Page 549 - Using MIS

Using Your Knowledge 517

words, explain why it is better to design a program to be local- Q4 What are the security challenges of
ized rather than attempt to adapt an existing single-language international IS?
program to a second language. Explain the problems of having
a single database for an international IS. Define distributed da- Explain legal differences between countries with respect to
tabase, replicated database, and partitioned database. State a the use of encryption, distribution of content, and personal
source of problems for processing replicated databases. privacy protections. Describe how natural disasters, geopo-
Summarize the advantages of functional systems for litical risks, civil unrest, and terrorist attacks could threaten the
international companies. Summarize the issues of inherent physical security of international IS. Give an example of how
processes for multinational ERP. Explain how SOA services differences in cultural norms may affect international IS.
could be used to address the problems of international enter-
prise applications. Q5 What are the challenges of international
IS management?
Q3 How do inter-enterprise IS State the two characteristics that make international IS man-
facilitate global supply chain agement challenging.
management? Explain the difference between international systems de-
velopment and international software development. Using the
Define supply chain, and explain why the term chain is mis- five-component framework, explain why international systems
leading. Under what circumstances are not all of the organiza- development is more difficult. Give an example of one com-
tions in Figure ID-5 part of the supply chain? Name the only plication for each knowledge area in Figure ID-9. State the
source of revenue in a supply chain. Explain how Walmart is four responsibilities for IS departments. Explain how each of
attempting to reduce supply costs. Describe the bullwhip ef- these responsibilities is more challenging for international IS
fect and explain why it adds costs to a supply chain. Explain organizations. Describe three factors that create challenges for
how the system shown in Figure ID-8 can eliminate the bull- international IS operations. Summarize the strategy that Mahr
whip effect. uses when creating IS infrastructure in foreign offices.

Key teRmS And conceptS

Bullwhip effect 509 Localizing 504 Replicated database 506
Distributed database processing 506 Partitioned database 506 Supply chain 507

MyMISLab ™

Go to mymislab.com to complete the problems marked with this icon .

uSing youR Knowledge

ID-1. Suppose that you are about to have a job interview ID-2. Suppose you work for a business that has $100 million
with a multinational company, such as 3M, Starbucks, in annual sales that is contemplating acquiring a com-
or Coca-Cola. Further suppose that you wish to dem- pany in Mexico. Assume you are a junior member of a
onstrate an awareness of the changes for international team that is analyzing the desirability of this acquisition.
commerce that the Internet and modern information Your boss, who is not technically savvy, has asked you
technology have made. Using the information in Q1, to prepare a summary of the issues that she should be
create a list of three questions that you could ask the aware of in the merging of information systems of the
interviewer regarding the company’s use of IT in its in- two companies. She wants your summary to include
ternational business. a list of questions that she should ask of both your IS