Question 1

Scope of marketing research:  Which activity does marketing research not normally perform, considering that ongoing monitoring is handled by a broader marketing information system (MIS)?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Marketing research typically involves project-based studies—surveys, experiments, focus groups, or analyses conducted to answer specific questions. By contrast, a marketing information system (MIS) continuously collects, processes, and disseminates information. The question asks which listed activity marketing research does not normally perform on an ongoing basis. Given Data / Assumptions: Marketing research is episodic and question-driven. Marketing MIS provides routine, continuous tracking (e.g., dashboards, sales funnels, competitive monitoring). Marketing research can inform various aspects of marketing operations and current conditions when commissioned. Concept / Approach: While marketing research can gather environmental information, relate to product/price/promotion/place, and describe current situations, it does so in discrete studies. The role of providing a continuous stream of information is characteristic of a marketing MIS rather than a research project. Therefore, the activity that marketing research does not normally perform is “provide a continuous source of information.” Step-by-Step Solution: Differentiate episodic research projects from continuous MIS operations.Confirm that continuous provision belongs to MIS.Select “provide a continuous source of information.” Verification / Alternative check: Marketing texts separate “research” (studies) from “information systems” (ongoing data pipelines and reporting), supporting this distinction. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Gathering environmental information: common in research briefs. Relating to marketing operations: research supports product, pricing, promotion, placement decisions. Describing current situations: status assessments are a frequent deliverable. Common Pitfalls: Assuming research teams run the continuous MIS; in practice, operations or analytics functions maintain ongoing pipelines. Final Answer: provide a continuous source of information

Question 2

Professional certifications in IT audit:  The EDP Auditors Foundation sponsors which internationally recognized examination in information systems auditing?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Information systems auditing is supported by professional bodies that set standards and certify practitioners. One of the most recognized credentials validates knowledge of IT governance, risk, and controls. This question asks you to identify the examination sponsored by the EDP Auditors Foundation (historically associated with the professional community of IS auditors). Given Data / Assumptions: The exam in question certifies competence in systems auditing. It has global recognition and longstanding industry presence. Other options correspond to general computing groups or unrelated acronyms. Concept / Approach: The Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) examination is the hallmark credential for IS audit professionals. The supporting foundation and professional association promote research, education, and certification standards that align with audit practices worldwide, making CISA the correct choice among the options listed. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify which option names a specific exam in information systems audit.Recognize CISA as the globally known IS audit certification.Select “CISA.” Verification / Alternative check: Professional audit literature and employer requirements frequently cite CISA for IS audit roles, confirming its sponsorship and prominence. Why Other Options Are Wrong: CDP/DPMA/ACMI: not the established IS audit certification exam referenced here. None of the above: incorrect because CISA is correct. Common Pitfalls: Confusing general IT certifications with audit-specific credentials; the question targets auditing. Final Answer: CISA

Question 3

Design philosophy of effective MIS (Zani’s view):  According to Zani’s framework, an effective Management Information System should be designed primarily in which manner?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Designing an effective Management Information System (MIS) requires aligning information flows with organizational goals. Zani’s framework emphasizes starting from strategy and critical information needs, then cascading requirements to processes and data. The question asks which design philosophy best reflects this approach. Given Data / Assumptions: An MIS must support strategic objectives and management control. Clarity of goals should precede data collection and report building. While participation and coordination matter, the primary direction flows from top-level objectives. Concept / Approach: Top-down design begins with enterprise goals → critical success factors → key performance indicators → required models and data → enabling systems. This avoids data-first fragmentation and ensures every report supports decisions. Bottom-up or purely co-ordinative efforts risk misalignment and scope creep. Managerial participation is necessary but does not replace the need for top-down direction anchored in strategy. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify Zani’s emphasis on strategic alignment and control.Map this emphasis to a top-down cascade of requirements.Select “top down fashion.” Verification / Alternative check: Classic MIS design methodologies echo this approach, ensuring that the system delivers decision-relevant information tied to organizational objectives. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Bottom up: can surface useful ideas but often lacks strategic coherence. Co-ordinative/managerial participation: important enablers, not the primary design direction. None of the above: incorrect because top-down is the correct design emphasis. Common Pitfalls: Starting from available data or tools instead of defined decisions and measures; this leads to cluttered, low-impact MIS outputs. Final Answer: top down fashion

