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 Business Plug-in B2 (pages 298 through 312) of the Baltzan textbook.

  1. Consider the video rental process at Blockbuster, Hollywood Video, or Family Video (that we described and depicted on Monday). What data is likely collected during this process? What other data could be collected to produce information to examine whether the process should be improved?
  2. Examine the list of processes in Figure B2.1. Identify three processes that are poorly labeled (remember, processes are actions, not objects) and provide a better label for the process.
  3. Identify three customer-facing processes in which college or university engages (i.e., student-facing processes) that involve information systems in some way.
  4. In your own words, characterize the difference between business process improvement and business process re-engineering using one to three sentences.
  5. Why is it important to build a cross-functional team to create an as-is business process model?

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.