Deck 9: Global Information Systems

Question 1

To design a successful global information system (GIS),management must first determine the kind of information that global companies need to share.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

An integrated network for global control over an organization's resources is the foundation of any global information system (GIS).

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The expansion of global markets is a major factor in developing global information systems to handle the customers' demands of integrated worldwide services.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

An information system manager faces design and implementation issues when developing a global network.

Question 5

Implementing a global information system (GIS),can be difficult because countries differ in culture,politics,social and economic infrastructures,and business methods.

Question 6

With asynchronous transmission,both the parties on a network must be connected at the same time.

Question 7

Operational support provided by a global information system (GIS) involves broad and long-term goals.

Question 8

The increase in direct buyer-seller communication through e-business has eradicated the presence of intermediaries.

Question 9

E-business builds on the advantages and structures of traditional business by adding the flexibility that networks offer.

Question 10

Currency conversion is a challenge in global database development.

Question 11

In international business planning,it is critical to understand the global risks of operating an MNC - specifically,the political,foreign exchange,and market risks.

Question 12

The components of global information systems (GISs) remain unaffected irrespective of a company's size and business needs.

Question 13

A global information system (GIS) can be defined along two dimensions: customization and communication.

Question 14

As e-business matures and more companies conduct business online,consumers can engage in comparison shopping more easily.

Question 15

International companies usually lose track of production schedules as they share information with their subsidiaries using a global information system (GIS).

Question 16

With the popularity of the Internet,the usage of value-added networks has increased.

Question 17

High coordination in a global information system (GIS) offers the ability to maintain control of market needs around the world.

Question 18

If a company's international communication requirements only entail simple file sharing and if response time is not a critical factor,full-duplex transmission is required.

Question 19

Using information systems on a local scale is more challenging than doing so on a global scale.

Question 20

An organization's structure usually determines the architecture of its global information system (GIS).

Question 21

The control dimension of a global information system (GIS) requires a(n) _____ architecture for data,standardized definitions used across the organization,standard formats for reports,defined behaviors for different processes,and performance-tracking systems.

A) open
B) informal
C) decentralized
D) centralized

Question 22

In an organization with a global structure,to achieve organizational efficiency,duplicate information systems must be eliminated.

Question 23

Lack of standardization can impede the development of a cohesive global information system (GIS) that is capable of sharing information resources across borders.

Question 24

In an organization with a global structure,the headquarters' country has the responsibility of selling,marketing,and tailoring the products to the requirements and tastes of the countries of its subsidiaries.

Question 25

Time zones can pose difficulties in managing a global information system (GIS).

Question 26

Local hardware and software vendors influence which applications a multinational company chooses.

Question 27

Diverse regulatory practices necessarily apply to transborder data flow (TDF) regulations.

Question 28

A manufacturer moving the operations to another country because of advantages available in that country is involved in _____ the operations.

A) generalizing
B) standardizing
C) regionalizing
D) centralizing

Question 29

In a multinational structure,financial management is decentralized.

Question 30

Which of the following statements is true of a global information system (GIS)?

A) It is specific to each nation.
B) It facilitates communication between headquarters and subsidiaries in other countries.
C) It differs from a typical information system in that it only incorporates technologies, not operations.
D) It gives full autonomy to an international company's subsidiaries without exercising any control.

Question 31

By generating and delivering timely and relevant information supported by networks,_____ creates new opportunities for conducting commercial activities.

A) cybersquatting
B) e-business
C) phishing
D) transborder data flow

Question 32

Companies with a transnational structure have decreased efficiency in production costs because production is spread across more locations.

Question 33

In the context of a global information system (GIS),_____ is the process of managing the interaction among activities in different specialized parts of an organization.

A) coordination
B) socialization
C) regionalization
D) globalization

Question 34

An organization with a transnational structure must have its headquarters in a particular country.

Question 35

In an organization with an international structure,information systems personnel are regularly exchanged among locations to encourage joint development of applications for marketing,finance,and production.

Question 36

Some companies create separate Web sites for each country in which they do business; this is called _____ of a Web site.

A) standardization
B) localization
C) centralization
D) generalization

Question 37

In a multinational structure,subsidiaries operate with very little autonomy.

Question 38

_____ can simplify communication,improve business relationships,and offer new opportunities to both consumers and businesses.

A) A firewall
B) The Internet
C) A database
D) Cybersquatting

Question 39

Initially,offshore outsourcing was used mostly in manufacturing to find cheap labor.

Question 40

_____ are considered the first large-scale interactive global system.

A) Credit card services
B) Hotel reservation systems
C) Airline reservation systems
D) Car rental services

Question 41

With _____ transmission,both parties in a global network are connected at the same time,as in a phone call.

A) synchronous
B) asynchronous
C) symmetric
D) asymmetric

Question 42

The coordination dimension of a global information system (GIS) requires a(n) ____ architecture for data,standardization within departments,and the ability to communicate these standards to other departments,collaboration systems,and technologies that support informal communication and socialization.

A) open
B) autocratic
C) decentralized
D) centralized

Question 43

In the context of a global information system (GIS),consolidating global reporting is a crucial tool for managing overseas subsidiaries because:

A) it compares only standardized reports.
B) it reduces the difficulties caused by the differences in accounting procedures.
C) it is a strategic requirement of the GIS.
D) it does not take into account the differences in regulatory standards.

Question 44

An international company with a global information system (GIS) in place:

A) has restricted access to new global markets.
B) does not require a global database.
C) fails in the coordination of its activities.
D) can increase its control over its subsidiaries.

Question 45

_____ is an operational requirement for a global information system (GIS).

A) Management of global tax risk
B) Global data access
C) Management of political conflicts
D) Strategic planning support

Question 46

Transborder data flow (TDF) comprises national laws and international agreements on _____.