Question 4

Personnel (HR) decision-making scope:  Which of the following does not fall within the personnel (human resources) decision-making area in an organization?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Personnel (HR) decision-making covers staffing, compensation, compliance with payroll tax rules, training, and employee development. Finance decision-making, by contrast, addresses liquidity, investing, and capital structure. The question asks you to identify the item that does not belong in the HR decision domain. Given Data / Assumptions: Payroll processing and payroll tax compliance are HR/Payroll functions. An employee’s experience profile informs hiring, placement, and development. Cash flow analysis is a finance/treasury function. Concept / Approach: Classify each item by its typical owning function. “Pay-rolls” (payroll operations) and “income-tax assessment and recovery” in the context of payroll taxes tie to HR/payroll. “Person’s experience” relates to HR records and recruiting decisions. “Cash flow analysis” supports treasury/finance decisions like funding, investing, and working capital optimization; therefore it is not an HR decision-making item. Step-by-Step Solution: Categorize each option by organizational function.Identify the one item clearly owned by finance, not HR.Select “cash flow analysis.” Verification / Alternative check: Standard organizational charts place cash flow modeling in finance, while payroll and employee records fall under HR/payroll shared services. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Pay-rolls: core HR/payroll function. Income-tax assessment and recovery (payroll taxes): HR/payroll compliance area. Person’s experience: HR data for hiring/development decisions. Common Pitfalls: Assuming “income tax” equals corporate tax; in this context it refers to payroll withholding and recovery, handled by HR/payroll. Final Answer: cash flow analysis

Question 5

Inputs to financial transaction processing:  In a Financial Decision-Making System, which of the following is not typically an input to the financial transaction processing subsystem?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Financial transaction processing systems record monetary events such as receiving cash, disbursing funds, and handling refunds/returns. By contrast, documents tied to materials movement or inventory consumption belong to logistics or materials management. The question asks which item is not a typical input to financial transaction processing. Given Data / Assumptions: “Cash receipts” represent money received (e.g., from customers) → financial input. “Cash issues” represent disbursements/payments → financial input. “Cash returns” (refunds/returned cash) affect cash accounts → financial input. “Warehouse requisition slip” authorizes inventory movement, not a cash transaction. Concept / Approach: Classify each document by whether it triggers a cash ledger entry. Receipts, disbursements, and refunds immediately impact cash and related accounts. A warehouse requisition slip triggers inventory issue records (quantity and cost) and may later result in financial postings through cost of goods sold, but it is not itself a primary financial cash input document. Therefore, it does not fit the financial transaction processing input category listed here. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify which items directly impact cash subledgers.Exclude documents primarily tied to materials movement without immediate cash effect.Select “warehouse requisition slip.” Verification / Alternative check: ERP flows separate finance (bank/cash modules) from materials management; warehouse requisitions post to inventory, not cash, confirming the answer. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Cash receipts: classic financial input (debit cash). Cash issues: classic financial input (credit cash). Cash returns: refund transactions affecting cash balance. Common Pitfalls: Assuming every operational document is a direct financial input; many operational forms affect finance only after valuation steps. Final Answer: warehouse requisition slip

Question 6

History of marketing research:  In business practice, firms have been conducting formal marketing research and consumer studies for approximately how long?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Marketing research refers to the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of data about markets, consumers, and competitors to support better decisions. This question checks your awareness of the historical depth of marketing research as a formalized business activity, which predates the digital era by many decades. Given Data / Assumptions: The focus is on organized, professional marketing research by firms, not casual surveys. Industries such as consumer packaged goods, retail, and automotive institutionalized research early in the twentieth century. Options span short periods (ten or twenty-five years) up to “over fifty years.” Concept / Approach: By the mid-20th century, firms were already using panel data, attitude surveys, and controlled experiments. Techniques like focus groups, brand tracking, and test markets became common practice well before the Internet. Therefore, the most accurate characterization is that firms have been engaged in marketing research for well over fifty years. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify earliest structured practices (survey research, panels, field tests) in the mid-1900s.Note that professional research agencies and in-house insights teams existed decades ago.Among the choices, “over fifty years” best captures this long history. Verification / Alternative check: Classic textbooks and case histories reference pre-1960s developments such as probability sampling, A/B store tests, and Nielsen retail audits, confirming a timeline beyond fifty years. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Only the past ten years: Vastly understates the history; digital analytics are recent, but research is not. Twenty-five years: Still too short relative to documented practices. Fifty years: Close, but “over fifty years” is more accurate. None of the above: Incorrect because a correct option exists. Common Pitfalls: Equating modern online analytics with the entire field; ignoring foundational pre-Internet methods that defined marketing research. Final Answer: over fifty years

Question 7

Backup generations policy in file management:  In standard information systems operations, what is the common practice for the number of generations of data files retained for recovery (grandfather–father–son approach)?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Operational reliability depends on disciplined backup and retention policies. A widely used strategy is the “grandfather–father–son” rotation, which ensures multiple restore points to protect against corruption or operator error. This question asks for the common practice regarding how many generations are kept. Given Data / Assumptions: We are discussing routine file backup generations for recovery. Focus is on number of generations, not on media type or schedule. Batch processing is not itself a retention level; it is a processing mode. Concept / Approach: The grandfather–father–son method maintains three generations: the most recent backup (son), the previous backup (father), and an older backup (grandfather). This structure increases the chance of having an uncorrupted restore point if recent backups are compromised. Step-by-Step Solution: List the generations in the canonical scheme: son, father, grandfather.Map that to a count: three generations.Select the option that states “three generations of data files.” Verification / Alternative check: Data center standards and audit guidelines frequently reference three-generation rotations as a baseline, sometimes supplemented by offsite or cloud copies. Why Other Options Are Wrong: One or two generations: Provide insufficient fallbacks if the latest copy is bad. Batch processing: Not a retention count; irrelevant to the question asked. None of the above: Incorrect because a correct practice is stated. Common Pitfalls: Keeping only a single backup and discovering that it contains the same corruption as production; failing to test restores regularly. Final Answer: three generations of data files

Question 8

Tape and file labeling controls:  In operations using header/trailer labels, what information is typically included on trailer labels to aid identification and retention management?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: In traditional batch and archive operations, header and trailer labels on tapes or logical files provide essential metadata. They help operators and automated systems verify that the correct dataset is being processed and that retention/disposition policies are observed. Given Data / Assumptions: We consider standard operational labeling conventions. Trailer labels finalize and summarize the dataset written. Key metadata include the dataset (file) identifier and retention/disposition indicators. Concept / Approach: Trailer labels commonly store file identification and control data (for example, record counts, creation date, and retention information), enabling end-of-job verification and compliance with retention schedules. Including both identifiers and retention details facilitates audit trails and controlled media vaulting. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the purpose of labels: accurate identification and lifecycle control.Confirm that file IDs and retention cues satisfy these purposes.Therefore, select “both (a) and (b).” Verification / Alternative check: Operations manuals describe trailer labels as containing dataset names and control information used by job control languages and tape management systems. Why Other Options Are Wrong: File identification only: Incomplete; lacks retention guidance. Retention period only: Incomplete; without the file ID, controls are weakened. Neither / None: Incorrect because both are typically present. Common Pitfalls: Relying on handwritten or ad hoc labels; failing to synchronize label metadata with catalog systems. Final Answer: both (a) and (b)

Question 9

How organizational subsystems connect:  Across functional areas (for example, marketing, finance, operations), subsystems are primarily connected and coordinated by which type of flow?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Organizations comprise interdependent functional subsystems. Coordination among them is achieved by moving the right content to the right stakeholders at the right time. The generic term for this coordinating content is “information,” which includes data contextualized for decisions. Given Data / Assumptions: Subsystems exchange statuses, forecasts, and plans. “Data” are raw facts; “information” is data in context. “Resource” flows describe physical movement; “decision” flows describe authority rather than content. Concept / Approach: Information flows connect subsystems by transmitting processed, meaningful messages (for example, sales forecasts to production planning; purchase orders to suppliers; inventory levels to finance). While data flows exist at a technical level, the managerial integration concept is commonly framed as information flows. Step-by-Step Solution: Differentiate flows: physical resources vs. informational content vs. formal authority.Identify which flow coordinates decisions and actions across subsystems: information flows.Choose the option “information flows.” Verification / Alternative check: Enterprise architecture and MIS literature consistently cite information flows as the glue aligning processes and decisions across functions. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Resource flows: Concern materials and cash, not the coordinating messages. Decision flows: Refer to authority and approvals, not the content being exchanged. Data flows: Too low-level; the managerial view emphasizes information (contextualized data). None: Incorrect because information flows are correct. Common Pitfalls: Confusing raw data feeds with actionable information; lacking context leads to misalignment and rework. Final Answer: information flows

Question 10

Role of a front-end processor (FEP):  In data communications architectures, a front-end processor dedicated to communications typically performs which of the following functions?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: A front-end processor (FEP) is a specialized communications computer that offloads network I/O tasks from a host system. It manages line control, session handling, and message integrity, improving throughput and responsiveness for enterprise hosts. Given Data / Assumptions: The FEP sits between network lines and the main host. It handles real-time line discipline and protocol details. Functions include polling terminals, synchronization, and error control. Concept / Approach: Polling enables the FEP to query attached devices/terminals in sequence. Synchronization aligns sender and receiver so frames are recognized correctly. Error checking detects transmission errors using parity, checksums, or CRC so corrupted frames are retransmitted or discarded. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify standard FEP responsibilities: line control and protocol services.Map examples: polling, synchronization, error checking are all canonical.Therefore, select “All of the above.” Verification / Alternative check: Classic systems (for example, IBM 370/VTAM environments) illustrate FEPs handling line scanning, framing, and integrity checks. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Each single function is correct but incomplete; only the combined option reflects the FEP’s scope. Common Pitfalls: Assuming hosts should handle low-level line control directly; offloading to FEPs historically improved efficiency. Final Answer: All of the above

Question 11

Managerial levels and environmental scanning:  Environmental information (laws, competitors, technology trends, macroeconomics) is especially critical to which level of management for strategy setting?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Environmental scanning collects external information about markets, regulation, competitors, and technology. This information shapes long-term direction, positioning, and risk management. The question asks which managerial level depends most on such information. Given Data / Assumptions: Top management defines vision, strategy, and policy. Middle management translates strategy into programs and budgets. Supervisory levels focus on operational execution. Concept / Approach: While all levels benefit from context, top-level managers rely most heavily on environmental information to make strategic choices (entry/exit, mergers, R&D investments, capacity, and partnerships). Their decisions have long horizons and high uncertainty, requiring continuous external scanning. Step-by-Step Solution: Match information type (external, long-horizon) to managerial level (strategic).Recognize that top management is responsible for enterprise direction.Select “top-level managers.” Verification / Alternative check: Strategic management frameworks (PESTEL, five forces) are explicitly top-management tools for environmental analysis. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Middle- and low-level managers: More concerned with internal coordination and operational metrics, not primary consumers of environmental scans. All of the above: Overbroad; priority is highest at the top level. None: Clearly incorrect. Common Pitfalls: Confusing internal performance reports with external scanning; neglecting weak signals from the environment until they become crises. Final Answer: top-level managers

Question 12

Breaking down inventory lead time:  In materials management, inventory lead time is commonly decomposed into which detailed stages to improve planning and control?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Lead time is the elapsed time from recognizing a replenishment need to having usable stock on hand. Decomposing it helps pinpoint delays and optimize safety stocks, reorder points, and service levels. Given Data / Assumptions: We consider a typical reorder cycle in a periodic or continuous review system. Stages include planning and administrative time, production or supplier time, and inbound logistics/receiving time. The most complete decomposition should be chosen. Concept / Approach: A comprehensive breakdown includes: review (detecting need and authorizations), order (creation and approval), manufacturing or purchasing (make or supplier lead time), and receiving (transport, inspection, put-away). Capturing each stage enables more accurate reorder point calculations. Step-by-Step Solution: List stages from need recognition to availability.Validate that the chosen option includes all four stages.Select the most detailed decomposition: review, order, make/buy, receiving. Verification / Alternative check: Inventory control formulas often separate administrative lead time (review + order) from supply lead time (make/buy + receiving) for analysis. Why Other Options Are Wrong: order, manufacturing/purchasing, and receiving: Omits the review step, which adds non-trivial time. order, receiving: Too coarse; excludes make/buy time. All/None: Incorrect as a single best decomposition exists here. Common Pitfalls: Ignoring review and approval delays, which can dominate lead time variability; not separating supplier lead time from internal receiving and QA time. Final Answer: review, order, manufacturing or purchasing, and receiving

Question 13

Skills for information-system managers:  Individuals planning a career as an information-system manager should possess which combination of capabilities to be effective?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Information-system (IS) managers sit at the intersection of technology and business. Success demands more than technical knowledge; it requires leadership, communication, and stakeholder management to deliver organizational outcomes. Given Data / Assumptions: Role includes overseeing projects, operations, and teams. Stakeholders range from executives to end users and vendors. Communication spans proposals, policies, and documentation. Concept / Approach: An effective IS manager needs (a) technical grounding to evaluate solutions and risks, (b) human-relations skills to lead teams and manage change, and (c) strong written communication to document requirements, policies, and reports. These skills reinforce each other to ensure alignment and delivery. Step-by-Step Solution: Confirm technical literacy: architecture, security, lifecycle.Confirm people skills: negotiation, coaching, conflict resolution.Confirm written communication: clear specs, SLAs, governance artifacts.Therefore, choose “All of the above.” Verification / Alternative check: Job descriptions for IS managers consistently list these three domains as core competencies. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Any single skill is insufficient; effectiveness requires the full trio. Common Pitfalls: Overemphasizing technology at the expense of people and communication; or vice versa, lacking enough technical depth to make sound trade-offs. Final Answer: All of the above

Question 14

Variables in mathematical decision models:  Most quantitative models used for decision support include which categories of variables as core elements?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Decision models structure problems using variables. Understanding these categories clarifies what the decision maker can set, what the environment imposes, and what outcomes result from those choices. Given Data / Assumptions: Decision variables are the controllable choices (for example, price, order quantity). Uncontrollable variables are exogenous inputs (for example, demand, lead time). Dependent variables are outputs determined by the model relationships (for example, profit, service level). Concept / Approach: Models relate these variable types through equations or logical constraints. The aim is to select decision variables to optimize an objective, given uncontrollable variables and constraints, producing dependent outcomes for evaluation. Step-by-Step Solution: Classify variables by control: controllable vs. exogenous.Identify outputs that depend on inputs and decisions.Recognize that all three categories are standard components. Verification / Alternative check: Linear programming, inventory models, and simulation all use this taxonomy: decision (x), parameters (exogenous), and responses (outcomes). Why Other Options Are Wrong: Each single category is necessary but incomplete; only “All of the above” captures the full structure. Common Pitfalls: Confusing parameters with decisions; treating stochastic inputs as controllable when they are not. Final Answer: All of the above

Question 15

Where computer information systems excel:  Computer-based information systems are generally most successful at supporting which type of managerial decision?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Different decision levels demand different information characteristics. Operational control decisions are frequent, structured, and rule-based—making them ideal for computer support. Higher-level decisions are less structured and require judgment, qualitative insight, and external context that systems can support but not replace. Given Data / Assumptions: Control decisions involve monitoring and correcting day-to-day operations. Planning/strategic decisions are less frequent and more unstructured. “Nonprogrammable” decisions lack clear, repeatable algorithms. Concept / Approach: Transaction processing systems and MIS excel at capturing detailed data and producing timely, accurate reports and alerts that trigger operational actions (reorder, schedule, exception handling). These structured decisions map well to programmed logic and thresholds. Step-by-Step Solution: Classify decisions by structure: structured (control) vs. semi-structured (planning) vs. unstructured (strategic).Match computer strengths (speed, accuracy, repetition) to structured tasks.Select “control decisions.” Verification / Alternative check: Common applications—inventory reorder points, credit holds, production dispatching—demonstrate strong system support for control-level decisions. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Planning/strategic decisions: Systems inform these decisions, but human judgment dominates. Nonprogrammable decisions: By definition, not readily codified. None: Incorrect because control decisions fit well. Common Pitfalls: Expecting dashboards alone to replace strategic thinking; over-automating where nuanced judgment is needed. Final Answer: control decisions

Question 16

Historical MIS development: H.P. Luhn (IBM) and Stephen E. Forth pioneered an early computer application known as “selective dissemination of information” (SDI). Which name best identifies their contribution?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI) was an influential concept in the formative years of Management Information Systems and information science. The idea was to automatically match newly arriving documents or records against standing user profiles and then route only the most relevant items to each user. H.P. Luhn of IBM is especially recognized for this line of work; the system operationalized personalized current-awareness services decades before modern recommender systems. Given Data / Assumptions: We are asked to identify the specific application name associated with H.P. Luhn and Stephen E. Forth. Candidate terms include broader fields (information retrieval, document retrieval) and organizational systems (management information system). The historically correct, named contribution is SDI. Concept / Approach: SDI differs from generic “information retrieval.” Instead of ad hoc querying, SDI maintains user interest profiles and continuously filters streams of new content. This turns information delivery into a proactive, personalized service. Luhn’s broader contributions (e.g., KWIC indexing) advanced the practical mechanics of text processing needed for SDI to work at scale. Step-by-Step Solution: List the options and categorize them as named application vs. broad discipline. Recognize SDI as the specific named application pioneered by Luhn and collaborators. Eliminate generic fields that do not uniquely identify their application. Select “selective dissemination of information.” Verification / Alternative check: Historical accounts of early IBM information science projects cite Luhn’s SDI as a hallmark of personalized current-awareness systems, predating today’s recommendation engines. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Management information system: an enterprise umbrella concept, not the specific Luhn project. Information retrieval / document retrieval: broad disciplines; do not name the targeted application. None: incorrect because SDI is explicitly listed. Common Pitfalls: Conflating the general discipline of information retrieval with a particular named system; overlooking the proactive, profile-driven nature of SDI. Final Answer: selective dissemination of information

Question 17

Post-installation audit in information systems: what does it specifically seek to assure after a new system goes live?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: A post-installation audit (sometimes called a post-implementation review) is conducted after an information system has been deployed into production. Its purpose is to determine whether the solution is delivering the intended business value and whether it operates correctly, securely, and efficiently in the real environment. This helps close the project lifecycle and informs continuous improvement. Given Data / Assumptions: The audit examines both business fit (meeting management’s information needs) and technical quality (accuracy, security). The system has already passed acceptance testing but now faces real data, users, and processes. Compliance, controls, and benefit realization are in scope. Concept / Approach: Benefit realization asks, “Are managers receiving the reports, dashboards, and decision support promised?” Technical assurance asks, “Is the system accurate, reliable, and secure?” A proper post-installation audit addresses both sides: it validates outcome metrics and checks internal controls, data integrity, access control, and compliance with organizational and regulatory standards. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify audit goals: business outcomes + technical and security assurance. Align option (a) with business outcome verification. Align option (b) with technical assurance (accuracy, security, control). Conclude that both are required → choose “both (a) and (b).” Verification / Alternative check: Standard IT governance frameworks emphasize post-implementation reviews that cover value delivery and risk control, confirming that both are essential. Why Other Options Are Wrong: (a) only: ignores technical assurance. (b) only: ignores value and fitness-for-purpose. (d) and (e): contradict the core definition of such audits. Common Pitfalls: Stopping at technical metrics while neglecting managerial usefulness; or celebrating “on time/on budget” without confirming value realization and secure operations. Final Answer: both (a) and (b)

Question 18

General systems model: in systems thinking, the feedback loop that informs future actions is represented primarily by which flow within an organization?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: In the general systems model of an organization, inputs are transformed into outputs, while a feedback mechanism reports results back to controllers and decision-makers. Understanding what “feedback” actually consists of clarifies how managers learn from outcomes and adjust processes, targets, or resources. Given Data / Assumptions: Feedback conveys performance, variances, and conditions observed after action. “Data” are raw facts; “information” is processed, contextualized data useful for decisions. “Decision flow” denotes directives or choices that move from managers to operations, not the feedback itself. Concept / Approach: Feedback must be actionable and meaningful, not just raw signals. That aligns with “information flow,” which delivers structured, interpreted insights (metrics, exceptions, analyses) back to the control function. Decision flow typically follows feedback; it is the response. Data flow may be part of operations but does not, by itself, constitute the purposeful, interpreted loop managers depend on. Step-by-Step Solution: Define feedback as interpreted results that inform control. Differentiate information (interpreted, decision-ready) from raw data. Note that decisions flow forward after receiving feedback. Select “information flow” as the best descriptor of feedback. Verification / Alternative check: Control theory and MIS texts describe feedback as information about outcomes relative to targets, enabling corrective action, which supports choosing “information flow.” Why Other Options Are Wrong: Data flow: too raw; lacks interpretation needed for control. Decision flow: represents action taken after interpreting feedback. All/None: either over-inclusive or contradictory to the model. Common Pitfalls: Confusing the forward path of authority (decisions) with the backward path of insight (information); treating unprocessed data as feedback without context. Final Answer: information flow

Question 19

Scope of MIS: an MIS can include operational and tactical support, decision support, and automated _____ subsystems. Fill in the most appropriate term.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Management Information Systems (MIS) span multiple layers: operational/tactical reporting, decision support for analysis, and productivity platforms that automate routine clerical and communication tasks. The last category is traditionally called Office Automation Systems (OAS), which streamline document creation, scheduling, messaging, and collaboration. Given Data / Assumptions: The blank is preceded by “automated,” suggesting a standard term from MIS curricula. “Office automation” is a canonical label for subsystems that handle clerical and knowledge worker tasks. Other choices are generic nouns that do not match the established phrase. Concept / Approach: Office automation subsystems include email, word processing, spreadsheets, scheduling, imaging, and workflow tools. They enhance individual and team productivity and integrate with transactional and decision-support layers to form a comprehensive MIS stack aligned with how organizations actually work day to day. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the standard MIS phrase “Office Automation Systems.” Match the blank with “office.” Eliminate nonstandard completions that lack recognized meaning. Select “office.” Verification / Alternative check: MIS textbooks consistently present operational/tactical support, decision support, and office automation as major subsystems within the overall information environment. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Center/body/area: do not complete a recognized MIS term. None: incorrect because “office” yields a standard phrase used in the field. Common Pitfalls: Forgetting that productivity tools and workflows are core pieces of MIS, not just “nice to have” add-ons. Final Answer: office

Question 20

Materials management: in typical item master data, which code most directly distinguishes purchased items from manufactured items?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Enterprise resource planning (ERP) and materials management systems maintain a master record for each item. Among the attributes are fields that classify whether an item is bought, made, or subcontracted. This classification drives planning logic (MRP), lead times, costing, and workflow routing. Given Data / Assumptions: We need the field that explicitly categorizes the item’s supply type. “Purchased” vs. “manufactured” is a sourcing classification, not an identifier. Other fields (location, item number, drawing) serve different purposes. Concept / Approach: A product type or procurement type code (sometimes called “Make/Buy code”) flags whether the system should plan for internal production or external procurement. Planning engines read this flag to explode bills of materials (for made items) or generate purchase requisitions (for bought items). Stock location identifies where items are stored; item number is a unique identifier; drawing number links to engineering documents but does not dictate sourcing. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the attribute that controls sourcing logic. Map “purchased vs. manufactured” to a product/procurement type code. Eliminate identifiers and references that do not control sourcing. Select “product type code.” Verification / Alternative check: Standard ERP configuration (e.g., MRP views) includes a Make/Buy or procurement type field specifically for this distinction. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Stock location: storage detail, not sourcing. Item number: identifier common to all items. Drawing number: engineering reference; does not imply make/buy status. None: incorrect because a standard code exists for this classification. Common Pitfalls: Assuming identifiers or drawings determine sourcing; these support documentation and tracking, while the product/procurement type drives planning behavior. Final Answer: product type code

Management Information Systems Questions