Information Systems Chapter 2

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is NOT a typical function of a front-office information system?

Customer Management

Sales

Marketing

Inventory Management (correct)

Which of the following is a typical example of a back-office information system?

Human resources management system (correct)

Social media marketing platform

Online ordering system

Customer support portal

Which of these functions are examples of front-office systems? (Select all that apply)

Order Processing (correct)

Supply Chain Management (SCM)

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) (correct)

Financial Accounting

What is the primary distinction between front-office and back-office information systems?

Front-office systems are primarily focused on external interactions, while back-office systems are focused on internal operations. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a back-office system?

Direct interaction with customers (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following scenarios represents a front-office system interaction?

A customer placing an order online (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary objective of a front-office information system?

Improve customer experience (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these examples is NOT considered a back-office information system?

Customer support portal (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a key difference between the system designers’ view and the system builders’ view of data?

System designers focus on data representation, while system builders focus on data structures. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which view focuses on automating processes and selecting appropriate methods for automation?

System designers' view (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary concern of the system owners' view of communication?

The scope and reach of the communication within the system. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Software specifications are primarily concerned with which aspect of process?

The technical design of the process to be automated. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What technique is used to quickly build a functioning model of an information system?

Prototyping. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What kind of representation is an application program?

A machine-readable description of the process. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of an information systems architecture?

To provide a unified framework for organizing and viewing the fundamental building blocks of information systems. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which view deals with the programming logic that implements automated processes?

System builders' view (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a focus for information systems as discussed in the text?

Data storage (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which option best describes the workflow aspect of a business process?

The sequence of steps that a process follows. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the key benefits of electronically routing and signing documents within a system?

It speeds up the process of approvals and transactions. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between the system owners' and system users' views of knowledge?

System owners focus on information that adds new business knowledge, while system users focus on data used in everyday operations. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of how knowledge is used in a business setting?

Developing a new marketing strategy (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of business entities and business rules in the system owners' view of knowledge?

They provide a foundation for building the system's data models. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a system user's view of data?

A spreadsheet containing sales figures for the past quarter. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does information systems architecture support the various stakeholders involved in an information system?

All of the above. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between knowledge, processes, and communication in an information system?

All of the above. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which view of communication is concerned with how users interact with an information system?

System Users' View (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the technical design documents that specify how system users interact with a system?

User Interface Specifications (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which view of communication is primarily concerned with the technical design of communication interfaces?

System Designers' View (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for software that facilitates communication between systems using different technologies?

Middleware (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'user dialogue' refer to in the context of communication?

The sequence of user actions and system responses (D) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Chapter 2: Information System Building Blocks

This chapter focuses on the fundamental components and aspects of information systems.
It distinguishes between front-office and back-office systems.
Front-office systems interact directly with customers, handling sales, marketing, and customer management.
Back-office systems support internal operations, including human resources, finance, and inventory control.
Information systems architecture serves as a unifying framework for stakeholders with diverse perspectives.

High-Level Goals of Information Systems

Systems are structured around key goals that provide a perspective on the system.
Three high-level goals include Knowledge, Processes, and Communication. These provide a comprehensive view of the system.

Knowledge Goal

This goal focuses on the raw material used to create useful information, including data, and knowledge itself.
Key building blocks of this goal are related to gathering, storing, and managing data, knowledge and information.

Process Goal

This goal centers on the activities and internal processes that carry out the core business tasks.
Key elements include describing the sequence of tasks, management of the business, and various internal business processes.

Communication Goal

This goal highlights how the system interfaces with various users and other systems.
Communication is crucial for information exchange, both internal and external to the system. Building blocks of this goal focus on technology and the exchange of information.

Information System Views

Different stakeholders have distinct perspectives of the information system.
System owners emphasize how the system adds business knowledge for better decision-making.
System users focus on how the system aids in daily tasks, data capture, business operations (e.g. registration, data, processes).
System designers concentrate on the technical aspects of automation and software interfaces.
System builders are involved in constructing, implementing, and maintaining the technical functionality.

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Description

Explore the fundamental components of information systems in this quiz. Learn about the distinctions between front-office and back-office systems, as well as the high-level goals surrounding knowledge, processes, and communication. This chapter provides insights into the architecture of information systems and their functionalities.