Deck 8: Information Systems Life Cycle and Project Management

Question 1

The phases of development, growth, maturity, and deterioration are generally considered the:

A) Information systems life cycle.
B) System development life cycle.
C) General system life cycle.
D) Strategic plan.

Answer 1

General system life cycle.

Question 2

All the following statements are true regarding interviewing for systems development except:

A) The interview should be 60 minutes or less.
B) Interviews may contain a mixture of structured and unstructured questions.
C) All end-users of an information system must be interviewed.
D) The interview protocol should be field tested.

Answer 2

All end-users of an information system must be interviewed.

Question 3

All the following would be considered an entry type in a data dictionary notation except:

A) Data flow.
B) Data process.
C) Data store.
D) Data element length.

Answer 3

Data element length.

Question 4

Which of the following is one of the most underestimated tasks in the systems implementation process?

A) User preparation
B) Site preparation
C) System testing
D) System conversion

Question 5

Which of the following is an acronym for computer programs used to design, develop, and maintain information systems?

A) CASE
B) SDLC
C) GSLC
D) ISLC

Question 6

Which of the following is true regarding interview protocol questions?

A) Structured questions are difficult to ask.
B) Structured questions require less interviewing skill than do unstructured questions.
C) Structured questions should be avoided in an interview.
D) Structured question responses take more time to gather than responses to unstructured questions.

Question 7

In a data flow diagram an arrow is used to represent which of the following?

A) External entity
B) Data flow
C) Data store
D) Data process

Question 8

In a data dictionary notation for a data element, the label describes which of the following?

A) The project
B) The data name
C) The data entry type
D) The data value or meaning

Question 9

In a data flow diagram a closed rectangle is used to represent which of the following?

A) External entity
B) Data flow
C) Data store
D) Data process

Question 10

In which of the following data dictionary notations would specifics such as data element length and type be located?

A) Label
B) Entry type
C) Description
D) Value/meaning

Question 11

Which of the following is likely to contribute to information system obsolescence?

A) Increase in user expectations
B) Advancement in technology
C) Mechanical failure
D) All of the above

Question 12

Which of the following statements is true about systems development?

A) Prototyping and the traditional systems development process should not be used together.
B) If given a choice, the traditional systems development life cycle should be chosen over prototyping.
C) Prototyping usually takes more time for product development than the traditional systems development life cycle.
D) Prototyping and the traditional systems development life cycle can be used together.

Question 13

GDSS software is frequently used to facilitate which of the following activities in systems development?

A) Interviews
B) Questionnaires
C) Observations
D) Joint application development

Question 14

All the following are part of the systems development life cycle except:

A) Systems analysis.
B) Systems design.
C) Systems implementation.
D) Systems operation.

Question 15

Which of the following best defines the data dictionary?

A) Central repository of information about all system data
B) Graphical representation of flow of data
C) Transition tool used to show change over time
D) Graphic representation of problem decomposition

Question 16

Which of the following is a true statement about the systems analysis document?

A) Brings together results from the various investigative strategies
B) Details the programming code for a new system
C) Details the logical design of a system
D) Details the physical design of a system

Question 17

The phenomenon of discontinuity of information systems being at different stages in the information systems life cycle causes stress on which of the following organizational resources?

A) Technical assistance
B) Time
C) Equipment
D) All of the above

Question 18

Which of the following is an advantage of using unstructured questions in an interview?

A) Allows for probing
B) Takes little interview time
C) Provides a limited range of responses
D) Allows for easy analysis of responses

Question 19

Criteria for evaluating vendor responses to request for proposals (RFPs) should encompass each of the following considerations except:

A) RFP distribution considerations.
B) Hardware and software considerations.
C) Vendor considerations.
D) Economic considerations.

Question 20

All of following support principles of good interface design except:

A) Systems response to user commands should be quick.
B) Screens should be layered or windowed.
C) Navigation tools should be provided.
D) Display screens should have limited blank space.

Question 21

Which of the following questions would be considered a leading or biased question?

