download - 海南大学.doc

Chapter one Answers to Discussion Questions 1. How can information systems support a company’s business operations and decision-making, and give them a competitive advantage? Give examples to illustrate your answer. Information systems play a vital role in the success of an enterprise and there is a growing dependence on the use of these systems. Information systems certainly do support a company’s business operations and decision-making by enabling companies to more effectively carry out their operations, and do it is more effective ways. Through the use of information systems, managers are better able to make decisions based on current data, and they often discover trends, opportunities, or even pitfalls that they were not aware of before. Operational efficiencies and profit margins can be dramatically increased through the use of information systems. People now have the tools that they can use to do their jobs better, faster, and more effective. Competitive advantage is capture through the ability to be better able to meet customers demands, offer then high quality products, and to do it better than your competitors can. Other examples include the increase use of the Internet, intranets, and extranets in ways in which they can be used to provide information infrastructure a business needs for efficient operations, effective management, and competitive advantage. 2. How does the use of the Internet, intranets, and extranets by an e-business enterprise support their e-commerce activities? In order to succeed today, organizations are increasingly competing in global markets. The increased use of technologies such as the Internet, intranets, and extranets have definitely revolutionized how businesses are operating and how they will continue to explore opportunities now available through these technologies in order to operate more effectively. Companies are rapidly extending their uses of these three technologies in order to compete by offering their customers