Deck 10: Building Successful Information Systems

Question 1

External users are normally part of a company's task force.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Normally, a task force for the planning phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC)includes only representatives from the IT department and the top management.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

During the _____ phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC)model, an information systems designer must define the problem an organization faces, taking care not to define symptoms rather than the underlying problem.

A)planning
B)requirements-gathering
C)design
D)implementation

Answer 3

A

Question 4

In the context of an organization's information system, external users _____.

A)refrain from providing feedback to the organization
B)include customers, contractors, and suppliers
C)typically form part of the task force
D)are the employees who use the system

Question 5

Creating a help desk to support users is an important task in the implementation phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC).

Question 6

The systems development life cycle (SDLC)is also known as the _____.

A)ad hoc cycle
B)self-sourcing model
C)agile cycle
D)waterfall model

Question 7

PERT and CPM techniques work by determining the "critical path" for the completion of a series of interrelated activities. If any of the activities along the critical path is delayed, the entire project is delayed.

Question 8

It is important to project an organization's growth rate when designing information systems.

Question 9

Including users and top management in the construction phase of a prototype is essential because some problems that crop up during construction can be solved only by users or top management.

Question 10

Service-oriented architecture (SOA)advocates that core business functions and the dynamic functions that change all the time should be decoupled.

Question 11

The systems development life cycle (SDLC)model is appropriate in situations when the problem under investigation is not well defined.

Question 12

Information system projects are often an extension of existing systems or involve replacing an old technology with a new one.

Question 13

_____ are employees who will use an information system regularly and can offer important feedback on the system's strengths and weaknesses.

A)Internal users
B)Merchandise users
C)Suppliers
D)Contractors

Question 14

The object-oriented approach combines process and data analysis, and the line between analysis and design is so thin that analysis and design seem to be a single phase instead of two distinct phases.

Question 15

One of the advantages of prototyping is that modifying a prototype is easier than modifying a complete system.

Question 16

During the planning phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), a systems designer must define the symptoms before the underlying problem that an organization might be facing.

Question 17

The creation of a system specifications document indicates the beginning of the analysis phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC).

Question 18

In pilot conversion, an analyst introduces an information system in only a limited area of an organization.

Question 19

Establishing evaluation criteria causes excessive subjectivity during the systems development life cycle (SDLC)process.

Question 20

In the context of the planning phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), which is an example of an externally identified problem?

A)Employees demanding an increase in their wage before the launch of a new system
B)Suppliers noting inefficiency in the inventory control procedure
C)Management voicing concern about the organization's lack of a competitive edge in the marketplace
D)Management conducting a high-cost training program to improve employees' skills

Question 21

Which benefit of an information system is categorized as a tangible?

A)Improved employee morale
B)Better customer satisfaction
C)Increased company profits
D)Increased flexibility in business operations

Question 22

During the design phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), the _____ design is created for a specific platform, such as choosing Dell servers running Ubuntu Linux and Java for the programming language.

A)virtual
B)physical
C)conceptual
D)logical

Question 23

Which is an advantage of the joint application design (JAD)approach?

A)It incorporates varying viewpoints from different functional areas of an organization to help ensure that collected requirements for an application is not too narrow or one-dimensional in focus.
B)It provides a method for investigating an environment in which a problem is poorly defined and information is difficult to gather.
C)It reduces the need to train information system users and increases the system's chance of success by encouraging users' involvement.
D)It improves communication among users, top management, and information systems personnel because seeing a concrete model often prompts potential users of the system to ask questions, express opinions, and so forth.

Question 24

During the implementation phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), _____.

A)a team assesses how a system is working and takes steps to keep the system up and running
B)analysts define the organizational problem and generate alternatives for solving it
C)analysts choose the solution that is the most realistic and offers the highest payoff for the organization
D)the solution is transferred from paper to action, and a team configures the system and procures components for it

Question 25

Computer-aided systems engineering (CASE)tools are typically used during the _____ phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC).

A)planning
B)design
C)implementation
D)maintenance

Question 26

In the _____ phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), a problem is defined and alternatives are generated for solving it.

A)planning
B)requirements-gathering and analysis
C)designing and prototype-development
D)implementation

Question 27

During the _____ phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), analysts investigate a proposed solution's feasibility and determine how best to present the solution to management to obtain funding.

A)design
B)requirements-gathering
C)planning
D)implementation

Question 28

The _____ document, created during the requirements-gathering and analysis phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), indicates the end of the analysis phase and the start of the design phase.

A)maintenance plan
B)system specifications
C)blueprint
D)execution

Question 29

In the context of prototyping during the design phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), a _____ prototype shows users how a particular task that was not technically feasible or appears to be unfeasible can be done.

