-wide

operations and data management requirements. EX: Costco’s inventory control

system, Boeing’s production control system.

b. Transaction processing: Process data generated by day-to-day business

operations. EX: Warranty claim processing, customer order processing.

c. Business support: Provide job-related information support to users at all levels of

a company. EX: Product inventory system.

d. Knowledge management: Simulate human reasoning by combining a knowledge

base and inference rules that determine how the knowledge is applied. EX: Large

database that allows users to find info by entering keywords or questions.

e. User productivity: Companies provide employees at all levels with technology

that improves productivity. EX: Email, word processing, voicemail.

7. Describe four organizational levels of a typical business and their information

requirements.
 Melendrez, Vincent – CIS2 – 47722 – Chapter 1

a. Top managers: Develop long-term plans that define the overall mission of the

company. They need information outside of the company that pertain to

technology, economy, government, and competition

b. Middle managers + knowledge workers: Provide direction, resources, and

feedback to supervisors and team leaders. They require more detailed information

than top managers and provide support for a company’s basic functions.

c. Supervisors + team leaders: Oversees all operational employees and carries out

day-to-day tasks. They need decision support information, knowledge

management systems, and user productivity systems.

d. Operational employees: Users who rely on transaction processing systems to enter

and receive data they need to do their jobs.

8. Describe the phases of the systems development life cycle and compare the SDLC

waterfall model with the spiral model.

a. Phase 1: Systems planning. Performs a preliminary investigation to evaluate an

IT-related business problem or opportunity

b. Phase 2: Systems analysis. Builds a logical model of the new system

c. Phase 3: Systems design. Creates a physical model that will satisfy all

documented requirements for the system

d. Phase 4: Systems implementation. Constructs new system, programs are tested,

system is installed

e. Phase 5: Systems support and security. IT staff maintains, enhances, and protects

the system.
 Melendrez, Vincent – CIS2 – 47722 – Chapter 1

f. The SDLC waterfall model follows a sequential approach in which the process

involves stages or phases. Risks can only be detected when the model is

completed, and a working model can only be generated in the end. On the other

hand, a spiral model involves task regions, allowing risks to be identified earlier

and the production of a working model before its completion. Overall, waterfall

models are more suited for small systems while spiral models are better for large

systems.

9. Explain the use of models, prototypes, and CASE tools in the systems development

process. Also explain the pros and cons of agile development methods.

a. Models produce a graphical representation of data, allowing users to interpret data

with ease. Prototypes are an early working version of an information system.

CASE (Computer-aided system engineering) tools generate program code, which

speeds the implementation process

b. Pros of agile development methods: Very adaptable, focuses on teamwork,

iterative development (allows for multiple prototypes). Cons of agile development

methods: Team needs a high level of skill/understanding, lack of documentation

10. What is object-oriented analysis, and how does it differ from structured analysis?

a. Object-oriented analysis views the system in terms of objects, which is an item

that holds properties, that interact with each other. When compared to structured

analysis, object-oriented analysis tends to be more interactive, meaning that it can

accurately depict real-world business processes

 Melendrez, Vincent – CIS2 – 47722 – Chapter 1

Personal Trainer – PG44: #1 – 4

1. Develop a business profile for Personal Trainer, based on the facts provided. List at least

three of Personal Trainer’s business processes.

a. Business profile: Exercise equipment, sporting goods, childcare, pool, health food

store, snack bar, child-fitness programs, computer café, and a teen center. Each of

these activities represent a major business function. Each business function

contains their own business process.

b. Business process: Creating a fitness class, selling health food products, selling

sporting goods, developing a training program for a member, preparing monthly

bills.

2. Create an organization chart for Personal Trainer.

Cassia Umi
President

Reed Cotter Gray Lewis

Operations SuperCenter Manager

Janet
Tai Sung Susan Park
McDonald
Finance Sales/Marketing IT Consultant
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3. Review the conversation between Susan and Gray. In your opinion, is Gray totally

supportive of the new system? Why or why not? Do you agree with the way that Susan

responds to Gray’s comments? Why or why not?

a. Based on the conversation, Gray supports the new system. He is cooperating with

Susan’s plans and conditions for helping the business. With his ideas about the

present system in place, his knowledge will be useful to develop a new system.

Susan is effective when responding to Gray’s comments. She offers a specific

approach and recognizes that she must work effectively with various levels within

the organization in order to develop a system that is efficient. She is open to any

comments and/or ideas that Gray might have, and presents herself as a consultant,

not another boss.

4. Should Personal Trainer consider any of the following support systems: Enterprise

computing, transaction processing, business support, knowledge management, or user

productivity? Why or why not? What other opportunities might Personal Trainer have for

Web-based B2C or B2B transactions in the future?

a. Personal Trainer should consider implementing enterprise computing, transaction

processing, and business support systems. Enterprise computing is necessary for

accounting purposes, such as managing ledgers, accounts receivables, payables,

etc. It also improves data security and reliability. Transaction processing is

necessary for helping managers make key decisions, such as altering the process

when handling an order. A business support system would be helpful for

documentation and the quick process of data or other important files.

 Melendrez, Vincent – CIS2 – 47722 – Chapter 1

b. Online access would be an example of B2C commerce, which would give

Personal Trainer the opportunity to have customized training programs and

progress reports. B2B commerce can be used to receive customer feedback,

potentially lower costs, and reach new markets.

 Melendrez, Vincent – CIS2 – 47722 – Chapter 1

Case in Point – PG30

1. Should Lisa accept the job offer from Pembroke Boats or Albemarle Express? Justify.

a. Lisa should accept the job offer from Albemarle Express. Her position in that

company would give her a higher pay and yield a higher degree of credibility if

she were to change companies. It is stated that Pembroke Boats does not have an

IT department yet, meaning that she is the only IT person. With a lack of

teamwork and coordination with other IT members, Lisa may struggle in

establishing an effective department without any feedback from those who have

experience. The rumors that Albemarle Express may be acquired by another

company should not worry Lisa so much. If the company was acquired and Lisa is

worried about losing her job, she will not have trouble finding a similar job.

Albemarle Express is an established company with an IT department that existed

before her. With this kind of reputation, she should be able to find another job.