Question 1

A social business strategy is designed to use social IT tools for all of the following EXCEPT:
A)Collaborating with stakeholders
B)Building deeper connections with stakeholders
C)Innovating with stakeholders
D)Excluding stakeholders
E)Networking with employees,customer and/or suppliers

Accepted Answer

A social business strategy is designed to use social IT tools to engage and collaborate with stakeholders such as customers, employees, and suppliers. Building deeper connections, innovating together, and networking with these stakeholders are all key goals of a social business strategy. However, excluding stakeholders contradicts the idea of collaboration and would not be a part of a successful social business strategy.

Question 2

Organizational,cultural,and control variables are considered the ________ used by decision makers to effect change in their organization.
A)collaboration tools
B)managerial levers
C)events
D)IS
E)organization objectives

Accepted Answer

Managerial levers refer to tools or mechanisms that can be used by decision-makers to effect change within an organization. Organizational, cultural, and control variables are examples of such managerial levers. The other choices (A, C, D, and E) do not accurately describe the concept of managerial levers.

Question 3

By using IS to achieve economies of scale and generate operating efficiencies,Walmart epitomizes which one of Porter's generic strategies?
A) Differentiation
B) Focus
C) Cost leadership
D) Broad focus
E) Cost differentiation

Accepted Answer

Walmart's use of IS to achieve economies of scale and generate operating efficiencies aligns with Porter's cost leadership generic strategy, which focuses on producing goods or services at the lowest possible cost.

Question 4

The physical means by which information is exchanged among hardware components is called _______.
A) hardware
B) software
C) networking
D) personnel
E) data

Accepted Answer

The physical means by which information is exchanged among hardware components is referred to as networking, which includes hardware such as cables, routers, and switches. Hardware refers to physical components of a computer system, software is the programs and applications that run on the hardware, personnel are the people involved in using or maintaining the system, and data refers to the actual information being exchanged through the system.

Question 5

Through the use of various technologies,a ski resort tracks the slopes each customer skis and the times he or she skis them. Skiers then have the ability to view this information online,and can choose to seamlessly share their accomplishments on Facebook.In addition,photographers positioned at the resort post pictures on Facebook for the skier.This ski resort has worked hard to develop a strong:
A)IS Strategy
B)Social business strategy
C)Business strategy
D)Organizational strategy
E)Customer strategy

Accepted Answer

The use of technology to track skiers' activities, allowing them to view and share their accomplishments on social media, as well as posting photos on Facebook by the resort photographers, indicates a strong social business strategy. This approach emphasizes the use of social media and digital technologies to enhance customer engagement and interaction, which can improve customer loyalty and ultimately drive revenue for the resort.

Question 6

When a company's business strategy and technology strategy are intertwined,this situation is known as _______.
A)convergence
B)alignment
C)dynamic
D)differentiation
E)technologically adjusted

Accepted Answer

When a company's business strategy and technology strategy are intertwined, it is known as convergence. This means that the technologies the company uses are aligned with its overall business strategy, and both strategies work together to achieve the company's goals.

Question 7

Organizations seek to gain a competitive advantage by differentiation,cost,or _________.
A)service
B)focus
C)profit
D)value
E)speed

Accepted Answer

The three main competitive strategies identified by Michael Porter are differentiation, cost leadership, and focus. The answer choices given include service, profit, value, and speed, which are all factors that can contribute to a company's success but are not the main competitive strategies. The only answer choice that aligns with Porter's framework is B, focus. This strategy involves concentrating on a particular market segment, product line, or geographic region and tailoring the marketing mix to meet the specific needs of that segment. By focusing on a narrow area, the company can achieve a competitive advantage by becoming the preferred provider for that particular group.

Question 8

The organizational strategy should ideally _____ the IS strategy.
A)drive
B)complement
C)dictate
D)ignore
E)sustain

Accepted Answer

The organizational strategy and the IS strategy should be aligned and complement each other. The IS strategy should support and enhance the organizational strategy. If they are not aligned or are in conflict, it can lead to inefficiencies and hinder the achievement of organizational goals. Thus, the IS strategy should be designed keeping the organizational strategy in mind.

