1. What is a business process and why do businesses use them? Why are efficient business processes key to maximizing value?
2. Firms most often use IT to automate and to improve business processes. What are some of the ways that IT can accomplish this job?
3. What is a 'hierarchy'?
4. What are the major levels in the information systems hierarchy within a firm?
5. From topmost viewpoint in a firm, what is a 'business function'? What are some of the commonly encountered business functions in most firms?
6. What is an enterprise system and what are some ways it could help improve the interoperation of the various functional elements of a firm?
7. What's e-commerce? Do you think the world could exist without it?
8. Why is it important for a firm's technology to support teamwork and collaboration between its internal, external and internal-external partners? How/what are some common tools and approaches firms use in this regard?