Management Information Systems (MC261) : July 2007

Section A : Basic Concepts (30 Marks)1.Information systems that rely on computer hardware and software for processing and distributing information are called
(a)CRM Systems (b)Enterprise Systems (c)Computer- based Information Systems
(d)Knowledge Management Systems (e)Database Management Systems.
2.A prototype that is used as a reference for the new system and then is discarded best describes
(a)Throwaway Prototype (b)Evolutionary Prototype (c)Leveraged Prototype
(d)System Prototype (e)Software Prototype. 3.The process of helping users see patterns and relationship in large amounts of Data by presenting the data in graphical form is called
(a)GIS (b)Data visualization (c)DSS (d)An optimization model (e)MIS.
4.The process of buying and selling goods and services electronically involving transactions using internet and networks is defined as
(a)Electronic process (b)Digital process (c)E- commerce (d)Relational database management systems (e)E- goods.
5. Which of the following is not component of a DSS
(a) The data management system (b) The knowledge engine (c) DSS Kernel
(d) The user interface (e) Data base engine. 

6. The element for bridging the gap between

the actual situation and the standard required that helps in synchronizing the organizations activities is the
(a) Detector (b) Effector (c) Assessor (d) Processor (e) Accessor.
7. During logical design the project team
(a) Describes the functional features of the system chosen for development in the previous phase (b) Studies the organizations current procedures and the information systems used to perform organizational tasks
(c) Determines the scope of the proposed systems and produces a specific plan for the proposed project
(d) Codes, tests, and installs the new system
(e) Both (a) and (b) above.
8. Every DSS development tool contains
(a) Knowledge variation (b) Knowledge manipulation (c) Knowledge transfer
(d) Knowledge representation (e) Knowledge formulae.
9. Systems that support the creation , storage and distribution of firm expertise and Knowledge are called
(a) Enterprise systems (b) CRM systems (c) Knowledge management systems
(d) DBMS (e) Expert systems.
10. The most common models in a DSS software system are
(a) Libraries of statistical models (b) Statistical graphs from multiple information sources
(c) Optimization models (d) OLAP tools (e) OLTP tools.
11. The function of the menus is
(a) Comprised of sequences of keystrokes that could make up answers
(b) Provides guidance to user about filling in slots
(c) Give guidance to users about requests
(d) Does not provides guidance to user about filling in slots
(e) Does not contain sequences of keystrokes that could make up answers.
12. The general DSS development process contains how many activities?
(a) 4 (b) 7 (c) 3 (d) 9 (e) 8.
13. The subsystem of the formal control system from the following list is/are
(a) Informal control process (b) Informal coordinating mechanisms (c) Infrastructure
(d) Formal control process (e) All of the above.
14. Which of the following is decision support technology?
(a) Decision Support Systems (b) Enterprise (Executive) Information Systems (c) Expert Systems (d) Management Information Systems (e) Database Management Systems.
15. The representation of software system is
(a) KS (b) PPS (c) LS (d) DDS (e) EIS.
16. Which of the following is not the DSS development process?
(a) SDLC (b) ROMC (c) Functional analysis (d) JAD (e) RAD.
17. The planning involves decision making with tools help and these are based on which of the following factor(s)?
(a) Creativity (b) Modeling (c) Both (a) and (b) above (d) Designing (e) Analysis.
18. The analysis that helps identifying the critical control variables and latent factor is
(a) Sales Analysis (b) Cost Analysis (c) Multivariate Analysis (d) Formal Control Process (e) Data Analysis.
19. Knowledge workers are
(a) People who design products for the organization
(b) People who create knowledge for the organization
(c) Both (a) and (b) above
(d) People who sell knowledge to the customers
(e) People who analyze knowledge for the organization.
20. A process of determining the goals and objectives and evolving strategies is called
(a) Controlling (b) Planning (c) Organizing (d) Leading (e) Managing.
