Question

In 2003, Custer Manufacturing implemented a Web-based information system that allows all employees to access mission-critical information. The intention was to increase production efficiency. Unfortunately, it had the opposite effect, as deliveries fell behind schedule and costs increased. Jeff Akspen, the director of information technology services, asked Joyce Jenkins to come in and talk with him about the system. Joyce is a long-time employee of Custer, and her opinion is valued by her peers and by her supervisor. "So Joyce, how's it going down there in the shop?""Not so good, Jeff. Used to be we got a weekly pick list so we knew how to plan production. Now, we got that computer system. Most of us can't figure out how to use it to do our jobs. Is there some way to print out a pick list?"Jeff thought for a while before responding. "Well, Joyce, to tell you the truth, I'm not so sure how to do it myself, but there must be a way. We'll bring in the consultants that helped us build the system. Maybe they can help." Which of the following characteristics of useful information is absent in the situation described above?

A) Relevant
B) Reliable
C) Complete
D) Timely
E) Understandable
F) Verifiable
G) Accessible

Answer 1

The key feature missing from Custer Manufacturing's information system is that it's not understandable. The employees cannot easily utilize the system, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs, highlighting the importannce of user-friendly design in information systems.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the scenario with Custer Manufacturing's new information system, the characteristic of useful information that is clearly absent is E) Understandable. Employees find the new system confusing and are unable to use it effectively to plan production, which indicates that the information presented is not easily digestible or interpretable by the average user. While the system was intended to streamline access to mission-critical information and improve production efficiency, it instead resulted in decreased productivity due to its lack of user-friendliness. This illustrates the importance of ensuring that end-users can comprehend and utilize the provided information in order for it to be considered useful.