Decision & Executive Support Systems Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What type of intelligence is NOT commonly associated with Executive Support Systems (ESS)?

Social media intelligence (correct)

Investment intelligence

Market intelligence

Technology intelligence

Which of the following is a feature of Executive Information Systems?

Drill down capabilities (correct)

Automated data generation

Focused on execution only

Unstructured data management

What is one of the limitations of Executive Support Systems?

Difficult to keep current data (correct)

User-friendly interface

Enhances organizational competitiveness

Improves communication

Which of the following is NOT considered intelligent information for an ESS?

Personal social contacts Signup and view all the answers

How do ESS contribute to the decision-making of managers?

Through enhanced personal thinking and analysis Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential disadvantage of using ESS in smaller companies?

Executive costs Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately reflects an advantage of Executive Support Systems?

They reduce time for finding information. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'exception reporting' in ESS refer to?

Highlighting data that deviates from norms Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of backward sensitivity analysis?

Goal seeking by analyzing how changes affect outcomes Signup and view all the answers

How do managers utilize pivot tables in decision support systems?

To identify patterns in business information Signup and view all the answers

Which capabilities were traditionally employed with spreadsheets before the advent of large BI systems?

Data analysis and multidimensional analysis Signup and view all the answers

What type of problems have decision support systems been successfully employed to solve?

Planning budgets and mergers Signup and view all the answers

What is another name for Executive Support Systems?

Executive Information Systems Signup and view all the answers

What type of information do senior managers typically seek from Executive Support Systems?

Insights on long-term trends and strategic issues Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following analysis techniques does not belong to the capabilities of a DSS?

Transformational Analysis Signup and view all the answers

What type of decisions are typically not aided by decision support systems?

Operational management decisions Signup and view all the answers

What occurs after a user enters information indicating a client owns real estate in an expert system?

Another pass of the rule base will occur. Signup and view all the answers

In a backward chaining approach, what does the system start with?

A hypothesis. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of using expert systems?

Improved general intelligence. Signup and view all the answers

What type of problems are expert systems particularly suited for?

Classification issues in limited domains. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential limitation of expert systems regarding problem-solving?

They require continuous updating to remain effective. Signup and view all the answers

In what way can developing an expert system be more costly?

The maintenance costs can equal the development costs. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following does NOT describe a feature of expert systems?

They get tired and need breaks. Signup and view all the answers

What costs can be reduced by implementing expert systems?

Training times, errors, and service quality. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary function of Learning Management Systems (LMS)?

Create and integrate course materials Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an advantage of using an LMS?

Decreased learning engagement Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of learning does an LMS primarily help to track?

Studying progress and performance Signup and view all the answers

Which feature is crucial for enabling communication in LMS?

Streamlined communication between learners and instructors Signup and view all the answers

What type of content can LMS deliver?

All types of online content including videos and courses Signup and view all the answers

How can LMS help in evaluating students?

Using attendance records and online quizzes Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a function that an LMS does NOT support?

Creating face-to-face workshops Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the adaptability of an LMS?

The capability to modify learning materials to suit different needs Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary disadvantage of implementing a Learning Management System (LMS)?

It requires a well-built technology infrastructure. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following features can be added to MOODLE?

Online quizzes Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the advantages of using an open-source LMS like MOODLE?

Users can add new features at no additional cost. Signup and view all the answers

How does MOODLE store information added to it?

In a database Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of MOODLE enhances educators' ability to track student engagement?

Comprehensive data tracking Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is NOT a function of a Learning Management System (LMS)?

Creating physical textbooks Signup and view all the answers

MOODLE is based on which principle that aids educators?

Sound pedagogical principles Signup and view all the answers

Teachers are required to adapt their teaching methods when using LMS. Which statement reflects this requirement?

They must adapt from face-to-face lectures to online lectures. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Decision Support Systems

Sensitivity analysis models help predict outcomes by repeatedly changing input variables.
Backward sensitivity analysis assists decision makers in goal seeking by determining the required adjustments to achieve a specific target.
Multidimensional data analysis and OLAP are vital business intelligence techniques utilized in DSS.
Spreadsheets offer a similar feature for multidimensional analysis called Pivot table, which helps managers identify patterns in business information for semi-structured decision making.

Executive Support Systems (ESS)

ESS, also known as Executive Information Systems (EIS), cater to the needs of senior managers by focusing on strategic issues and long-term trends.
They address questions like future employment levels and examine both internal and external environmental factors.
ESS often rely on external databases, technology reports (like patent records), technical reports from consultants, market reports, confidential competitor information, speculative market conditions, government policies, and financial reports for information.

Features of Executive Information System

ESS offers drill-down capabilities allowing users to explore data at different levels of detail.
They are designed with management's Critical Success Factors (CSFs) in mind.
ESS allow for personalized analysis tailored to individual user preferences.
They facilitate information navigation with user-friendly interfaces.
They present data in both graphical and textual formats for comprehensive understanding.
ESS provide access to real-time status updates, perform trend analyses, and highlight exception reporting.

