Introduction to Information Systems
The "Harry Potter" example that leads off this reading provides an excellent example of pre-planning, organized business processes, and the need for flexibility in information systems. Each Potter volume increased the pre-orders exponentially, and Amazon used its prior experiences to create policies and practices designed to improve customer experience. As you will see, business processes are a blueprint for success, supported by technology, information systems, and a range of other required services.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
DQ1-1 "I don't want to learn about technology; I just want to be good at my job". Comment.
DQ1-2 Examine Figure 1.1 (page 7). Based on your college education to date, with which elements are you most comfortable? With which are you least comfortable? Discuss your answers.
DQ1-3 Examine Figure 1.1. Based on any practical experience that you have had, with which elements are you most comfortable? With which are you least comfortable? Discuss your answers.
DQ1-4 Why might we have more trouble assessing the success of a federal government entitlement program than we would have judging the success of a business organization?
DQ1-5 Why must we have knowledge of a system's objectives to study that system?
DQ1-6 Can one person be a member of all three business process components: information, management, and operations? Discuss your answer.
DQ1-7 Where do you see your role(s) as a business professional - in the information, management, or operations processes? Discuss your answer.
DQ1-8 Examine Figure 1.5 (page 14). Discuss the relative importance of horizontal information flows and vertical information flows to the business professional.
DQ1-9 "When we computerize an IS, we merely change how the data are processed; we don't change what tasks are performed.'' Do you agree? Give examples to support your position.
DQ1-10 Assume that a manager can obtain information from the organization's computer in three ways: by direct inquiry using his laptop connected to the enterprise system, by a daily paper report, and by a monthly report. Using the qualities of information discussed in this chapter (understandability, relevance, timeliness, predictive value/feedback value, neutrality/freedom from bias, comparability, consistency, validity, accuracy, and completeness), compare and contrast these three sources of information.
DQ1-11 Give several examples not mentioned in the chapter of potential conflicts between pairs of information qualities.
DQ1-12 What information quality is most important for decision making - relevance or reliability? Discuss your answer.
DQ1-13 Which information qualities are most important to Amazon.com's ability to fill advance orders for books? Explain your answer.