PART 1

1. Because information technology advances rapidly, business professionals find making informed decisions regarding computer and peripheral equipment purchases challenging. What factors cause this difficulty? What advice would you provide to help with the decision?

2. Would you replace a PC with a tablet computer for your studies or work? Why or why not?

Part 2

1. What is a supply chain? What is the purpose of supply chain management systems?

2. What is the purpose of cost accounting ISs?

3. What is the relationship between CAD and CAM systems?

4. What are the concerns in cash management, and how do cash management ISs help financial managers?

5. What is time to market? How have ISs affected time to market?

6. In brief, what is the purpose of customer relationship management systems?

7. What are the typical components of ERP systems?

8. Although technologically the full linking of the SCM systems of suppliers and buyers is feasible, many buyers are reluctant to do so. Why?

9. Why do the ERP installation and testing of systems require that experts be involved? Why does the implementation of so many ERP systems face severe challenges or totally fail?

10. What is EOQ? Which two problems do ISs that calculate EOQ help minimize?

11. What is JIT? How do MRP and MRP II systems help achieve JIT?

12. For the human resource managers of some organizations the entire web is a database of job candidates. How so?

13. What information technologies play a crucial role in marketing?

14. Many sales reps have no offices, yet they have access to huge resources, and their productivity is great. Explain how that is possible.

15. What is RFID, and what role does it play in SCM?

16. You have decided to buy parts and build your own personal computer. At the minimum, what are the components that you would need for this device to be considered a computer?

17. Modern CPUs contain cores. What is a core?

18. Multicore CPUs facilitate multithreading. What is multithreading?

19. Most people never get to see a supercomputer, let alone use one. Why? What are the most frequent uses of this type of computer?

20. News about the death of mainframe computers has been greatly exaggerated. Explain.

21. IT professionals often speak of the merging of technologies. Think of handheld computers and cell phones. Give an example of such merging.

22. When a computer is offered for sale, one of its advertised characteristics is something such as "2.9 GHz." What does this mean, and what does it measure?

23. Why are computers said to be processing data digitally?

24. What is the difference between volatile and nonvolatile memory? Give one example of volatile memory and one example of nonvolatile memory.

25. What are the main qualities to look for in an LCD monitor?

26. Among the external storage devices discussed in this chapter, all but one store data on the surface of some material, and one in circuitry. Which one stores data in circuitry?

27. What is DVD technology? How does it differ from CD technology?

28. What does footprint mean in hardware? When is a footprint important in the office?

29.What are the most important features to consider before purchasing a PC?

30. On a continental tour, a traveling salesperson makes software-based presentations at every place he stops. He has ensured that there is a PC and projecting equipment at every site he visits. Occasionally, he needs to change the content of his presentation. He wants to carry as small a storage device as possible. What data storage device would you recommend he carry?

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