UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2017/2018
EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN
INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT
MISM 5402: STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
SYSTEMS
DATE: NOVEMBER, 2017 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question One & ANY OTHER TWO questions.
QUESTION ONE: 20 MARKS (COMPULSORY)
a) State and explain four key attributes of strategic management. 4 Marks
b) The management of XYZ Company is in the process of developing a new information
system. Discuss the four feasibility test that must be undertaken before the
development process gets underway. 4 Marks
c) An obsolete information system could be defined as one that has reached the end of
the economic useful life and is due for replacement by another information system.
Discuss four symptoms of a system which is approaching the end of its useful
economic life. 4 Marks
d) Frameworks for integrating IS strategies with business strategies may be considered
either as Centralized or Decentralized. Differentiate between the two strategies
4 Marks
c) Discuss four key challenges faced by management in building, operating and
maintaining information systems in organizations. 4 Marks
QUESTION TWO: 15 MARKS
a) Every organization exists within an environment that is also known as the
society. Describe any four elements that make up the organizations environment
showing how each element influences the organization. 4
Marks
b) One approach to selection and acquisition of an Information System is by
outsourcing the operations from an external vendor. Required
i. State and explain four types of outsourcing. 2 Marks
ii. Describe three levels of service provision from an external vendor.
3 Marks
iii. Discuss any three elements of an outsourcing contract. 3 Marks
iv. Outline three advantages and three disadvantages of outsourcing.
3 Marks
QUESTION THREE: 15 MARKS
a) Define the following terms 3 Marks
i. Strategy
ii. Strategic management
iii. Competitive advantage
b) Discuss six strategic positioning choices which the strategic managers can make in
order to maintain a competitive advantage in their organization. 3 Marks
c) Describe four strategic shifts that may result from the strategic positioning choices
2 Marks
d) One important activity of strategic managers is strategic planning. Describe four
characteristics of this activity. 2 Marks
e) Describe the decision making theory highlighting the value of Information
5 Marks
QUESTION FOUR: 15 MARKS
a) Discuss five characteristics that information should possess in order to aid
management in the performance of the key functions of planning, control and
decision making. 5 Marks
b) Uchumi Supermarkets in Kenya has been experiencing serious financial problems for
over ten years now. Assume you are hired as the new Managing Director of Uchumi
Supermarket in Kenya to address the problems ailing the store. Discuss in detail how
you would use Information Systems in order to reverse the trend in the chain of
stores. 5 Marks
c) You hear a member of the Board of your financial organization, while in discussion
with major customers, say that “Mobile computing renders all traditional IS/IT
obsolete”. Discuss and justify the extent to which you agree or disagree with the
above statement. 5 Marks
