MIS Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield MIS facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is a balanced scorecard in the BI context? → A strategic management framework measuring performance across four perspectives
2. What is the purpose of the system maintenance phase in SDLC? → To correct bugs, improve performance, and adapt the system post-deployment
3. Which DSS application would best help a bank decide whether to approve a loan? → Credit scoring DSS
4. Which implementation approach replaces the old system entirely on a single cutover date? → Big bang conversion
5. Which type of attack attempts to overwhelm a system with traffic to make it unavailable? → Denial of Service (DoS) attack
6. Cloud-based ERP systems are also known as: → SaaS ERP (Software as a Service)
7. What is OLAP (Online Analytical Processing)? → A technology for fast multi-dimensional analysis of large data sets
8. When determining the type of _____ system to install in a company, access to real-time information is usually required. → management information
9. What is the purpose of encryption in information security? → To convert data into an unreadable format for unauthorized users
10. What is 'business process reengineering' in the context of ERP implementation? → Redesigning workflows to align with ERP best practices
11. Two-tier ERP architecture refers to: → Running corporate ERP alongside a simpler ERP for subsidiaries
12. What are the three core principles of information security known as the CIA triad? → Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability
13. Big Data is often characterized by the original '3 Vs' which include: → Volume, Velocity, and Variety
14. What kind of office application software is most effective for managing an employee's travel expenses? → Spreadsheet
15. What is a use case in systems analysis? → A description of how users interact with a system to achieve a goal
16. What is the primary purpose of a Decision Support System (DSS)? → To support managerial decision-making with data analysis
17. What does SDLC stand for in information systems? → System Development Life Cycle
18. Which SDLC phase converts system requirements into detailed technical specifications? → Systems design
19. The Agile development methodology emphasizes: → Customer collaboration and iterative development
20. A Decision Support System is a sort of information system that a _____ is likely to utilize on a frequent basis. → mid-level manager
21. A Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) incorporates which unique type of data? → Geographic and location-based information
22. In a relational database, a PRIMARY KEY is best described as: → A field that uniquely identifies each record in a table
23. The facts that have been properly arranged, categorized, and organized. → Information
24. Which type of database model organizes data into tables with rows and columns, linked by keys? → Relational model
25. In database terminology, what is a 'schema'? → The logical structure or blueprint defining the organization of data in a database
26. The term 'ERP II' refers to: → ERP systems extended to include external partners and e-commerce
27. A FOREIGN KEY in a relational database: → Links a record in one table to a record in another table
28. Which of the following is an example of a DDL command in SQL? → CREATE TABLE departments (dept_id INT, dept_name VARCHAR(50))
29. Which of the following is a major benefit of implementing an ERP system? → Real-time information sharing across departments
30. What is the purpose of a vulnerability assessment? → To identify weaknesses in systems that could be exploited by attackers