1

Melissa Hinton
CINS 3050
Ch. 1 Review Questions

1. Define the term knowledge worker. Who coined the term? Peter Drucker coined the term
knowledge worker which was in reference to workers who are professionals that are well
educated and who create, modify, and/or incorporate knowledge as a major part of their jobs.
2. Describe and contrast the economic, cultural, and technological changes occurring in the digital
world. Economically, there were increases in international trading, development of financial
systems and currency, and outsourcing of labor. Culturally, there were increases in
multiculturalism through television and movies. There was also an increase of international
travel and tourism as well as immigration; and the availability of ethnic foods and restaurants.
There was an increase in frequency of global fads such as Facebook and YouTube. Technological
changes were in the availability of low-cost computing platforms and communication
technology. Skype and instant messaging was a low cost of keeping in touch with people
throughout the world via the internet. Patent and copyright laws were enforced to stimulate
new ideas.
3. List the 10 factors that led to Globalization 3.0
a. Fall of the Berlin Wall (brought faster changes)
b. Netscape Browser (allowed all with a pc and modem to view the internet)its really
funny to see the browsers now and realize where theyre roots lie.
c. World Flow Software (software to software interaction)
d. Uploading (actively participating in content generation on the Web. ie.-Wikipedia, blogs)
e. Outsourcing (different company, may be in the same country OR another country)
f. Offshoring (same company different countries)
g. Supply Chaining (integrating retailers, suppliers and customers. i.e.-Walmart)
h. In-Sourcing (Sub contracting)
i. In-Forming (Search Engines)
j. The Steroids (Digital Content)
4. Describe work flow software. How did this technology drive the flattening of the world? Work
flow software refers to a software application that is automated that allows software to
software interactions. Because of this software it was handled with little or no human
intervention.
5. Compare outsourcing, offshoring, and offshore outsourcing. Outsourcing refers to a business or
organization sending some business functions to another company. Offshoring refers to a
business or organization moving some business functions outside of their home country.
Offshore outsourcing refers to a business or organization moving some business functions to
foreign countries.
6. Describe in-sourcing and provide examples of how organizations use in-sourcing. In-sourcing
happens when a business sub-contracts. For example Old Navy has a contract with Fedex. Old
Navy takes care of all of their orders and shipping and pay a standard price based on their
contract with Fedex for shipping.

2
7. List and describe several reasons why companies are choosing to outsource business activities.
a. To reduce/control costs
b. Free up internal resources
c. Gain acces to world-class capabilities
d. To increase revenue
e. Reduce time to market
f. Increase process efficiencies
g. To be able to focus on core activities
h. Compensate for a lack of specific capabilities or skills
8. List and contrast several challenges of operating in the digital world.
a. Broad challenges
i. Government
ii. Geoeconomic
iii. Cultural
b. Specific challenges
i. 1. Political system-Market versus planned economy
2. Regulatory-Taxes, tariffs, embargos, export and import regulations
3. Data Sharing-European Union Data Protection Directive
4. Standards-Differences in measurement units, bar code standards, address
conventions, academic degrees
ii. 1. Time zone differences-videoconferencing across different time zones
2. Infrastructure-related reliability-differences in networks throughout the
world
3. Differences in welfare-migration/political instability caused by welfare
differences between rich and poor countries.
9. Define the term information systems and explain its data, technology, people, and
organizational components. Information systems are combinations of hardware, software, and
telecommunications networks that people build and use to collect, create and distribute useful
data, typically in organizational settings.
10. Define and contrast data, information, and knowledge.
a. Data is raw material that has been recorded, unformatted information such as words
and numbers. It has no meaning in and of itself.
b. Information is data that has been formatted and/or organized in some way so that it is
useful to others.
c. Knowledge is a body of governing procedures, like guidelines or rules that are used to
organize or manipulate data to make it suitable for a given task. Knowledge helps to
show the relationship between different pieces of information.
11. Describe three or four types of jobs and career opportunities in information systems and in
related fields.
a. Programmers create software
b. Analysts work with users to create specifics or designs for new or improved ISs.
c. Database admins manage data resources
d. Network engineers configure and manage the firms network and telecommunications
infrastructure.

3
12. List and define three technical knowledge and/or skills core competencies
a. Hardware: hardware platforms, infrastructure, virtualization, peripherals
b. Software: operating systems, application software, drivers
c. Networking: network operating systems, cabling and network interface cards, LANs,
WANs, wireless, Internet, security.
13. List and define four business knowledge and/or skills core competencies.
a. Business integration, industry: Business processes, functional areas of business and their
integration, industry characteristics
b. Managing people and projects: Planning, organizing, leading, controlling, managing
people and projects
c. Social: Interpersonal, group dynamics, political
d. Communication: Verbal, written, and technological communication and presentation
14. List and define four systems knowledge and/or skills core competencies.
a. Systems integration: Connectivity, compatibility, integrating subsystems and systems
b. Development methodologies: Steps in systems analysis and design, systems
development life cycle, alternative development methodologies
c. Critical thinking: Challenging ones and others assumptions and ideas
d. Problem solving: Information gathering and synthesis, problem identification, solution
formulation, comparison, and choice
15. List and define five types of information systems used in organizations.
a. Decision support system-provide analysis tools and access to databases in order to
support quantitative decision making. (Product demand forecasting systems)
b. Knowledge management system-Collection of technology-based tools to enable the
generation, storage, sharing, and management of knowledge assets. (Knowledge portal)
c. CRM system-Support interaction between the firm and its customers. (Sales force
automation)
d. ERP system-Support and integrate all facets of the business, including planning,
manufacturing, sales, marketing, and so on. (Financial, operations, and human resource
management)
e. SCM system-Support the coordination of suppliers, product or service production, and
distribution. (Procurement planning)
16. Describe the evolution of the information systems function within organizations. It affects just
about every aspect of everyones daily life. From how we keep in touch with people on a
personal level to a business level. We send emails quicker than we can make telephone calls in
some cases. We can pay our bills online. Companies have the ability to be ran while a person
does it all from their computer. ULM has online classes for people, such as myself, who cant
make it into the classroom.
17. How are the digital divide and computer literacy related? Computer literacy refers to the ability
to use information technologies. The digital divide refers to the gap between those with access
to the Internet and other information resources and those who do not.
18. Compare and contrast information privacy, accuracy, property, and accessibility.
a. Information privacy is concerned with what information an individual should have to
reveal to others in the workplace or through other transactions.

4
b. Information accuracy refers to the authenticity and fidelity of information as well as
with identifying who is responsible for informational errors that harm people.
c. Information property refers to who owns information about individuals and how that
information can be sold or exchanged.
d. Information accessibility focuses on defining what information a person or organization
has the right to obtain about others and how this information can be accessed and used.