A)proof-of-concept
B)computer-aided
C)requirements-based
D)phased-in-phased-out

Question 30

In the context of structured systems analysis and design (SSAD)models, a _____ is a tool that helps analysts understand the data requirements an information system must meet by defining data elements and showing the associations between them.

A)data flow diagram
B)flowchart
C)context diagram
D)conceptual data model

Question 31

Which is an outcome of the design phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC)?

A)A document that contains the requirements for the current system to determine its main problem
B)A document that contains operation-specific data collected by the analysts after observing the system's performance over a predefined period of time
C)A document with exact specifications for executing the system, including procedures, hardware and software, and networking components
D)A document that drafts the details noted after conducting interviews and surveys with the prospective users of the system

Question 32

Which is a characteristic of joint application design (JAD)?

A)It ensures that the requirements collected from different functional areas of an organization for the application are multi-dimensional in focus.
B)It centers on a structured workshop in which users and system professionals come together to develop an application.
C)It is a unilateral activity that involves the owner of the organization.
D)It ensures that collected requirements are one-dimensional in focus.

Question 33

In the context of structured systems analysis and design (SSAD)models, a _____ is a tool that shows a process at a more general level and is helpful for showing top management and the task force how a process works.

A)data flow diagram
B)flowchart
C)context diagram
D)conceptual data model

Question 34

Finding out how a new information system would address employees' problems in performing their jobs is the goal of which phase in the SDLC:

A)r equirements-gathering and analysis
B)design
C)planning
D)implementation

Question 35

In the context of information systems, which is an advantage of prototyping?

A)A prototype guarantees the success of the final system.
B)It is easier to modify a prototype than a complete system.
C)It does not require any support from the top management of a firm.
D)A prototype always reflects the final system's actual operation.

Question 36

Finding out what users do and how they do it part of the ______ phase of the software development life cycle.

A)planning
B)requirements-gathering and analysis
C)design
D)maintenance

Question 37

In the context of information systems, which is a disadvantage of prototyping?

A)It increases the need to train information system users.
B)It decreases a system's chance of success by discouraging users' involvement.
C)A prototype is more difficult to modify than a complete system.
D)A prototype might not reflect the final system's actual operation and, therefore, could be misleading.

Question 38

In the design phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), the _____ design is an overview of the system and does not include hardware or software choices.

A)virtual
B)physical
C)conceptual
D)logical

Question 39

In the design phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), the _____ design indicates hardware and software, such as specifying Linux servers and Windows clients.

A)theoretical
B)physical
C)conceptual
D)logical

Question 40

During the _____  phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), analysts choose the solution that is the most realistic and offers the highest payoff for the organization.

A)planning
B)analysis
C)design
D)implementation

Question 41

Which statement is true of Critical Path Method (CPM)?

A)Activities on the critical path take the shortest time to be completed.
B)It determines the critical path for the completion of a series of interrelated activities.
C)Activities that are on the critical path are flexible and can be delayed without delaying a project.
D)A delay in the activities of a project does not affect the scheduled delivery of the project.

Question 42

_____ is a philosophy and a software and system development methodology that focuses on the development, use, and reuse of small, self-contained blocks of codes to meet the software needs of an organization.

A)Extreme programming
B)Rapid application development
C)Service-oriented architecture
D)Joint application design

Question 43

Which of the following approaches for developing information systems increases the risk of leaking confidential information to competitors?

A)Insourcing
B)Outsourcing
C)Self-sourcing
D)Venture sourcing

Question 44

In _____ conversion of the implementation phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), as each module of a new system is converted, the corresponding part of an old system is retired.

A)parallel
B)phased-in-phased-out
C)plunge
D)pilot

Question 45

During the _____ of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), an information system is operating, enhancements and modifications to the system have been developed and tested, and hardware and software components have been added or replaced.

A)planning
B)design
C)implementation
D)maintenance

Question 46

In _____ conversion of the implementation phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), an old system is stopped and a new system is implemented.

A)parallel
B)phased-in-phased-out
C)plunge
D)pilot

Question 47

The _____ approach treats process and data independently and is a sequential approach that requires completing the analysis before beginning the design of information systems.

A)joint application design
B)structured systems analysis and design
C)object-oriented
D)class-responsibility collaboration

Question 48

Which is a disadvantage of a request for proposal (RFP)?

A)A lengthy time frame for preparation makes an RFP less appealing.
B)The limited time allotted for the evaluation of an RFP makes the process tedious.
C)In an RFP, every vendor gets different information, resulting in unfair bids.
D)In an RFP, different vendors have different deadlines for submitting bids.

Question 49

Which is a similarity between agile methodology and extreme programming (XP)?

A)Both give equal emphasis to team coding.
B)Both focus on an incremental development process.
C)Both respond to changing needs before the system is delivered.
D)Both have programmers perform different actions at the same time.

Question 50

_____ can help reduce the backlog in producing information systems and improve flexibility in responding to users' information needs.

A)Intersourcing
B)Outsourcing
C)Self-sourcing
D)Crowdsourcing

Question 51

Which statement is true of extreme programming (XP)?

A)Developers are allowed to go to the next phase before the completion of the current phase.
B)This method does not allow changes to a system after its delivery to the users.
C)Two programmers perform activities different from the other at different workstations.
D)A system's quality is improved by addressing major issues that have not been examined before.

Question 52

_____ uses an iterative process that repeats the design, development, and testing steps as needed, based on feedback from users.

A)Extreme programming
B)Rapid application development
C)Service-oriented architecture
D)Joint application design

Question 53

_____ is a series of well-defined phases performed in sequence that serves as a framework for developing an information system or project.

A)Rapid Application Development
B)Extreme Programming
C)The maintenance process model
D)The systems development life cycle

Question 54

In _____ conversion of the implementation phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), an analyst introduces an information system in only a limited area of an organization, such as a division or department.

A)parallel
B)direct cutover
C)plunge
D)pilot

Question 55

Which of the following statements is true of pair programming?

A)Two programmers work on different codes at one workstation.
B)Two programmers work on the same code at one workstation.
C)Two programmers perform same activities at different workstations.
D)Two programmers perform different activities at different workstations.

Question 56

With the _____  outsourcing approach, an organization chooses an outsourcing company in a neighboring country, such as when a U.S. organization chooses a company in Canada or Mexico.

A)onshore
B)nearshore
C)offshore
D)farshore

Question 57

In _____ conversion of the implementation phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), the old and new systems run simultaneously for a short time to ensure the new system works correctly.

A)parallel
B)phased-in-phased-out
C)plunge
D)pilot

Question 58

One shortcoming of rapid application development (RAD)is _____.

A)that it has a narrow focus, which might limit future development
B)that building an application takes more time
C)its lack of reusability of small, self-contained blocks of codes
D)its inflexibility to adjust to systems' changing needs

Question 59

_____ is a method for developing software applications and information system projects in which a project is divided into smaller functions and developers cannot go on to the next phase until the current phase is finished.

A)Extreme programming
B)Rapid application development
C)Service-oriented architecture
D)Joint application design

Question 60

Which is a difference between the systems development life cycle (SDLC)and extreme programming (XP)?

A)The SDLC model has a separate planning and analysis phase, whereas XP combines both the phases into one phase.
B)Developers following the SDLC model cannot go on to the next phase until the current phase is finished, whereas in XP, developers can move to any phase from the current phase.
C)In the SDLC model, changes cannot be made to a system once it is delivered to the user, whereas the XP method delivers the system to the users and then make changes suggested by the user.
D)The SDLC model develops an entire system at once, whereas XP uses incremental steps to improve an information system's quality.

Question 61

Explain how the models created during the analysis phase contribute to the design phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC).

Question 62

In the extreme programming environment, _____ programming allows programmers to detect and correct programming mistakes as they go, which is faster than correcting them after an entire program has been written.

A)procedural
B)pair
C)sequential
D)parallel

Question 63

In the context of the planning phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), discuss the questions that an analyst or team of analysts must answer to assess the current and future needs of an organization or a specific group of users.

Question 64

Discuss the five capabilities of computer-aided systems engineering (CASE)tools.

Question 65

Discuss the different parts in the design phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC).

Question 66

The fundamental principle behind _____ is that the self-contained blocks of codes can be reused in a variety of different applications, allowing new business processes to be created from a pool of existing services.

A)rapid prototyping
B)joint application design
C)service-oriented architecture
D)computer-aided systems engineering

Question 67

Describe the advantages of prototypes.

Question 68

Explain the importance of the formation of a task force during the planning phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC).

Question 69

Describe how information systems are implemented using a plunge conversion method.

Question 70

Explain how tangible benefits of an information system can be quantified to assess its economic feasibility.

Question 71

A _____ is a tool used in the structured systems analysis and design (SSAD)model for data analysis.

A)conceptual data model
B)context diagram
C)flowchart
D)data flow diagram

Question 72

_____ are small-scale versions of information systems, which are built before building the entire system, and are used to illustrate the system's benefits and allow users to offer feedback.

A)Structured systems
B)Prototypes
C)Flowcharts
D)Context diagrams

Question 73

Describe joint application design (JAD).

Question 74

State any five development costs considered while assessing the economic feasibility of an information system.

Question 75

During the _____ phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), a team assesses how a system is working and takes steps to keep the system up and running.

A)planning
B)implementation
C)maintenance
D)design

Question 76

Discuss the four steps involved in prototyping.

Question 77

Explain why intangible benefits of an information system are difficult to quantify.

Question 78

Explain feasibility and its importance in designing a successful information system.

Question 79

Discuss the five major dimensions of a feasibility study.

Question 80

Explain how the phases of the systems development life cycle (SDLC)relate to each other.