MIS 300 Final Exam Advice and Review

1. I want to remind you that the philosophy of this course is to help you become a discriminating user of IT, not a designer, developer or vendor.  Hence the most important aspect of this course is the concepts that lead to understanding, not the tiny details.

2. Basic models have been introduced in the following areas: (including four from the first half of the course)
    a. How decision making takes place and the assumptions we make
    b. The role of data and information in management activities
    c. The idea of a business platform and how the Internet functions as a business platform
    d. The idea of "enterprise computing."
    e. The way information and information systems support managers in their activities
    f.  The kinds of support managers get
    g. How user needs for information and tools to use the information are satisfied
    h. Ways in which users can become technological leaders
    i.  Challenges to information security, privacy and ethical use of information systems

3. The final exam will be a mix of questions from the textbook and from supplementary lectures with emphasis on material from these areas touched on in class (but not exclusively).

4. There will be three kinds of questions: definitions, application of knowledge (i.e., theory) and basic facts.  The mix on the final will lean heavily towards application of knowledge.

    4.1. Chapters 6-9
    Pay attention to slides put on the website, even if not reviewed in class.
    Among slides reviewed in class; those that are key are flagged.
    Questions will be very much applied, with little emphasis on definitional and basic facts:
        1.  In order to get xxx done one would employ a yyy because ...
        2.  A major problem with using xxx is ...
        3.  To get ahead/be successful/solve a problem in xxx, one should ...

    4.2. Supplementary lectures
    These are found at this website here.
    This material is generally not covered or not covered well in the textbook but was covered in lectures.
    All material in the second half of the course builds up to the concept of intelligent design and use of information systems to meet management needs and how computers may assist managers by providing advice in certain circumstances.  We also looked at management of risks inherent in obtaining that assistance.
    Questions will be exploratory and problem solving.
        1. The reason why aaaaa occurs is ....
        2. An example of bbbbb to solve cccc would be ....
        3. In situation ddd, users have a (or exclusive) responsibility to ...

5. All questions are multiple choice.  Sometimes more than one answer might look appropriate.  The choice of the correct answer is guided by a simplicity principle: the answer that requires the fewest assumptions is the best.  An answer that implies other answers is better than the other answers.  As all questions are multiple choice, it is important to read all the answers before providing your response.

6. IMPORTANT.  From the syllabus: "For both the Mid-Term and Final Exams, you will need Scantron Form No. 882-ES, which is available at the bookstore in the Oakland Center. You will also need a #2 pencil (bring a spare, too) for filling out the form during the test.  Make-up exams will not be given, except in extenuating circumstances."

Click here for a link to the Diagnostic Quiz (when available), with answers.

Click here for a summary of the 100 most important slides from the whole course.

This webpage last updated on April 16, 2007.