Many of you are familiar with metrics, I am sure. Metrics are measurements that are used to evaluate results to determine if goals are being met. Two areas addressed in your text (that are measurable and may be contributors to the metrics process) include;

Critical Success Factors (important steps companies perform to achieve goals and objectives in support of their strategy), and

Key Performance Indicators (quantifiable measurements a company uses to evaluate whether (or not) critical success factors are being met.

As a response to this topic, identify (from your business, organization, etc.) a critical success factor that is important to your firm”briefly describe it, but make it detailed enough for me to understand. And, address two or three (minimum of two) KPI”s that may be used to measure it. Be as thorough as possible, and cite any references you may use for this exercise.

You may even be able to find examples that firms use, publish or detail, via the Internet (check business” Web pages, for instance). Just ensure you give credit where credit is due.

Q

One of the most recognized areas that management information systems (MIS) have been prevalent in supporting is, you guessed it; decision support! There are a myriad number of decision support systems out there; designed in one manner or another, to support the business” decision or management processes. These include; operational support systems (OSS), managerial support systems (MSS), and strategic support systems (SSS)”you usually do not see them abbreviated as such, but I abbreviate them for the sake ofwell. brevity! 

As a response to this conference topic, in 2-3 short paragraphs (and after reading the respective areas covering these types of systems, in your text), briefly describe an information system you use, or may have used (or may even just be familiar with)”if you have to do this in research mode (meaning, if you have to research an IS because perhaps you do not use one”very rare) ensure you cite your source(s). After describing it, determine if it is one of the three types of systems we have referenced in this conference topic. Describe why you believe it is of that particular type of system. Yes, a single IS you may be familiar with can actually fall in to more than one type, but that”s okay”I only need one.

There is no doubt that the Internet (you seldom hear the term World Wide Web anymore”thankfully!) has changed the way in which we think of doing business. I am sure most of you have purchased a product on-line, or at least used services provided on-line to aid you in making reservations, find information, or even look for better deals! Electronic business, or e-business it is more often called, has become an important part of most firms” business model. Your text, starting on page 101, covers the four (4) most common business models:

-Business-to-Business (B2B

-Business-to-Consumer (B2C)

Consumer-to-Business (C2B)

Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C)

* It is very important that you read this section and familiarize yourself with the concept of each; you will see it again, I can assure you 

With the maturation of the Internet, we have now come into a technologically-enhanced phase of the Internet, often referred to as Web 2.0; as your text alludes to; a more mature, distinctive communications platform characterized by new qualities.. More, user-friendly, intuitive capabilities that allows the user or customer a much better experience by the use of human-centric capabilities. As such, there are some distinctive characteristics of Web 2.0, that are referenced in your text: Content sharing via open sourcing; User-contributed content; Internal collaboration, and External collaboration.

As a response to this Conference Topic: Select, and define (in your own words), one (1) of these characteristics. Then, in 2-3 paragraphs, give an example of a Web site, service, capability, or system you have used (or are familiar with, or have done research on) that depicts the characteristic you have addressed. Explain why you believe it to be supportive of the selected characteristic; give examples, etc., to support your statements.