Deck 2: Analyzing the Business Case

Question 1

A feasibility study includes tests for ____ feasibility, which means that a proposed system will be used effectively after it has been developed.

A) operational
B) technical
C) schedule
D) economic

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Of the measures of feasibility in the accompanying figure, ____ considers questions such as "Does management support the project?" and "Will the new system require training for users?"

A) schedule feasibility
B) technical feasibility
C) economic feasibility
D) operational feasibility

Answer 2

D

Question 3

A systems request form should not ____.

A) have complex instructions
B) be easy to understand
C) include enough space for all required information
D) indicate what supporting documents are needed

Answer 3

A

Question 4

A feasibility study includes tests for ____ feasibility, which means that the projected benefits of the proposed system outweigh the estimated costs.

A) economic
B) schedule
C) operational
D) technical

Question 5

If a problem arises that involves a mission-critical system, an IT ____ team would attempt to restore normal operations.

A) emergency
B) management
C) risk
D) maintenance

Question 6

____ limitations result when a system that was designed for a specific hardware configuration becomes obsolete when new hardware is introduced.

A) Mission
B) Relationship
C) Feasibility
D) Performance

Question 7

Examples of tangible benefits include all of the following except a(n) ____.

A) user-friendly system that improves employee job satisfaction
B) new scheduling system that reduces overtime
C) online package tracking system that decreases the need for clerical staff
D) sophisticated inventory control system that cuts excess inventory

Question 8

When evaluating systems requests, all of the following are disadvantages of a systems review committee EXCEPT ____.

A) action on requests must wait until the committee meets
B) one person's bias is more likely to affect the decisions
C) members might favor projects requested by their own departments
D) internal political differences could delay important decisions

Question 9

When setting priorities for systems requests, the highest priority goes to projects that provide the ____.

A) least benefit, at the highest cost, in the longest period of time
B) least benefit, at the lowest cost, in the longest period of time
C) greatest benefit, at the highest cost, in the shortest period of time
D) greatest benefit, at the lowest cost, in the shortest period of time

Question 10

____ planning is the process of identifying long-term organizational goals, strategies, and resources.

A) Opportunity
B) Preliminary
C) Strategic
D) Vertical

Question 11

During strategic planning, top managers ask a series of questions that is called a ____ analysis because it examines a company's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

A) CRM
B) TCO
C) JIT
D) SWOT

Question 12

A feasibility study includes tests for ____ feasibility, which refers to the practical resources needed to develop, purchase, install, or operate the system.

A) operational
B) technical
C) schedule
D) economic

Question 13

The estimated costs of a proposed system usually are considered the ____, which includes ongoing support and maintenance costs, as well as acquisition costs.

A) CRM
B) TCO
C) JIT
D) RFID

Question 14

____ components can provide automated response to sales inquiries, Web-based order processing, and online inventory tracking.

A) Mission statement
B) Customer relationship management (CRM)
C) Feasibility study
D) Total cost of ownership (TCO)

Question 15

Many companies implement ____ systems that integrate all customer-related events and transactions.

A) CRM
B) TCO
C) JIT
D) RFID

Question 16

Examples of intangible benefits include all of the following except a(n) ____.

A) user-friendly system that improves employee job satisfaction
B) sales tracking system that supplies better information for marketing decisions
C) new Web site that enhances the company's image
D) online package tracking system that decreases the need for clerical staff

Question 17

Hardware-based security controls include ____.

A) passwords
B) various levels of user access
C) coding data
D) none of the above

Question 18

Electronic data interchange (EDI) enables ____ inventory systems, which rely on computer-to-computer data exchange to minimize unnecessary inventory.

A) CRM
B) TCO
C) JIT
D) RFID

Question 19

Systems development typically starts with a ____.

A) feasibility study, followed by a systems request, which includes a preliminary investigation
B) systems request, followed by a preliminary investigation, which includes a feasibility study
C) preliminary investigation, followed by a feasibility study, which includes a systems request
D) feasibility study, followed by a preliminary investigation, which includes a systems request

Question 20

Strategic planning looks beyond day-to-day activities and focuses on a horizon that is ____ years in the future.

A) 3
B) 5
C) 10
D) any of the above

Question 21

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

A) analyze organization charts
B) conduct interviews
C) review documentation
D) observe operations

Question 22

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.

A) appendix
B) introduction
C) case for action
D) findings

Question 23

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

A) discretionary
B) nondiscretionary
C) appended
D) concatenated

Question 24

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?"

A) schedule feasibility
B) technical feasibility
C) economic feasibility
D) operational feasibility

Question 25

When assessing priorities for systems requests, a systems analyst should look for high scores in all of the following EXCEPT____.

A) Will the proposed system serve customers better?
B) Will the proposed system reduce costs?
C) Will the proposed system serve the organization better?
D) Will the proposed system decrease revenue for the company?

Question 26

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

A) condition
B) constraint
C) impediment
D) obstacle

Question 27

A systems analyst should provide ____ so managers can understand the full cost impact and timetable.

A) time figures for the next development phase
B) cost figures for the next development phase
C) an estimate for the overall project
D) all of the above

Question 28

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

A) discretionary
B) nondiscretionary
C) appended
D) concatenated

Question 29

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.

A) introduction
B) systems request summary
C) expected benefits
D) time and costs estimates

Question 30

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

A) dilation
B) creep
C) expansion
D) drift

Question 31

____ is an example of a discretionary project.

A) Creating a new report for a user
B) Adding a report required by a new federal law
C) Including annual updates to payroll and tax percentages
D) All of the above

Question 32

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

A) wishbone
B) fishbone
C) jawbone
D) crossbones

Question 33

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.

