Deck 7: Development Strategies

Question 1

Outsourcing a basic business process is often called ____.

A)RFO
B)TFO
C)BPO
D)TCO

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Some firms offer ____, which provide powerful Web-based support for transactions such as order processing, billing, and customer relationship management.

A)ASP
B)IBS
C)fixed usage
D)fixed-fee transfer

Answer 2

B

Question 3

____ promotes a broader vision of Software + Services, which refers to the company's strategy for cloud computing -- integrating software applications, platforms, and infrastructure.

A)Oracle
B)Hewlett-Packard
C)IBM
D)Microsoft

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Gartner, Inc. predicts that by 2015 SaaS revenue will grow to ____.

A)$7.1 billion
B)$8.6 billion
C)$14.5 billion
D)$22.1 billion

Question 5

Some ____ providers concentrate on specific software applications; others offer resources like order processing and customer billing.

A)subscription
B)software
C)service
D)resource

Question 6

____ reduces the customer's need for software maintenance, operation, and support.

A)Hardware as a Help
B)Software as a Service
C)Processing as a Product
D)Storage as a Solution

Question 7

Oracle Corporation offers a service called ____, which provides e-business applications on a fixed fee basis.

A)WebSphere
B) .NET
C)Business Process Outsourcing
D) Oracle On Demand

Question 8

____ is a model of software deployment where an application is hosted as a service provided to customers over the Internet.

A)Hardware as a Help
B)Software as a Service
C)Processing as a Product
D)Storage as a Solution

Question 9

Web-based software usually requires additional layers, called ____, to communicate with existing software and legacy systems.

A)freeware
B)shareware
C)middleware
D)public domain software

Question 10

When companies acquire Web-based software as a(n) ____, they can limit in-house involvement to a minimum.

A)product
B)value-add
C)service
D)outsource

Question 11

When determining outsourcing fees, a ____ has a variable fee based on the number of users or workstations that have access to the application.

A)fixed fee model
B)usage model
C)subscription model
D)transaction model

Question 12

____ is the transfer of information systems development, operation, or maintenance to an outside firm that provides these services, for a fee, on a temporary or long-term basis.

A)Outsourcing
B)Commission
C)Subscription
D)External provision

Question 13

Although the traditional model of software acquisition still accounts for more software acquisition, a new model, called ____, is changing the picture dramatically.

A)Hardware as a Help
B)Software as a Service
C)Processing as a Product
D)Storage as a Solution

Question 14

Some industry leaders predict that ____ computing will offer an overall online software and data environment supported by supercomputer technology.

A)interpolated
B)mainframe
C)outsourced
D)cloud

Question 15

When determining outsourcing fees, a ____ uses a set fee based on a specified level of service and user support.

A)fixed fee model
B)usage model
C)subscription model
D)transaction model

Question 16

Microsoft's ____ is one of the major Web-based development environments.

A)WebSphere
B) .NET
C)NetSphere
D) .WEB

Question 17

A(n) ____ is a firm that delivers a software application, or access to an application, by charging a usage or subscription fee.

A)ASP
B)OSP
C)ISP
D)USP

Question 18

The ____ environment enhances interactive experiences, including wikis and blogs, and social networking applications.

A)outsourcing
B)SaaS
C)Web 2.0
D)Web 3.0

Question 19

Building an application in a ____ environment can offer greater benefits, and sometimes greater risks, compared to a traditional environment.

A)GUI
B)Web-based
C)cloud
D)multinational

Question 20

A firm that offers outsourcing solutions is called a ____ provider.

A)subscription
B)software
C)service
D)resource

Question 21

A ____ measures the time a package takes to process a certain number of transactions.

A)newsgroup
B)parameter
C)benchmark
D)default

Question 22

Companies that develop software for sale are called software ____.

A)VARs
B)resellers
C)vendors
D)packages

Question 23

A ____ is a document that describes a company, lists the IT services or products needed, and specifies the features required.

A)request for quotation (RFQ)
B)net present value (NPV)
C)request for proposal (RFP)
D)return on investment (ROI)

Question 24

A user ____ utilizes standard business software, such as Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel, which has been configured in a specific manner to enhance user productivity.