A) How would you rate the effectiveness of your decision support system-good, average, or poor?
B) Isn't it your opinion that all information systems should have a graphical user interface?
C) Do you have access to a laser printer?
D) How often does your information system go down?

Question 22

A year ago, a skilled nursing facility purchased a computer system to process billing claims. Six months ago, the administrative office also acquired a computer system to support clerical functions. Two months ago a system was purchased to assist with dietary planning. Last month a consultant was hired to merge the systems. Which of the following information technology management practices is likely at the current point in time for this organization?

A) Little control
B) Centralization of all resources
C) Centralization of technology standards
D) Integration of technologies

Question 23

Which of the following is true regarding the development of a request for proposal (RFP)?

A) Unlike the systems development life cycle, a thorough systems analysis is not required.
B) The RFP process is the preferred method for development of an information system by in-house personnel.
C) Like the systems development life cycle, a thorough systems analysis is required.
D) Like the systems development life cycle, detailed computer codes must be developed by the facility.

Question 24

Each of the following is considered a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) technique except:

A) Break-even analysis.
B) Payback.
C) Discounted payback period.
D) Benefits realization.

Question 25

Which of the following questions would be considered a structured question in an interview process?

A) Which of the following word processing packages do you use?
B) What do you consider to be the most critical problems with your current system?
C) What features in a computer system are most important to support your daily work tasks?
D) What are your three or four most important tasks?

Question 26

One of the system characteristics required for Rocky Mountain Hospital's point-of-care system is "generate automatic drug overdue alert." How would this system characteristic be classified?

A) Input design
B) Output design
C) Processing design
D) File and database design

Question 27

Which of the following best describes cost-effectiveness evaluation?

A) Attempts to evaluate beneficial consequences in nonmonetary terms
B) Determines the costs to operate a current system
C) Assigns dollar values to the costs and benefits of a system
D) Determines whether a system will fully recover its cost

Question 28

Health Information Management Services has an automated release of information system that was installed 4 years ago to assist staff in responding to requests for information. The system is updated regularly to accommodate user needs and changes in laws and regulations. Given this information, at what phase in the information systems life cycle is the encoding system?

A) Design phase
B) Implementation phase
C) Maintenance phase
D) Obsolescence phase

Question 29

Referring to the information given, how many explosion levels would be expected in a data flow diagram (DFD) for this process? The figure represents the information that was constructed for the cancer registry process. Three major processes were identified with successive levels of detail culminating in several primitive functionals. Cancer Registry Process

A) One explosion
B) Two explosions
C) Three explosions
D) Four explosions

Question 30

The director of the health information management department has calculated the break-even point for purchase of a new transcription system to be 4 years. The director says that the new system will pay for itself in 4 years. Is this analysis correct?

A) Yes, because the break-even point does not consider the time it will take for a system to fully recover its investment costs.
B) Yes, because the break-even point calculates the difference between current system costs and new system costs.
C) No, because the break-even point does not consider the time it will take for a system to fully recover its investment costs.
D) No, because the break-even point does not calculate the difference between current system and new system costs.

Question 31

Which of the following describes the process of installing and starting up a system in all organization units at the same time?

A) Gradual phase-in by unit
B) Gradual roll-out by unit
C) Abrupt changeover
D) Gradual changeover

Question 32

All the following are true about the request for proposal (RFP) process except:

A) Because the RFP is so complete, vendor demonstrations and site visits are usually not necessary.
B) Because system evaluation is required, end-users should be included.
C) Because review of responses to RFPs can be time consuming, RFPs are only sent to a few vendors.
D) Because the RFP may be used as part of the system contract, it should be complete and accurate.

Question 33

Which of the following system startup approaches is most risky?

A) Gradual phase-in of each application in selected organizational units
B) Gradual phase-in of all applications across the organization
C) Abrupt changeover from one system to another
D) Total phase-in of all applications in one unit at a time

Question 34

Which of the following is an attribute for an MPI entry?

