Question 1

With respect to organizational decision-making levels,________ decisions can be programmed directly into operational information systems so that they can be made with little or no human intervention.

Accepted Answer

Structured decisions are those that are routine and repetitive and can be programmed directly into operational information systems. This means that they can be made with little or no human intervention. As such, choice E is the best answer.

Question 2

________ decision making in an organization is referred to as semistructured decision making because solutions and problems are not clear-cut and often require judgment and expertise.

Accepted Answer

Managerial-level decision making involves decisions that are not completely structured, as they require judgment and expertise to solve problems and find solutions. This type of decision making is often seen in day-to-day operations and management of an organization. Illusive-level decision making is not a recognized term in organizational decision making. Operational-level decision making is more structured and focuses on the execution of tasks to achieve specific goals. Executive-level decision making is focused on strategic planning and overall direction of the organization. Strategic-level decision making focuses on long-term planning and the direction of the organization.

Question 3

Managers in the ________ level of an organization are referred to as "executives."

Accepted Answer

According to the traditional pyramid structure of organizational hierarchy, executives are at the topmost level, responsible for setting the overall strategy and direction for the organization. Therefore, they are classified as strategic managers. Option A, B, C, and E refer to managers at different levels, but not executive.

Question 4

At the ________ level of an organization,functional managers focus on monitoring and controlling operational-level activities and providing information to higher levels of the organization.

Accepted Answer

Functional managers are responsible for overseeing daily operations and ensuring that they align with the organization's goals and objectives. They focus on monitoring and controlling these operational-level activities and providing information to higher levels of the organization, such as managerial and executive levels. Therefore, choice A, managerial level, is the best answer. Choice B, executive level, is incorrect because this is a higher level of the organization where top-level strategic decisions are made. Choice C, strategic level, is also incorrect because this is a higher level where strategic planning and decision-making take place. Choices D and E, superficial and illusive, are not relevant to the context of the question.

Question 5

With respect to decision making in organizations,________ decisions are those in which the procedures to follow for a given situation can be specified in advance.

Accepted Answer

Structured decisions are those in which the procedures to follow for a given situation can be specified in advance. These decisions are generally repetitive and routine in nature, such as determining the price of a product, scheduling employees, or budgeting expenses. The decision-making process for structured decisions can be standardized and automated, which reduces the risk of errors and increases efficiency.

Question 6

________ decisions deal with complex problems with broad and long-term ramifications for an organization.

Accepted Answer

Executive-level decisions are made by top-level management and deal with complex problems that have broad and long-term ramifications for the organization. These types of decisions are strategic in nature and involve significant resources, such as major capital expenditures, mergers and acquisitions, and long-term contracts. Functional-level decisions are made by middle management and are focused on specific functional areas, such as marketing, finance, or operations. Tactical-level decisions are made by lower-level management and are focused on specific tasks or projects. Operational-level decisions are made by front-line employees and deal with day-to-day activities. Managerial-level decisions encompass all levels of management and involve coordinating and aligning the decisions made at each level to achieve the organization's goals.

Question 7

With respect to organizational decision-making levels,for ________ decisions,some procedures to follow for a given situation can be specified in advance,but not to the extent where a specific recommendation can be made.

Accepted Answer

For semistructured decisions, there are some established procedures to follow, but the situation is not completely predictable to make a specific recommendation.

Question 8

Managers at the ________ level include the president and chief executive officer,vice presidents,and possibly the board of directors.

Accepted Answer

The executive level of management includes the top-tier leadership of an organization, such as the CEO, vice presidents, and board of directors.

Question 9

The executive level of an organization is also known as the ________ level.

Accepted Answer

The executive level of an organization is responsible for developing and implementing the organization's overall strategy, making decisions that affect the entire organization, and managing the top-level managers. This level is known as the strategic level, therefore the correct answer is D, strategic. The other options (A) managerial, (B) tactical, (C) operational, and (E) illusory do not accurately describe the executive level of an organization.

Question 10

At the ________ level of a firm,the routine,day-to-day business processes and interactions with customers occur.

Accepted Answer

Operational level is where the routine, day-to-day business processes and interactions with customers occur. Strategic level is where long-term planning and decision making occur. Tactical level is where short-term planning and implementation occur. Managerial level is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the activities of lower-level employees. Executive level is responsible for setting the overall direction and strategy of the company.

