Chapter 2 Global EBusiness and Collaboration

Question 1

Business processes

Answer 1

A logically related set of activities that defines how specific business tasks are
performed, and it represents a unique way in which an organization coordinates work, information, and knowledge. Can cross many different functional areas, made possible by computer-based IS.

Question 2

Manufacturing and production (functional area)

Answer 2

• Assembling the product
• Checking for quality
• Producing bills of materials

Question 3

Sales and marketing (functional area)

Answer 3

• Identifying customers
• Making customers aware of the product
• Selling the product

Question 4

Finance and accounting (functional area)

Answer 4

• Paying creditors
• Creating financial statements
• Managing cash accounts

Question 5

Human resources (functional area)

Answer 5

• Hiring employees
• Evaluating
  employees’ job performance
• Enrolling employees in benefits plans

Question 6

Transaction Processing Systems (TPS)

Answer 6

System serving operational management, such as payroll, sales order entry, employee record keeping or order processing, that track the flow of the daily routine transactions necessary to conduct business. Info must be available, current and accurate.

Question 7

New technology can..

Answer 7

• Change flow of information for more people to access and share info
• Allow tasks to be performed simultaneously
• Eliminate delays in decision making

Question 8

Management information systems (MIS)

Answer 8

Produces reports serving middle management about current performance and the company’s basic operations, by condensing information from TPS, and these are not highly analytical. E.g. compare total annual sales figure, inventory levels

Question 9

Information systems are essential for..

Answer 9

Business processes to run effectively based on a firm’s business model.

Question 10

Decision-support systems (DSS)

Answer 10

Support management decisions that are unique and rapidly changing for which the procedure for arriving at a solution may not be fully predefined in advance, using advanced analytical models. Uses info from TPS and MIS, also external sources.

Question 11

Business intelligence

Answer 11

Data and software tools for organising, analysing and providing access to data to help managers on all levels and enterprise employees make more informed decisions.

Question 12

Executive support systems (ESS)

Answer 12

System that focuses on non-routine decisions, strategic issues and long-term trends. For senior management that provide data in the form of graphs, charts, and dashboards delivered via portals using many sources of internal and external information.

Question 13

Portal

Answer 13

Uses a Web interface to present intergrated personalised business content.

Question 14

Enterprise applications are designed…

Answer 14

To coordinate multiple functions and business processes.

Question 15

Enterprise systems

Answer 15

Systems that span different functional areas and integrate the key internal business processes of a firm into a single software system to improve coordination and decision making (efficiency).

Question 16

Supply chain management systems

Answer 16

Help the firm manage its relationship with suppliers to optimise the planning, sourcing, manufacturing, and delivery of products and services.

Question 17

Customer relationship management (CRM) systems

Answer 17

Coordinate the business processes surrounding the firm’s customers.

Question 18

Knowledge management systems

Answer 18

Enable firms to optimise the creation, sharing, and distribution of knowledge by collecting knowledge within the firm and making it available for whenever it is needed to improve decision-making and management decisions.

Question 19

Intranets and extranets

Answer 19

Internal network including internal company web sites that are accessible only by employees in a company.

Question 20

Extranets

Answer 20

Make portions of private corporate intranets available to outsiders such as authorised vendors and suppliers.

Question 21

Collaboration

Answer 21

Working with others to achieve shared and explicit goals.

Question 22

Social business

Answer 22

The use of internal and external social networking platforms to engage employees, customers, and suppliers, and it can enhance collaborative work.

Question 23

Collaboration and social business have become increasingly important in business because..

Answer 23

Of globalisation, the decentralisation of decision making, and growth in jobs where interaction is the primary value-adding activity

Question 24

Collaboration and social business

Answer 24

Enhance innovation, productivity, quality, and customer service.

Question 25

The information systems department

Answer 25

The formal organisational unit responsible for information
technology services. It is responsible for maintaining the hardware, software, data storage, and networks that comprise the firm’s IT infrastructure. The department consists of specialists, such as programmers, systems analysts, project leaders, and information systems managers, and is often headed by a CIO.