Deck 10: Building Successful Information Systems

Question 1

_____ are employees who will use an information system regularly and can offer important feedback on the system's strengths and weaknesses.

A) Internal users
B) Merchandise users
C) Suppliers
D) Contractors

Answer 1

A

Question 2

In the context of the planning phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), which of the following is an example of an internally identified problem in information systems?

A) Distributers demanding an increase in their profit margin before the launch of the system
B) Suppliers noting inefficiency in the inventory control procedure
C) Management voicing concern about the organization's lack of a competitive edge in the marketplace
D) Government regulations that need to be followed by the system for its approval in the global marketplace

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Service-oriented architecture (SOA) advocates that core business functions and the dynamic functions that change all the time should be decoupled.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

External users are normally part of a company's task force.

Question 5

Normally, a task force for the planning phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC) includes only representatives from the IT department and the top management.

Question 6

Information system projects are often an extension of existing systems or involve replacing an old technology with a new one.

Question 7

In phased-in-phased-out conversion of the implementation phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), an analyst introduces a new information system in only a limited area of an organization.

Question 8

The object-oriented approach to the analysis and design of information systems treats process and data independently and is a sequential approach that requires completing the analysis before beginning the design.

Question 9

Creating a help desk to support users is an important task in the implementation phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC).

Question 10

Establishing evaluation criteria often gives rise to subjectivity issues during the systems development life cycle (SDLC) process.

Question 11

During the planning phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), a systems designer must define the symptoms rather than the underlying problem.

Question 12

During the _____ of the systems development life cycle (SDLC) model, an information systems designer must define the problem an organization faces, taking care not to define symptoms rather than the underlying problem.

A) planning phase
B) requirements-gathering phase
C) design phase
D) implementation phase

Question 13

The systems development life cycle (SDLC) model is appropriate in situations when the problem under investigation is not well defined.

Question 14

The systems development life cycle (SDLC) is also known as the _____.

A) ad hoc cycle
B) self-sourcing model
C) agile cycle
D) waterfall model

Question 15

While using PERT (Program Evaluation Review Technique) and CPM (Critical Path Method) techniques, activities that are on the critical path are more flexible than those activities which are not on the critical path.

Question 16

Users and top management should not be included in the construction phase of a prototype because construction is purely a technical matter.

Question 17

The creation of a system specifications document indicates the beginning of the analysis phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC).

Question 18

In the context of the planning phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), which of the following is an example of an externally identified problem?

A) Employees demanding an increase in their wage before the launch of a new system
B) Suppliers noting inefficiency in the inventory control procedure
C) Management voicing concern about the organization's lack of a competitive edge in the marketplace
D) Management conducting a high-cost training program to improve employees' skills

Question 19

It is important to project an organization's growth rate when designing information systems.

Question 20

One of the advantages of prototyping is that modifying a prototype is easier than modifying a complete system.

Question 21

_____ is concerned with whether a new system can be completed on time.

A) Economic feasibility
B) Technical feasibility
C) Operational feasibility
D) Scheduling feasibility

Question 22

In the context of structured systems analysis and design (SSAD) models, a _____ is a tool that shows a process at a more general level and is helpful for showing top management and the task force how a process works.

A) data flow diagram
B) flowchart
C) context diagram
D) conceptual data model

Question 23

In the context of structured systems analysis and design (SSAD) models, a _____ is a tool that helps analysts understand the data requirements an information system must meet by defining data elements and showing the associations between them.

A) data flow diagram
B) flowchart
C) context diagram
D) conceptual data model

Question 24

The _____, created during the requirements-gathering and analysis phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), indicates the end of the analysis phase and the start of the design phase.

A) maintenance plan document
B) system specifications document
C) blueprint document
D) execution document

Question 25

During the _____ of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), analysts investigate a proposed solution's feasibility and determine how best to present the solution to management to obtain funding.

A) planning phase
B) requirements-gathering phase
C) design phase
D) implementation phase

Question 26

In the context of economic feasibility, which of the following statements is true of opportunity costs?

A) They measure what an individual would miss by not having an information system or feature.
B) They measure costs involved in training employees who will be using the information system.
C) They measure the changes in the scope of an information system after the analysis and design phases.
D) They measure fixed and variable costs involved in running a system.

Question 27

In the _____ of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), a problem is defined and alternatives are generated for solving it.

