Types of Information Systems

Questions and Answers

Which of the following is not a type of management information system?

Web development systems (WDS) (correct)

Transaction processing systems (TPS)

Executive information systems (EIS)

End-user information systems (EUIS)

What does Big Data refer to?

Data that can't be processed or analysed using traditional processes or tools.

The three V's of Big Data are Volume, Velocity and _____

Variety

Soft problems are always clearly articulated.

False Signup and view all the answers

What does systems thinking involve?

Understanding the characteristics and relationships of various components of a system. Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms to their definitions:

Inputs = Whatever a system takes from its environment to fulfill its purpose. Outputs = Whatever a system returns to its environment. Subsystem = A part or aggregation of parts of a system. Environment = Everything external to a system that interacts with it. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of systems?

Constraints Signup and view all the answers

Closed systems interact freely with their environments.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for data that has been made useful by processing, organizing, or presenting it in a specific context?

Information Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of information as described?

Comprehensiveness Signup and view all the answers

In what forms can data be represented according to the provided content?

Numbers, words, images, and multimedia Signup and view all the answers

Why is information needed according to the provided content?

To gain knowledge about surroundings and aid in decision making Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following examples qualifies as information?

A report that summarizes employee performance metrics Signup and view all the answers

Which character of information focuses on the necessary resources required for its provision?

Economic Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about data is correct?

Data includes facts and entities such as names and numbers. Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic of information relates to how understandable it is to the user?

Usability Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of descriptive analytics?

To categorize and classify past data Signup and view all the answers

Which analytical method primarily seeks to create models based on historical data?

Predictive analytics Signup and view all the answers

In the context of business analytics, what is typically a key output of descriptive analytics?

Summarizing historical sales performance Signup and view all the answers

Which type of analytics would be most useful for assessing which products are failing to meet sales expectations?

Descriptive analytics Signup and view all the answers

What aspect does prescriptive analytics focus on that differentiates it from descriptive and predictive analytics?

It provides recommendations for decision making. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common use case for descriptive analytics within a business context?

Deciding which regions to abandon for sales Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the relationship between descriptive and predictive analytics?

Descriptive analytics helps inform predictive analytics by providing historical data. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main questions that descriptive analytics attempts to answer for businesses?

What has happened? Signup and view all the answers

Which type of system primarily focuses on managing customer interactions?

Customer relationship management system (CRM) Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the 'Velocity' aspect of Big Data?

The speed at which data is generated and processed Signup and view all the answers

Which type of problem is typically considered 'hard' in the context of systems thinking?

Problems that can be clearly articulated and measured Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic of systems thinking acknowledges human factors in situations?

Soft systems thinking Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not considered a traditional type of information system?

Big Data analytics platform Signup and view all the answers

In the context of systems, which type of data is primarily unstructured?

Text documents and images Signup and view all the answers

What defines a system within a business context?

A collection of interrelated components functioning together Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems?

Integrated systems used to manage core business processes Signup and view all the answers

Which symbol best represents uncertainty in a business situation?

Question mark Signup and view all the answers

In the context of a Human Activity Model, what is the primary purpose of developing this model?

To identify the activities necessary for transformation Signup and view all the answers

What type of organizational structure should be included in a rich picture analysis?

Departments that are stable and change slowly Signup and view all the answers

Which activity may be considered a primary task of a car manufacturer?

Making cars to survive in the industry Signup and view all the answers

Which symbol is employed to represent friendship in organizational diagrams?

Two hands shaking Signup and view all the answers

What is not typically included in a rich picture description of a business situation?

Illustration of potential market share growth Signup and view all the answers

What does the 'black cloud' symbolize in a business context?

Challenges or negative situations Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents a 'knotty problem' in business analysis?

A rope knot symbol Signup and view all the answers

What is essential to understand before creating a data visualisation?

The volume and content of the data to be visualised Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best defines the first step in creating a data visualisation?

Understanding the data to be visualised Signup and view all the answers

Which type of visual representation is specifically designed to present information quickly and clearly?

Infographics Signup and view all the answers

When creating a data visualisation, why is it important to know your audience?

To convey the information in a way they will understand Signup and view all the answers

What do static visualisations like infographics primarily enhance in data communication?

Understanding through pattern detection Signup and view all the answers

In the context of data visualisation for business, which point is crucial for effective communication?

Choosing the simplest form of visualisation that conveys the message Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes 'Last.Forward' in the context of static visualisations?

It represents social networks Signup and view all the answers

How have infographics evolved in their usage?

From mass communication to tailored business communication Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Types of Systems

Management Information Systems (MIS) support decision-making by providing relevant, timely, and accurate information.
Transaction Processing Systems (TPS) handle day-to-day transactions and data entry tasks in businesses.
Decision Support Systems (DSS) assist with complex decision-making processes, utilizing data analysis and modeling.
Executive Information Systems (EIS) provide top executives with easy access to internal and external information.
Enterprise Systems (ES) integrate core business processes and information across various functions.
End-User Information Systems (EUIS) empower users to access and manage their own data for personal or departmental use.
Customer Relationship Management Systems (CRM) manage a company's interactions with current and potential customers.
Database Management Systems (DBMS) facilitate the creation, manipulation, and administration of databases.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems integrate all facets of an enterprise into one comprehensive information system.
Information Processing Systems process data to produce meaningful information.
File Management Systems manage the organization and retrieval of files.
Database Systems store, retrieve, and manage structured data.
Data Management Systems support the managing of data assets within an organization.

Big Data

Big Data refers to large volumes of data that cannot be processed with traditional tools and methods.
Volume signifies the massive amounts of data generated, moving beyond terabytes to zettabytes or even brontobytes.
Velocity highlights the rapid pace at which data is generated, with significant quantities uploaded every minute (e.g., hundreds of hours of video to YouTube).
Variety indicates the diversity of data types; 80% of global data is unstructured, ranging from text and images to video and sensor data.

Systems Thinking

A system is an interconnected set of components working towards defined objectives.
Business problems can be categorized into "soft" (messy) problems and "hard" problems.
Soft problems relate to crises or conflicts, where human factors are prevalent.
Hard problems are clearly defined and quantifiable.
Systems Thinking employs system characteristics to interpret real-world situations and insights.

Characteristics of Systems

Component: Individual parts or subsystems of a system.
Interrelated Components: Dependencies among subsystems that achieve common goals.
Boundary: Division between a system and its environment.
Environment: External factors impacting the system.
Interfaces: Points of interaction between subsystems or between a system and its environment.
Inputs: Resources received from the environment to achieve objectives.
Outputs: Results returned to the environment after processing inputs.
Constraints: Conditions limiting a system's ability to achieve its goals.
Stakeholders: Individuals or organizations with vested interests in the system.

System Classification

Systems are classified as open (interacting with their environment) or closed (not affected by environmental changes).
Business problem solvers use systems characteristics to explore and analyze holistic business situations, applying systems thinking to understand organizational dynamics.

Data vs. Information

Data consists of factual details; the plural form of datum.
Information is the processed and organized output of data, transformed to be useful in specific contexts.