21. Information system that automate the relationship between a firm and its suppliers is called
(a) Relational Database Management System
(b) Management Information System
(c) Product Management Systems
(d) Supply Chain Management Systems
(e) Executive Information Systems.
22. In an organization, the strategy can be classified into
(a) Growth strategy (b) Product strategy (c) Both (a) and (b) above (d) Designing (e) Multiple strategy.
23. Which of the following is/are not a measure(s) of the effectiveness of decision-making?
(a) Accuracy of information (b) Timeliness of information (c) Cost of making the decision
(d) Quality of information (e) All of the above.
24. A drawback of prototyping is
(a) That the end user is involved in the project
(b) The end user notices the missing functions, which can be an embarrassment to a computer professional
(c) The software is more susceptible to viruses
(d) That the project management can be sloppy
(e) That the software is not reliable.
25. Which one of the following best describes the role of a manager?
(a) Attending meetings, attending corporate luncheons, disciplining staff, representing the company
(b) Planning, organizing, coordinating, making decisions, controlling
(c) Maintaining a rigid position in the hierarchy to prevent customer complaints from coming to the attention of the Board
(d) Supervising the work of junior staff
(e) Maintaining the work flow and coordination of the work.
26. A manager has to make an unstructured decision, which means that
(a) The decision has a definite procedure to deal with the problem
(b) The manager has to use judgment based on previous experience, insight and careful evaluation
(c) The decision will result in no correct course of action
(d) No decision can be made
(e) The decision is based is not based on careful evaluation.
27. Why do computer projects in MIS need to be carefully managed?
(a) Computer professionals are rather disorganized people
(b) Many specialist skills are needed, which have to be coordinated
(c) MIS systems are powerful bits of software that make decisions
(d) The hardware is complex to be set
(e) All of the above.
28. Top managers may use an ________________, a combination of MIS and DSS, to support their decision making.
(a) GIS (b) ESS (c) Expert system (d) GDSS (e) TPS.
29. Which of the following is/are example of input to an information system?
(a) Sales trend forecast (b) Inventory report (c) Customer’s information
(d) Summary of customer’s preference analyses (e) All of the above.
30. ___________ addresses unstructured decision making through advanced graphics and communications
(a) A GIS (b) An ESS (c) A DSS (d) A TPS (e) An Expert System.
Section B : Caselets/Problem (50 Marks)Caselet 1
Read the caselet carefully and answer the following questions:
1. Explain the procedure for identifying the potential customers provided by the water body using Ordnance Survey GIS data. (10 marks)
2. After identifying the potential customers suggest the procedure to make them accountable for the services provided by the water body. (10 marks)
Water Utilities Company, UK provides water supply and wastewater treatment services across multiple districts. Their aim is to provide a high level of service at all times, with more than 1.5 million customer contacts a year, three thousand operational sites and a vast network of water mains and sewers.
The UK based water-company has a customer base registered in their legacy billing system. But the water company believes that it has customers who enjoy the benefit of the services provided by them, but have no corresponding entries in the billing system Thus these potential customers are not being billed, as a result of which the water company is losing a lot of revenue for its services.
Caselet 2
Read the caselet carefully and answer the following question:
3. You are required to suggest a solution to meet the below specified requirements.
i) Scanning of 228 million A3 size forms in 2 years.
ii) Processing of these forms using latest ICR technology
iii) Achieving more than 90% recognition rate with less than 2 % false positive rate.
iv) Training of more than 1500 govt. supervisors and data entry operators at 15 locations all over India.
v) Process forms in 17 different Indian languages.
vi) Process forms printed at more than 100 presses. (20 marks)
The decennial Census of India is the largest single administrative exercise of its kind in the World. Even the preparations for it make news because of the size and impact of the operation. The Indian Census is the largest single source of statistics on the people of India. With a history of more than 125 years, this reliable, time tested exercise has been bringing out a veritable wealth of statistics every 10 years beginning from 1872 when the first census was conducted in India non-synchronously in different parts. To scholars and researchers in demography, economics, anthropology, sociology, statistics and many other disciplines, the Indian Census is a fascinating data source. The rich diversity of the people of India is truly reflected through the decennial census which is one of the basic tools to understand and study India. Office of Registrar general of India and census commissioner is responsible for conducting the population census once every ten years. Indian census is the second largest in the world. Census in the year 2001 was the 14th consecutive census since 1872. Processing of 1991 census forms were done using conventional data entry method. CMC had the challenge to complete the India 2001 Census in 2 years using the latest ICR technology.