A) wishbone
B) fishbone
C) jawbone
D) crossbones

Question 34

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

A) more flexible than a series of interviews, and it is less expensive
B) more flexible than a series of interviews, but it is more expensive
C) not as flexible as a series of interviews, but it is less expensive
D) not as flexible as a series of interviews, and it is more expensive

Question 35

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

A) index
B) matrix
C) scope
D) estimation

Question 36

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?"

A) schedule feasibility
B) technical feasibility
C) economic feasibility
D) operational feasibility

Question 37

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

A) schedule feasibility
B) technical feasibility
C) economic feasibility
D) operational feasibility

Question 38

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

A) determine the people to interview, establish objectives for the interview, develop interview questions, prepare for the interview
B) establish objectives for the interview, develop interview questions, prepare for the interview, determine the people to interview
C) develop interview questions, prepare for the interview, determine the people to interview, establish objectives for the interview
D) prepare for the interview, determine the people to interview, establish objectives for the interview, develop interview questions

Question 39

To avoid the problem of project creep, ____.

A) define project scope as vaguely as possible
B) leave project scope undefined
C) define project scope as clearly as possible
D) expand the focus beyond the problem at hand

Question 40

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

A) preliminary
B) appendix
C) systems
D) transitional

Question 41

Systems requests seldom are aimed at improving service to customers or users within a company.

Question 42

A strong business case suggests that a company should pursue other options, above the alternative, because it would be in the firm's best interest to do so.

Question 43

Information systems that interact with customers usually receive low priority.

Question 44

A clear definition of project scope and constraints promotes misunderstandings that arise where managers assume that the system will have a certain feature or support for a project, but later find that the feature is not included. _________________________

Question 45

Data entry controls should be excessive without being effective.

Question 46

____ is/are an external factor(s) that affect(s) IT systems projects.

A) Technology
B) Competitors
C) Managers
D) Suppliers

Question 47

Competition drives many information systems decisions.

Question 48

Regardless of the type, all constraints should be identified as late as possible. _________________________

Question 49

____ is/are an internal factor(s) that affect(s) IT systems projects.

A) The economy
B) User requests
C) Strategic plans
D) Existing systems and data

Question 50

By questioning users about additional capabilities they would like to have, instead of focusing on difficulties, a systems analyst ____.

A) leaves project scope undefined
B) gets a better understanding of operations
C) highlights ways to improve the user's job
D) builds better, more positive relationships with users

Question 51

As users rely more heavily on information systems to perform their jobs, they are likely to request even more IT services and support.

Question 52

A Gantt chart is drawn as a vertical bar graph; arranged in descending order, so the team can focus on the most important causes, the bars represent various causes of a problem. _________________________

Question 53

A company's mission statement is unrelated to its major goals, shorter-term objectives, and day-to-day business operations.

Question 54

It is easier to assign dollar values to intangible benefits. _________________________

Question 55

In a preliminary investigation report, the case for action section includes a summary of the project request and a specific recommendation. _________________________

Question 56

A common reason for systems requests is ____.

A) improved services
B) weaker controls
C) better performance
D) reduced cost

Question 57

Management leadership and information technology are unconnected, and no significant changes have occurred in either area.

Question 58

Internal and external factors affect every business decision that a company makes, and IT systems are no exception.

Question 59

A SWOT analysis contributes to the strategic planning process by identifying ____ resources.

A) technical
B) human
C) financial
D) logistical

Question 60

A strategic plan that stresses technology tends to create an unfavorable climate for IT projects that extends throughout an organization.

Question 61

If only one person has the necessary IT skills and experience to evaluate systems requests, that person should consult closely with users and managers throughout the company to ensure that business and operational needs are considered carefully.

Question 62

Few nondiscretionary projects are predictable.

Question 63

The first step in evaluating feasibility is to accept and include all systems requests, even those that are not feasible.

Question 64

The format of a preliminary investigation report is the same from one company to another.

Question 65

After composing a mission statement, a company identifies a set of _________________________ that will accomplish the mission.

Question 66

When interacting with users, a systems analyst should focus on difficulties instead of questioning users about additional capability they would like to have.

Question 67

Whenever possible, a systems analyst should evaluate a proposed project based on tangible costs and benefits that represent actual (or approximate) dollar values.

Question 68

Most large companies rely on one person to evaluate systems requests instead of a committee.

Question 69

A(n) _________________________ describes a company for its stakeholders and briefly states the company's overall purpose, products, services, and values.

Question 70

Economic activity has little influence on corporate information management.

Question 71

Even if users have difficulty with a new system, it still will produce the expected benefits.

Question 72

When assessing schedule feasibility, a systems analyst must consider the interaction between time and costs.

Question 73

Before beginning a preliminary investigation, a memo or an e-mail message should let people know about the investigation and explain the systems analyst's role.

Question 74

The term _________________________ refers to the reasons, or justification, for a systems development proposal.

Question 75

A systems project seldom produces significant changes in company operations.

Question 76

Often a change in one system has an unexpected effect on another system.

Question 77

To achieve its goals, a company develops a list of shorter-term _________________________, which translate into day-to-day business operations.

Question 78

Feasibility analysis is an ongoing task that must be performed throughout the systems development process.

Question 79

The purpose of an interview, and of the preliminary investigation itself, is to convince others that a project is justified, not to uncover facts.

Question 80

The outcome of the day-to-day business operations, supported by IT and other corporate resources, is a set of business results that affect company _________________________.