A)application
B)configuration
C)interface
D)interpolation

Question 25

Buyers can customize a software package by ____.

A)negotiating directly with the software vendor to make enhancements to meet the buyer's needs by paying for the changes
B)purchasing a basic package that vendors will customize to suit the buyer's needs
C)purchasing the software and making their own modifications, if this is permissible under the terms of the software license
D)all of the above

Question 26

A software ____ is software that is obtained from a vendor or application service provider.

A)package
B)cluster
C)subscription
D)aggregate

Question 27

____ is an example of a nonprofit organization that publishes standards and reports for its members and the general public.

A)IEEE
B)RFP
C)The TPC
D)Oracle

Question 28

The ____ team must include users, who will participate in the selection process and feel a sense of ownership in the new system.

A)prototyping
B)evaluation and selection
C)JAD
D)assessment

Question 29

A(n) ____ model is an outsourcing fee model that charges a variable fee based on the volume of transactions or operations performed by the application.

A)method
B)administrative
C)transaction
D)interpolated

Question 30

Nearly ____ percent of total costs occur after the purchase of hardware and software.

A)15
B)45
C)80
D)95

Question 31

Advantages of purchasing a software package over developing software in-house include all of the following EXCEPT ____.

A)satisfaction of unique business requirements
B)lower costs and less time to implement
C)proven reliability and performance benchmarks
D)less technical development staff

Question 32

In addition to configuring software, the IT staff can create a user ____, which includes screens, commands, controls, and features that enable users to interact more effectively with the application.

A)montage
B)index
C)interface
D)package

Question 33

When planning a slide presentation to management at the end of the systems analysis phase, systems analysts should keep all of the following suggestions in mind EXCEPT ____.

A)summarize the primary viable alternatives
B)ignore time for discussion and questions and answers
C)explain why the evaluation and selection team chose the recommended alternative
D)obtain a final decision or agree on a timetable for the next step in the process

Question 34

The choice between developing versus purchasing software often is called a ____ decision.

A)build or make
B)subscription
C)transactional
D)build or buy

Question 35

The software that a company's IT department makes, builds, and develops is called ____ software.

A)in-house
B)internal
C)external
D)indexed

Question 36

Typically, companies choose in-house software development for all of the following reasons EXCEPT to ____.

A)minimize changes in business procedures and policies
B)meet constraints of existing systems and existing technology
C)develop internal resources and capabilities
D)obtain input from other companies who already have implemented the software

Question 37

A firm that enhances a commercial package by adding custom features and configuring it for a particular industry is called a(n) ____.

A)BRE
B)IRH
C)OSP
D)VAR

Question 38

Some data files should be hidden totally from view, while others should have ____ so users can view, but not change, the data.

A)no-access properties
B)read-only properties
C)full-access properties
D)write-only properties

Question 39

Many IT ____ offer specialized services that help companies select software packages.

A)proxies
B)forums
C)consultants
D)managers

Question 40

When companies use a ____, they already know the specific products or service they want and need to obtain price quotations or bids from vendors.

A)request for quotation (RFQ)
B)net present value (NPV)
C)request for proposal (RFP)
D)return on investment (ROI)

Question 41

Which of the following is true of Web-based development?

A)Web-based systems are easily scalable.
B)Large firms tend to deploy Web-based systems as enterprise-wide software solutions for applications such as customer relationship management and order processing.
C)Internet-based development treats the Web as a communication channel, rather than as the platform.
D)Systems are developed and delivered in an Internet-based framework.

Question 42

The main reason for offshore outsourcing is the same as domestic outsourcing: lower bottom-line costs.

Question 43

Outsourcing can refer to ____.

A)relatively minor programming tasks
B)the rental of software from a service provider
C)the handling of a company's entire IT function
D)BPO

Question 44

Which of the following is a path that development can follow?

A)in-house development
B)construct a legacy system
C)purchase of a software package with possible modification
D)use of outside consultants

Question 45

Mergers and acquisitions typically have no impact on clients and customers of large, financially healthy firms.

Question 46

Mission-critical IT systems should be outsourced only if the result is a cost-attractive, reliable, business solution that fits the company's long-term business strategy.

Question 47

An ASP provides more than a license to use the software; it rents an operational package to the customer. _________________________

Question 48

A subscription model charges a variable fee based on the volume of transactions or operations performed by the application.

Question 49

Building an application in a Web-based environment might involve greater risks and benefits, compared to a traditional environment.

Question 50

A software package that can be used by many different types of organizations is called a vertical application. _________________________

Question 51

Which of the following is true of Web-based development?

A)Web-based software treats the software as a service that is more dependent on desktop computing powers and resources.
B)Web-based software usually requires middleware to communicate with existing software and legacy systems.
C)Web-based systems can run on multiple hardware environments.
D)When companies acquire Web-based software as a service rather than a product they purchase, they can limit in-house involvement to a minimum.

Question 52

In a traditional systems development environment, security issues usually are less complex than with Web-based systems, because the system operates on a private company network, rather than the Internet.

Question 53

By designing a system in-house, companies can develop and train an IT staff that understands the organization's business functions and information support needs.

Question 54

The ROI of a project is the total value of the benefits minus the total value of the costs, with both costs and benefits adjusted to reflect the point at which they occur. _________________________

Question 55

Which of the following is true of a traditional systems development environment?

A)systems design is influenced by compatibility issues
B)systems are designed to run on local and wide-area company networks
C)systems often utilize Internet links and resources
D)scalability is not affected by network limitations and constraints

Question 56

A company considering outsourcing must realize that the solution can be only as good as the outsourcing firm that provides the service.

Question 57

Net present value is a percentage rate that compares the total net benefits (the return) received from a project to the total costs (the investment) of the project. _________________________

Question 58

Compared to software developed in-house, a software package almost always is more expensive, particularly in terms of initial investment.

Question 59

A software package developed to handle information requirements for a specific type of business is called a horizontal application. _________________________

Question 60

Typically, customers purchase licenses that give them the right to use the software under the terms of the license agreement.

Question 61

If a company uses a(n) ____________________ to supply a data management package, the company does not have to design, develop, implement, or maintain the package.

Question 62

For large-scale systems, license agreement terms can be negotiated.

Question 63

The decision to develop software in-house will require less participation from the systems analyst than outsourcing or choosing a commercial package.

Question 64

A request for quotation (RFQ) is less specific than an RFP (request for proposal).

Question 65

Traditionally, firms ____________________ IT tasks as a way of controlling costs and dealing with rapid technological change.

Question 66

An ultimate form of SaaS would be ____________________ computing, which would deliver services and data to users who would need only an Internet connection and a browser.

Question 67

Companies that use commercial software packages always must increase the number of programmers and systems analysts on the IT staff.

Question 68

In ____________________ hosting, system operations are managed by an outside form, or host.

Question 69

A standard method exists for assigning the weight factors in the evaluation of responses to an RFP.

Question 70

Benchmark tests must precisely match the day-to-day situation at your company.

Question 71

If a purchased package will be used without modification, you can begin planning the systems implementation phase upon its purchase.

Question 72

Many firms feel that in-house IT resources and capabilities provide a competitive advantage because an in-house team can respond quickly when business problems or opportunities arise.

Question 73

Software vendors regularly upgrade software packages by adding improvements and enhancements to create a new version or release.

Question 74

Empowerment makes an IT department less productive because it must spend more time responding to the daily concerns of users and less time on high-impact systems development projects that support strategic business goals.

Question 75

Whereas the logical design of an information system is concerned with how the system will meet requirements, physical design is concerned with what the system must accomplish.

Question 76

In general, systems development is faster, more flexible, and more user-oriented than in the past.

Question 77

The primary objective of an evaluation and selection team is to eliminate system alternatives that will not work, rank the system alternatives that will work, and present the viable alternatives to management for a final decision.

Question 78

When a company considers outsourcing, it should estimate ____________________ characteristics to determine which fee structure would be most desirable, and then attempt to negotiate a service provider contract based on that model.

Question 79

Some vendors limit their reference lists to satisfied clients, so you can expect mostly positive feedback from those firms.

Question 80

For desktop applications, software license terms and conditions usually can be modified.