MIS 2000 Midterm Exam Preparations

Summer 2018

The midterm exam will have three kinds of questions:

I. Short Answer question (5 questions, one with two options)

II. Multiple choice & True/False (up to 35 questions combined)
III. Diagrams (2; one process, one data diagram)

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

I. Preparations for Short Answer and 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 to
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.

1
This question requires comparing two concepts that 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 concepts of 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 the data (data management) aspects of a process.
An operational 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 can contain IS; or the process is a whole, while an IS is its part.
The performance of business process partly depends directly on IS characteristics. (Or the faster the IS,
the faster can be the process).
Characteristics of IS make an impact on design of business process. Or an IS is a building block of
process. Or an IS is the process design optimizer.

Partial marks apply.

3. Typology (grouping, 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 combining the pieces of what-knowledge cited above (definitions, comparisons,
additional details, and taxonomies), as needed (not all have to be cited in every answer).

Example:

 Discuss how IS can improve two aspects of business process 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.

2
NOTE: Any of these questions can ask for multiple pieces (aspects, characteristics, etc.); for example 2
as above, or more. The number of pieces (the question coverage) correlates with the number of marks the
questions carry.
---
OFFER: A folder will be opened on UMLearn for teams/individual students who want to practice
answering short answer questions. Just pick a question from the back of any chapter that will be
one the exam, and upload you answer. The instructor will evaluate your answer on UMLearn.
---

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

a. that the decision maker can identify all decision options.
b. that the decision maker performs without time pressures.
c. that the decision maker is not perfectly informed on decision options. (Correct)
d. 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:

 A Transaction Processing System is suitable for

a. Decision making of executives.
b. Managing documents by professionals.
c. Creating reports for supervisors. . (Correct, additional details about the TPS target group)
d. Creating exception reports.

Another form:

 Which item does not belong to the list below:

a. Hard disk
b. Operating System (Correct, the only software item among hardware items)
c. Keyboard
d. Printer
e. Computer mouse

3
 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 repair work 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 a repairman, who
has a name and a 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: (next page)

4
 The process diagramming question tests knowledge of using basic process components (activity,
flow, decision point, loop, start/end, and swim lines), as in the homework, and class exercises and
lectures.

An exercise, based on the following case (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
review the 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 decision and an advice for proposal revision into IFS. The proposer would
retrieve the outcome of the evaluation team’s work. At this point, he/she needs to decide how to proceed.
The proposer can revise the proposal, announce a new project, or abandon the whole idea. Draw a process
diagram based on this description.

Answer: (next page)

5
Process diagram for Innovation Funnel Process at Protegra