Question 9

Google has disrupted a number of industries,particularly the advertising and software industries.Google's ability to quickly and aggressively provide new products and services is best described by:
A)Porter's Generic Strategies
B)The Hypercompetition Model
C)The Information Systems Strategy Triangle
D)The Social Business Strategy
E)Customer Relationship Management

Accepted Answer

The ability to quickly and aggressively provide new products and services aligns with the Hypercompetition Model, which emphasizes a fast-paced, constantly changing business environment and the need for organizations to continuously innovate and adapt in order to stay competitive. The other options listed do not fully capture Google's approach to innovation and disruption.

Question 10

A general manager should:
A) Rely on IS personnel to make IS decisions
B) Ignore how IS are used and managed
C) Have a deep technical knowledge of IS
D) Understand the use and consequences of technologies relevant to the business
E) Not be expected to ask or understand technology related questions

Accepted Answer

A general manager should have a good understanding of the use and consequences of technologies relevant to the business. They need to know how to use IS to support the overall strategy and goals of the organization. They should be able to ask relevant technology-related questions to make informed decisions. However, they do not need to have a deep technical knowledge of IS, nor should they rely solely on IS personnel to make IS decisions. Ignoring how IS are used and managed can lead to inefficiencies and missed opportunities.

Question 11

Significant changes in IS should trigger a reassessment of the _____________.? 
A)business strategy
B)social strategy
C)process strategy
D)data strategy
E)system strategy

Accepted Answer

Significant changes in IS can have a significant impact on the organization's business strategy. For example, the adoption of a new technology can create new opportunities, change customer expectations or alter the competitive landscape. This, in turn, may require a reassessment of the organization's business strategy to ensure that it remains aligned with the changes in technology and market dynamics.

Question 12

The business diamond identifies the crucial,interrelated components for designing an organization.The components include all of the following EXCEPT:
A) People
B) Social media
C) Structure
D) Tasks
E) Information and control

Accepted Answer

Social media is not a component in the traditional business diamond model. The four components in the model are people, structure, tasks, and information and control.

Question 13

At the time of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and explosion,BP's IS Strategy Triangle was out of __________.
A) control
B) alignment
C) adjustment
D) scope
E) specification

Accepted Answer

The IS Strategy Triangle refers to the alignment between business strategy, organizational infrastructure, and information technology. Given the disastrous nature of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and explosion, it is likely that BP's IS Strategy Triangle was out of alignment, meaning that their business strategy, organizational infrastructure, and information technology were not working cohesively towards the goal of preventing such disasters.

Question 14

The general manager for a retail clothing outlet was recently cited as saying,"IT is the cornerstone of our company. All of our decisions are based on the sophisticated systems that we have deployed throughout our organization. IT drives our decisions." What position should the manager hold regarding IT and its influence on decision making?
A)IT should drive business decisions.
B)Organizational goals should drive IT decisions.
C)Organizational strategy should drive IS decision making.
D)Business strategy should drive IS decision making
E)All strategy should be driven by IT strategy.

Accepted Answer

The general manager should hold the position that business strategy should drive information systems (IS) decision making. While IT is an important tool for the organization, it should not be the sole driving force behind decision making. Organizational goals and strategy should be the primary factors influencing decisions, with IT being utilized to support and facilitate those decisions.

Question 15

The ________________________ is a plan articulating where a business seeks to go and how it expects to get there.
A)vision statement
B)mission statement
C)stakeholder statement
D)stockholder statement
E)business strategy

Accepted Answer

The business strategy outlines a plan for the future of the business, including its goals and the actions it will take to achieve them. Vision and mission statements are elements of the business strategy, but they do not encompass the entire plan. Stakeholder and stockholder statements may be included in the business strategy, but they are not the primary focus.

