Essentials of Business Information Systems or Game Theory for Applied Economists

Essentials of Business Information Systems

Author: Kenneth C Laudon

For introductory undergraduate courses in Information Systems taught in MIS, IS, CIS, Business and Management departments. This brief text is ideal for courses on quarter systems and those that combine a MIS text with hands-on software, projects, or case studies. These authoritative authors continue to define the MIS course by emphasizinghowbusiness objectives shape the application of new information systems and technologies and integrating a career orientation that demonstrates the relevance of information systems to all business students regardless of their major.

Table of Contents:

I	Information Systems in the Digital Age	1
1	Business Information Systems in Your Career	2
	Chapter-Opening Case: Major League Baseball Hits a Home Run with Information Systems	3
1.1	The Role of Information Systems in Business Today	6
1.2	Perspectives on Information Systems and Information Technology	10
1.3	It Isn't Simply Technology: The Role of People and Organizations	12
1.4	Understanding Information Systems: A Business Problem-Solving Approach	17
1.5	Information Systems and Your Career	22
	Learning Tracks	30
	Summary	31
	Key Terms	32
	Review Questions	32
	Discussion Questions	32
	Application Software Exercise: Database Exercise: Converting Data into Useful Information	33
	Dirt Bikes U.S.A.: Preparing a Management Overview of the Company	33
	Building Internet Skills: Analyzing Shipping Costs	33
	Video Case	34
	Teamwork: Analyzing a Business System	34
	Business Problem-Solving Case: Can the Music Industry Change Its Tune?	34
2	E-Business: How Businesses Use Information Systems	38
	Chapter-Opening Case: Information Systems Help Kia Solve Its Quality Problems	39
2.1	Components of a Business	42
2.2	Types of Business Information Systems	46
2.3	Systems That Span the Enterprise	57
2.4	The Information Systems Function in Business	64
	Learning Tracks	67
	Summary	68
	Key Terms	69
	Review Questions	69
	Discussion Questions	70
	Application Software Exercise: Spreadsheet Exercise: Improving Supply Chain Management	70
	Dirt Bikes U.S.A.: Analyzing Financial Performance	70
	Building Internet Skills: Planning Transportation Logistics	71
	Video Case	71
	Teamwork: Describing Management Decisions and Systems	71
	Business Problem-Solving Case: Can Information Systems Help Danaher Work Leaner?	71
3	Achieving Competitive Advantage with Information Systems	74
	Chapter-Opening Case: Amazon.com: An Internet Giant Fine-Tunes Its Strategy	75
3.1	Using Information Systems to Achieve Competitive Advantage	78
3.2	Competing on a Global Scale	92
3.3	Competing on Quality and Design	94
3.4	Competing on Business Processes	97
	Learning Tracks	100
	Summary	100
	Key Terms	101
	Review Questions	101
	Discussion Questions	101
	Application Software Exercise: Database Exercise: Using a Database for Strategic Business Development	101
	Dirt Bikes U.S.A.: Performing a Competitive Analysis for Dirt Bikes	102
	Building Internet Skills: Configuring and Pricing an Automobile	102
	Video Case	103
	Teamwork: Identifying Opportunities for Strategic Information Systems	103
	Business Problem-Solving Case: Can Blockbuster Stand Up to Netflix?	103
II	Information Technology Infrastructure	107
4	IT Infrastructure: Hardware and Software	108
	Chapter-Opening Case: DreamWorks Animation Turns to Technology for Production Support	109
4.1	IT Infrastructure: Computer Hardware	112
4.2	IT Infrastructure: Computer Software	121
4.3	Managing Hardware and Software Technology	135
	Learning Tracks	139
	Summary	140
	Key Terms	141
	Review Questions	142
	Discussion Questions	142
	Application Software Exercise: Spreadsheet Exercise: Evaluating Computer Hardware and Software Options	142
	Dirt Bikes U.S.A.: Analyzing the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of Desktop Software Assets	143
	Building Internet Skills: Planning and Budgeting for a Sales Conference	144
	Video Case	144
	Teamwork: Evaluating Server Operating Systems	144
	Business Problem-Solving Case: JP Morgan Chase Shifts IT Outsourcing into Reverse	145
