Question 1

The primary method of obtaining information during the preliminary investigation is to ____.

Accepted Answer

Conducting interviews is the primary method of obtaining information during a preliminary investigation as it allows for direct communication with stakeholders to gather insights and details about the situation.

Question 2

To avoid the problem of project creep, ____.

Accepted Answer

Defining project scope as clearly as possible is the best way to avoid project creep. This ensures that everyone involved in the project has a clear understanding of what the project is meant to achieve, the limitations and boundaries of the project, and what work falls outside the project scope. Vague or undefined project scope only leads to confusion, miscommunication, and project creep. Expanding the focus beyond the problem at hand only adds to the project creep and can extend the project deadlines and budgets.

Question 3

A systems analyst conducts a(n) ____ investigation to study the systems request and recommend specific action.

Accepted Answer

A preliminary investigation is conducted by a systems analyst to study the systems request and recommend specific action.

Question 4

When using a ____ diagram to investigate causes of a problem, an analyst first states the problem and then draws a main bone with sub-bones that represent possible causes of the problem.

Accepted Answer

This type of diagram is commonly known as a fishbone or Ishikawa diagram, and it is used in root cause analysis to identify potential causes of a problem. The main bone represents the problem, and the sub-bones represent the possible causes of the problem. The other choices (A, C, D) do not accurately describe this type of diagram.

Question 5

A(n) ____ is a requirement or condition that a system must satisfy or an outcome that a system must achieve.

Accepted Answer

A constraint is a requirement or condition that a system must satisfy or an outcome that a system must achieve.

Question 6

Projects where management has no choice in implementing them are called ____ projects.

Accepted Answer

Nondiscretionary projects are those projects that management is compelled to implement due to external factors such as regulatory requirements, legal obligations or contractual agreements. Therefore, management has no discretion or choice in implementing these projects.

Question 7

A survey is ____, generally takes less time, and can involve a broad cross-section of people.

Accepted Answer

Surveys are typically less flexible than interviews because they use standardized questions, but they are generally less expensive to conduct.

Question 8

-Of the measures of feasibility in the accompanying figure, ____ considers points such as "Does the proposed platform have sufficient capacity for future needs?" and "Will the hardware and software environment be reliable?"

Accepted Answer

Technical feasibility assesses whether the proposed system can be implemented with the available technology and resources, including evaluating the capacity and reliability of the hardware and software.

Question 9

-Of the measures of feasibility in the accompanying figure, issues that relate to ____ include "Has management established a firm timetable for the project?" and "Will a project manager be appointed?"

Accepted Answer

Schedule feasibility refers to the assessment of whether a project can be completed within a given timeframe. Questions about a firm timetable and the appointment of a project manager are directly related to evaluating the schedule feasibility of a project.

Question 10

A popular technique for investigating causes and effects is called a ____ diagram, which is an analysis tool that represents the possible causes of a problem as a graphical outline.

Accepted Answer

The technique described in the question is most commonly known as a fishbone diagram, also called an Ishikawa diagram or a cause-and-effect diagram. The diagram resembles a fish skeleton with the problem at the head and the possible causes branching out from the main spine. The other answer choices, including wishbone, jawbone, and crossbones, do not accurately describe this analysis tool.

Question 11

Projects where management has a choice in implementing them are called ____ projects.

Accepted Answer

Discretionary projects are those where management has the discretion or choice in implementing them. This means they are not mandatory or required by law or regulations. Nondiscretionary projects, on the other hand, are mandatory and required to be implemented by law or regulations. Appended and concatenated are not relevant terms in project management.

Question 12

In sequence, the interviewing process involves a series of steps: ____, conduct the interview, document the interview, and evaluate the interview.

Accepted Answer

The correct sequence is to first determine the people to interview, establish objectives, develop questions, and then prepare for the interview.

Question 13

A(n) _____, sometimes called a(n) _____, is another problem-solving tool often used by an analyst to look for a correlation between two variables..

Accepted Answer

A XY chart, also known as a scatter diagram, is used to analyze the correlation or relationship between two variables. It plots one variable on the horizontal axis and the other variable on the vertical axis, and then observes how the data points cluster or form a pattern. This tool can help an analyst identify if there is a correlation, such as a positive or negative linear relationship, between the two variables.

Question 14

Projects with very general scope definitions are at risk of expanding gradually, without specific authorization, in a process called project ____.

Accepted Answer

Project creep refers to the gradual and unauthorized expansion of a project's scope beyond its original definition. This can occur when the project scope is too broadly defined, or when changes to the project are not properly documented and managed. Project creep can lead to delays, increased costs, and a lower quality outcome.

Question 15

Determining the project ____ means to define the boundaries, or extent, of a project - being as specific as possible.

Accepted Answer

The definition given in the question describes the project scope, which involves determining the boundaries and specific details of a project. Option A (index) and Option B (matrix) do not accurately describe this process, and Option D (estimation) is related to calculating the approximate time, cost, and resources needed for a project.

Question 16

In a preliminary investigation report, the ____ contain(s) a brief description of the system, the name of the person or group performing the investigation, and the name of the person or group who initiated the investigation.

Accepted Answer

The introduction of a preliminary investigation report typically includes a brief description of the system, the name of the person or group performing the investigation, and the name of the person or group who initiated the investigation.

Question 17

When assessing priorities for systems requests, a systems analyst should look for a high score in which of the following ____.

Accepted Answer

When assessing priorities for systems requests, a systems analyst should look for a high score in factors that would increase revenue for the company. This would ultimately benefit the organization and its stakeholders. Factors such as diminished customer service, increased costs, and less information for the organization should have a lower priority compared to factors such as increasing revenue.

Question 18

-Of the measures of feasibility in the accompanying figure, ____ assesses tangible and intangible benefits to the company in addition to costs.

Accepted Answer

Economic feasibility assesses both tangible and intangible benefits to the company, as well as the costs involved, to determine if the project is financially viable.

Question 19

In the preliminary investigation report, the ____ section contains the results of the preliminary investigation, including a description of the project's scope, constraints, and feasibility.

Accepted Answer

The findings section typically summarizes the results of the investigation, including the project's scope, constraints, and feasibility. The appendix contains supplementary material that supports the investigation's findings, such as charts, diagrams, and detailed data. The introduction sets the stage for the investigation, but it does not provide specific details about the scope or feasibility of the project. The case for action outlines the problem or opportunity that prompted the investigation but may not include an in-depth analysis of the project's feasibility.

Question 20

____ is an example of a discretionary project.

Accepted Answer

Discretionary projects are optional and can be added or removed based on the decisions of the project team. Creating a new report for a user is an example of a discretionary project as it is not required by law or regulation.

Quiz 2: Analyzing the Business Case