chapter 9,10

1. Describe the decision-making process proposed by Simon.
Simon proposed a system that used intelligence, design and choice. The intelligence phase; managers examine the situation and identify and define the problem. In the design phase; decision makers construct a model that simplifies the problem. The choice phase, involves selecting a solution, which is tested on paper.

2. Why do managers need IT support?
Managers need IT support, as information is vital in all decision-making processes. The availability of information and making decisions is becoming increasingly difficult due to; the number of alternative information, time pressures, conducting sophisticated analysis and large expenses.

3. Describe the decision matrix.
The three primary classes of problem structure and the three broad categories of the nature of decisions can be combined in the decision support matrix. Lower-level managers usually perform the structured and operational control-orientated tasks.


1. Describe the capabilities of data mining.
Data mining can perform two basic operations; predicting tends and behaviors and identifying previously unknown patterns. Data mining addresses why it is happening and provides predictions of what will happen in the future. Data mining automated the process of finding predictive information in large databases. Data mining can also identify previously hidden patterns in a single step.

1. What are some of the capabilities of digital dashboards?
Some of the capabilities of digital dashboards are drill down, the ability to go into details, Critical success factors (CSFs), Key performance indicators (KPIs), Status success, Trend analysis, Ad-hoc analysis and exception reporting.

Chapter 10 questions

1. What are some problems associated with assessing the costs of IT?
Fixed costs are those costs that remain the same regardless of any change in the activity level. Another complication is that the cost of a system does not end when the system is installed. Costs for debugging and improving the system can accumulate over many years.

2. What difficulties accompany the intangible benefits from IT?
Intangible benefits are hard to quantify.

3. Define NPV and ROI, and business case approaches.
NPV is the net present value calculation for cost-benefit analysis. ROI is return on investment; it measures the management’s effectiveness in generating profits with its available assets.


1. What type of companies provides outsourcing service?
Software companies; (IBM to Oracle), IT outsourcers; (EDS), also large CPA companies and management consultants; (Accenture).

2. Define ASPs and list their advantages to companies using them.
ASPs Application service provider is an agent or vendor who assembles the software needed by enterprises. The advantages; saves expenses in development stage, helps reduce the cost of software maintenance and upgrading and the company can select another software product from the vendor to meet its changing needs.

3. List some disadvantages of ASPs.
Developing and operating IT application in-house can be time consuming and expensive for these entities.


1. List the major steps of selection of a vendor and a software package.
Companies can identify potential software application vendors through various sources: software catalogues, lists provided by hardware vendors, technical and trade vendors, consultants and industry

2. Describe a request for proposal (RFP).
An RFP is a document that is sent to potential vendors inviting them to submit a proposal that describes their software package and explains how it would meet the companies needs.

3. Describe SLAs.
Service level agreement SLAs are formal agreements that specify how work is to be divided between the company and it vendors.

Tech guide 4 questions

1. Compare and contrast the main wired communications channels ?
(Ethernet & Fibre Optic) Fibre Optics consists of thousands of vary thin fragments of glass that transmit information via light pulses generated by lasers. They have a high bandwidth, relatively inexpensive and are difficult to tap into ensuring good security.

2. Describe the two technologies that enable users to send high-volume data over any network.
(ISDN & ADSL). Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) is an older international telephone standard for network access that uses existing telephone lines and allows users to transfer voice, video, image and data simultaneously. (ADSL)Provide high-speed data transmitting from homes and businesses over existing telephone lines. Because the existing lines are analog and the transmission is digital, you need a dsl modem.


3. What are the main business reasons for using network?
· Network computer systems allow organizations to be more flexible so that they can adapt to rapidly changing business conditions.
· Networks enable companies to share hardware, computer applications and data across the organization and among organizations.
· Networks make it possible for geographically dispersed employees and work groups to share documents, ideas and creative insights.

4. What is the difference between LANs and WANs?
LANs are a local area network they connect communications devices in a limited geographical region so all devices can communicate. WANs are a network, generally provided by common carriers, that covers a wide geographic area.

5. What is a network protocol?
Computing devices that are connected to the network access and share the network to transmit and receive data. They work together by adhering to a common set of rules that enable them to communicate with one another. This set of rules and procedures that govern transmission across a network is a protocol.

6. Describe TCP/IP protocol. TCP/IP Transmitting Control/Protocol.
A file transfer protocol that can send large files of information across sometimes unreliable networks with the assurance that the data will arrive un corrupted.

Tech Guide 5

1. Describe the various ways that you can connect to the Internet?
· Via an organizations LAN
· Connect with wire line or wireless connections
· An internet service provider (ISP)
· Internet kiosks.
· Cell phones and pagers
· (FTTH) Fibre to the home, involves placing fibre optic cable directly to individual homes.

2. Describe the parts of an Internet address.
· Domain Name: The name assigned to the internet site.
· Top-level domain: Com, edu, mil, gov, org
· TDL: indicating the type of organization that owns the site.


3.What are the roles of browsers? They are software applications through which users primarily access the web .

4.Describe the difference between the Internet and the World Wide Web?
· Internet: The massive network that connects computer networks of businesses, organizations and government agencies and schools all around the world, quickly, seamlessly and inexpensively.
· World Wide Web: a system of universally accepted standards for restoring, retrieving, formatting and displaying information via a client/server-architecture; uses the transport functions of the internet.