Advantages of ESS

ESS are easy to use for high-level executives.
They support trend analysis, enhancing strategic decision-making.
ESS augment the leadership abilities of managers, promoting better decision-making and problem solving.
They contribute to strategic control flexibility by providing insights into long-term trends.
ESS enhance organizational competitiveness by providing a clearer picture of the market landscape.
They serve as instruments of change, encouraging innovation and adaptation.
ESS extend executive time horizons by prompting them to consider long-term strategic goals.
They improve reporting systems, providing comprehensive and actionable information.
They help refine business executives' mental models, leading to better understanding of market dynamics and organizational strengths.
ESS aid in consensus building and communication by facilitating data-driven discussions.
They improve office automation by streamlining information access and reducing time spent on searching for data.
ESS facilitate early identification of company performance issues, enabling timely intervention.
They allow for a detailed examination of critical success factors, informing strategic decision-making.
ESS promote a better understanding of the market and organizational performance.
They help optimize time management by providing efficient access to relevant information.

### Limitations of ESS

ESS functionality is limited, focusing primarily on strategic decision-making.
Quantifying the benefits of ESS can be challenging, as their impact is often indirect.
Executives may encounter information overload due to the vast amount of data available through ESS.
ESS may become slow due to the complexity of data analysis and the sheer volume of information.
Maintaining current data is a constant challenge, requiring regular updates and data integrity checks.
ESS may rely on unreliable or insecure data if not carefully managed.
The cost of implementing ESS can be prohibitive for small businesses.

Expert Systems

Expert systems capture the expertise of human experts in a computer-based system.
They are capable of reasoning and making decisions, much like a human expert, but without fatigue or distractions.
They can be used to preserve and reproduce the knowledge of experts, preventing knowledge loss.

### Business Benefits of Expert systems

Expert systems can reduce errors by minimizing human fallibility.
They can reduce costs by automating complex tasks and streamlining decision-making.
They can reduce training time by providing readily available expert knowledge to new employees.
They can increase quality and service levels by ensuring consistency in decision-making and knowledge application.

Limitations of Expert Systems

Expert systems are not as intelligent as human beings and are limited in their problem-solving capabilities.
They are most effective for dealing with well-defined problems with a limited number of possible outcomes, as they often struggle with complex, unstructured scenarios.
Developing expert systems can be a lengthy, expensive, and resource-intensive process.
Training and hiring additional experts may be a more cost-effective solution in some cases.
The rapidly changing environment necessitates constant updates and maintenance of an expert system, making it a continuous investment.
The complexity of large expert systems can lead to significant maintenance costs, potentially equaling the original development costs over time.

### Learning Management Systems (LMS)

LMS are web-based applications for planning, implementing, and assessing learning processes.
They identify training and learning gaps through analytical data and reporting.
LMS facilitate communication of learning objectives, organize timelines, and deliver content to learners.
They provide customizable features like assessment and tracking, allowing learners to monitor their progress and instructors to assess learning effectiveness.
LMS strive to create seamless communication between learners and instructors.
LMS offer features that go beyond online learning, including progress tracking, digital learning tools, communication management, and content selling.

### Advantages of LMS

LMS offer interoperability, allowing for seamless integration of different learning technologies.
They provide accessibility, enabling learners to access content anytime, anywhere, and on any device.
LMS promote reusability of learning materials, reducing redundancy and increasing efficiency.
They ensure durability of learning resources, making them readily available over time.
LMS offer maintenance capability, allowing for updates and improvements.
They provide adaptability, allowing for customization and modification to fit specific learning needs.

Other Advantages of LMS

LMS offer a variety of content formats, including text, video, and audio, for engaging learning experiences.
They provide flexibility in content access, allowing learners to access materials at their convenience.
Teachers can easily modify content, ensuring up-to-date and relevant learning materials.
Students can access updated content promptly.
LMS makes student evaluation easier and fairer by tracking attendance and conducting online quizzes.
Students and teachers can re-use materials for future reference.

### Disadvantages of LMS

Implementing LMS requires a robust technology infrastructure for seamless operation.
Teachers need to be willing to adapt their curricula from traditional face-to-face lectures to online delivery formats.

### LMS: Administration & Features

LMS automates training administration by registering users, tracking courses, and recording learner data.
They provide reports to management for evaluating training effectiveness and program performance.

### Moodle: Open Source LMS

Moodle (Modular Object Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment) is an open-source LMS based on sound pedagogical principles.
It helps educators create effective and high-quality courses while supporting student learning.
The open-source nature of Moodle enables users to download various learning modules to suit their needs.
Users can add email, discussion boards, live chats, quizzes, and other modules, differentiating their systems from commercially available options.
The open-source design allows users to contribute new features and enhancements that are available to all users without additional costs.

Moodle: Data Tracking & Web-based platform

Moodle saves all information, including student and teacher names, quiz items, journal entries, and student activities in a database.
This comprehensive data tracking allows instructors to monitor student progress and engagement.
Moodle's front end, the interface visible to students, is a database-driven website, rather than a static website with fixed content.

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Description

This quiz tests your knowledge of Decision Support Systems (DSS) and Executive Support Systems (ESS). It covers key concepts like sensitivity analysis, multidimensional data analysis, and the role of ESS in strategic decision-making. Perfect for those wanting to enhance their understanding of business intelligence tools.