2. Read the definitions and find corresponding words or expressions.

1. to guess that something will happen, and be ready to deal with it

2. if you do it, you stay informed about developments

3. without taking into account; also in spite of

4. to be caused by something

5. expecting the price of stocks to go down; also pessimistic

6. reacting to the information and instructions that you give

7. existing at a particular time or in a particular place

8. to make or change something especially for a particular person or purpose

9. a large and very fast computer that can do many jobs at once

10. essential to completeness or formed as a unit with another part

11. something that is cutting edge, and that makes use of the very latest in technology

12. very determined to win or be successful

13. optimistic or confident

14. the position of most importance, prominence, or responsibility; the vanguard

3. Match the sentences from the text with the paragraphs 1-9.

1. Application software tends not to change frequently.

2. This independence often can lead to support of a wide range of equipment by different manufacturers.

3. There is little management commitment to maintaining a state-of-the-art support system.

4. User-friendly applications tend to be in the forefront for a bullish company.

5. CIS personnel are expected to keep abreast of state-of-the-art hardware and software developments.

6. Changes are more gradual, less dynamic.

7. Bullish companies will tend to go beyond minimal requirements.

8. User-friendly application development packages provide the basis for management decision support activities.

9. Industry practices can provide an environment that requires a certain level of commitment to CIS.

4. Choose the right alternative.

1 Profound involvement of CIS into a business’s management can

A develop an aggressive attitude towards competitors;

B minimize the level of top-management’s commitment to the business;

C ensure the position of a follower for the business.

2 An organization with a bullish posture tends to

A evaluate the use of state-of-the-art information services and resources;

B shun the use of batch processing applications;

C liberalize the use of new hardware and software.

3 “An aggressive company tends to tailor purchases to application requirements” means that:

A an aggressive company avoids inflicting unnecessary costs buying from one vendor;

B an aggressive company tends to buy from different manufacturers;

C an aggressive company tries to better understand its needs.

4 Vigorous corporate policy towards CIS ultimately leads to

A stand-alone computers being linked to a central mainframe at the corporate headquarters;

B information about real-time transactions, inventory control, revenue and expense data being sent to the central facility;

C the basis for management decision support activities being provided.

5 In a bearish company, planning

A anticipates quick changes in hardware and software developments;

B follows the principles of methodical approaches;

C is usually short-term and doesn’t count on the long-lasting exploitation of its equipment.

6 Decentralization in an organization can be seen through:

A little management commitment to a state-of-the-art support system;

B keeping abreast of state-of-the-art hardware and software developments;

C contentment with the existing computer equipment.