Question 1

Model management is used within IS to manage "perfect" or "model" databases.

Accepted Answer

Model management in Information Systems (IS) refers to the process of creating, maintaining, and utilizing models to analyze, simulate, and optimize business processes and decisions, rather than managing "perfect" or "model" databases.

Question 2

Data management and model management are both used in decision support systems.

Accepted Answer

Both data management and model management are integral components of decision support systems. Data management involves collecting, storing, and retrieving data that is needed for decision-making, while model management involves creating, validating, and updating models that can be used to analyze data and support decision-making.

Question 3

What type of intelligence gives us a way to examine collective systems where groups of individuals have certain goals, solve problems, and make decisions without centralized control or a common plan?

Accepted Answer

Swarm intelligence refers to the collective behavior of decentralized systems, such as groups of individuals or animals, that are able to solve problems and make decisions without centralized control or a common plan. This type of intelligence is often studied in the field of artificial intelligence and can be applied to various systems, such as robotics and social networks.

Question 4

Most decisions fall somewhere between structured and nonstructured.

Accepted Answer

Most decisions require some level of structure, but may also involve elements of uncertainty or uniqueness that require nonstructured decision-making.

Question 5

A structured decision involves processing a certain kind of information in a specified way so that you will always get the right answer. No "feel" or intuition is necessary.

Accepted Answer

Structured decisions rely on clear, predefined processes and rules, allowing for consistent outcomes without the need for personal judgment or intuition.

Question 6

The choice phase of decision making considers ways to solve problems, fill needs, or take advantage of opportunities.

Accepted Answer

The choice phase of decision making involves selecting the best alternative from the options identified in the design phase, not considering ways to solve problems.

Question 7

Geographic information systems are a type of artificial intelligence.

Accepted Answer

Geographic information systems (GIS) are not a type of artificial intelligence. They are computer systems that capture, store, manipulate, analyze, and display spatial or geographic data. While GIS incorporate some advanced computer techniques, such as spatial analysis and data visualization, they do not possess the characteristics of artificial intelligence, such as learning, decision-making, and natural language processing.

Question 8

A geographic information system (GIS) is a decision support system designed specifically to work with spatial information.

Accepted Answer

A GIS is a specialized system that is developed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present spatial, or geographic, data. It provides a comprehensive array of tools and techniques that enable decision-makers to analyze, interpret, and visualize data in new and innovative ways, helping them make better-informed decisions.

Question 9

The four phases of decision making are linear and once one phase is complete it is not returned to.

Accepted Answer

The four phases of decision making are not necessarily linear and sometimes decision makers may need to return to a previous phase to gather more information or reevaluate alternatives. The phases are typically defined as: 1) identification of the problem or opportunity, 2) generation of alternatives, 3) evaluation of alternatives, and 4) implementation and monitoring of the chosen alternative.

Question 10

What type of intelligence is based on the collective behavior of groups of simple agents and how these groups work to solve complex and mutual problems?

Accepted Answer

Swarm intelligence is based on the collective behavior of groups of simple agents, such as ants or bees, and how they work together to solve complex problems. This type of intelligence has been studied for its potential applications in fields such as robotics, artificial intelligence, and optimization algorithms. Group intelligence and social intelligence may also involve collaboration among individuals, but they do not specifically focus on the behavior of simple agents or swarm dynamics. Crowd behavior typically refers to the behavior of a large group of individuals, but may not necessarily involve problem-solving or the emergence of collective intelligence.

Question 11

A decision support system (DSS) is a highly flexible and interactive IT system that is designed to support decision making when the problem is not structured.

Accepted Answer

A decision support system is specifically designed to handle problems that are unstructured or semi-structured, providing a flexible and interactive tool for decision-making.

Question 12

The design phase of decision making focuses on determining how software will work.

Accepted Answer

The design phase of decision making in software development focuses on defining the architecture, components, modules, interfaces, and data for a system to satisfy specified requirements, not on determining how the software will work. The "how" is typically addressed during the implementation phase.

Question 13

A recurring decision is one that happens repeatedly, and often periodically, whether weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly.

Accepted Answer

A recurring decision is something that happens repeatedly and often periodically.

Question 14

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the science of making humans imitate computer thinking and behavior.

Accepted Answer

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the science of making computers imitate human thinking and behavior, not the other way around.

Question 15

Expert systems are adaptive systems that work independently, carrying out specific, repetitive, or predicable tasks.

Accepted Answer

Expert systems are not necessarily adaptive systems, as they are designed for specific tasks and do not usually have the ability to learn or change their behavior based on new information. They are designed to provide expert-level knowledge and decision-making in a particular domain.

Question 16

The implementation phase of decision making involves carrying out the chosen solution, monitoring the results, and making adjustments as necessary.

Accepted Answer

The implementation phase involves putting the chosen solution into action, evaluating the results, and making necessary adjustments.

Question 17

A recurring decision is one that you make infrequently and you may even have different criteria for determining the best solution each time.

Accepted Answer

A recurring decision is one that you make frequently and usually have consistent criteria for determining the best solution each time.

Question 18

What is agent-based modeling?

Accepted Answer

Agent-based modeling involves simulating the behavior of human organizations using a multi-agent system, where each agent represents an individual or group with its own set of rules and goals. This approach allows for the exploration of complex systems and relationships between agents in a way that traditional modeling techniques cannot easily capture. Options A, C, and D all involve data analysis and algorithm development but do not directly relate to agent-based modeling.

Question 19

Spatial information is any information that can be shown in its original form.

Accepted Answer

Spatial information refers to data that is represented in terms of its location in space, typically in terms of geographic coordinates or some form of geographic or spatial reference. It's not necessarily about showing information in its original form, but rather about its position or area in space.

Question 20

The intelligence phase of decision making finds or recognizes a problem, need, or opportunity.

Accepted Answer

The intelligence phase involves identifying a problem or need, gathering information about it, and recognizing opportunities that may exist.

Quiz 4: Decision Support and Artificial Intelligence