Q&A Hero

Q: When developing information systems, an organization could use all of the following EXCEPT: A) an information technology services firm. B) open-source software. C) cloud computing. D) in-house development. E) hardware maintenance firms.

Q: The practice of turning over responsibility of some or all of an organization's information systems applications and operations to an outside firm is referred to as: A) realignment. B) downsizing. C) outsourcing. D) time sharing. E) system reassignment and deployment.

Q: Storage refers to making software assets available for others to use.

Q: As more corporate experience is gained from reuse, costs and the amount of resources necessary for reuse to work will increase also.

Q: The benefits of reuse grow as more corporate experience is gained from it.

Q: Strategic business goals of the organization must be matched to the organizations approach to off-the-shelf software.

Q: Due to the low cost of developing a reusable component, most organizations can compete economically with established commercial organizations that focus on selling components as their main line of business.

Q: Rework can be reduced by reusing object class libraries.

Q: The reuse of object class libraries has been found to reduce defect density.

Q: Research has found that reuse of object class libraries resulted in decreased productivity.

Q: Component-based development's focus is on creating specific pieces of software that can only be used once.

Q: Because existing pieces of software have already been tested, reusing them tends to result in higher-quality software with lower defect rates, decreasing maintenance costs.

Q: Ease of installation is a measure of the difficulty of loading the software and making it operational.

Q: If a company purchases application software, it does not necessarily need to conduct systems analysis.

Q: Purchased software cannot be modified.

Q: When choosing off-the-shelf software, the two most important criteria are functionality and ease of installation.

Q: Open-source software is best used when cost is an issue.

Q: Cloud computing is best when a supported task is generic and one does not need instant access.

Q: When resources and staff are available and a system must be built from scratch, the best option would be to go with a packaged software producer to obtain the software.

Q: Despite all the alternative sources of software, in-house development is still an option.

Q: The source code itself is not freely available for open-source software.

Q: Open-source software is developed by employees of a particular company.

Q: Cloud computing always complies with government regulations.

Q: Cloud computing is a low-cost access method to corporate-quality data.

Q: Cloud computing is slower in allowing a user access to internal applications.

Q: By 2015, it is predicted that the total global market for cloud computing will reach $1.1 trillion.

Q: One of the primary benefits of using an enterprise resource planning system is the short time period required for implementation.

Q: In enterprise solutions, the difference between the modules and traditional approaches is that the modules are integrated to focus on the business functional areas, rather than on business processes.

Q: Information technology services firms do not use the same methodologies, techniques, and tools that companies use to develop systems in-house.

Q: For many organizations, the most cost-effective way to manage payroll operations is through in-house development.

Q: Outsourcing can include having a firm develop and run another firm's application on its computers.

Q: A company may consider outsourcing if it feels that its core mission does not involve managing an information systems unit and that it might achieve more effective computing by turning over all of its operations to a more experienced, computer-oriented company.

Q: What is participatory design?

Q: Briefly discuss joint application design.

Q: Identify six general types of CASE tools.

Q: Briefly discuss prototyping.

Q: List and briefly discuss six approaches to systems development.

Q: List and briefly describe the four major SDLC phases.

Q: Discuss the types of skills needed in order to succeed as a systems analyst.

Q: Describe the role of a systems analyst.

Q: Why is coupling not advantageous for systems?

Q: Describe what decomposition is used for.

Q: Describe the term component as related to systems. Discuss how components can work together.

Q: Briefly define the term system.

Q: What are methodologies, techniques, and tools?

Q: In addition to application software, discuss what else comprises an information system.

Q: The ability to see organizations as systems is called: A) systems thinking. B) analytical thinking. C) organizational analytics. D) algorithmic analysis. E) system decomposition.

Q: All of the following are constraints EXCEPT: A) due dates. B) regulations. C) limited number of staff available. D) choice of programming language. E) speed of system.

Q: Current approaches to systems development that focus on adaptive methodologies, people instead of roles, and an overall self-adaptive development process best defines: A) participatory design. B) rapid application development. C) joint application design. D) CASE. E) Agile Methodologies.

Q: A centralized database that contains all diagrams, forms and report definitions, data structure, data definitions, process flows and logic, and definitions of other organizational and system components best describes a(n): A) information safe. B) code generator. C) repository. D) data generator. E) project database.

Q: A systems development approach that originated in northern Europe, in which users and the improvement of their work lives are the central focus, best defines: A) participatory design (PD). B) rapid application development. C) joint application design. D) CASE. E) Agile Methodologies.

Q: A systems development methodology created to radically decrease the time needed to design and implement information systems best describes: A) Participatory Design (PD). B) rapid application development. C) joint application design. D) CASE. E) Agile Methodologies.

Q: Building a scaled-down version of the desired system best describes: A) prototyping. B) Agile Methodologies. C) joint application design. D) reengineering analysis. E) rapid application development.

Q: Which of the following is NOT an approach to systems development? A) Prototyping B) Reengineering analysis C) Joint application design D) Agile Methodologies E) Rapid application development

Q: Priorities for systems and projects are deliverables for the: A) systems planning and selection phase. B) systems analysis phase. C) systems design phase. D) systems priority phase. E) systems implementation and operation phase.

Q: In which SDLC phase is the information system coded, tested, and installed in the organization? A) Systems planning and selection B) Systems replacement C) Systems analysis D) Systems design E) Systems implementation and operation

Q: A description of the alternative solution recommended by the analysis team is provided during the: A) systems planning and selection phase. B) systems design phase. C) systems analysis phase. D) systems implementation and operation phase. E) systems alternative selection phase.

Q: In which phase will the systems analyst convert the description of the recommended alternative solution into logical and then physical system specifications? A) Systems planning and selection B) Systems conversion C) Systems analysis D) Systems design E) Systems implementation and operation

Q: In which SDLC phase will the analyst study the organization's current procedures and the information systems used to perform tasks? A) Systems planning and selection B) Systems observation C) Systems analysis D) Systems design E) Systems implementation and operation

Q: The need for a new or enhanced system is identified during: A) systems planning and selection. B) systems coding. C) systems analysis. D) systems design. E) systems implementation and operation.

Q: Organizations use a standard set of steps to develop and support their information systems, which is called the: A) system design model. B) systems development methodology. C) waterford model. D) becker methodology. E) systems programming methodology.

Q: Interpersonal skills: A) help you work with end users, as well as other analysts and programmers. B) help you understand the potential and the limitations of information technology. C) help you manage projects, resources, risk, and change. D) enable you to understand the organization and its functions, to identify opportunities and problems, and to analyze and solve problems. E) promote an understanding of the different types of information systems.

Q: Management skills: A) help you work with end users, as well as other analysts and programmers. B) help you understand the potential and the limitations of information technology. C) help you manage projects, resources, risk, and change. D) enable you to understand the organization and its functions, to identify opportunities and problems, and to analyze and solve problems. E) promote an understanding of the different types of information systems.

Q: Technical skills: A) help you work with end users, as well as other analysts and programmers. B) help you understand the potential and the limitations of information technology. C) help you manage projects, resources, risk, and change. D) enable you to understand the organization and its functions, to identify opportunities and problems, and to analyze and solve problems. E) promote an understanding of the different types of information systems.

Q: Analytical skills: A) help you work with end users, as well as other analysts and programmers. B) help you understand the potential and the limitations of information technology. C) help you manage projects, resources, risk, and change. D) enable you to understand the organization and its functions, to identify opportunities and problems, and to analyze and solve problems. E) promote an understanding of the different types of information systems.

Q: Which of the following allows hardware and software from different vendors to work together in an application? A) Systems coupling B) Systems integration C) Systems decomposition D) Participatory design E) Joint application design

Q: Today, systems development focuses on: A) modularity. B) coupling. C) decomposition. D) systems integration. E) systems implementation.

Q: The extent to which a system or subsystem performs a single function defines: A) modularity. B) coupling. C) decomposition. D) dependence. E) cohesion.

Q: The extent to which subsystems depend on each other refers to: A) modularity. B) coupling. C) decomposition. D) dependence. E) cohesion.

Q: Which of the following is a direct result of decomposition? A) Coupling B) Open systems C) Cohesion D) Modularity E) Interfaces

Q: Which of the following is NOT a function of decomposition? A) Permit different parts of the system to be built at the same time by the same person B) Allow attention to be concentrated on the part of the system pertinent to a particular audience, without confusing people with details irrelevant to their interests C) Facilitate the focusing of attention on one area (subsystem) at a time without interference from other parts D) Break a system into smaller, more manageable and understandable subsystems E) Build different parts of the system at independent times and have the help of different analysts

Q: The process of breaking the description of a system down into its smaller components best defines: A) coupling. B) cohesion. C) decomposition. D) modularity. E) scaling.

Q: The point of contact where a system meets its environment or where subsystems meet each other best describes: A) boundary points. B) interfaces. C) contact points. D) merge points. E) forks.

Q: The environment of a state university would NOT include: A) prospective students. B) the legislature. C) the president's office. D) the news media. E) a foundation.

Q: The overall goal or function of a system best defines: A) purpose. B) goal. C) objective. D) scope. E) mission.

Q: An aggregation of parts is also called a(n): A) interface. B) subsystem. C) collection. D) accumulation.

Q: The point of contact where a system meets its environment or other subsystems is called a(n): A) component. B) interface. C) border. D) object. E) fence.

Q: An irreducible part, or an aggregation of parts within a system, is called a(n): A) component. B) input. C) interface. D) constraint. E) scope.

Q: The line that marks the inside and outside of the system and sets off the system from its environment is known as a(n): A) delineation mark. B) boundary. C) scope. D) interface. E) analysis area.

Q: Dependence of one part of the system on one or more other system parts best describes: A) boundary. B) interrelated components. C) cohesion. D) dependency. E) component.