A) planning phase
B) requirements-gathering and analysis phase
C) designing and prototype-development phase
D) implementation phase

Question 28

_____ is the measure of how well a proposed solution will work in an organization and how internal and external customers will react to it.

A) Economic feasibility
B) Technical feasibility
C) Operational feasibility
D) Legal feasibility

Question 29

During the _____ of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), analysts choose the solution that is the most realistic and offers the highest payoff for the organization.

A) planning phase
B) analysis phase
C) design phase
D) implementation phase

Question 30

Which of the following is a characteristic of joint application design (JAD)?

A) It ensures that the requirements collected from different functional areas of an organization for the application are multi-dimensional in focus.
B) It centers on a structured workshop in which users and system professionals come together to develop an application.
C) It is a unilateral activity that involves the owner of the organization.
D) It ensures that collected requirements are one-dimensional in focus.

Question 31

Which of the following is categorized as a tangible benefit of an information system?

A) Improved employee morale
B) Better customer satisfaction
C) Increased company profits
D) Increased flexibility in business operations

Question 32

Which of the following is an advantage of the joint application design (JAD) approach?

A) It incorporates varying viewpoints from different functional areas of an organization to help ensure that collected requirements for an application is not too narrow or one-dimensional in focus.
B) It provides a method for investigating an environment in which a problem is poorly defined and information is difficult to gather.
C) It reduces the need to train information system users and increases the system's chance of success by encouraging users' involvement.
D) It improves communication among users, top management, and information systems personnel because seeing a concrete model often prompts potential users of the system to ask questions, express opinions, and so forth.

Question 33

_____ is one of the most common cost-effectiveness analysis methods.

A) DuPont analysis
B) Joint application design
C) SWOT analysis
D) Net present value

Question 34

_____ is concerned with issues such as political repercussions of using an information system and meeting the requirements of the Information Privacy Act.

A) Economic feasibility
B) Technical feasibility
C) Operational feasibility
D) Legal feasibility

Question 35

In the planning phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), _____ assesses an information system's costs and benefits.

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

Question 36

In the context of structured systems analysis and design (SSAD) models, a _____ is a modeling tool that helps break down a complex process into simpler, more manageable, and more understandable subprocesses.

A) data flow diagram
B) flowchart
C) context diagram
D) conceptual data model

Question 37

In the context of structured systems analysis and design (SSAD) models, a _____ is a tool that illustrates the logical steps in a process but does not show data elements and associations.

A) data flow diagram
B) flowchart
C) context diagram
D) conceptual data model

Question 38

Which of the following is a common cost-effectiveness analysis method?

A) Consolidated rate of return
B) External rate of return
C) Corporate rate of return
D) Internal rate of return

Question 39

In the context of an organization's information system, external users _____.

A) refrain from providing feedback to the organization
B) include customers, contractors, and suppliers
C) typically form part of the task force
D) are the employees who use the system

Question 40

In the design phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), the _____ is an overview of the system and does not include hardware or software choices.

A) virtual design
B) physical design
C) conceptual design
D) logical design

Question 41

During the implementation phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), _____.

A) a team assesses how a system is working and takes steps to keep the system up and running
B) analysts define the organizational problem and generate alternatives for solving it
C) analysts choose the solution that is the most realistic and offers the highest payoff for the organization
D) the proposed solution is transferred from paper to action, and a team configures the system and procures components for it

Question 42

In the context of prototyping during the design phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), a _____ shows users how a particular task that was not technically feasible or appears to be unfeasible can be done.

A) proof-of-concept prototype
B) computer-aided prototype
C) requirements-based prototype
D) phased-in-phased-out prototype

Question 43

In the context of information systems, which of the following is a disadvantage of prototyping?

A) It increases the need to train information system users.
B) It decreases a system's chance of success by discouraging users' involvement.
C) A prototype is more difficult to modify than a complete system.
D) A prototype might not reflect the final system's actual operation and, therefore, could be misleading.

Question 44

In _____ of the implementation phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), as each module of a new system is converted, the corresponding part of an old system is retired.

A) parallel conversion
B) phased-in-phased-out conversion
C) plunge conversion
D) pilot conversion

Question 45

With the _____ approach, an organization chooses an outsourcing company in any part of the world, as long as it can provide the needed services.

A) onshore outsourcing
B) nearshore outsourcing
C) offshore outsourcing
D) inshore outsourcing

Question 46

In _____ of the implementation phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), the old and new systems run simultaneously for a short time to ensure the new system works correctly.

A) parallel conversion
B) phased-in-phased-out conversion
C) plunge conversion
D) pilot conversion

Question 47

In the context of information systems, identify an advantage of prototyping.

A) A prototype guarantees the success of the final system.
B) It is easier to modify a prototype than a complete system.
C) It does not require any support from the top management of a firm.
D) A prototype always reflects the final system's actual operation.

Question 48

In _____ of the implementation phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), an analyst introduces an information system in only a limited area of an organization, such as a division or department.

A) parallel conversion
B) direct cutover conversion
C) plunge conversion
D) pilot conversion

Question 49

In _____ of the implementation phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), an old system is stopped and a new system is implemented.

A) parallel conversion
B) phased-in-phased-out conversion
C) plunge conversion
D) pilot conversion

Question 50

In the design phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), the _____ indicates hardware and software, such as specifying Linux servers and Windows clients.

A) theoretical design
B) physical design
C) conceptual design
D) logical design

Question 51

Which of the following is a disadvantage of a request for proposal (RFP)?

A) A lengthy time frame makes an RFP less appealing.
B) The limited time allotted for the evaluation of an RFP makes the process tedious.
C) In an RFP, every vendor gets different information, resulting in unfair bids.
D) In an RFP, different vendors have different deadlines for submitting bids.

Question 52

With the _____ approach, an organization chooses an outsourcing company in a neighboring country, such as when a U.S. organization chooses a company in Canada or Mexico.

A) onshore outsourcing
B) nearshore outsourcing
C) offshore outsourcing
D) farshore outsourcing

Question 53

_____ helps reduce the backlog in producing information systems and improve flexibility in responding to users' information needs.

A) Intersourcing
B) Outsourcing
C) Self-sourcing
D) Crowdsourcing

Question 54

During the design phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), the _____ is created for a specific platform, such as choosing Dell servers running Ubuntu Linux and Java for the programming language.

A) virtual design
B) physical design
C) conceptual design
D) logical design

Question 55

Computer-aided systems engineering (CASE) tools are typically used during the _____ of the systems development life cycle (SDLC).

A) planning phase
B) design phase
C) implementation phase
D) maintenance phase

Question 56

Which of the following statements is true of Critical Path Method (CPM)?

A) Activities on the critical path take the shortest time to be completed.
B) It determines the critical path for the completion of a series of interrelated activities.
C) Activities that are on the critical path are flexible and can be delayed without delaying a project.
D) A delay in the activities of a project does not affect the scheduled delivery of the project.

Question 57

With the _____ approach, an organization chooses an outsourcing company in the same country.

A) onshore outsourcing
B) nearshore outsourcing
C) offshore outsourcing
D) farshore outsourcing

Question 58

Which of the following approaches for developing information systems increases the risk of leaking confidential information to competitors?

A) Insourcing
B) Outsourcing
C) Self-sourcing
D) Venture sourcing

Question 59

Consider the following Program Evaluation Review Technique (PERT) network. The activities and their respective durations are given in the following table.
Which of the following paths of the given network is the critical path?

A) E → F → H → I
B) B → D → G → I
C) B → D → F → H → I
D) A → C → F → H → I

Question 60

Which of the following is an outcome of the design phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC)?

A) A document that contains the requirements for the current system to determine its main problem
B) A document that contains operation-specific data collected by the analysts after observing the system's performance over a predefined period of time
C) A document with exact specifications for executing the system, including procedures, hardware and software, and networking components
D) A document that drafts the details noted after conducting interviews and surveys with the prospective users of the system

Question 61

_____ prototypes are used to market a proposed system to users and management by showing some of its features and demonstrating how beneficial it could be to the organization. ​

A) Proof-of-concept
B) Self-sourcing
C) Selling
D) Phased-in-phased-out

Question 62

Which of the following is a key feature of extreme programming (XP)?

A) Procurement of new equipment
B) Investigation of environments with poorly defined problems
C) Immediate feedback from users
D) Emphasis on limiting a project's scope

Question 63

A _____ is a written document with detailed specifications that is used to appeal bids for equipment, supplies, or services from vendors. ​

A) bill of materials
B) request for proposal
C) cost-benefit analysis report
D) milestone chart

Question 64

_____ is a series of well-defined phases performed in sequence that serves as a framework for developing an information system or project. ​

A) Rapid Application Development
B) Extreme Programming
C) The maintenance process model
D) The systems development life cycle

Question 65

The _____ approach treats process and data independently and is a sequential approach that requires completing the analysis before beginning the design of information systems. ​

A) joint application design
B) structured systems analysis and design
C) object-oriented
D) class-responsibility collaboration

Question 66

_____ uses an iterative process that repeats the design, development, and testing steps as needed, based on feedback from users.

A) Extreme programming
B) Rapid application development
C) Service-oriented architecture
D) Joint application design

Question 67

During the _____ of the systems development life cycle (SDLC), an information system is operating, enhancements and modifications to the system have been developed and tested, and hardware and software components have been added or replaced.

A) planning phase
B) design phase
C) implementation phase
D) maintenance phase

Question 68

_____ is the approach where an organization's team develops an information system internally. ​

A) Insourcing
B) Outsourcing
C) Self-sourcing
D) Crowdsourcing

Question 69

The end result of the_____ of the systems development life cycle (SDLC) model should give users and top management a clear view of what the problem is and how the information system will solve the problem. ​

A) planning phase
B) requirements-gathering phase
C) design phase
D) implementation phase

Question 70

_____ is a method for developing software applications and information system projects in which a project is divided into smaller functions and developers cannot go on to the next phase until the current phase is finished.

A) Extreme programming
B) Rapid application development
C) Service-oriented architecture
D) Joint application design

Question 71

A(n) _____ lists the completion time of a project on the x-axis and all the activities on the y-axis, which allows the systems analyst to monitor the progress of the project and detect any delay in the daily operation of the project. ​

A) work breakdown structure
B) event chain diagram
C) Gantt chart
D) risk register

Question 72

One shortcoming of rapid application development (RAD) is _____.

A) that it has a narrow focus, which might limit future development
B) that building an application takes more time
C) its lack of reusability of small, self-contained blocks of codes
D) its inflexibility to adjust to systems' changing needs

Question 73

Which of the following statements is true of extreme programming (XP)?

A) Developers are allowed to go to the next phase before the completion of the current phase.
B) This method does not allow changes to a system after its delivery to the users.
C) Two programmers perform activities different from the other at different workstations.
D) A system's quality is improved by addressing major issues that have not been examined before.

Question 74

Which of the following statements is true of pair programming?

A) Two programmers work on different codes at one workstation.
B) Two programmers work on the same code at one workstation.
C) Two programmers perform same activities at different workstations.
D) Two programmers perform different activities at different workstations.

Question 75

_____ refers to the trend of end users developing their own information systems with little or no formal assistance from an information systems team. ​

A) Insourcing
B) Outsourcing
C) Self-sourcing
D) Crowdsourcing

Question 76

_____ are small-scale versions of information systems, which are built before building the entire system, and are used to illustrate the system's benefits and allow users to offer feedback. ​

A) Structured systems
B) Prototypes
C) Flowcharts
D) Context diagrams

Question 77

Which of the following is a difference between the systems development life cycle (SDLC) and extreme programming (XP)?

A) The SDLC model has a separate planning and analysis phase, whereas XP combines both the phases into one phase.
B) Developers following the SDLC model cannot go on to the next phase until the current phase is finished, whereas in XP, developers can move to any phase from the current phase.
C) In the SDLC model, changes cannot be made to a system once it is delivered to the user, whereas the XP method delivers the system to the users and then make changes suggested by the user.
D) The SDLC model develops an entire system at once, whereas XP uses incremental steps to improve an information system's quality.

Question 78

A _____ is a tool used in the structured systems analysis and design (SSAD) model for data analysis. ​

A) conceptual data model
B) context diagram
C) flowchart
D) data flow diagram

Question 79

_____ is a philosophy and a software and system development methodology that focuses on the development, use, and reuse of small, self-contained blocks of codes to meet the software needs of an organization.

A) Extreme programming
B) Rapid application development
C) Service-oriented architecture
D) Joint application design

Question 80

Which of the following is a similarity between agile methodology and extreme programming (XP)?

A) Both give equal emphasis to team coding.
B) Both focus on an incremental development process.
C) Both respond to changing needs before the system is delivered.
D) Both have programmers perform different actions at the same time.