A) ethical standards
B) software licenses
C) intellectual properties
D) data security

Question 47

The _____ factor involves how immune a communication medium is to outside electronic interference.

A) bandwidth
B) range
C) cost
D) noise

Question 48

The control dimension of a global information system (GIS) requires:

A) variable definitions used across the organization.
B) a decentralized architecture for data.
C) flexible formats for reports.
D) defined behaviors for different processes.

Question 49

Which of the following statements is true of multinational corporations (MNCs)?

A) MNCs are government organizations.
B) MNCs have assets and operations in only the home country.
C) MNCs deliver products and services across national borders.
D) MNCs are essentially decentralized.

Question 50

One of the dimensions along which a global information system (GIS) is defined is _____,which refers to the use of managerial power to ensure adherence to an organization's goals.

A) standardization
B) transparency
C) control
D) coordination

Question 51

The _____ support of a global information system (GIS) involves broad and long-term goals.

A) tactical
B) dynamic
C) operational
D) strategic

Question 52

Designing and implementing a global database is a technical challenge,mainly because of the:

A) variations in business needs and size of an organization.
B) different character sets used for names of people and places.
C) lack of control and coordination in a global information system (GIS).
D) need to transfer data across cultural and geographic boundaries.

Question 53

In the context of global information systems (GISs),after a global network is in place,a company must:

A) decide which types of information-sharing technologies it will be using.
B) consider its objectives when determining the network architecture.
C) restrict users from sharing information across the globe.
D) use standardized software and hardware across all countries.

Question 54

In the context of a global information system (GIS),which of the following managerial support involves day-to-day activities?

A) Operational
B) Strategic
C) Tactical
D) Dynamic

Question 55

In a _____ structure,production,sales,and marketing are decentralized and financial management remains the parent company's responsibility.

A) global
B) universal
C) transnational
D) multinational

Question 56

The coordination dimension of a global information system (GIS) requires:

A) technologies that support formal communication.
B) a centralized architecture for data.
C) standardization within departments.
D) segregated systems.

Question 57

A global network must have _____ to guide packets to their destinations.

A) firewalls
B) cookies
C) switching nodes
D) proxy servers

Question 58

_____ networks offer electronic data interchange standards,encryption,secure e-mail,data synchronization,and other services to conduct international business.

A) Crawler-based
B) Value-added
C) Human-powered
D) Brick-and-mortar

Question 59

The _____ support of a global information system (GIS) concentrates on medium range activities that move the organization toward achieving long-term goals.

A) differential
B) strategic
C) operational
D) tactical

Question 60

Which of the following is a strategic requirement for a global information system (GIS)?

A) Management of global tax risk
B) Global data access
C) Communication between headquarters and subsidiaries
D) Consolidated global reporting

Question 61

An organization with a(n) _____ structure might have several regional divisions that share authority and responsibility,but in general it does not have its headquarters in a particular country.

A) global
B) transnational
C) multinational
D) international

Question 62

_____ products,which are products or services that have been standardized for all markets,are becoming increasingly important in international marketing efforts.

Question 63

The trade-off between the amount of control needed and the amount of _____ needed,which are the two dimensions of a global information system (GIS),defines an organization's globalization strategy.

Question 64

The integration needed to manage production,marketing,and human resources is difficult to achieve with a global structure because of the:

A) excessive autonomy given to subsidiaries.
B) presence of duplicate information systems.
C) use of highly decentralized information systems.
D) heavy reliance on headquarters.

Question 65

_____ is a major factor in the widespread use of global information systems.

Question 66

A(n) _____ is a private organization with assets and operations in at least one country other than its home country.

Question 67

One of the issues with the _____ structure is that subsidiaries rely on headquarters for all process and control decisions as well as system design and implementation.

A) multinational
B) global
C) regional
D) transnational

Question 68

A(n) _____ is an information system for managing global operations,supporting an international company's decision-making processes,and dealing with complex variables in global operations and decision making.

Question 69

_____ networks are private multipoint networks managed by a third party and used by organizations on a subscription basis.

Question 70

Which of the following factors has made offshore outsourcing attractive for all types of organizations?

A) Improved telecommunication systems
B) Increased cost of communication
C) Limited availability of the Internet
D) Reduced bandwidth

Question 71

Foreign exchange systems that allow traders and brokers from around the world to interact are an example of information systems that support the _____ structure.

A) multinational
B) global
C) transnational
D) international

Question 72

An organization with a(n) _____ structure operates much like a multinational corporation,but subsidiaries depend on headquarters more for process and production decisions.

Question 73

One of the issues with a global information system (GIS) is that too much _____ can decrease an organization's flexibility in responding to local preferences and even time differences.

A) localization
B) regionalizing
C) standardization
D) customization

Question 74

_____ restricts what type of data can be captured and transmitted in foreign countries.

Question 75

A network's main function is to allow users to _____.

Question 76

A(n) _____ is an information system that incorporates all the technologies and applications found in a typical information system to gather,store,manipulate,and transmit data across cultural and geographic boundaries.

Question 77

Management of global tax risks is classified as a(n) _____ requirement of a global information system (GIS).

Question 78

An organization with a(n) _____ structure,sometimes called a "franchiser," manages highly centralized information systems.

Question 79

Which of the following statements is true of a global organization structure?

A) An extensive communication network is necessary to manage a global structure.
B) A global structure uses highly decentralized information systems.
C) Subsidiaries exercise full autonomy in a global structure.
D) Production, marketing, and human resources are easily integrated using a global structure.

Question 80

_____ is an operational requirement of a global information system (GIS) that includes accounting and financial data,manufacturing updates,inventory,and so forth.