MGMT Chapter 12 + 13
Which of the following is an advantage of prepackaged software?
It requires a short implementation time.
A(n) ________ bias refers to a belief that an actual event was predictable even if it was not.
hindsight
Info Labs Inc., a marketing communications company, launches a project at a fixed cost of $180,000. What is the amount of savings earned from the project per month if it returns the investment in 3 years?
$5,000
________ an information system is typically the best choice for a business when the available systems support common business functions, such as financial or human resource management.
Buying
________ in project management include all the coordinating efforts that ensure that tasks on the work breakdown structure are carried out properly.
Executing processes
Which of the following is true of the triple constraint in projects?
Changes in one fundamental constraint affect the other constraints as well.
________ is a peer review process in which programmers familiar with the project and the development environment check over one another's work to ensure it is well documented and properly written.
Code review
T/F: A black swan refers to those favorable, external events which contribute to an organization's growth.
False
T/F: A confirmation bias is a rare human tendency to believe that an event was predictable even if it was not.
False
T/F: A difference between projects and processes is that processes are unique, whereas projects are recurring.
False
T/F: A drawback of the waterfall method is the inability to make changes to previous stages once they are complete.
False
T/F: A feasibility study is an important part of the analysis stage of the SDLC.
False
T/F: A phased implementation is an expensive process that launches a new system while the old one is still running.
False
T/F: A use case diagram will show the series of steps involved in the implementation process of a system.
False
T/F: Agile software development methods use a highly structured approach in which tasks are sequenced according to the SDLC.
False
T/F: Business continuity refers to the willingness of an organization to pull the plug on a project in which huge sums and resources need to be invested.
False
T/F: Business process reengineering was criticized because it overemphasized the importance of the human element in managing business processes.
False
T/F: Escalation of commitment refers to the tendency of people to increase features in a project in order to accommodate excess resources.
False
T/F: In acceptance testing, tests are conducted by an organization's IT staff to assess how well a system performs under peak loads.
False
T/F: Project charters are drafted in kickoff meetings.
False
T/F: Scope creep refers to a strategy in which everyone in a project team agrees upon what features the project will involve.
False
T/F: Screen attractiveness is an example of a performance requirement in a system.
False
T/F: The critical path in a Gantt chart is the shortest path through the project and identifies those tasks that can be delayed without affecting the finish date.
False
T/F: The planning processes lay the groundwork for the project by clarifying the value it will bring to the organization, setting its objectives, and estimating the project's length, scope, and cost.
False
________ is an important part of the planning stage of the systems development life cycle and examines whether an initiative is viable from technical, financial, and legal standpoints.
Feasibility study
Which of the following reasons explains why waterfall methods are still widely in use?
It has a logical and familiar structure which is comfortable to use.
Why is it a challenging task to calculate a project's return on investment (ROI)?
It is difficult to estimate ROI for projects where costs rise unexpectedly and revenue increases are hard to predict.
Which of the following is an advantage of custom system development?
It is tailored closely to an organization's needs.
Which of the following is a drawback of the waterfall method?
It is unable to adapt to changes in the business landscape.
Which of the following is a disadvantage of custom system development?
It requires long periods of time before going live
Which of the following statements is true of a project charter?
It shows that the senior management support the project
Which of the following is a disadvantage of using consulting services?
It tends to make employees feel less ownership of a project and less committed to changes.
________ track progress from start to finish, pinpointing any deviations from the plan.
Monitoring and controlling processes
Which of the following is a difference between projects and processes?
Projects are unique and one of a kind, whereas processes are recurring.
________ refers to the creation of software prototypes that can be shared with users for receiving feedback, so that developers can make improvements before a lot of effort is spent building a fully functioning version.
Rapid application development
________ is a process in which stakeholders identify the features that a project will need and then prioritize them as mandatory, preferred, or nonessential.
Requirements analysis
Which of the following is true of black swan events?
The invention of the personal computer is an example of a black swan.
Which of the following is an advantage of a parallel implementation of an information system?
