Answers

The department chain you work for has had numerous complaints about slow customer service. Your colleague, a sales manager, informs you that this happened at a previous store she worked for, and it was cleared up by hiring more sales representatives. Should you take her advice? Why not? What technique should you use in evaluating the problem?

The advice should not be taken, as it is a rush to judgment, which could mean that the wrong solution is used, wasting time and resources. You should ask the colleague to employ critical thinking. Critical thinking is sustained suspension of judgment with an awareness of multiple perspectives and alternatives. It involves at least four elements:

• Maintaining doubt and suspending judgment

• Being aware of different perspectives

• Testing alternatives and letting experience guide

• Being aware of organizational and personal limitations

What important managerial function is impaired by not having access to timely and accurate information? What is the effect of this lack of data?

The managerial function is decision-making. Without access to timely and accurate information business managers may make mistakes in judging how many goods to produce, in scheduling, and in assessing customer needs.

How could you use information systems to achieve greater customer intimacy?

Website to allow customers to read more about the company, online appointment live chat email to remind the customers about there appointment create profiles online and id’s, allow promotions introduce new business to follow in social network’s

You are advising the owner of Smalltown Computer, a new, local computer repair store that also builds custom computers to order. What competitive advantages could Smalltown Computer exert? Which ones will it have difficulty exercising?

Smalltown Computer could concentrate on demand control, providing higher quality, custom computers than large computer manufacturers and dealers can.

Smalltown...