5	Foundations of Business Intelligence: Databases and Information Management	148
	Chapter-Opening Case: Seven-Eleven Stores Ask the Customer by Asking the Data	149
5.1	The Database Approach to Data Management	152
5.2	Database Management Systems	157
5.3	Using Databases to Improve Business Performance and Decision Making	162
5.4	Managing Data Resources	169
	Learning Tracks	172
	Summary	172
	Key Terms	173
	Review Questions	173
	Discussion Questions	173
	Application Software Exercise: Database Exercise: Building a Relational Database for a Small Business	174
	Dirt Bikes U.S.A.: Redesigning the Customer Database	174
	Building Internet Skills: Searching Online Databases	175
	Video Case	175
	Teamwork: Identifying Entities and Attributes in an Online Database	175
	Business Problem-Solving Case: The FBI Abandons Its Virtual Case System	175
6	Telecommunications, the Internet, and Wireless Technology	178
	Chapter-Opening Case: Dartmouth: An Old College Becomes a New Networking Innovator	179
6.1	Telecommunications and Networking in Today's Business World	182
6.2	Communications Networks	187
6.3	The Internet	193
6.4	The Wireless Revolution	205
	Learning Tracks	215
	Summary	215
	Key Terms	218
	Review Questions	218
	Discussion Questions	219
	Application Software Exercise: Spreadsheet Exercise: Comparing Wireless Services	219
	Dirt Bikes U.S.A.: Using Internet Tools to Increase Efficiency and Productivity	219
	Building Internet Skills: Using Web Search Engines for Business Research	220
	Video Case	220
	Teamwork: Comparing Mobile Internet Access Systems	220
	Business Problem-Solving Case: Google Takes on the World	220
7	Securing Information Systems	224
	Chapter-Opening Case: Phishing: A Costly New Sport for Internet Users	225
7.1	System Vulnerability and Abuse	228
7.2	Business Value of Security and Control	238
7.3	Establishing a Framework for Security and Control	240
7.4	Technologies and Tools for Security	245
	Learning Tracks	252
	Summary	252
	Key Terms	253
	Review Questions	253
	Discussion Questions	254
	Application Software Exercise: Spreadsheet Exercise: Performing a Security Risk Assessment	254
	Dirt Bikes U.S.A.: Developing a Disaster Recovery Plan	255
	Building Internet Skills: Evaluating Security Outsourcing Services	255
	Video Case	255
	Teamwork: Evaluating Security Software Tools	255
	Business Problem-Solving Case: MasterCard and CardSystems: The Worst Data Theft Ever?	256
III	Key System Applications for the Digital Age	259
8	Achieving Operational Excellence and Customer Intimacy: Enterprise Applications	260
	Chapter-Opening Case: Whirlpool Fixes Its Supply Chain	261
8.1	Enterprise Systems	264
8.2	Supply Chain Management Systems	266
8.3	Customer Relationship Management Systems	274
8.4	Enterprise Applications: New Opportunities and Challenges	282
	Challenges and Opportunities	282
	Learning Tracks	283
	Summary	283
	Key Terms	284
	Review Questions	285
	Discussion Questions	285
	Application Software Exercise: Database Exercise: Managing Customer Service Requests	285
	Dirt Bikes U.S.A.: Identifying Supply Chain Management Solutions	286
	Building Internet Skills: Evaluating Supply Chain Management Services	286
	Video Case	287
	Teamwork: Analyzing Enterprise Application Vendors	287
	Business Problem-Solving Case: Philip Morris International's Supply Chain Dilemma	287
9	E-Commerce: Digital Markets, Digital Goods	290
	Chapter-Opening Case: Gap Remodels Its Web Sites	291
9.1	Electronic Commerce and the Internet	294
9.2	Electronic Commerce	303
9.3	M-Commerce	310
9.4	Electronic Commerce Payment Systems	314
	Learning Tracks	318
	Summary	318
	Key Terms	320
	Review Questions	320
	Discussion Questions	321
	Application Software Exercise: Spreadsheet Exercise: Analyzing a Dot-Com Business	321
	Dirt Bikes U.S.A.: Developing an E-Commerce Strategy	321
	Building Internet Skills: Comparing Online Storefront Hosting Services	322
	Video Case	322
	Teamwork: Performing a Competitive Analysis of E-Commerce Sites	322
	Business Problem-Solving Case: Can eBay Keep It Up?	322
10	Improving Decision Making and Managing Knowledge	326
