GWD-11 22-23

Q22 to Q25:

      Most pre-1990 literature on busi-

           nesses’ use of information technology

           (IT)—defined as any form of computer-

Line based information system—focused on

  (5)          spectacular IT successes and reflected

a general optimism concerning IT’s poten-

tial as a resource for creating competitive

advantage.  But toward the end of the

1980’s, some economists spoke of a

(10)          “productivity paradox”:  despite huge IT

investments, most notably in the service

sectors, productivity stagnated.  In the

retail industry, for example, in which IT

had been widely adopted during the

(15)          1980’s, productivity (average output per

hour) rose at an average annual rate of

1.1 percent between 1973 and 1989, com-

pared with 2.4 percent in the preceding

25-year period.  roponents of IT argued

(20)          that it takes both time and a critical mass

           of investment for IT to yield benefits, and

           some suggested that growth figures for

the 1990’s proved these benefits were

finally being realized.  They also argued

(25)          that measures of productivity ignore what

would have happened without investments

in IT—productivity gains might have been

even lower.  There were even claims that

IT had improved the performance of the

(30)          service sector significantly, although mac-

roeconomic measures of productivity did

not reflect the improvement.

      But some observers questioned why,

           if IT had conferred economic value, it did

(35)          not produce direct competitive advantages

for individual firms.  Resource-based

theory offers an answer, asserting that,

in general, firms gain competitive advan-

tages by accumulating resources that are

(40)          economically valuable, relatively scarce,

and not easily replicated.  According to

a recent study of retail firms, which con-

firmed that IT has become pervasive

and relatively easy to acquire, IT by

(45)          itself appeared to have conferred little

advantage.  In fact, though little evidence

of any direct effect was found, the fre-

quent negative correlations between IT

and performance suggested that IT had

(50)          probably weakened some firms’ compet-

itive positions.  However, firms’ human

resources, in and of themselves, did

explain improved performance, and

some firms gained IT-related advan-

(55)          tages by merging IT with complementary

resources, particularly human resources.

The findings support the notion, founded

in resource-based theory, that competi-

tive advantages do not arise from easily

(60)          replicated resources, no matter how

impressive or economically valuable

they may be, but from complex, intan-

gible resources.

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Q22:         

The passage is primarily concerned with

1. describing a resource and indicating various methods used to study it


2. presenting a theory and offering an opposing point of view


3. providing an explanation for unexpected findings


4. demonstrating why a particular theory is unfounded


5. resolving a disagreement regarding the uses of a technology

Answer:

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Q23:

The passage suggests that proponents of resource-based theory would be likely to explain IT’s inability to produce direct competitive advantages for individual firms by pointing out that

1. IT is not a resource that is difficult to obtain


2. IT is not an economically valuable resource(对应上面划线部分)
   
   



3. IT is a complex, intangible resource


4. economic progress has resulted from IT only in the service sector


5. changes brought about by IT cannot be detected by macroeconomic measures

Answer

偶选:E,B

Q22, C may be better. Resource-based theory is the explanation,  the unexpected findings are the fact that investment in IT didn't result in expected profit increase.

Q23, Again, I hold different opinion. A should be the key.   "According to a recent study of retail firms, which confirmed that IT has become pervasive and relatively easy to acquire, " means exactly "IT is not a resource that is difficult to obtain".

15. E; I do not consider the main purpose of author is to propose a change in curricula.

22. C

23. A; three possible explanations listed, but the passage states the third clearly in following part.

in general, firms gain competitive advan-

tages by accumulating resources that are

(40)          economically valuable, relatively scarce,

and not easily replicated.

To be discussed...

同意CA,谢谢楼上的NN

Q24:   

The author of the passage discusses productivity in the retail industry in the first paragraph primarily in order to

1. suggest a way in which IT can be used to create a competitive advantage
2. provide an illustration of the “productivity paradox”
3. emphasize the practical value of the introduction of IT
4. cite an industry in which productivity did not stagnate during the 1980’s
5. counter the argument that IT could potentially create competitive advantage

Answer:

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Q25:

According to the passage, most pre-1990 literature on businesses’ use of IT included which of the following?

1. Recommendations regarding effective ways to use IT to gain competitive advantage
2. Explanations of the advantages and disadvantages of adopting IT
3. Information about ways in which IT combined with human resources could be used to increase competitive advantage
4. A warning regarding the negative effect on competitive advantage that would occur if IT were not adopted
5. A belief in the likelihood of increased competitive advantage for firms using IT

Answer:

Proponents of IT argued

(20)     that it takes both time and a critical mass

                of investment for IT to yield benefits, and

               some suggested that growth figures for

the 1990’s proved these benefits were

finally being realized.  They also argued

(25)     that measures of productivity ignore what

would have happened without investments

in IT—productivity gains might have been

even lower.  There were even claims that

IT had improved the performance of the

(30)     service sector significantly, although

macroeconomic measures of productivity

did not reflect the improvement.

可是23题E的答案在出题处,A的答案在第二段了,ETS不是说不能将选择非出题处的答案吗?