MIS 2000 Midterm Exam Preparations

MIS 2000 Midterm Exam Preparations

MIS 2000 Midterm Exam Preparations

2016

The midterm exam will have threekinds of questions:

I. Short Answer question (5 questions)

II.Multiple choice & True/False (30 questions combined)

III.Diagrams (one process, one data diagram)

Chapters covered: 1-9 (the last chapter, nine, is about decision making processes and systems).

I.Preparations for Short Answerand multiple choice questions implies acquiring knowledge of

(1) Definitions, (2) relationships between concepts in terms of similarities and differences, and

(3) additional details. Check the file Course Concepts on the course Web site for the concepts that will be covered.

Definitions are in the class notes (slides) and chapters (PDF files). Relationships are discussed in the slides and chapters. Additional details may be found in the same sources, and you may want to pay attention to the cases discussed, which are particularly useful for learning about additional details.

The short answer question comes in the forms described below.

1. Definition question

This question starts with words, “define,” “what is,” “what do we mean by,” and the like. It may also ask about providing some additional detail.

Example question: Define business process and provide an additional detail showing your understanding of the concept. (2.5 marks)

Answer:

Definition: Business process is a set of steps connected from a start to end point, which delivers a value for a customer (1 piece, 1.5 marks since the definition is a bit complex).

Detail: A business process can run across departments (1 piece, 1 mark).

Or, a business process has particular design, such as composition (or complexity, etc.). (1)

Or, a business process can be assessed on its performance, such as timing (cost, etc.). (1)

Or, business process performance determines organizational performance. (1)

Etc.

Partial marks apply.

2. Comparison/Relationship question

This kind of question starts with words “compare,” “discuss similarities and differences,” and the like.

This question requires comparing two conceptsthat have something in common (some similarity), so you need to state the similarity and identify differences. Sometimes, the question is just about differences, and focusing on definitions can lead you to the answer. A question can ask about more than one similarity and difference.

Example question: Compare business process and information system on one similarity and one difference. (2 marks)

Answer:

- Similarities (any of these 1 mark):

Both business process and IS make an impact on organizational performance.

Both have the same goal of delivering the end-product of the process.

IS supports data management aspects of an IS.

Anoperational business process and its IS are the same thing in a fully automated organization (or, the system is the process, the process is the system; people perform process by running the system, etc.).

- Differences (any of these 1 mark):

The business process is made of tasks, while the information systemconsists mainly of data and IT.

The business process can contain IS; or the process is a whole, while an IS is its part.

The performance of business process partly depends on IS characteristics. (Or the faster the IS, the faster can be the process).

Characteristics of IS make an impacton design of business process; an IS is a building block of process;

an IS is the process optimizer.

Partial marks apply.

3. Typology (taxonomy) question

This question tests knowledge of taxonomies (typologies) studied. Examples are typology of IS (e.g., based on who the user is, time focus, and organizational department), and some sub-types of IS (e.g., taxonomy of group support systems). An example of this question is asking to differentiate between IS types based on the time basis.

4. Discussion question

This question requires combiningthe pieces of what-knowledge cited above (definitions, comparisons, additional details, and taxonomies), as needed (not all have to be cited in every answer).

Example:

  • Discusshow IS can improve two aspects of business processes design. Make sure that you clearly identify the aspects of business processes design and state how IS (real or imagined) relates to the aspects.

- An answer requires knowledge of processes design aspects (composition, complexity, coordination, flexibility), and of the IS contribution to optimizing process design. The IS and process design discussed can be from the cases and examples discussed in class, the lab, or made up in a sensible manner.

II. Preparations for the Multiple choice & True/False questions imply acquiring knowledge of definitions, comparisons, and additional details, same as for the short answer questions. The question form can be straightforward (the first example listed below). Optionally, a question may be phrased as a description of business situation that calls for recognizing the underlying concept (the second example below).

See Class Concepts on the course Web site for the concepts that will be covered.

Example:

  • The Satisficing Model of Decision Making operates under the assumption
  1. that the decision maker can identify alldecision options.
  2. that the decision maker performs without time pressures.
  3. that the decision maker is not perfectly informed on decision options. (Correct)
  4. that the decision maker can make the best choice.

First, match the question to the topic (class); it is about decision making. Then, think about the decision making/problem solving models we studied; there are three. What are the characteristics of the Satisficing model? This fits the definition and the additional details levels of learning (cited in the beginning of this document). How does this model compare to the other two models and especially the rational (ideal) model? This fits the level of learning we call concept comparison.

Another possible form asks about matching a specific IS to a task; for example:

  • The Application Sharing System is suitable for
  1. Decision making.
  2. Managing documents among team members.
  3. Creating reports for supervisors.
  4. Distributed team members’ working on the same document. (Correct)
  • Timeliness (currency) means that system outputs should be delivered to users when business so requires rather than as soon as possible. (T)

This same question can be turned around a description that implies a dimension in question; for example:

  • Creating a report on approvals of medical drugs in the pharmaceutical industry takes many tests, and overall a long time. If every party involved meets their deadline although not performing in the fastest possible way, it can be said that the approvals report is timely. (T)
  • An IS that identifies unexpected relationships in a large pool of data is Relationship Detection System. (F)– The term is made up, not in the courses concepts list.

III.Preparations for Process and Data Diagramming Question

There will be one simple process diagram and one data diagram that is easy to draw.

  • Example of data diagramming question:

A service agency tracks the repairwork in terms of the problem to work on, start and end date, and repair outcome. These details are documents in work orders. Each work order is assigned to arepairman, who has a name anda particular specialty.A record is also maintained of parts used in repairs, such wire, screws, plaster, and manufactured spared parts. One repair usually requires several parts, and one sort of part can be used on multiple work orders. Quantity of parts expended differs from one work order to another. Draw a data diagram using all the details available in this description.(6 marks)

Answer:

  • The process diagramming question tests knowledge of using basic process components (activity, flow, decision point, loop, start/end, and swimlines), as in the homework, and class exercises and lectures.

An exercise, based on the following description(Travica, 2010):

Protegra was based in Winnipeg, MB, and specialized in production of custom software and management consulting. Among other interesting aspects, Protegra developed an innovation process called Idea Funnel. The input to it was an online form that any organization member could use to submit a proposal of some innovative idea. Many of these ideas resulted from the attempts of organization members to put their professional knowledge in service of improving Protegra’s practices. The proposal would be stored in an Innovation Funnel System (IFS).

The process further stretched to a two-member team with a changing membership. The team would reviewthe proposal and decide if it was acceptable at the moment. If yes, the team would also suggest a champion for the innovation project and store their decision and suggestion in IFS. Otherwise, the teams would input their negative decisionand an advice for proposal revision into IFS. The proposer would retrieve the outcome of the evaluation team’s work. If the idea had a go, the proposer would lead the innovation project, after which the process would end. But if a revision was required, the proposer could decide to either revise the proposal and submit it again or to give it up and end the process that way.

Draw a process diagram based on this description.

Process diagram for Innovation Funnel Process at Protegra

Updated 2016

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