	Chapter-Opening Case: Procter & Gamble Restructures Its Supply Chain	327
10.1	Decision Making and Information Systems	330
10.2	Systems for Decision Support	333
10.3	Intelligent Systems for Decision Support	341
10.4	Systems for Managing Knowledge	349
	Learning Tracks	356
	Summary	356
	Key Terms	358
	Review Questions	359
	Discussion Questions	359
	Application Software Exercise: Spreadsheet Exercise: Performing Break-Even Analysis and Sensitivity Analysis	359
	Dirt Bikes U.S.A.: Analyzing the Impact of Component Price Changes	360
	Building Internet Skills: Using Intelligent Agents for Comparison Shopping	361
	Video Case	361
	Teamwork: Rating Knowledge Network Systems	362
	Business Problem-Solving Case: Can Information Systems Make Your Doctor Better?	362
IV	Building and Managing Systems	365
11	Building Information Systems	366
	Chapter-Opening Case: A New Ordering System for Girl Scout Cookies	367
11.1	Problem Solving and Systems Development	370
11.2	Understanding the Business Value of Systems and Managing Change	375
11.3	Alternative Systems-Building Approaches	384
11.4	Modeling and Designing Systems: Structured and Object-Oriented Methodologies	390
	Learning Tracks	393
	Summary	393
	Key Terms	395
	Review Questions	395
	Discussion Questions	396
	Application Software Exercise: Database Exercise: Designing a Customer System for Auto Sales	396
	Dirt Bikes U.S.A.: Designing an Employee Training and Skills Tracking System	397
	Building Internet Skills: Analyzing Web Site Design and Information Requirements	397
	Video Case	397
	Teamwork: Analyzing Web Site Requirements	397
	Business Problem-Solving Case: Comair's Crew Scheduling System Breaks Down	398
12	Ethical and Social Issues in Information Systems	400
	Chapter-Opening Case: Does Location Tracking Threaten Privacy?	401
12.1	Understanding Ethical and Social Issues Related to Systems	403
12.2	Ethics in an Information Society	408
12.3	The Moral Dimensions of Information Systems	411
	Learning Tracks	426
	Summary	426
	Key Terms	427
	Review Questions	427
	Discussion Questions	428
	Application Software Exercise: Word Processing and Web Page Development Tool Exercise: Creating a Simple Web Site	428
	Dirt Bikes U.S.A.: Developing a Web Site Privacy Policy	428
	Building Internet Skills: Using Internet Newsgroups for Online Market Research	429
	Video Case	429
	Teamwork: Developing a Corporate Ethics Code	429
	Business Problem-Solving Case: Should We Trust ChoicePoint with Our Personal Data?	429
	Your Digital Portfolio	433
	Glossary	1
	References	1
	Indexes	1
	Photo and Screen Shot Credits	1

Interesting textbook: Los Barrios Family Cookbook or Blue Eggs and Yellow Tomatoes

Game Theory for Applied Economists

Author: Robert Gibbons

This book introduces one of the most powerful tools of modern economics to a wide audience: those who will later construct or consume game-theoretic models. Robert Gibbons addresses scholars in applied fields within economics who want a serious and thorough discussion of game theory but who may have found other works overly abstract. Gibbons emphasizes the economic applications of the theory at least as much as the pure theory itself; formal arguments about abstract games play a minor role. The applications illustrate the process of model building--of translating an informal description of a multi-person decision situation into a formal game-theoretic problem to be analyzed. Also, the variety of applications shows that similar issues arise in different areas of economics, and that the same game-theoretic tools can be applied in each setting. In order to emphasize the broad potential scope of the theory, conventional applications from industrial organization have been largely replaced by applications from labor, macro, and other applied fields in economics. The book covers four classes of games, and four corresponding notions of equilibrium: static games of complete information and Nash equilibrium, dynamic games of complete information and subgame-perfect Nash equilibrium, static games of incomplete information and Bayesian Nash equilibrium, and dynamic games of incomplete information and perfect Bayesian equilibrium.