4. Define a Decision Support System? Explain in brief the characteristics and capabilities of a decision support system. (10 marks)
Section C : Applied Theory (20 Marks)
5. What is Strategic planning? When does it assume importance in the business? (10 marks)
6. What is Prototyping? State the advantages and disadvantages of Prototyping. (10 marks)
Suggested Answers
1.
Answer : (c)
Reason : Computer based information systems are the information systems that rely on computer hardware and software for processing and distribution of information.
2.
Answer : (a)
Reason : The prototype which is used as a reference and is discarded defines a Throwaway prototype.
3.
Answer : (b)
Reason : Data Visualization is a process which helps the users to see patterns and relationship in large amounts of data in a graphical form.
4.
Answer : (c)
Reason : E-commerce is the process of buying and selling goods and services using an internet as the medium of transactions.
5.
Answer : (c)
Reason : DSS kernel is not a component of the DSS.
6.
Answer : (b)
Reason : The effector is the element which is used as a bridge between the actual situation and the standard required that helps in synchronizing the organizations activities.
7.
Answer : (c)
Reason : During the logical design the project team determines the scope of the proposed systems and produces a specified plan for the proposed project.
8.
Answer : (d)
Reason : Every DSS tool contain Knowledge representation.
9.
Answer : (c)
Reason : Knowledge management systems support the creation , storage and distribution of knowledge.
10.
Answer : (a)
Reason : Libraries of statistical models are the most common models in a DSS software system.
11.
Answer : (c)
Reason : The function of menus is to give guidance to the users about requests.
12.
Answer : (b)
Reason : The general DSS development process model contains 7 activities.
13.
Answer : (c)
Reason : Infrastructure is the subsystem of the formal control system.
14.
Answer : (d)
Reason : MIS is the decision support technology.
15.
Answer : (b)
Reason : PPS is the representation of a software system.
16.
Answer : (d)
Reason : JAD is not an DSS development process.
17.
Answer : (c)
Reason : Creativity and Modeling are the two factors of planning which involves the decision making with the help of tools.
18.
Answer : (c)
Reason : Multivariate analysis helps in identifying the critical control variables and the latent factor.
19.
Answer : (c)
Reason : Knowledge workers are the people who design the products of the organization and who also create knowledge for the organization.
20.
Answer : (b)
Reason : Planning is the process of describing the goals and objectives and also evolving strategies.
21.
Answer : (d)
Reason : Supply Chain Managements are the information systems that automate the relationship between a firm and its suppliers.
22.
Answer : (c)
Reason : The strategy can be classified as both Growth strategy and Product strategy.
23.
Answer : (c)
Reason : Cost of making the decision is not a measure of the effectiveness of decision-making.
24.
Answer : (d)
Reason : The drawback of prototyping is that the project management can be sloppy and may lead to project management difficulties.
25.
Answer : (b)
Reason : Planning, organizing, coordinating, making decisions, controlling describe the role of a manager.
26.
Answer : (b)
Reason : For the manager to take a unstructured decision, the manager has to use judgement based on previous experience, insight and careful evaluation.
27.
Answer : (b)
Reason : Many specialist skills are needed, which have to be coordinated.
28.
Answer : (b)
Reason : Top managers use a combination an ESS, a combination of MIS and DSS to support the decision making.
29. Answer : (c)
Reason : Customer’s information is an example input to an information system.
30.
Answer : (b)
Reason : ESS addresses Unstructured decision making through advanced graphics and communications.