A) Patient number
B) Patient record
C) Admission dates
D) Both a and c

Question 35

Referring to the information given, when will payback occur? To justify the purchase of a new release of information tracking system, Health Information Management Services wants to calculate the new system's payback period. The cost to operate the current system is $25,000 per year. The proposed cost of the new system for the first year is $35,000 with continuing operating costs per year of $15,000. An increase of $10,000 per year in billing is anticipated with the new system because of .the addition of a billing component to the release of information tracking component. The data are summarized in the table below.

Cumulative difference in costs

A) First year
B) Second year
C) Third year
D) Fourth year

Question 36

Which of the following most accurately describes break-even analysis?

A) Determines that the costs to operate the current system are comparable to those to operate a proposed system
B) Determines whether a new system will fully recover its investment costs before the end of its life cycle
C) Determines how much a system costs in relation to future dollars
D) Determines interest rate and return on investment

Question 37

Which of the following is the simplest cost-benefit analysis (CBA) technique?

A) Break-even analysis
B) Payback period
C) Discounted payback period
D) Benefits realization

Question 38

Which of the following questions would be considered a double-barreled question in a survey document?

A) Are troubleshooting personnel courteous and knowledgeable?
B) Do you agree that troubleshooting personnel are discourteous?
C) Do troubleshooting personnel respond in a timely manner?
D) Are troubleshooting personnel highly skilled?

Question 39

In the logical description design, which of the following would be an output description?

A) Highlight drug contraindications in color on the terminal display
B) Perform data consistency check on an order entry system
C) Automatically calculate IV fluid usage
D) Update patient records in real time

Question 40

Which of the following best describes a request for proposal (RFP)?

A) A process that describes the systems development life cycle
B) A document that details required system functionality
C) A document that is developed by a vendor explaining the functionality of a vendor product
D) A process for customizing an information system

Question 41

The electronic development of systems analysis aids can be facilitated by request for proposals (RFPs).

Question 42

Which of the following provides a global view of the information system and forms the basis for the physical design of the database?

A) Request for proposals (RFPs)
B) Data flow diagrams (DFDs)
C) Entity-relationship diagrams (ERDs)
D) Data dictionary

Question 43

Which is true of CASE products?

A) Increase productivity
B) Reduce costs
C) Standardize output
D) Both a and c

Question 44

Each of the following is included in an entity-relationship diagram (ERD) except:

A) Attributes.
B) Entities.
C) Processes.
D) Relationships.

Question 45

An entity relationship is represented by a rectangle in an entity-relationship diagram (ERD).

Question 46

In an MPI, one physician may have several patient entries. What is the linkage in the database called between the physician and each of his or her patients?

A) System integration
B) System interface
C) Entity relationship
D) Data notation

Question 47

Icons have cross-cultural advantages over dialog and menu interfaces when considering systems design.

Question 48

The patient record, accession record, disease index, and information disclosure log are examples of entities in a health information system.

Question 49

A hierarchy chart is composed of which elements?

A) Attributes
B) Processes
C) Entities
D) Nodes

Question 50

What is the name of this diagram?

Question 51

Which of the following for an electronic health record (EHR) system would likely appear in the technical requirements section of a request for proposal (RFP)?

A) Accept demographic data from the admission-discharge-registration system.
B) The system allows for user-defined product lines.
C) All drug orders are automatically screened for contraindications.
D) The system is menu driven.

Question 52

Full documentation of an information system requires completion of which of the following system design tools?

A) Data dictionary
B) Data flow diagrams (DFDs)
C) Hierarchy charts
D) All of the above

Question 53

Attributes describe both entities and relationships in a database.

Question 54

"m" means what?

Question 55

Entity-relationship diagrams (ERDs) should be developed whether the information system is to be developed in-house or purchased from a vendor.

Question 56

Windows and icons are interfacing elements for data displays in an information system.

Question 57

Referring to the data given, in what component of an information system would you find this notation?

Question 58

When considering the physical design of a system, window interfaces can be used to provide views of a document.

Question 59

A system hierarchy chart is used to illustrate the logical design of an information system database.