Question 11

________ decisions are referred to as unstructured decisions because the problems are relatively complex and non-routine.

Accepted Answer

Executive-level decisions are typically unstructured because they involve high-level strategic planning and problem-solving that may be complex and non-routine. Managerial, tactical, and operational-level decisions are typically more structured and routine in nature. "Illusive-level" is not a recognized term in management or decision-making.

Question 12

Jane Estroisch works as a manager in a multidomestic firm.She focuses on the long-term questions facing the organization such as which countries to compete in and what organizational policies to follow.Jane is in the ________ level of the organization.

Accepted Answer

Jane is responsible for making strategic decisions that shape the direction of the organization in the long-term. This places her in the executive level of the organization. The operational level focuses on day-to-day tasks and the functional level consists of individuals who specialize in a specific area such as marketing or finance. The tactical level is responsible for implementing the strategic decisions made by the executive level. Therefore, the best choice is C, executive.

Question 13

Information systems at the ________ level are designed to automate repetitive activities,such as sales transaction processing,and to improve the efficiency of business processes and the customer interface.

Accepted Answer

Information systems at the operational level are designed for day-to-day, routine activities such as processing transactions, managing inventory, and scheduling production. Their main goal is to improve efficiency and accuracy in specific operational processes.

Question 14

Using information systems to optimize processes at the ________ level of an organization can offer quick returns on the IS investment,as activities at this level are clearly delineated and well focused.

Accepted Answer

Operational level processes involve day-to-day activities and are well defined, making them easy to optimize using information systems. The other levels (executive, strategic, managerial, tactical) involve higher-level decision-making and may not offer as quick of returns on IS investment.

Question 15

At the ________ level of an organization,managers focus on long-term strategic questions facing the organization,such as which products to produce,which countries to compete in,and what organizational strategy to follow.

Accepted Answer

The executive level of an organization consists of the top managers who are responsible for making long-term strategic decisions for the organization. This includes decisions about which products to produce, which countries to enter, and what organizational strategy to follow. Option A refers to middle-level managers who are responsible for implementing the strategies developed by top managers. Option B refers to lower-level managers who are responsible for implementing specific tactics to achieve the organization's goals. Option C refers to front-line employees who are responsible for day-to-day operations. Option E refers to something that is not real or true.

Question 16

Ben White is the manager of a retail store.His work typically includes the routine,day-to-day interactions with customers and,once in a while,solving a customer's problem or dealing with a dissatisfied customer.Additionally,he has to keep track of inventory and issue an order for additional inventory with levels below a specified level.Ben is a(n)________ level manager.

Accepted Answer

Ben White's job responsibilities suggest that he is primarily responsible for the day-to-day operations of the retail store, such as managing customer interactions, handling inventory, and addressing customer concerns. Therefore, he is an operational level manager.

Question 17

At the ________ level of a firm,information systems are typically used to optimize processes and to better understand the underlying causes of any performance problems.

Accepted Answer

Operational level of a firm involves day-to-day activities and transactions. Information systems are used at this level to optimize processes and solve any performance problems. This level focuses on the efficient execution of tasks to achieve the goals set at the operational level. The use of information systems helps in capturing data, monitoring performance metrics, and identifying the root cause of any issues.

Question 18

Which of the following actions can be included as a part of operational planning?

Accepted Answer

Making day-to-day decisions that are highly structured and recurring is a key component of operational planning.

Answer: B
 Effectively utilizing and deploying organizational resources to achieve strategic objectives is also a key component of operational planning.

Answer: C
 Focusing on long-term strategic questions facing the organization is part of strategic planning, not operational planning.

Answer: D
 Dealing with complex problems with broad and long-term ramifications for the organization is also more closely tied to strategic planning than operational planning.

Answer: E
 Focusing on balancing performance across the organization is more closely tied to performance management than operational planning.

Question 19

The managerial level of an organization is also known as the ________ level.

Accepted Answer

The managerial level of an organization is known as the tactical level. This level is responsible for implementing the strategies developed by the executive level and is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the organization. The tactical level is also responsible for making decisions that are specific to their department or functional area within the organization.

Question 20

Managers at the tactical level of an organization focus on ________.

Accepted Answer

Tactical managers are responsible for deploying resources and implementing strategies to achieve the organization's strategic objectives.

Quiz 2: Gaining Competitive Advantage Through Information Systems