EXAM 2 System Analysis and Design

The four core practices in agile modeling are:

A. A short release time B. Working a 40-hour week C. Having an onsite customer D. Pair programming

The activities of agile modeling are:

A. Coding B. Testing C. Listening D. Designing

. There are four values that are important to agile modeling:

A. Communication B. Simplicity C. Feedback D. Courage

Data dictionaries may be used to:

A. Create reports, screens, and forms B. Generate computer program source code C. Analyze the system design for completion and to detect design flaws D. Create XML document structures

Business rules include the following:

A. Definitions of business terms B. Business conditions and actions C. Data integrity constraints D. Mathematical and functional derivations Logical inferences F. Processing sequences G. Relationships among facts about the business

An algebraic notation is used to represent the data structure. The symbols used are:

A. Equal sign = meaning consists "of" B. Plus sign + meaning "and" C. Braces {} meaning repetitive elements, a repeating element or group of elements D. Brackets [] for an either/or situation E. Parentheses () for an optional element

Systems analysts must work systematically to elicit and evaluate users' reactions to the prototype. There are three ways the user is involved:

A. Experimenting with the prototype B. Giving open reactions to the prototype C. Suggesting additions to and/or deletions from the prototype

To use structured English, the following steps are needed:

A. Express all logic in terms of sequential structures, decision structures, case structures, or iterations. B. Use and capitalize accepted keywords such as IF, THEN, ELSE, DO, and PERFORM. C. Indent blocks of statements to show their hierarchy (nesting) clearly. D. When words or phrases used have been defined in a data dictionary, underline those words or phrases to signify that they have a specialized, reserved meaning. E. Be careful when using "and" and "or" operations, and avoid confusion when using logical comparisons such as "greater than" and "greater than or equal to."

In drawing the decision tree:

A. First, identify all conditions and actions and the order and timing of these (if they are critical). B. Second, begin building the tree from left to right while making sure you are complete in listing all possible alternatives before moving over to the right.

A data repository is a large collection of project information. It includes:

A. Information about system data, including data flows, data stores, record structures, elements, entities, and messages B. Procedural logic and use cases C. Screen and report design D. Relationships between entries E. Project requirements and deliverables F. Project management information

Physical data structures include elements and information necessary to design and implement the computer system. Additional elements on these structures include:

A. Key fields used to locate records. B. Codes to indicate record status. C. Codes to identify records when multiple record types exist on a single file. D. A count of how many entries are actually in a repeating group. E. Limits on the number of items in a repeating group. F. A password used by a customer accessing a secure website

An agile modeling process has the following steps:

A. Listen for user stories from the customer. B. Draw a logical workflow model for the user story. C. Create new user stories based on the logical model. D. Develop some display prototypes. E. Use feedback from the prototypes and logical workflow diagrams to develop the system until a physical model is created.

There are four conceptions of prototypes:

A. Patched-up prototypes B. Nonoperational scale models C. First full-scale models D. Prototypes which contain only some of the essential system features

Primitive process specifications are not created for:

A. Physical input and/or output processes B. Processes that represent simple data validation C. Processes for which prewritten code already exists

The data dictionary may be used for the following reasons:

A. Providing documentation B. Eliminating redundancy C Validating the data flow diagram for completeness and accuracy D. Providing a starting point for developing screens and reports E. Determining the contents of data that is stored F. Developing the logic for data flow diagram processes G. Creating XML (extensible markup language)

There are seven strategies for improving the efficiency in knowledge workers:

A. Reduce interface time and errors. B. Reduce process learning time and dual processing losses. C. Reduce time and effort to structure tasks and format outputs. D. Reduce nonproductive expansion of work. E. Reduce data and knowledge search and storage time and costs. F. Reduce communication and coordination time and costs. G. Reduce losses from human information overload.

The goals of producing process specifications are:

A. Reduce process ambiguity 6 B. Obtain a precise description of what is accomplished C. Validate the system design, including data flow diagrams and the data dictionary

The basic principles of agile modeling are:

A. Satisfy the customer through delivery of working software. B. Embrace change, even if introduced late in development. C. Continue to deliver functioning software incrementally and frequently. D. Encourage customers and analysts to work together daily. E. Trust motivated individuals to get the job done. F. Promote face-to-face conversation. G. Concentrate on getting software to work. H. Encourage continuous, regular, and sustainable development. I. Adopt agility with attention to mindful design. J. Support self-organizing teams. K. Provide rapid feedback. L. Encourage quality. M. Review and adjust behavior occasionally. N. Adopt simplicity.

The data dictionary may be used as a starting point when creating structured English as follows:

A. Sequenced (simple + between elements) data dictionary entries become simple structured English statements. B. Selection (elements within [ ] brackets) data dictionary entries become IF...THEN...ELSE structured English statements. C. Iteration (elements within { } braces) data dictionary entries become DO WHILE, DO UNTIL, or PERFORM UNTIL structured English statements

Process logic may be represented as:

A. Structured English B. A decision table C. A decision tree D. A formula E. Any combination of the above

Structured English is based on:

A. Structured logic, or instructions, organized into nested and grouped procedures B. Simple English statements such as add, multiply, move, and so on

There are six risks involved when adopting a new information systems approach

A. The culture of the organization and the culture of the systems development team B. Timing C. Cost D. Client's reactions E. Measuring impact F. The individual rights of programmers and analysts

A document type definition (DTD) is one way to define what is allowed in an XML document, and can include:

A. The order of the elements B. If an XML element is repeatable, and whether there must be at least one of the elements E. An optional element F. Definition of attributes

The four resource control variables in agile modeling are:

A. Time B. Cost 3 C. Quality D. Scope

To select an appropriate structured decision analysis technique, systems analysts can refer to these guidelines:

A. Use structured English when there are many repetitious actions or when communication to end users is important B. Use decision tables when complex combinations of conditions, actions, and rules are found or you require a method that effectively avoids impossible situations, redundancies, and contradictions. C. Use decision trees when the sequence of conditions and actions is critical or when not every condition is relevant to every action (the branches are different).

Guidelines for developing a prototype are:

A. Work in manageable modules B. Build the prototype rapidly C. Modify the prototype in successive iterations D. Stress the user interface

Data elements should be defined with

Data elements should be defined with

The decision tree has three main advantages over a decision table.

First, the order of checking conditions and executing actions is immediately noticeable Second, conditions and actions of decision trees are found on some branches but not on others, unlike decision tables where they are all part of the same table Third, compared to decision tables, decision trees are more readily understood by others in the organization.

The second disadvantage is __________________________

Incomplete prototypes may be regarded as complete systems

One disadvantage of prototyping is___________________

Managing the prototyping process is difficult because of its rapid, iterative nature

User stories are written that consist of_______________________

a dialogue between developers and users.

Prototyping

an information-gathering technique useful for supplementing the traditional systems development life cycle.

A starting point in creating data dictionary entries is to

analyze user input and output requirements.

Data stores may be determined by

analyzing data flows. Each data store should consist of elements on the data flows that are logically related, meaning they describe the same entity.

.A data dictionary is a main method for___________________

analyzing the data flows and data stores of data-oriented systems

An agile modeling approach called Scrum is_____________________

based on team development within a strict time frame

The use of decision tables helps analysts ensure

completeness and accuracy in analyzing structured decisions. However, there are four main problems that can occur in developing decision tables. 1) incompleteness 2)impossible situations 3)contradictions 4)redundancy.

Decision trees are used when

complex branching occurs in a structured decision process Trees are also useful when it is essential to keep a string of decisions in a particular sequence.

Data dictionaries may be used to

create extensible markup language (XML)

The data dictionary is a reference work of data about____________________

data (metadata) compiled by systems analysts to guide them through analysis and design. It collects, coordinates, and confirms what a specific data term means to different people in the organization.

An XML schema is another more precise way to

define the content of an XML document.

An XML document may be used to

define, filter, sort, and transform data.

Data stores must be

defined. They contain a minimal of all base elements as well as many derived elements.

Each data flow should be defined with

descriptive information and its composite structure

Data stores definitions contain

descriptive information as well as physical characteristics. The name of the data structure found within the data store should be included.

Conditions, condition alternatives, actions, and action rules must be known in order to

design systems for structured decisions

Decision tables provide a way to

examine, describe, and document decisions using a table consisting of four quadrants (1) describe the conditions, (2) identify possible decision alternatives (3) indicate which actions should be performed, (4) describe actions.

Process descriptions may exist on a

form or within a CASE tool repository.

Structured English has advantages of clarifying the logic and relationships found in

human languages, being an effective communication tool, and easy to teach and understand

It is important to maintain an attitude of______________________

humility

Data dictionary entries vary according to the

level of the corresponding data flow diagram.

Data structures may be either

logical or physical.

Logical data structures reflect the

mental model of how the users view the system.

To have maximum power, the data dictionary should be tied into

other programs in the system so that when an item is updated or deleted from the data dictionary it is automatically updated or deleted from the database

Agile modeling is used to ___________________

plan quickly, develop and release software quickly, and revise software quickly.

One advantage of prototyping is ___________________________

potential for changing the system early in its development

Process specifications are created for

primitive processes and some higher level processes on a data flow diagram. They are also called minispecs

Prototypes are useful in _______________________

seeking user reactions

Data structures are a group of

smaller structures and elements.

The methods available for documenting and analyzing the logic of structured decisions include

structured English, decision tables, and decision trees

Prototyping may be used as an alternative to the ______________________

systems development life cycle.

A second advantage is _________________________

the opportunity to stop development on an unworkable system

Data dictionaries are created in a

top-down manner

XML is used to share data between

two different computer systems.