MIS 250 Finals 11
Which software development method uses a less structured approach in which tasks are not sequenced according to the SDLC?
*Agile* Agile strategies involve cohesive teams that include end users, and in which many activities occur simultaneously rather than sequentially to accelerate delivery of usable software.
____________ methods need developers who welcome changes in requirements because they understand that the ultimate goal is to develop software that users really want, not just to finish a project on time.
*Agile* Agile teams are collectively responsible for delivery, and team members must help one another achieve the goal to be successful. For this reason, agile methods need developers who welcome changes in requirements if needed.
Which of the following explains why the waterfall method is still widely in use?
*Business managers are comfortable with its logical and familiar structure.* One reason this method persists is that business managers are comfortable with its logical and familiar structure.
Which of the following statements about the use of cross-functional teams in systems development is FALSE?
*Cross-functional teams rarely add benefits and value to the organization as a whole.* Cross-functional teams with members from different parts of the company share knowledge and ideas. This will, in turn, offer added benefits for the whole organization.
Part of the information system planning process that examines whether the initiative is viable from technical, financial, and legal standpoints is the ____________.
*Feasibility study* The feasibility study is an important part of the planning process that examines whether the initiative is viable from technical, financial, and legal standpoints. It may not be technically feasible if the technologies either don't exist yet or are not mature enough to support the project's goals.
Which of the following is an advantage of engaging consultants in systems development projects?
*It gives the organization access to experts who know the software well.* Experienced consultants have seen how different companies implement the product most effectively, and they know where the trouble spots are.
Which of the following statements about custom system development is true?
*It may offer strategic value that contributes to a company's competitive advantage.* Custom software is tailored closely to the organization's needs, and therefore may offer strategic value that contributes to company's competitive advantage.
_____________ methods of software development compress the time horizon for software development, partly to reduce the effect of changing business needs and the resulting rework.
*Iterative* Iterative methods focus on the time available until the next release, or iteration. The development team determines how many of the requirements it can deliver in that timeframe.
Which of the following statements is NOT true of the decision to choose one software strategy over another?
*Outsourced software development leans toward iterative methods.* Outsourced software development leans toward waterfall methods. Once the requirements phase is complete, the contractor uses the results to determine the cost of the whole project, before signing a contract.
Which of the following launches a new system while the old one continues to run, so that output can be compared?
*Parallel implementation* A parallel implementation launches the new system while the old one is still running. Employees either do their jobs twice, once on each system, or two separate teams handle the same processes, one team on each system.
The first step in the systems development life cycle is ___________, which defines the business need for the project, assesses its importance to the company, and determines whether the project is feasible.
*Planning* The goal in this step is to define the business need for the project, assess its importance to the company, and determine whether the project is actually feasible.
Which of the following involves creating and sharing a software prototype with users, gathering feedback, and making corrections before building a fully functional version?
*Rapid application development* RAD is a strategy in which developers quickly bring up prototypes to share with end users, get feedback, and make corrections before building the fully functional version.
A(n) _____________ is an invitation sent to software vendors that includes a detailed description of the information system an organization needs, so that vendors can describe their products that may fit.
*Request for information* The RFI describes the new system in broad, high-level terms, and interested vendors send responses describing their products and services.
Which of the following is an invitation to software companies to submit formal proposals, including detailed descriptions of their products, services, and costs?
*Request for proposal* The RFP details the requirements developed in the analysis phase and also includes information about the organization's architecture, staffing, and other relevant details.
Which of the following terms refers to the seven-step process in the life of an information system?
*Systems development life cycle* The SDLC describes the seven steps in the life of an information system: planning, analysis, design, development, testing, implementation, and maintenance.
A(n) _____________ is a consultant who ensures that the hardware and software components of an information system work together when they come from different vendors.
*Systems integrator* The components, such as scanners, servers, smartphones, software, and database, may all come from different vendors, and the systems integrator takes responsibility for making them function smoothly with one another.
Which of the following does NOT affect the decision of which system development method to use?
*The type of project and organizational culture play a large role in deciding which type of development method to use. The number of end users is not relevant in this decision.* The type of project and organizational culture play a large role in deciding which type of development method to use. The number of end users is not relevant in this decision.
Which of the following is true of the role that senior managers play in systems development and procurement?
*They can inspire employees to work together and ensure resource availability for project teams.* Senior managers play an important role in systems development and can inspire employees to work together and ensure the resources the project team needs are available.
_____________ is an approach used by organizations that prefer systems from a single vendor, especially to avoid the need to build interfaces.
*Unified procurement* In unified procurement, organizations strongly prefer systems that are offered by a single vendor, especially the one that supplies the ERP.
Which of the following is a software development strategy in which systems development lifecycle tasks occur sequentially, with one activity starting only after the previous one has been completed?
*Waterfall method* In the waterfall method, programmers don't start writing any code until all the previous phases have been completed. Different people may be engaged in each task, and they hand off their work to the next team when their part is done.