There are two systems processing the same case, both of which should have the same output.
Which of the following best defines agile methods?
They involve characteristics of cohesiveness and trust.
T/F: A code review is a peer review process in which programmers familiar with a project check over one another's work to ensure it is well documented and properly written.
True
T/F: A disadvantage of custom system development is that it involves high overall cost and requires more time before going live.
True
T/F: A key document that authorizes the project is the project charter which shows that the project has the commitment and support of senior management.
True
T/F: A process diagram traces how each process operates from beginning to end in a way that is clear to all the stakeholders.
True
T/F: A project- and issue-tracking software offers customizable dashboards to developers that help them see at a glance how a project is coming along.
True
T/F: A reason why the waterfall method is still in use is because business managers are comfortable with its logical and familiar structure.
True
T/F: A systems integrator is a special kind of consultant who has expertise in making the different hardware and software components of an information system work together.
True
T/F: Binding, formal agreements with vendors and consultants are essential to the success of a project.
True
T/F: Change management refers to a structured approach to the transition employees must make as they switch from their existing work processes to new ones.
True
T/F: Deliverables refer to the products, documents, or services that will be delivered to the sponsor during the course of the project.
True
T/F: Disaster recovery refers to all the procedures, documentation, and resources the organization puts into place to prepare for a disaster and recover the technical infrastructure.
True
T/F: End-users with disabilities should be considered in the design phase of the SDLC.
True
T/F: Every project is constrained by three fundamental, interrelated forces: time, cost, and scope.
True
T/F: Executing processes involve coordinating efforts that ensure the tasks on the work breakdown structure are carried out properly.
True
T/F: Often, the only logical choice for the implementation of small systems is a direct implementation strategy.
True
T/F: Prepackaged software is a good option for business functions that do not need to offer competitive advantage.
True
T/F: The choice of software development environments and hardware architecture is affected by the experience and capabilities of an organization's IT staff.
True
T/F: The closing phase of a project should also include a process that documents the lessons learned from the project.
True
T/F: The goal of the planning phase of the systems development life cycle (SDLC) is to define the business need for a project.
True
T/F: The person who leads a requirements analysis needs to have a solid background in business management and information systems.
True
Which of the following best describes a project charter?
a key document that authorizes a project
Which of the following best describes project portfolio management?
a process that oversees all projects and selects which projects to pursue
The ________ encompasses services each employee will be provided, whether and how much they can utilize company resources for personal use, the kinds of surveillance that are in place, and reinforce legal requirements, such as prohibitions against unauthorized copying.
acceptable-use policy
The type of testing that involves end users performing final testing to determine whether a project is complete as specified is known as ________.
acceptance testing
Service-oriented architecture is especially useful in ________ companies.
agile
Which of the following functions does the version control software perform?
allowing developers to track versions of the source code during development
Which of the following best defines change management?
an approach to the transition employees make as they switch from existing work to new processes
The ________ phase of the waterfall method involves nailing down requirements, at which point the developers estimate the time and resources needed to complete a project.
analysis
The ________ procures the finest systems for each application, regardless of the vendor.
best-of-breed approach
The term ________ is used to describe an extremely rare event that is difficult or nearly impossible to predict, but which can have an immense impact in areas such as technology, finance, and science
black swan
The ________ refers to a process organizations put into place to manage and prioritize requests to add new features to an information system.
change control process
The ________ phase ideally involves wrapping up a project in an orderly way and a sponsor signing off that all deliverables have been received and accepted.
closing
Which among the following is the hardest task for an organization's program management office?
collecting consistent data from projects
Which of the following should a project manager ideally do to efficiently manage a project?
communicate the time, cost, and scope constraints clearly as the project unfolds
Which of the following is the primary goal of the development phase of the SDLC?
converting a design into a fully operational information system
The ________ refers to the longest course through the project, which identifies those tasks that cannot be delayed without affecting the finish date.
critical path
The term ________ refers to products, documents, or services that will be handed over to the sponsor during the course of the project.
