Guided Reading Exercise - CIS 211 - Management Information Systems

Independent Work Policy

On this assignment, students must work independently. Actions such as directly collaborating with students currently enrolled in the class, referring to the work students formerly enrolled in the class, and using other people to complete the assignment are all examples of violations of this policy. Students should use the instructor for any questions about completing the assignment.

Academic Integrity

Students who choose to violate the independent work policy must cite the use of other people's work by including the names of those people in a conspicuous location. By providing citations, students avoid violating the Elon Honor Code. Students who both violate the independent work policy and fail to cite the names of contributors are subject to the Elon University Academic Integrity Policy.

Format

Students must write their answers on exactly one sheet of standard letter paper (8.5 inches by 11 inches, as found in all Elon campus printers). It is recommended but not required that students use word processing software to print their work.

Directions

Respond to the following items by reading Chapter 12 (pages 153 through 161) of the Baltzan textbook.

  1. List all of the data items that UPS would need to track in order to present information about an individual package to a business that shipped it and to a customer that is expecting it. Are all of these data items arising from the same department at UPS?
  2. In your opinion, how do CRM and SCM relate to ERP?
  3. Consider of the concept of middleware. Think of some "real-life" situations in which a third party helps to unite two separate parties and briefly list them. We'll use those examples in class to better explain the concept of middleware.
  4. Once you have read the entire chapter, attempt to define ERP in your own words. What is ERP?

Delivery

Students must submit their work in person and immediately at the beginning of class on the due date listed. Students may not submit their work electronically and may not have other students submit their work. Late work will not be accepted. Students are advised to print their work prior to their arrival in the classroom.