Chapter 14
Which of the following statements best describes the effect that project structure has on overall project risk? Projects with relatively undefined goals are more likely to be subjected to users changing requirements and to run a higher risk of not satisfying project goals. Less structured projects are more able to be quickly developed, tested, and implemented using cutting-edge RAD and JAD development techniques, and pose less risk of running up unforeseen costs. The less structured a project, the greater the freedom of users to define the system. Highly structured projects are more complex, and run a higher risk of programmers and users misunderstanding the ultimate goals. Highly structured projects tend to be larger, affecting more organizational units, and run both the risk of out-of-control costs and becoming too difficult to control.
Projects with relatively undefined goals are more likely to be subjected to users changing requirements and to run a higher risk of not satisfying project goals.
Which of the following variables in project management is an indicator of how well the project satisfies management objectives? Quality Cost Risk Time Scope
Quality
Which of the following is not important when designing a new system to fit the organization? Return on investment Ergonomics Government regulatory compliance Job design Health and safety
Return on investment
On average, private sector IT projects underestimated budget and delivery time of systems by more than ________ percent. 40 80 70 50 30
50
Which of the following project management variables defines what work is or is not included in a project? Quality Scope Goals Risk Cost
Scope
Which method is used to assign weights to various features of a system? Portfolio analysis Scoring model TCO Real options model Information systems plan
Scoring model
Which of the following best describes the relationship between system implementation and user involvement and management support? System implementation rarely benefits from user involvement. System implementation benefits from management support, but does not require user support. System implementation benefits from user support, but does not require management support. System implementation rarely benefits from management support. System implementation generally benefits from high levels of user involvement and management support.
System implementation generally benefits from high levels of user involvement and management support.
Which of the following statements about project risk is not true? The higher the number of implementation staff on a project, the lower the risk. The organizational complexity of a system contributes to the complexity of large-scale systems projects. The more dollars spent on a project, the greater the risk. Very large-scale systems project have a failure rate that is 50 to 75 percent higher than that for other projects. The higher the number of organizational units affected by a project, the greater the risk.
The higher the number of implementation staff on a project, the lower the risk.
As described in the text, which of the following is not a risk factor in information systems projects? The link between information systems and corporate strategy Project structure Scope of the project Experience with technology Project size
The link between information systems and corporate strategy
Which of the following statements about scoring models is not true? It is appropriate to cycle through a scoring model several times. The most important outcome of a scoring model is the score. A scoring model is useful for selecting projects where many criteria must be considered. A scoring model requires experts who understand the issues and the technology. There are many qualitative judgments involved in using a scoring model.
The most important outcome of a scoring model is the score.
Which of the following types of projects have a higher likelihood of failure? Very large-scale or complex systems projects Replacement of middleware with web services for legacy application integration Building a web-based interface to an existing system Integration of a third-party automated payment system Redesigning a user interface to an online investment site
Very large-scale or complex systems projects
All of the following are directly correlated with increased risk except: a large amount of organizational units affected. a large amount of technical expertise from project team and information team staff. a large amount of implementation staff. a large amount of time allocated for implementation. a large amount of dollars spent.
a large amount of technical expertise from project team and information team staff.
Successful system building requires careful ________ management to minimize organizational resistance. change system application technology cost supply chain
change
External integration tools: enable project team members to keep track of external costs of a project. consist of ways to link the work of the implementation team with users at all organization levels. portray a project as a network diagram with numbered nodes representing project tasks. enable a project to have sufficient technical support for project management and development. enable a project manager to properly document and monitor project plans.
consist of ways to link the work of the implementation team with users at all organization levels.
All of the following are intangible benefits of information systems except: improved decision making. cost reduction. improved asset utilization. increased organizational learning. improved operations.
cost reduction.
Counterimplementation is best defined as: multiple implementations that are run in parallel. critiquing the implementation of a system constructively. strategies used to overcome user resistance to change. deliberate attempts to thwart the implementation of a system. all of the organizational challenges involved in implementing a system.
deliberate attempts to thwart the implementation of a system.
All of the following are indications of a failed information systems project except: employees require training to properly use the system. a redesigned website has fewer visits to the customer support pages. employees are refusing to switch to the new system. employees have created a spreadsheet solution to manipulate the data generated by the system. the system is not being used by anyone.
employees require training to properly use the system.
Formal planning and control tools: serve as a road map indicating the direction of systems development. are used to evaluate alternative systems projects. enable a project manager to properly document and monitor project plans. link the work of the implementation team with users at all organization levels. are used to select projects where many criteria must be considered.
enable a project manager to properly document and monitor project plans.
Internal integration tools: enable end users to communicate with system developers. enable a project manager to properly document and monitor project plans. enable a project to have sufficient technical support for projects with challenging and complex technology. portray a project as a network diagram with numbered nodes representing project tasks. consist of ways to link the work of the implementation team with users at all organization levels.
enable a project to have sufficient technical support for projects with challenging and complex technology.
The ________ reviews and approves plans for systems in all divisions. corporate strategic planning committee board of directors project management group project team information systems steering committee
information systems steering committee
The principal capital budgeting models for evaluating information technology projects are the payback method, the accounting rate of return on investment (ROI), the net present value, and the: present value of future cash flows. future present value. internal rate of return. ROPM (real options pricing model). external rate of return.
internal rate of return.
In one strategic approach to determining information requirements, managers select a small number of ________ that reflect firm success and profitability. strategic indicators key performance indicators efficiency measures financial indicators output measures
key performance indicators
Information systems specialists often tend to seek solutions that: are simplistic for end users to understand. optimize hardware and software efficiency at the expense of ease of use. facilitate organizational tasks. employ clear documentation. are oriented towards solving business problems.
optimize hardware and software efficiency at the expense of ease of use.
The ________ is directly responsible for the individual systems project. corporate strategic planning committee IS steering committee systems planning committee project team project management group
project team
The value of systems from a financial perspective essentially revolves around the issue of: asset utilization. adherence to information requirements. the cost of computing equipment. return on invested capital. total cost of ownership.
return on invested capital.
In sociotechnical design: technical needs are given more importance than organizational needs. ergonomic features of a system are considered to be the most important consideration. systems analysts with proven backgrounds in sociological concerns rate and compare a system's social and technical aspects. separate sets of technical and social design solutions are developed and compared. human needs are given more importance than technical needs.
separate sets of technical and social design solutions are developed and compared.
A road map indicating the direction of systems development, the rationale, the current systems, new developments to consider, the management strategy, the implementation plan, and the budget is called a(n): enterprise analysis. information systems plan. project plan. portfolio analysis. strategic planning document.
strategic planning document.
The differing background between users and information systems specialists is referred to as the: user-designer communications gap. user-designer expertise gap. information system specialist inefficiency. user-designer paradigm. user expertise gap.
user-designer expertise gap.
While users are concerned about an information system delivering the information needed for work, designers might be concerned about: how operation of the system will change their daily routines. opening lines of communication with end users. what demands the system will place on the company servers. accessing the data on iPhones and tablets. the procedures required to enter data into the system.
what demands the system will place on the company servers.
________ methods rely on measures of cash flows into and out of the firm. Real options pricing Cost effectiveness Scoring model Portfolio analysis Capital budgeting
Capital budgeting
Which of the following is not something you would use to control risk factors in an information systems project? External integration tools Internal integration tools Capital budgeting models Formal planning tools and formal control tools Gantt charts
Capital budgeting models
Which of the following is at the top of the management structure for information systems projects in a large company? End-user managers Project team Information systems managers Corporate strategic planning group and information systems steering committee Project management group
Corporate strategic planning group and information systems steering committee
Which of the following would not be covered in the Strategic Business Plan Rationale section of an information systems plan? Firm's strategic plan Current business organization Current situation Current infrastructure capabilities Changing environments
Current infrastructure capabilities
As discussed in the chapter, which of the following is not one of the immediate consequences of inadequate software project management? Technical shortfalls Cost overruns Failure to obtain anticipated benefits Time slippage Customer loyalty
Customer loyalty
Which of the following would not be covered in the Budget Requirements section of an information systems plan? Difficulties meeting business requirements Potential savings Requirements Financing Acquisition cycle
Difficulties meeting business requirements
According to the Project Management Institute, what is the leading factor in project success? Carefully monitored changes in work habits and procedures Executive sponsors who are actively engaged End users who communicate their needs for the project Upper management that financially backs the project Communication between technicians and end users
Executive sponsors who are actively engaged
Which of the following is not a factor in the high failure rate of reengineering systems projects? Changes in job descriptions signaled by the new system Changes in career paths signaled by the new system Employees' concerns about change Failures of the new technologies to perform according to plan Resistance by key managers
Failures of the new technologies to perform according to plan
Which of the following helps project managers identify bottlenecks in project development? Internal integration tools Portfolio analysis tools Formal planning and control tools External integration tools Both internal and external integration tools
Formal planning and control tools
Which of the following is not one of the activities of the systems analyst? Acting as a change agent Mediating between competing interest groups Formulating of capital budgeting models Deciding which systems to develop Communicating with users
Formulating of capital budgeting models
Which type of planning tool shows each task as a horizontal bar whose length is proportional to the time required to complete it? Scoring model Both a PERT chart and a Gannt chart PERT chart Gantt chart Portfolio analysis
Gantt chart
You are using a capital budgeting method to assess the worth of your company's new information system. Which of the following costs would you include in measuring the cash outflow? Labor expenditures Reduced costs in production and operation Increased sales of products Hardware, software, and labor expenditures Hardware and software expenditures
Hardware, software, and labor expenditures
A firm in the finance industry should do which of the following to ensure that it stays current with technology? Select only low-risk, high-reward projects Select only low-cost, low risk projects Limit work to those projects with great rewards Have a few high-risk, high-benefit projects Avoid projects that are very costly
Have a few high-risk, high-benefit projects
You have been hired by a firm in a non-information-intensive industry to evaluate its inventory of systems and IT projects. Which types of projects should the firm focus on? Low cost, high benefit projects Low cost, low-benefit projects High-benefit, low-risk projects High-risk projects Any project that might be beneficial
High-benefit, low-risk projects
Which of the following is an example of using an internal integration tool? Creating a Gantt chart Including user representatives as active members of the project team Creating PERT chart Holding frequent project team meetings Developing a scoring model
Holding frequent project team meetings
The ________ is composed of department heads from both end-user and information systems areas. project management group system planning committee corporate strategic planning committee project team IS steering committee
IS steering committee
As described in the text, which of the following statements about runaway or failed IT projects is not true? 50% of businesses have experienced IT project failure in the last year. One study found that private sector projects underestimate costs and time required by half. Large software projects on average run 33 percent over schedule. Large software projects on average run 66 percent over budget. IT projects often fail because they lack sufficient computing capacity.
IT projects often fail because they lack sufficient computing capacity.
Which of the following strategies represents the proper approach to a low risk, high reward project? Identify and develop Cautiously examine Avoid Treat as a routine project Pursue after all other projects are complete
Identify and develop
Which of the following refers to all organizational activities working toward the adoption, management, and routinization of a new information system? Maintenance Implementation Acceptance Final acceptance Production
Implementation
Which of the following is not a tangible benefit of information systems?' Reduced facility costs Lower computer expenses Improved resource control Reduced rate of growth in expenses Increased productivity
Improved resource control
Which of the following is a limitation of using a financial approach to evaluate information systems? Inability to control vendor costs Inability to measure ROI Inability to assess costs from organizational disruption Inability to assess risk Inability to assess the cost of technology
Inability to assess costs from organizational disruption
Which of the following is an example of using an external integration tool? Creating a Gantt chart Developing a scoring model Including user representatives as active members of the project team Creating a PERT chart Using portfolio analysis
Including user representatives as active members of the project team
Which of the following statements about the user-designer communications gap is not true? It occurs because users and information systems specialists tend to have different backgrounds, interests, and priorities. When it is pronounced, it creates a very high risk of failure for a systems development project. Information systems specialists prefer systems that are oriented toward solving business problems or facilitating organizational tasks. It is one of the major reasons why users are driven out of the implementation process. It is one of the major reasons why user requirements are not properly incorporated into information systems.
Information systems specialists prefer systems that are oriented toward solving business problems or facilitating organizational tasks.
Enhanced employee goodwill falls under what category of costs and benefits of information systems? Costs Tangible benefits Cost savings Intangible benefits Intangible costs
Intangible benefits
Which of the following is the most widely used project management software today? Microsoft Project Zoho Projects IBM Project Guide Vertabase Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Project
You have been hired to implement an enterprise system that will automate much of the billing and accounting work for a statewide HVAC services company. Which of the following would you prepare to describe how the new system will affect a firm's structure and operations? Strategic planning document Sociotechnical design report Internal integration report Information systems plan Organizational impact analysis
Organizational impact analysis
To review a project's tasks and their interrelationships, you would use which of the following? Scoring model Gantt chart PERT chart Portfolio analysis PERT chart or a Gantt chart
PERT chart
Which of the following best describes the central method used in a scoring model? Calculating the return on investment for each system, and choosing the system with the best return Interviewing a small number of top managers to identify their goals and criteria for achieving success Performing a weighted comparison of the criteria used to evaluate a system Surveying a large sample of managers on their objectives, decision-making process, and uses and needs for data and information Performing an inventory of all of the organization's information systems projects and assets
Performing a weighted comparison of the criteria used to evaluate a system
Which of the following best describes the central method used in a portfolio analysis? Surveying a large sample of managers on their objectives, decision-making process, and uses and needs for data and information Scoring proposed systems on a number of dimensions, and selecting the one with the highest score Interviewing a small number of top managers to identify their goals and criteria for achieving success Performing a weighted comparison of the criteria used to evaluate a system Performing an inventory of all of the organization's information systems projects and assets
Performing an inventory of all of the organization's information systems projects and assets
Which method would you use to develop risk profiles for a firm's information system projects and assets? Real options model Portfolio analysis Scoring model Information systems plan TCO
Portfolio analysis
Which of the following would not be covered in the Management Strategy section of an information systems plan? Acquisition plans Progress reports Major training initiatives Management controls Organizational realignment
Progress reports