deliverables
Johanna Taylor, a creative developer at Leo Technologies Inc., is developing a website for the company. To address the usability needs of website visitors, she ensures that visitors would be able to easily locate what they need on the website. She avoids flashy graphics and chooses a font with high readability. Joanna is most likely in the ________ stage of the SDLP.
design
The ________ phase is a technical blueprint for a whole system which captures all aspects of how the system's components will function together to accomplish goals, using descriptions, diagrams and models.
design
Testing is a part of the ________ phase of the SDLC.
development
Joshua Lee, an engineer at Footprints Inc., is provided with a design by the creative team in his company for creating a software that would help travel agents answer and track traveler requests efficiently. He is now converting the design into an operational information system. Which of the following phases of the SDLC is the software currently in?
development phase
A ________ is often the only logical implementation strategy for smaller systems.
direct implementation
A ________ switches off the old system and launches all the modules of the new one on a single, very hectic go-live date, sometimes called the "big bang."
direct implementation
A major advantage of a ________ is that people whose roles span modules do not have to switch back and forth between old and new modules.
direct implementation
________ refers to all the procedures, documentation, and resources an organization puts into place to prepare for a crisis situation and recover technical infrastructure.
disaster recovery
Which of the following challenges is typically a feature of the closing phase of a project?
documenting lessons learned
A real estate developer in the New Jersey area purchases a large tract of land and plans to build an apartment complex equipped with a golf course and other amenities. The developer is targeting the affluent software engineers from Manhattan who are looking for second homes. Halfway through the process of construction, recession hits the nation and many people lose their jobs. There are no takers for the apartments the developer is building, as homebuyers look for less expensive options. The developer, dismayed at the huge investment he has already made in the project, decides that it would be unwise to stop the project and plans to go ahead with it. The developer's reasoning is consistent with the idea of ________.
escalation of commitment
Which of the following is an accurate definition of "black swans"?
events that occur very rarely and are difficult or nearly impossible to predict
Which of the following do all types of information system tests mimic?
events the system is likely to handle when it goes live
An agile method that focuses on frequent releases of workable software and short time boxes for development is known as ________.
extreme programming
The stage at which a project is conceived is known as the ________ process.
initiating
Which of the following sets of processes is carried out first in project management?
initiating process
Lee works for Pink Net Worldwide Inc., an advertising company in California. Lee is developing software to improve the process of coordination with clients. Which of the following requirements is he concentrating on if he is interfacing the clients' software with a few of the information systems that are currently functioning within the company?
integration requirements
User navigation and data display are examples of the ________ included in an RDD.
interface requirements
Which of the following is a disadvantage of prepackaged software?
it requires an organization to change its business processes
The ________ compresses the time horizon for software development and focuses on the time available until the next release while the development team determines how many of the requirements it can deliver in that time frame.
iterative method
Which of the following should be undertaken during the design phase of the SDLC?
keeping in mind end users with disabilities
In the ________ phase, project managers pay close attention to reports and dashboards that might show early warning signs that some tasks have fallen behind.
monitoring
Which of the following best describes legacy systems?
old systems which are built on aging or obsolete architectures
Which of the following disasters is most likely to cause massive absenteeism in organizations?
pandemics
A ________ of an information system launches the new system while the old one is still running and employees either do their jobs twice or two separate teams handle the same processes.
parallel implementation
Escapade Inc., a travel agency in Sydney, is using a highly expensive implementation process for a short period of time. It launches the new system while the old one is still running and employees have to do their jobs twice, once on each system. Which of the following is the company using?
parallel implementation
Which of the following is a type of testing for information systems where developers use the same input and compare the new system's output to the output generated by the system it is replacing?
parallel testing
Components such as response time, availability, and scalability are examples of the ________ included in an RDD.
performance requirements
A disadvantage of a ________ is that the new system's modules may be tightly integrated, so implementing one without the others may create some confusion and require temporary interfaces to the old systems.
phased implementation
Jonathan has joined a new software company in Manhattan and has been assigned the task of developing an internal communications system. He begins the task by assessing how the system will help in efficiently coordinating the projects that the company handles and in determining the feasibility of the system. In the given scenario, Jonathan is in the ________ step of the systems development life cycle.
planning
________ is the first step in the systems development life cycle, which defines the business need for a project, assesses its importance to the company, and determines whether the project is feasible.
planning
The term ________ refers to a task in the work breakdown structure that needs to be completed before a particular task can begin.
predecessor
An organization is using a unified procurement approach if it ________.
prefers systems that are offered by a single vendor
A ________ is a series of events designed to deliver a product or service that is recurring in nature.
process
The major function of a process diagram is to trace ________.
process operations from beginning to end in a way that is clear to all stakeholders
A ________ oversees all the projects going on throughout the organization and provides project management training, software, and support.
program management office
Which of the following collects data from each project and aggregates it, building a larger picture of the overall health of the organization's project portfolio?
program management office
Independent testers are critical in testing information systems mainly because ________.
programmers are inept at testing their own code
A(n) ________ is a temporary activity that is launched for a specific purpose, to carry out a particular objective.
project
A ________ is a document that authorizes a project and includes a clear statement of objectives, estimated start and end dates, the names of the relevant people and their roles, a tentative budget, criteria for success, and other pertinent information.
project charter
A kick-off meeting involves ________.
project stakeholders meeting one another to review the project charter
The ________ offers customizable dashboards so that developers can see at a glance how a process is coming along, what activities they need to complete in a day, and how they can keep abreast of all aspects of the process.
project- and issue-tracking software
Which of the following is a characteristic of a process?
recurring in nature
Which of the following includes a high-level description of a system that an organization is on the lookout for?
request for information
________ is a driver of information systems development that touches on security, privacy, safety, and regulatory compliance.
risk management
________ is an agile method for software development that relies on tightly knit, cohesive teams that do sprints of 2 to 4 weeks each.
scrum
Sam Torres, a security officer at a content management firm, is required to monitor the people coming in and going out of the organization and ensure data privacy through the process of encryption. Which of the following types of requirements is Sam focusing on in the given scenario?
security requirements
A general rule of thumb is that an organization should consider buying software rather than building it if the ________.
software can meet 75% to 80% of all business requirements
Which of the following is a function of a requirements definition document (RDD)?
specifying the features that an information system should have
Which of the following types of testing for information systems is conducted to assess how well a system performs under peak loads?
stress testing
Which of the following types of testing involves both end users and IT staff testing the functionality of an entire IS?
system testing
Which of the following best describes service-oriented architecture (SOA)?
systems assembled from relatively independent software components
One of the critical factors that contribute to the failure of projects is ________.
the lack of executive support for the project
Which of the following best defines a critical path in a project?
the longest project path that identifies tasks that cannot be delayed without affecting the finish date
Which of the following best describes confirmation bias?
the tendency to choose information that supports our existing position
Which of the following best defines escalation of commitment?
the tendency to continue to invest in a project despite mounting evidence that it is not succeeding
Which of the following best describes an availability bias?
the tendency to judge the probability of an event based on how easily examples come to mind
Which of the following best describes a planning fallacy?
the tendency to underestimate the time it will take to complete a task
________ is a type of testing for information systems that involves programmers checking the functionality of small modules of code during the development phase of the SDLC.
unit testing
Which of the following is the most critical factor that contributes to failure of projects?
unrealistic time frames
Screen attractiveness is an example of the ________ included in an RDD.
usability requirements
Tom Daniels, an employee of a telecommunications company, is developing software that would enable customers to activate value-added services in a matter of seconds. Which of the following requirements is Tom developing if he is working to improve the visual appeal of the interface and to enhance the ease of learning the software?
usability requirements
The ________ involves the sequential occurring of systems development life cycle tasks, with one activity starting only after the previous one has been completed.
waterfall method
A(n) ________ is an orderly listing of actual tasks that a project team must complete to produce the project's deliverables.
work breakdown structure