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144 Part One Organizations, Management, and the Networked Enterprise

• Describe the major behavioral theories that • Define the value web and show how it is
help explain how information systems affect related to the value chain.
organizations. • Explain how the value web helps businesses
• Explain why there is considerable organiza- identify opportunities for strategic informa-
tional resistance to the introduction of infor- tion systems.
mation systems. • Describe how the Internet has changed
• Describe the impact of the Internet and competitive forces and competitive advantage.
disruptive technologies on organizations. 4. How do information systems help businesses
2. How does Porter’s competitive forces model help use synergies, core competences, and network-
companies develop competitive strategies using based strategies to achieve competitive advan-
information systems? tage?
• Define Porter’s competitive forces model and • Explain how information systems promote
explain how it works. synergies and core competencies.
• Describe what the competitive forces model • Describe how promoting synergies and core
explains about competitive advantage. competencies enhances competitive
• List and describe four competitive strategies advantage.
enabled by information systems that firms • Explain how businesses benefit by using
can pursue. network economics.
• Describe how information systems can • Define and describe a virtual company and
support each of these competitive strategies the benefits of pursuing a virtual company
and give examples. strategy.
• Explain why aligning IT with business objec- 5. What are the challenges posed by strategic
tives is essential for strategic use of systems. information systems and how should they be
3. How do the value chain and value web models addressed?
help businesses identify opportunities for strate- • List and describe the management challenges
gic information system applications? posed by strategic information systems.
• Define and describe the value chain model. • Explain how to perform a strategic systems
• Explain how the value chain model can be analysis.
used to identify opportunities for information
systems.

Discussion Questions

1. It has been said that there is no such thing as a 3. What are some of the issues to consider in
sustainable strategic advantage. Do you agree? determining whether the Internet would provide
Why or why not? your business with a competitive advantage?
2. It has been said that the advantage that leading-
edge retailers such as Dell and Walmart have
over their competition isn’t technology; it’s their
management. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Hands-On MIS Projects

The projects in this section give you hands-on experience identifying information systems to support
a business strategy and to solve a customer retention problem, using a database to improve decision
making about business strategy, and using Web tools to configure and price an automobile.

MIS_13_Ch_03_Global.indd 144 1/17/2013 2:26:26 PM