MIS Decision Support Systems 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the key difference between structured and unstructured decisions in MIS?
- Structured decisions are made by executives; unstructured by clerks
- Structured decisions follow defined rules; unstructured require judgment (Correct answer)
- Structured decisions use DSS; unstructured use TPS
- There is no practical difference
Correct answer: Structured decisions follow defined rules; unstructured require judgment
Structured decisions follow established procedures and rules, while unstructured decisions require human judgment and creativity.
Question 2: An Executive Information System (EIS) primarily serves which level of management?
- Operational level
- Middle management level
- Top executive level (Correct answer)
- Frontline supervisors
Correct answer: Top executive level
An EIS is designed specifically to support top-level executives with strategic information and high-level performance indicators.
Question 3: Which DSS feature allows users to work backward from a desired goal to find required inputs?
- What-if analysis
- Goal-seeking analysis (Correct answer)
- Optimization analysis
- Sensitivity analysis
Correct answer: Goal-seeking analysis
Goal-seeking analysis allows users to determine what input values are needed to achieve a specific desired output or goal.
Question 4: In a DSS, the model base primarily contains:
- Raw transaction data
- Mathematical and analytical models (Correct answer)
- User access controls
- Hardware specifications
Correct answer: Mathematical and analytical models
The model base in a DSS stores mathematical, statistical, and analytical models used to analyze data and support decisions.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes a semi-structured decision?
- Fully automated with no human input required
- Completely novel with no established guidelines
- Partially routine with some judgment required (Correct answer)
- Only made by senior management
Correct answer: Partially routine with some judgment required
Semi-structured decisions have some established procedures but also require managerial judgment for unique aspects of the situation.
Question 6: The data mining capability in a modern DSS primarily serves to:
- Store new customer orders
- Discover hidden patterns and relationships in large datasets (Correct answer)
- Process employee payroll
- Generate standard operational reports
Correct answer: Discover hidden patterns and relationships in large datasets
Data mining in a DSS discovers non-obvious patterns, correlations, and insights hidden within large volumes of data.
MIS Decision Support Systems 2
What is the key difference between structured and unstructured decisions in MIS?