Question 1

Most findings state that the success rate of IT projects is 80 percent.

Accepted Answer

There are varying statistics on the success rate of IT projects, but the majority of studies suggest that the success rate is much lower than 80%. According to the Standish Group's CHAOS Report, only 29% of IT projects are considered successful while 52% are challenged and 19% are considered failures.

Question 2

Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software will never fit organizational requirements exactly.

Accepted Answer

COTS software is developed and sold to a wide range of customers with different requirements, and it is not customized to fit the specific needs of any organization. Therefore, it is unlikely that it will perfectly match every single requirement of any organization.

Question 3

Feasibility has four dimensions: cost, schedule, technical, and organizational.

Accepted Answer

Feasibility does indeed have four dimensions: cost, schedule, technical, and organizational. These dimensions are often considered when determining whether or not a project or idea is feasible.

Question 4

The IT industry has over 50 years of experience acquiring and developing information systems, and over those years, methodologies have emerged that successfully deal with systems development.

Accepted Answer

The statement is true, as the IT industry has indeed had over 50 years of experience in acquiring and developing information systems, and has developed successful methodologies for systems development over those years.

Question 5

SDLC is described as a waterfall method, which makes the whole process relatively easy to go back and change a phase once you have begun the next phase.

Accepted Answer

SDLC is a sequential process where each phase depends on the completion of the previous phase. It is not recommended to go back and change a phase once you have moved to the next phase. It can disrupt the entire process and cause delays.

Question 6

Systems development is exclusively a technical task undertaken by programmers.

Accepted Answer

Systems development involves not only technical tasks performed by programmers, but also involves business analysis, project management, design, testing, and maintenance. It is a collaborative effort that involves different roles and skills.

Question 7

Information technology project management (ITPM) is the collection of techniques and methods that project managers use to plan, coordinate, and complete IT projects.

Accepted Answer

ITPM stands for Information technology project management and it is the collection of techniques and methods that project managers use to plan, coordinate, and complete IT projects.

Question 8

Studies indicate that information systems projects are often delivered late, over budget, and do not fulfill all requirements.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true and is supported by various studies and research on information systems projects. Many factors contribute to this, including changes in requirements, lack of communication and collaboration, and inadequate project management.

Question 9

Software developers are usually good at planning for vacations, sick days, and other things needed for the project besides writing software.

Accepted Answer

Software developers primarily focus on writing software and may not always excel in planning for vacations, sick days, or other non-technical aspects of a project. These tasks are often managed by project managers or HR departments.

Question 10

Many development methods exist, including rapid application development (RAD), object-oriented systems development (OOD), and extreme programming (XP).

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. There are many development methodologies, including RAD, OOD, and XP, among others.

Question 11

A test plan consists of sequences of actions that users will take when using the new system.

Accepted Answer

A test plan specifies the actions users will take when using the system to ensure it meets specified requirements, functions correctly, and does not contain any bugs or issues. These actions help to determine the overall quality, reliability, and effectiveness of the system.

Question 12

Some systems are so tightly integrated that they cannot be installed in phases.

Accepted Answer

Systems that are tightly integrated often require all the components to be installed at once in order to properly function. Installing only some of the components in phases can lead to compatibility issues and system failure.

Question 13

Acquiring software is the same as acquiring information systems.

Accepted Answer

Acquiring software refers to obtaining a specific type of information system component, whereas acquiring information systems involves acquiring all the necessary components such as hardware, software, data, personnel, and procedures needed to support the system.

Question 14

The IT industry developed the SDLC in the school of hard knocks.

Accepted Answer

The SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) was developed through practical experience and learning from past mistakes in the IT industry, hence the term "school of hard knocks".

Question 15

In most cases, companies will purchase and customize off-the-shelf information systems.

Accepted Answer

This is true. It is often more cost-effective for companies to purchase and customize off-the-shelf information systems rather than developing a customized system from scratch. This approach saves time, money, and resources, and allows companies to focus on their core business functions.

Question 16

A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result.

Accepted Answer

This is the definition of a project according to the Project Management Institute (PMI).

Question 17

"Buy it and customize it" is the most common method for acquiring software applications.

Accepted Answer

"Buy it and customize it" is the traditional method of acquiring software applications where the organization purchases a licensed software and customizes it according to their needs. This method is still widely used today.

Question 18

Business managers are most involved in SDLC during Phase 1 and Phase 2.

Accepted Answer

Business managers are most involved in the initial phases of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), specifically during the planning (Phase 1) and analysis (Phase 2) stages, where strategic decisions and requirements gathering occur.

Question 19

Organizations are looking for business professionals who have knowledge, skills, and personal qualities that will allow them to lead and support the effective and competitive use of information systems.

Accepted Answer

Organizations indeed seek business professionals with the ability to lead and support the efficient and competitive utilization of information systems. This is because information systems play a crucial role in the attainment of business objectives and sustainable competitive advantage. Business professionals with the required knowledge, skills, and personal qualities can help organizations to maximize the value of their information assets and achieve strategic goals.

Question 20

Systems development is primarily a technical task for programmers and hardware designers.

Accepted Answer

Systems development involves a multidisciplinary approach that involves not only technical tasks for programmers and hardware designers, but also activities such as requirements gathering, project management, documentation, testing, and user training. Other stakeholders may also be involved in the process, including business analysts, designers, quality assurance professionals, security experts, and end-users. Therefore, it involves technical, analytical, and communication skills, and requires collaboration among various roles and departments.

Quiz 14: Acquiring Information Systems Through Projects