Question 16

A bank provides its customers mobile applications that significantly simplify traditional banking activities.For example,a customer can use a smartphone to take a picture of a check and electronically deposit into an account.This unique service demonstrates the bank's desire to practice which one of Porter's strategies?
A) Differentiation
B) Focus
C) Cost leadership
D) Broad focus
E) Cost differentiation

Accepted Answer

The bank is providing a unique service that distinguishes itself from competitors, indicating a focus on differentiation strategy.

Question 17

This framework is called the ____________________ because it relates business strategy with IS strategy and organizational strategy.
A)Porter's Generic Framework
B)D'Aveni's Hypercompetition Model
C)Information Technology Matrix
D)IS Strategy Model
E)Information Systems Strategy Triangle

Accepted Answer

The Information Systems Strategy Triangle is the framework that relates business strategy with IS strategy and organizational strategy. Porter's Generic Framework is a separate framework that deals with competitive strategies, while D'Aveni's Hypercompetition Model focuses on rapid and unpredictable changes in the business environment. The Information Technology Matrix and IS Strategy Model are not widely recognized frameworks in the field of strategic management.

Question 18

To remain competitive,an organization's business strategy must adapt and respond to all of the following variables.Which variable in particular does IS help to determine?
A)Market forces
B)Customer demands
C)The capabilities of the organization
D)The organization's mission
E)Organizational design

Accepted Answer

IS (Information Systems) help the organization determine its capabilities by providing insights into its current resources, processes, and performance. This helps the organization identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions about how to allocate resources and pursue strategic goals. While IS can provide information about market forces and customer demands, it is ultimately up to the organization to decide how to respond to these factors. The organization's mission and organizational design are also determined independently of IS, as they reflect the organization's vision and values.

Question 19

General managers should take an active role in decisions about information systems. This is vital because:
A)The IS department cannot be trusted to make good decisions.
B)The IS department has not been trained to make general business decisions.
C)The IS department does not have the company's best interests as its focus.
D)Information systems are designed to support business objectives.
E)Information systems are normally incongruent with business strategies.

Accepted Answer

Information systems are designed to support business objectives, and general managers have a better understanding of the company's overall business strategy and objectives. Therefore, their active involvement in decisions about information systems is vital to ensure that the IS department's efforts align with the company's goals. The other options are incorrect because they make false assumptions about the IS department's competencies and motivations.

Question 20

All of the following are identified causes of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill EXCEPT for:
A) Repeated failure to follow safety procedures
B) The alignment of the Information Systems Strategy Triangle
C) The failure of automated systems
D) The leadership and organizational culture at BP
E) Inadequate quality standards

Accepted Answer

The alignment of the Information Systems Strategy Triangle is not a identified cause of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The other choices are all recognized as contributing factors.

Quiz 1: Linking Systems Strategy and the Organization

A social business strategy is designed to use social IT tools for all of the following EXCEPT:

Organizational,cultural,and control variables are considered the ________ used by decision makers to effect change in their organization.

By using IS to achieve economies of scale and generate operating efficiencies,Walmart epitomizes which one of Porter's generic strategies?

The physical means by which information is exchanged among hardware components is called _______.

When a company's business strategy and technology strategy are intertwined,this situation is known as _______.

Organizations seek to gain a competitive advantage by differentiation,cost,or _________.

The organizational strategy should ideally _____ the IS strategy.

Google has disrupted a number of industries,particularly the advertising and software industries.Google's ability to quickly and aggressively provide new products and services is best described by:

A general manager should:

Significant changes in IS should trigger a reassessment of the _____________.?

The business diamond identifies the crucial,interrelated components for designing an organization.The components include all of the following EXCEPT:

At the time of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and explosion,BP's IS Strategy Triangle was out of __________.

The ________________________ is a plan articulating where a business seeks to go and how it expects to get there.

This framework is called the ____________________ because it relates business strategy with IS strategy and organizational strategy.

To remain competitive,an organization's business strategy must adapt and respond to all of the following variables.Which variable in particular does IS help to determine?

General managers should take an active role in decisions about information systems. This is vital because:

All of the following are identified causes of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill EXCEPT for: