Question 1

Material flow responsibilities: Which two functional areas are most directly responsible for the organizational flow of materials from external sourcing through internal usage?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Material flow spans supplier engagement, inbound logistics, storage, and consumption on the shop floor. Clear responsibility for this flow reduces stock-outs, overages, and delays. Two organizational areas are classically charged with ensuring materials are available at the right time, cost, and quality: purchasing (procurement) and manufacturing (production/operations). Given Data / Assumptions: Purchasing secures materials from suppliers per specifications and schedules. Manufacturing converts materials into finished goods according to plans. Marketing and finance are stakeholders but not primary stewards of physical material flow. Concept / Approach: Purchasing manages supplier selection, pricing, terms, and delivery commitments. Manufacturing plans consumption via MRP/production schedules, coordinates with stores/warehouse, and ensures materials are issued to work centers. Together, they synchronize supply and demand to sustain throughput and meet customer promises, often with support from materials management and logistics teams. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify who sources materials: purchasing/procurement. Identify who consumes and controls shop-floor usage: manufacturing. Acknowledge supporting roles (logistics, quality, finance) without confusing ownership. Select “manufacturing and purchasing.” Verification / Alternative check: MRP and ERP workflows tie purchase orders (purchasing) to work orders and backflushing (manufacturing), confirming joint responsibility over material flow. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Marketing and finance influence demand and budgets but do not orchestrate day-to-day material movement. Common Pitfalls: Assuming inventory management is purely a finance task; overlooking the scheduling link between purchasing and production. Final Answer: manufacturing and purchasing

Question 2

Applicability of MIS: Which types of organizations can develop and benefit from a Management Information System (MIS)?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: MIS is not confined to commercial enterprises. Any organization that gathers data and converts it into actionable information for planning, control, and service delivery can benefit from an MIS. Public-sector agencies, educational bodies, and transportation firms all manage resources and performance, making MIS broadly applicable across sectors and sizes. Given Data / Assumptions: MIS transforms operational data into managerial information. Organizations vary in mission but share needs for planning and control. Examples include emergency services, education assessment, and shipping/logistics. Concept / Approach: Regardless of industry, MIS integrates data sources, applies business rules, and delivers reports and dashboards tied to objectives. In a fire department, MIS supports incident response times, resource allocation, and compliance. A college testing service uses MIS to track exam scheduling, scoring, and analytics. An ocean transportation company relies on MIS for fleet utilization, scheduling, and cost control. The common thread is converting raw records into timely, relevant, accurate information for managers and stakeholders. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify MIS role: collect → process → store → disseminate information. Recognize the universality of these needs across sectors. Map each example organization to MIS use cases. Conclude all listed organizations can develop and benefit from MIS. Verification / Alternative check: Case studies show MIS adoption in municipalities, universities, and logistics companies. KPIs and service-level metrics are universal drivers. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Limiting MIS to a single sector misunderstands its cross-industry applicability. Common Pitfalls: Equating MIS solely with financial reporting; ignoring operational and service metrics outside the private sector. Final Answer: All of the above

Question 3

Decision-making workflow: Which of the following are recognized steps within a manager’s decision-making process?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Decision-making is a structured process even when problems are complex. Common frameworks include recognizing a situation requires attention, defining the problem clearly, generating and evaluating alternatives, selecting a course of action, implementing that decision, and learning from outcomes. MIS supports each step by supplying timely, relevant, and accurate information. Given Data / Assumptions: Managers face varied problems from operational to strategic. Information systems provide data and models to inform choices. The options listed correspond to different decision-making stages. Concept / Approach: Problem recognition alerts managers to discrepancies or opportunities (e.g., KPI deviations). Problem identification clarifies scope, root causes, and objectives. Alternative selection chooses among options using criteria like cost, time, risk, and impact. Action implements the decision with resources and timelines. Together, they form a coherent decision cycle supported by reporting, analytics, and feedback loops. Step-by-Step Solution: Recognize a trigger (exception report, event, or opportunity). Define and structure the problem with data and stakeholder input. Develop and evaluate alternatives using models and scenarios. Select and execute the preferred option; monitor results. Verification / Alternative check: Management science texts converge on similar steps (intelligence, design, choice, implementation), which map directly to the listed items. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Each individual step is correct but incomplete in isolation; the comprehensive answer is that all are part of the process. Common Pitfalls: Jumping to solutions without proper identification; failing to evaluate alternatives rigorously; inadequate follow-through on action and monitoring. Final Answer: all of the above

Question 4

Supervisory information systems: Computing systems designed to supply supervisory-level information typically include which of the following application areas?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Supervisors need timely, operational information to manage daily performance, exceptions, and compliance. Multiple operational systems can supply such information by summarizing transactions, highlighting anomalies, and tracking throughput or status. The breadth of supervisory information is not limited to a single domain; it spans financial operations and real-time operations alike. Given Data / Assumptions: Supervisory information is near real-time or periodic, with actionable detail. Financial-operations systems and operational-control systems can both produce supervisory metrics. Supervisors monitor accuracy, timeliness, and adherence to standards. Concept / Approach: Invoicing systems provide supervisory views on billing cycles, error rates, and disputed invoices. Payroll systems provide attendance exceptions, overtime trends, and compliance checks. Process control systems (in manufacturing/utility contexts) offer dashboards on line speeds, temperatures, alarms, and quality deviations. Each feeds the supervisor with the exact information needed to intervene, reassign resources, or escalate issues promptly. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify supervisor goals: throughput, accuracy, compliance, and safety. Map each system to supervisory KPIs and exception conditions. Recognize that different departments contribute supervisory insights. Choose “All of the above.” Verification / Alternative check: Typical shop-floor and back-office dashboards consolidate feeds from invoicing, payroll/HRIS, and SCADA/process-control systems to support shift leads and unit supervisors. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Any single area understates the diversity of supervisory information; “None” is contradicted by common practice. Common Pitfalls: Providing only historical summaries without exceptions; siloed data that prevents cross-functional oversight by supervisors. Final Answer: All of the above

Question 5

Applying the systems approach: When analyzing an organization with the systems approach, in what order should a manager logically proceed across levels of scope?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The systems approach encourages managers to consider a problem in the context of larger environments. Before optimizing a component, one should understand how that component fits within higher-level systems and constraints. This top-down view prevents sub-optimization and aligns local changes with organizational and environmental objectives. Given Data / Assumptions: A “supersystem” is the broader environment or higher-level system enclosing the focal system. A “system” is the primary focus (e.g., the firm or major division). A “subsystem” is a component within the system (e.g., a department or process). Concept / Approach: Proceeding from the supersystem to the system to the subsystem maintains alignment. First, identify external stakeholders, regulations, markets, and infrastructures (supersystem). Next, define the firm or unit’s goals and interfaces (system). Finally, specify department processes and control loops (subsystem). This order ensures that internal designs serve external realities and strategic objectives. Step-by-Step Solution: Describe the supersystem: industry, regulatory, and technology context. Define the system’s objectives and boundaries within that context. Decompose into subsystems and design their controls and interfaces. Validate that subsystems roll up coherently to system and supersystem goals. Verification / Alternative check: Enterprise architecture methods mirror this order: contextual (outside-in) → conceptual (system-level) → logical/physical (subsystem-level) designs. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Starting at the subsystem risks sub-optimization; the other sequences contain errors or redundancies (e.g., “sulpersystem,” repeated “supersystem”). Common Pitfalls: Jumping to process tweaks without considering market or regulatory drivers; designing dashboards that do not align with enterprise KPIs. Final Answer: super system to the system to the subsystem level

Question 6

Distributed databases and data distribution: What is the term for a strategy in which duplicate copies of the entire database are stored at all (or multiple) locations so that each site has a full, synchronized copy?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Organizations with multiple offices often need the same data close to each user to improve availability and performance. Distributed database design offers several data placement strategies. This question asks you to identify the strategy in which a complete copy of the database exists at each site, rather than splitting it into pieces. Given Data / Assumptions: Multiple locations (sites or nodes) must access the same data. The goal is for each location to have a full copy of the database. Copies are intended to be synchronized so users see consistent information. Concept / Approach: Replication in distributed databases means maintaining one or more duplicate copies of data across different nodes. In full replication, every site keeps the entire database; in partial replication, only selected tables or fragments are copied. Replication improves read performance and availability, but it introduces complexity for write coordination and conflict resolution. This differs from partitioning (also called fragmentation), where data is split (horizontally or vertically) and each site stores only a portion. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the requirement: duplicate copies at all locations.Map requirement to concept: full replication of the database.Eliminate alternatives: partitioning divides data; polling is a communication method; generic “data sharing” lacks the specific meaning of duplication.Choose “replication.” Verification / Alternative check: Distributed systems texts classify data placement strategies as replication vs partitioning (or hybrids). Only replication yields full duplicates at all sites. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Partitioning: Splits data rather than duplicates it fully. Polling: A technique to query or check devices, not a data placement strategy. Data sharing: Vague; does not imply full duplicates. None: Incorrect because “replication” fits exactly. Common Pitfalls: Confusing replication with caching or partitioning; ignoring write-conflict and latency issues that replication introduces. Final Answer: replication

Question 7

Project control and reporting: At the detailed (operational) level of project control, which paired questions are primarily answered to keep work on track?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Project control translates plans into actionable schedules and budgets, then monitors progress against those baselines. At a detailed level, managers focus on timing and resource consumption to ensure deliverables are achieved without scope, schedule, or cost overruns. Given Data / Assumptions: The question emphasizes detailed project control, not high-level governance. Common artifacts include Gantt charts, earned value metrics, and cost reports. We must select the pair of questions that operational control most directly addresses. Concept / Approach: Daily or weekly control cycles revolve around schedule and cost. “When?” aligns with start/finish dates and milestones. “How much?” maps to effort hours, quantities, and costs (budget vs actual). These two dimensions underpin techniques such as earned value management (EVM), where schedule variance and cost variance quantify performance. Step-by-Step Solution: Isolate operational control information needs: timing and magnitude.Map timing → “when,” magnitude/resources → “how much.”Eliminate distractors: “who” and “why” are important for accountability and causality but are secondary to core control tracking.Select “when and how much?” as the best fit. Verification / Alternative check: Standard PMBOK-aligned control processes emphasize schedule control and cost control, answering whether work is on time and within budget. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Who and why? Diagnostic questions, not primary tracking metrics. When and where? “Where” is relevant for logistics but not central to control KPIs. Who and when? Missing cost/effort dimension. Common Pitfalls: Overemphasizing narrative explanations (“why”) before establishing the quantitative status (schedule/cost); tracking dates without monitoring burn rate. Final Answer: when and how much?

Question 8

Periodic reporting in MIS: What is the most appropriate primary use of a periodic (recurring) management report?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Periodic reports (daily, weekly, monthly) compile routine performance data such as sales, costs, inventory, and service levels. They are foundational to management by exception, flagging deviations from plan that warrant further analysis and action. Given Data / Assumptions: Reports are standardized and recurring, not ad hoc studies. They summarize KPIs against targets or prior periods. Management needs to detect issues quickly and consistently. Concept / Approach: The first value of a periodic report is problem identification. By comparing actuals to budgets and thresholds, managers spot anomalies that justify deeper investigation. Subsequent steps—evaluating, identifying, and selecting solutions—require additional analysis, alternatives generation, and decision processes beyond the scope of simple recurring reports. Step-by-Step Solution: Recognize the role of recurring reports: monitoring and exception detection.Link KPI variance to early identification of problems.Note that solution evaluation/selection are later phases using additional tools (e.g., what-if analysis).Choose “identify the problem.” Verification / Alternative check: MIS frameworks position periodic reports at the top of the control loop, surfacing deviations for subsequent managerial action. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Evaluate/identify/select solutions: These are post-identification steps typically handled via analysis, meetings, or decision support models, not by the periodic report itself. None: Incorrect because periodic reports do support problem identification. Common Pitfalls: Expecting reports to prescribe solutions automatically; designing reports without clear targets or thresholds undermines their problem-identification power. Final Answer: identify the problem

Question 9

Enterprise planning and allocation: Which of the following are valid examples of global allocation problems that require cross-organization optimization or policy setting?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Global allocation problems involve distributing scarce resources—capital, capacity, inventory, and time—across the enterprise. They are cross-functional and policy-driven, emphasizing system-wide outcomes over local optima. Given Data / Assumptions: The scenarios span manufacturing, product development, and supply chain. Decisions affect multiple sites or departments. Solutions typically require modeling trade-offs and constraints. Concept / Approach: Defining plant capacities allocates production potential across facilities. Scheduling an entire development project allocates people, budgets, and time across interdependent tasks. Setting general inventory guidelines allocates working capital and service levels across items and locations. Each example requires global policies or optimization rather than isolated, local decisions. Step-by-Step Solution: Assess each option’s scope: enterprise-wide vs local.Recognize that capacities, master schedules, and inventory policies are global levers.Confirm that all listed items qualify as global allocation problems.Select “All of the above.” Verification / Alternative check: Operations research applications (LP, MIP, simulation) and S&OP processes handle exactly these enterprise-allocation decisions. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Each single option is correct but incomplete; “None” is incorrect since all examples fit the definition. Common Pitfalls: Optimizing locally (one plant or one SKU) without considering system constraints; ignoring cross-functional impacts on cost and service. Final Answer: All of the above

Question 10

System integrity and data quality: Which of the following is NOT typically listed among the three core dimensions of system/data integrity?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Integrity describes the trustworthiness of data and systems. Core dimensions ensure that information is correct, whole, and protected from unauthorized change. This question asks you to identify the attribute that does not belong to the classic triad used in many governance frameworks. Given Data / Assumptions: Common integrity dimensions include accuracy, completeness, and protection from tampering. Security is often grouped with integrity to ensure safeguarding. “Appropriateness” is more a relevance/fitness concept than a strict integrity dimension. Concept / Approach: Integrity focuses on whether the data is correct and unaltered. Accuracy means numbers and facts are correct. Completeness means required data is present. Security (confidentiality, integrity, availability) provides controls that prevent unauthorized access or modification, thereby protecting integrity. Appropriateness relates to relevance for a given decision context and is typically discussed under information quality or usefulness, not integrity. Step-by-Step Solution: List integrity-focused attributes: accuracy, completeness, protected state.Recognize that security underpins integrity by preventing unauthorized changes.Identify “appropriateness” as outside the integrity triad.Select “appropriateness.” Verification / Alternative check: Data governance handbooks separate quality dimensions (accuracy, completeness, timeliness) and security from usefulness measures like relevance/appropriateness. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Accuracy: Core integrity/quality dimension. Completeness: Core integrity/quality dimension. Security: Protects integrity by controlling access and change. Common Pitfalls: Confusing decision relevance (appropriateness) with data correctness and protection; mixing quality and governance categories. Final Answer: appropriateness

Question 11

Human resources information systems: A company wants to run a “skills search” to find employees with specific competencies. Which file access path is essential for this capability?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: HR information systems support workforce planning, staffing, and project assignment. A frequent requirement is finding employees with certain certifications, languages, or technical capabilities—commonly called a “skills search.” The key is how records can be indexed and queried. Given Data / Assumptions: Employee master data includes identifiers, positions, and competencies. The objective is to filter by skill criteria, not just by individual identities. Applicants are managed separately from current employees. Concept / Approach: A skills search must be able to query by employee skill category (e.g., cloud architect, Spanish proficiency, welding level 3). Name-based access returns a specific person, not a set by competence. Position-based access may reflect job titles, which often lag behind actual skill inventories. Applicant files concern candidates, not existing staff available for assignment. Step-by-Step Solution: Define the query: “Show all employees with skill X at level Y.”Map to the required index/path: skill category (and possibly proficiency level).Exclude access paths that locate individuals by identity or role but not by skills.Select “employee skill category.” Verification / Alternative check: Competency management modules standardize skills with taxonomies and levels to enable quick discovery and gap analysis. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Employee position: Job titles do not reliably encode detailed skills. Applicant file: Not the population of current employees. Employee name: Index by identity, not by capability. Common Pitfalls: Maintaining free-text skills without normalization; lacking proficiency levels; not updating skills after training or projects. Final Answer: employee skill category

Question 12

Professional certification in computing: The Institute for Certification of Computer Professionals (ICCP) has administered the Certificate in Computer Programming (CCP) and which other classic examination?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Professional certifications signal validated skills and experience. The ICCP is a long-standing body offering examinations recognized historically in information systems roles. Knowing which credentials belong to which organizations avoids confusion during career planning or audit preparation. Given Data / Assumptions: ICCP is the issuer in question. We are looking for a classic companion to CCP. Other acronyms listed belong to different organizations or are not examinations. Concept / Approach: The ICCP historically administered CCP (Certificate in Computer Programming) and CDP (Certified Data Processor). By contrast, CISA is a certification from ISACA for information systems auditors. ACM is a professional society, not a certification exam. DPMA (now part of another body) refers to an association, not an ICCP examination. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the certifying organization: ICCP.Recall ICCP’s classic exams: CCP and CDP.Eliminate certifications owned by other organizations (e.g., CISA/ISACA).Select “CDP.” Verification / Alternative check: Historical references to ICCP’s credential portfolio list the CDP alongside CCP as cornerstone exams. Why Other Options Are Wrong: CISA: ISACA credential, not ICCP. DPMA: An association, not an ICCP exam. ACM: A computing society with publications and conferences, not ICCP’s cert. Common Pitfalls: Confusing certifying bodies due to similar acronyms; assuming any popular IS credential belongs to ICCP. Final Answer: CDP

Question 13

System architecture choices: Which of the following is NOT typically an advantage of decentralized processing when compared to centralized processing?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Computing can be centralized (resources in one place) or decentralized (resources distributed to departments or sites). Each approach has trade-offs across cost, control, responsiveness, and reliability. Understanding these helps architects match technology to organizational needs. Given Data / Assumptions: Decentralization places processing closer to users. Local autonomy may boost responsiveness and productivity. Central IT’s direct control typically decreases in decentralized models. Concept / Approach: Decentralized processing often reduces wide-area communication needs (local processing), improves perceived reliability via fault isolation, and increases user responsiveness—potentially boosting productivity. However, it generally reduces centralized control, making standardization, governance, and uniform security harder. Therefore, “increased computer system control” is not an advantage of decentralization. Step-by-Step Solution: List common decentralization benefits: responsiveness, local autonomy, reduced WAN dependence.Contrast with control: central standards and oversight are harder to enforce.Select the choice that contradicts decentralization’s trade-offs.Answer: increased computer system control (not an advantage). Verification / Alternative check: IT governance literature notes centralization increases standardization and control; decentralization increases flexibility at the expense of uniform control. Why Other Options Are Wrong: They are plausible benefits of decentralization in many contexts. Common Pitfalls: Ignoring hybrid models (federated IT) that attempt to balance control with local agility; assuming “reliability” always increases—design matters. Final Answer: increased computer system control

Question 14

Marketing fundamentals: Which option below is NOT part of the classic marketing mix (the “4 Ps”)?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The marketing mix—popularly called the “4 Ps”—is a foundational concept that organizes controllable levers firms use to influence demand. Recognizing what belongs in this set helps marketers structure strategies and tactics consistently. Given Data / Assumptions: The classic 4 Ps are Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. We must pick the option that is not one of these four. Some distractors may sound related to marketing communications. Concept / Approach: “Persuasion” is an outcome or aim of promotional activity but is not itself one of the 4 Ps. The other listed items—product (what is offered), place (distribution/channel), and promotion (communication)—are core elements. Although “price” is not listed here, its absence does not change which choice is wrong. Step-by-Step Solution: Recall the 4 Ps set.Compare each option to the canonical list.Identify “persuasion” as not part of the formal mix.Select “persuasion.” Verification / Alternative check: Introductory marketing texts consistently define the mix as product, price, place, promotion. Why Other Options Are Wrong: They are genuine components of the 4 Ps (except price, which is not presented here but is part of the classic set). Common Pitfalls: Confusing tools within promotion (advertising, persuasion) with the strategic pillars of the marketing mix. Final Answer: persuasion

Question 15

MIS planning practice: Many organizations formalize their approach to Management Information Systems by creating what kind of overarching plan to guide priorities, architecture, and sequencing?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Large information initiatives require structured planning to align technology with business strategy. Organizations often articulate a top-level roadmap for systems, data, and infrastructure that coordinates investments over several years. Given Data / Assumptions: The context is organization-wide MIS planning. The plan should set priorities, sequencing, and governance. We are looking for the common label used in practice. Concept / Approach: An MIS master plan (sometimes called an information systems master plan or IS roadmap) sets the strategic direction for applications, platforms, integration, security, and data governance. It aligns initiatives with business capabilities and budgets, reducing redundancy and guiding phased delivery. It differs from operational “control” plans or ad hoc “decision” documents, and it is more specific than a generic “plan.” Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the need: an overarching, multi-year plan for MIS.Match terminology used in IS strategy literature: “master plan.”Eliminate generic or mismatched terms (decision/control).Select “master.” Verification / Alternative check: IS strategy frameworks and enterprise architecture practices commonly reference an IS/MIS master plan or roadmap to coordinate portfolios. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Decision: A single choice, not a comprehensive roadmap. Plan: Too generic; lacks the specific, recognized label. Control: Pertains to governance/operations, not the strategic roadmap. Common Pitfalls: Confusing annual budgets with multi-year architecture roadmaps; producing a list of projects without dependency mapping or capability alignment. Final Answer: master

Question 16

Actuarial accounting systems:  These specialized systems are most commonly associated with which industry domain?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Actuarial accounting systems combine actuarial science with financial and managerial accounting to quantify risk, price products, and recognize revenues and liabilities appropriately. These systems are central to sectors where uncertainty about future events directly affects pricing, reserves, and performance measurement. Given Data / Assumptions: The term “actuarial” refers to measurement of risk and uncertainty using probability and statistics. Such systems must support reserve calculation, premium setting, claims forecasting, and regulatory reporting. We are selecting the industry most tightly tied to actuarial accounting. Concept / Approach: Actuarial accounting is synonymous with insurance operations. Life, health, property, and casualty insurers need actuarial models to price policies, estimate loss development, and set technical reserves. While reliability or consistency are desirable qualities, they are not industries; the only correct industry category listed is insurance. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the domain where actuarial methods are mission-critical: insurance.Recognize that other choices are adjectives, not industries.Select “insurance.” Verification / Alternative check: Insurance accounting standards (for example, those addressing policy reserves and claim liabilities) explicitly require actuarial inputs, confirming the match between actuarial systems and the insurance industry. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Reliable/consistent/exhaustive: describe data qualities, not industries, and thus do not answer the “which industry?” question. None of the above: incorrect because insurance is correct. Common Pitfalls: Confusing actuarial analytics with generic analytics; actuarial systems specifically model insurance risks over time horizons and cohorts. Final Answer: insurance

Question 17

Knowledge-based systems in Artificial Intelligence:  An ______ system includes both a stored knowledge base and an inference engine.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Within Artificial Intelligence, an expert system is a classic form of a knowledge-based system. It encapsulates domain expertise and uses logical reasoning to reach conclusions, provide recommendations, or explain diagnoses similar to a human expert in a narrow field. Given Data / Assumptions: The system uses a knowledge base containing facts and rules. It employs an inference engine to apply rules to known facts and derive new conclusions. The question asks for the label that matches this architecture. Concept / Approach: An expert system = knowledge base + inference engine + user interface (and often an explanation facility). The knowledge base stores if-then rules, frames, or cases; the inference engine performs forward or backward chaining to infer results. This is distinct from a generic management information system (MIS) or a “control” system. Step-by-Step Solution: Map the architectural components to the canonical AI term.Identify “expert system” as the standardized term.Select “expert.” Verification / Alternative check: AI textbooks consistently define expert systems using these two core components, plus interfaces and explanations. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Centers/control/MIS: do not denote knowledge-base + inference-engine systems. None of the above: incorrect because “expert” is correct. Common Pitfalls: Assuming any rule-based automation is an expert system; true expert systems target specialized domains and include explanation facilities. Final Answer: expert

Question 18

Strategic decision characteristics:  Which item below is NOT usually characteristic of upper (top) management decisions?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Management decisions vary from highly structured (routine, rule-based) at operational levels to unstructured (novel, ambiguous) at strategic levels. Recognizing this gradient helps in aligning information systems support: TPS for operations, MIS/DSS for management, and EIS/analytics for executives. Given Data / Assumptions: Upper management focuses on long-range, organization-wide issues. Problems are often novel and uncertain, requiring judgment and experience. We are to select the attribute that does not fit these strategic decisions. Concept / Approach: Structured decisions have clear procedures and well-defined inputs/outputs—typical of operational tasks (e.g., reordering inventory). Top management decisions are generally unstructured or semi-structured, deal with the future, and rely heavily on managerial insight and external information. Step-by-Step Solution: List typical top-management attributes: long-range, uncertain, judgment-driven, experience-based.Contrast with “structured,” typical of lower levels.Select “Decisions are structured” as the exception. Verification / Alternative check: Management science literature classifies decisions by structure; strategic choices are the least structured, confirming the selection. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Require judgment/experience: core to executive choices. Long range: strategic by nature. Unpredictable: external environment and competitive dynamics add uncertainty. Common Pitfalls: Confusing data-rich dashboards with structured decisions; abundant data does not make a strategic decision “structured.” Final Answer: Decisions are structured

Question 19

MIS scope check:  The Management Information System (MIS) supports decision-making with timely information. Which sub-system listed below does NOT belong as an MIS sub-system?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: MIS is an umbrella for information flows that aid planning, control, and decisions. Typical MIS sub-systems include operational/tactical reporting, decision support, and office automation. The networking and telecommunications stack is enabling infrastructure, not an MIS sub-system per se. Given Data / Assumptions: MIS sub-systems deliver information artifacts to managers. Data communications provide transport, not managerial content. Office automation (documents, email, workflow) supports information creation and dissemination. Concept / Approach: Differentiate application sub-systems (provide managerial information) from infrastructure (provides connectivity). Operational/tactical reporting summarizes transactions; DSS provides models for analysis; office automation handles content creation and collaboration. Data communications enable all of these but are categorized as infrastructure/IT services. Step-by-Step Solution: Classify each option as application vs infrastructure.Identify “Data Communication System” as infrastructure.Select it as not belonging to the MIS sub-system list. Verification / Alternative check: Systems frameworks separate the applications layer from the network/transport layers; MIS sits at the application/information layer. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Operational/Tactical: core MIS reporting. DSS: standard MIS analytical component. Automated Office: supports MIS content and workflows. Common Pitfalls: Assuming anything IT-related is an MIS sub-system; infrastructure underpins but is not equal to MIS. Final Answer: Data Communication System

Question 20

Decision analysis basics:  In managerial problem solving, calculating expected outcomes is intended primarily to help managers do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Managers frequently face uncertainty. Expected outcomes (for example, expected value, expected cost, expected time) summarize uncertain results by weighting possible outcomes by their probabilities. This technique supports problem identification, solution generation, and solution evaluation. Given Data / Assumptions: Uncertain alternatives can be described by scenarios and probabilities. Managers need a consistent way to compare choices. Expected outcome calculations inform multiple stages of decision making. Concept / Approach: Expected value = sum over i of (probability_i * outcome_i). The same logic applies to costs, times, or utilities. This helps flag problematic processes (high expected loss), inspires solution options (reduce probability or impact), and evaluates options by comparing expected metrics. Step-by-Step Solution: Use expected outcomes to quantify the magnitude of current problems.Brainstorm solutions that change probabilities or impacts.Compute expected outcomes for each alternative to rank them. Verification / Alternative check: Decision analysis and risk management frameworks (decision trees, Monte Carlo) operationalize exactly these steps. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Choosing only one stage ignores the breadth of how expected outcomes assist across the decision lifecycle. Common Pitfalls: Relying solely on expected values without considering variance or downside risk; managers should complement EV with sensitivity and risk measures. Final Answer: All of the above

Management Information Systems Questions