An Office Automation System (OAS) is best described as which of the following?

• A. Computer systems designed to increase productivity of data and information workers
• B. Technology for manufacturing control
• C. Software for payroll processing
• D. A database for supplier management

Answer: (D)

Office automation is about reducing manual, repetitive office tasks by organizing and automating the flow of information. A database for supplier management fits this because it provides a single place to store and retrieve supplier details, contracts, orders, and communications, and it supports automated workflows such as generating orders, routing approvals, and handling invoicing. This shows how routine office processes—information gathering, document handling, approvals, and communications—are streamlined through an integrated information system.

Other options describe broader or different domains: manufacturing control relates to factory floor systems, payroll processing is a specific HR task, and a general description of systems aimed at boosting productivity doesn’t illustrate a concrete, automated office information workflow. Therefore, a supplier-management database best captures how an Office Automation System automates the office’s information tasks.