Question 1

Which of the following statements is false?
A) Companies that use Software-as-a-Service are running applications on the vendor's hardware.
B) Application service providers are similar to Software-as-a-Service providers.
C) Companies that purchase open-source software cannot modify it.
D) Outsourcing refers to acquiring IT applications from outside contractors.
E) Insourcing refers to building IT applications in-house.

Accepted Answer

Companies that purchase open-source software can modify it. Open-source software is typically licensed under a license that grants the right to use, modify, and distribute the software freely.

Question 2

In the _____ stage of the systems development life cycle, the design specifications are translated into computer code.
A) Systems analysis
B) Programming
C) Systems design
D) Prototyping
E) Feasibility study

Accepted Answer

The programming stage is the stage of the systems development life cycle in which the design specifications are translated into computer code.

Question 3

_____ feasibility addresses the human issues of an information systems project.
A) Technical
B) Economic
C) Organizational
D) Behavioral
E) Time

Accepted Answer

Behavioral feasibility is concerned with the human issues of an information systems project, such as the attitudes, preferences, and behavior of users, managers, and staff who will interact with the system. Technical feasibility is focused on whether the technology required for the system is available, economic feasibility examines whether the system is affordable and cost-effective, organizational feasibility considers the impact of the system on the organization's structure and processes, and time feasibility assesses whether the project can be completed within a specified timeframe.

Question 4

A firm implements a new information system in one of its plants, assesses the new system's performance, and then implements the new system in its other plants. This is an example of __________ conversion.
A) Phased
B) Direct
C) Parallel
D) Pilot
E) Timely

Accepted Answer

Pilot conversion involves implementing the new system at a single location or department, evaluating its performance, and then rolling it out to other locations or departments if it is successful. This approach allows the organization to test the system's effectiveness and make necessary adjustments before full implementation.

Question 5

A firm shuts down its old COBOL legacy system and immediately starts up its new PeopleSoft ERP system. This process is called __________ conversion.
A) Phased
B) Direct
C) Parallel
D) Pilot
E) Timely

Accepted Answer

Direct conversion involves shutting down the old system and immediately starting up the new one. Therefore, option B is the best choice. Phased conversion involves implementing the new system incrementally and running both systems in parallel for a period of time. Parallel conversion involves running both systems simultaneously for a period of time before completely switching over to the new system. Pilot conversion involves implementing the new system in a smaller, controlled environment before rolling it out to the entire organization. Timely conversion is not a recognized term in the context of system conversion.

Question 6

Which of the following is not a part of systems analysis?
A) Defining the business problem
B) Identifying the causes of, and solutions to, the business problem
C) Identifying the information requirements that the solution must satisfy
D) Identifying the technical specifications of the solution
E) Gathering information about the existing system

Accepted Answer

Identifying the technical specifications of the solution is a key part of systems design, not systems analysis. Systems analysis focuses on understanding the existing system and defining the business problem to be solved, as well as identifying information requirements and potential solutions to the problem.

Question 7

________ conversion is the riskiest type of conversion process.
A) Parallel
B) Direct
C) Pilot
D) Phased
E) They all have equal risk.

Accepted Answer

Direct conversion is considered the riskiest because it involves completely replacing the old system with the new one all at once, without any overlap or gradual transition. This means if the new system fails, there is no fallback.

Question 8

Place the stages of the systems development life cycle in order:
A) Investigation - analysis - design - programming/testing - implementation - operation/maintenance
B) Investigation - design - analysis - programming/testing - implementation - operation/maintenance
C) Analysis - design - investigation - operation/maintenance - programming/testing - implementation
D) Investigation - analysis - design - programming/testing - operation/maintenance - implementation
E) Investigation - implementation - analysis - programming/testing - design - operation/maintenance

Accepted Answer

The correct sequence for the stages of the systems development life cycle is: Investigation, Analysis, Design, Programming/Testing, Implementation, and Operation/Maintenance. This order reflects the logical progression from understanding the problem (Investigation), analyzing requirements (Analysis), designing the solution (Design), building the solution (Programming/Testing), putting the solution into use (Implementation), and maintaining the system (Operation/Maintenance).

Question 9

_____ is a method of delivering software in which a vendor hosts the applications and customers access these applications over the Internet.
A) Software-as-a-Service
B) Prototyping
C) Leasing the application
D) Service-oriented architecture
E) The buy option

Accepted Answer

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is a method of software delivery where a vendor hosts the application and customers can access it over the internet. This means that customers do not need to install or maintain software on their own computer systems, reducing costs and complexity of ownership. SaaS is often used for business applications like customer relationship management (CRM), human resources management (HRM), and accounting software.

Question 10

As systems age, maintenance costs _____.
A) Decrease
B) Increase
C) Remain the same
D) Are negligible
E) Are not considered

Accepted Answer

As systems age, they become more susceptible to wear and tear, which often leads to components breaking down and needing to be replaced or repaired. As a result, maintenance costs typically increase over time.

Question 11

In the traditional systems development life cycle, users:
A) Are important and ongoing members of the development team throughout the life of the project.
B) Are important only in the testing phases of the project.
C) Have no input.
D) Are important only in the maintenance phase of the project.
E) Provide information requirements.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the traditional systems development life cycle,...

Question 12

Which of the following statements about scope creep is true?
A) Scope creep is relatively cheap, regardless of when it occurs in a project.
B) Because scope creep is relatively cheap, successful project managers allow it.
C) Because scope creep is expensive, successful project managers will not allow it.
D) Because scope creep is expensive, successful project managers limit it.
E) Scope creep means that user requirements are being successfully taken care of.

Accepted Answer

Scope creep refers to uncontrolled changes or continuous growth in project scope, which can result in additional costs, delays, and potential project failure. Therefore, successful project managers aim to limit the occurrence of scope creep to manage project timelines, costs, and deliverables effectively.

Question 13

Which of the following systems acquisition methods requires staff to systematically go through every step in the development process and has a lower probability of missing important user requirements?
A) Systems development life cycle
B) Prototyping
C) End-user development
D) External acquisition
E) Object-oriented development

Accepted Answer

The Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a methodology that takes staff through every step of development. Since SDLC is a structured and systematic approach to system development, its approach requires that users and analysts go through every stage of the development process before moving to the next stage, which results in a lower probability of missing important user requirements.

Question 14

_____ feasibility determines if the project is an acceptable financial risk and if the organization can afford the expense and time needed to complete the project.
A) Technical
B) Economic
C) Organizational
D) Behavioral
E) Time

Accepted Answer

Economic feasibility evaluates the financial viability of the project and assesses whether the project is worth investing in. It considers the cost of the project, the expected financial gains, and the return on investment (ROI) that the project will provide. Also, it considers if the organization can afford the expenses and time needed to complete the project. Therefore, option B is the correct answer. Option A (Technical feasibility) evaluates whether the organization has the technical expertise to complete the project, option C (Organizational feasibility) evaluates whether the organization has the necessary infrastructure and resources to support the project, option D (Behavioral feasibility) evaluates whether the project's outcomes will be acceptable to the people involved, and option E (Time feasibility) evaluates whether the project can be completed within the given time frame. Although all of these options are important, economic feasibility is the most appropriate option to choose from the given options.

Question 15

_____ feasibility concerns a firm's policies and politics, power structures, and business relationships.
A) Technical
B) Economic
C) Organizational
D) Behavioral
E) Time

Accepted Answer

Organizational feasibility concerns the internal factors related to a firm, such as its policies and politics, power structures, and business relationships. It assesses whether a proposed project aligns with the company's goals, values, and resources. Technical feasibility concerns the technological aspects of the project, economic feasibility concerns the financial aspects, behavioral feasibility concerns the cultural and social aspects, and time feasibility concerns the timeline and deadlines for the project.

Question 16

The deliverable of the systems design stage is:
A) User requirements.
B) Technical system specifications.
C) The prototype.
D) The source code.
E) A working application.

Accepted Answer

The systems design stage focuses on defining the technical specifications of the system, including hardware and software requirements, data flow diagrams, and system architecture. The main deliverable of this stage is a detailed technical system specification document that provides a blueprint for the development team to follow. While a prototype or working application may be created during this stage, they are not the primary deliverable. The source code is typically not produced until the development stage.

Question 17

The _____ that changes are made in the systems development life cycle, the _____ expensive these changes become.
A) Sooner, less
B) Later, less
C) More frequently, more
D) More extensively, more
E) Sooner, more

Accepted Answer

The answer of The _____ that changes are made in...

Question 18

Which of the following systems acquisition methods is time consuming, costly, and may produce excessive documentation?
A) Systems development life cycle
B) Prototyping
C) End-user development
D) External acquisition
E) Object-oriented development

Accepted Answer

Systems development life cycle (SDLC) is a traditional method of developing systems that involves multiple stages such as planning, analysis, design, implementation, and maintenance. This process is time-consuming, costly, and may produce excessive documentation. It follows a sequential approach, where the output of one stage determines the input of the next stage. This method is suitable for large-scale projects where a structured approach is necessary. However, for small-scale projects or projects with changing requirements, SDLC may not be the best choice.

Question 19

Systems design answers the question, _____:
A) How will the information system resolve the business problem?
B) How much will the information system cost?
C) What is the problem the information system must address?
D) Who will benefit from use of the information system being developed?
E) What is the effective operational life of the system?

Accepted Answer

Systems design specifically focuses on answering how the information system will solve the business problem.

Question 20

When users ask for added functionality during a systems development project, this is called:
A) User-defined software.
B) Scope creep.
C) Bloatware.
D) An out-of-control project.
E) A runaway project.

Accepted Answer

When users ask for added functionality during a systems development project, it is referred to as scope creep. This can lead to project delays, cost overruns, and a deviation from the original project plan.

Quiz 13: Acquiring Information Systems and Applications

Which of the following statements is false?

In the _____ stage of the systems development life cycle, the design specifications are translated into computer code.

_____ feasibility addresses the human issues of an information systems project.

A firm implements a new information system in one of its plants, assesses the new system's performance, and then implements the new system in its other plants. This is an example of __________ conversion.

A firm shuts down its old COBOL legacy system and immediately starts up its new PeopleSoft ERP system. This process is called __________ conversion.

Which of the following is not a part of systems analysis?

________ conversion is the riskiest type of conversion process.

Place the stages of the systems development life cycle in order:

_____ is a method of delivering software in which a vendor hosts the applications and customers access these applications over the Internet.

As systems age, maintenance costs _____.

In the traditional systems development life cycle, users:

Which of the following statements about scope creep is true?

Which of the following systems acquisition methods requires staff to systematically go through every step in the development process and has a lower probability of missing important user requirements?

_____ feasibility determines if the project is an acceptable financial risk and if the organization can afford the expense and time needed to complete the project.

_____ feasibility concerns a firm's policies and politics, power structures, and business relationships.

The deliverable of the systems design stage is:

The _ that changes are made in the systems development life cycle, the _ expensive these changes become.

Which of the following systems acquisition methods is time consuming, costly, and may produce excessive documentation?

Systems design answers the question, _____:

When users ask for added functionality during a systems development project, this is called: