2Ka3 Chapter 13: 15th edition
20) Which conversion process introduces the system first to a limited portion of the organization? A) Pilot study strategy B) Phased approach strategy C) Limited cutover strategy D) Parallel strategy E) Parallel approach strategy
A
3) Which of the following is more powerful that rationalization of procedures? A) Business process redesign B) TQM C) Automation D) Six sigma E) Systems analysis and design
A
31) A systems analysis includes a(n) ________ that is used to determine whether the solution is achievable, from a financial, technical, and organizational standpoint. A) feasibility study B) data flow diagram C) logical design D) systems design document E) request for proposal
A
34) During the ________ stage of system development, system specifications that were prepared during the design stage are translated into software code. A) programming B) systems analysis and design C) implementation D) conversion E) acceptance testing
A
44) An entire information system is broken down into its subsystems by using: A) high-level data flow diagrams. B) low-level data flow diagrams. C) process specifications. D) structured diagrams. E) logical design diagrams.
A
45) To understand and define the contents of data flows and data stores, system builders use: A) a data dictionary. B) process specifications diagrams. C) user documentation. D) data flow diagrams. E) systems analysis.
A
46) To show each level of a system's design, its relationship to other levels, and its place in the overall design structure, structured methodologies use: A) structure charts. B) Gantt and PERT charts. C) process specifications. D) data flow diagrams. E) user documentation.
A
49) Object-oriented modeling is based on the concepts of: A) class and inheritance. B) classes and objects. C) objects and relationships. D) objects and inheritance. E) classes and relationships.
A
identifies who needs what information, and when, where, and how the information is needed. A) Systems analysis and design documents B) Information requirements C) A data flow diagram D) A feasibility study E) Requests for proposal
B
revise and enhance the prototype. B) Identify user requirements, develop the prototype, use the prototype, revise and enhance the prototype. C) Define the requirements, develop solutions, select the best prototype, and implement the prototype. D) Define the requirements, develop the prototype, revise and enhance the prototype. E) Select the best prototype, define the requirements, and implement the prototype.
B
1) The four kinds of structural organizational change enabled by IT, in order from least to most risky, are: A) rationalization, automation, reengineering, and redesigning. B) rationalization, automation, reengineering, and paradigm shift. C) automation, rationalization, redesigning, and paradigm shift. D) automation, redesigning, restructuring, and paradigm shift. E) paradigm shift, reengineering, rationalization, and automation.
C
12) End user development: A) allows end users to create highly complex information systems. B) increases the time and steps required to produce a finished application when compared to professional development. C) allows ends users to develop simple information systems. D) requires more time to develop systems. E) requires formal assistance from technical specialists.
C
6) The idea that the achievement of quality control is an end in itself describes a main concept of: A) BPM. B) BPR. C) six sigma. D) TQM. E) systems analysis and design.
D
61) The oldest method for building information systems is: A) component-based development. B) prototyping. C) object-oriented development. D) the systems development lifecycle. E)computer-aided software engineering
D
62) In the traditional systems development lifecycle, end users: A) are important and ongoing members of the team from the original analysis phase through maintenance. B) are important only in the testing phases. C) have no input. D) are limited to providing information requirements and reviewing the technical staff's work. E) control the development of the system.
D
53) ________ describe the transformation occurring within the lowest level of the data flow diagrams. A) Design requirements B) Information requirements C) Technology design plans D) object-oriented frameworks E) Process specifications
E
54) Organizational software packages often include ________ features that allow the software to be modified to meet organizational requirements. A) automation B) object oriented C) programming D) design E) customization
E
65) A systems building approach in which the system is developed as successive versions, each version reflecting requirements more accurately, is described to be: A) end-user oriented. B) prototyped. C) object-oriented. D) agile. E) iterative.
E
? 24) Unit testing: A) includes all the preparations for the series of tests to be performed on the system. B) tests the functioning of the system as a whole in order to determine if discrete modules will function together as planned. C) involves testing the entire system with real-world data. D) provides the final certification that the system is ready to be used in a production setting. E) tests each program separately.
E
86) In component-based development, applications are developed one small portion at a time, with each portion able to function independently.
FALSE
88) Native apps are cheap to develop and only one version is required for different mobile operating systems.
FALSE
89) Systems development activities always take place in sequential order.
FALSE
92) DevOps stands for "development opportunities."
FALSE
94) Companies using DevOps, like Netflix, can update its production systems with new software in a matter of months.
FALSE
60) What qualities of object-oriented development make this method especially suitable for Internet applications?
Object-oriented development uses the object as the basic unit of systems analysis and design. The system is modeled as a collection of objects and the relationships between them. E-commerce companies need to be able to add, change, and retire their technology capabilities very rapidly. Object-oriented development allows objects to be reused and repackaged with other objects to create new software, saving money and development time.
100) What is the typical breakdown of time spent maintaining information systems? How can maintenance time and costs be reduced?
On average, 20 percent of the time spent on maintenance is used for debugging or correcting emergencies. Another 20 percent is spent on investigating changes in data, files, hardware, and software. However, the majority of the time (60 percent) is spent making user enhancements, improving documentation, and increasing efficiency. The work in this category could be reduced with better systems analysis, design practices, and better documentation.
14) The most common form of IT-enabled organizational change is automation.
TRUE
17) Six sigma describes the measurement of quality as 3.4 defects per million.
TRUE
55) A data flow diagram offers a logical and graphical model of information flow, partitioning a system into modules that show manageable levels of detail.
TRUE
56) A structure chart is a top-down chart, showing each level of design, its relationship to other levels, and its place in the overall design structure.
TRUE
59) CASE tools facilitate the creation of clear documentation and the coordination of team development efforts.
TRUE
69) The systems life cycle maintains a formal division of labor between end users and information systems specialists.
TRUE
70) Prototyping is more iterative than the conventional lifecycle.
TRUE
72) End-user-developed systems can be completed more rapidly than those developed through the conventional systems lifecycle.
TRUE
87) Responsive web design enables websites to change layouts according to the user's screen size.
TRUE
91) Web services are less expensive to weave together than proprietary components.
TRUE
93) DevOps emphasizes close collaboration between the software developers and IT operational staff.
TRUE
95) A request for proposal (RFP) is a detailed list of questions submitted to software vendors.
TRUE
18) Describe each type of organizational change enabled by information technology. Give an example of each type of change, as it might be illustrated through the operations of a hotel.
1. In automation, employees are assisted with performing tasks automatically. In a hotel, this might mean that a system is set up for the reservations desk to record and process customer reservations. 2. In rationalization of procedures, standard operating procedures are streamlined. In a hotel, this might mean that a reservation system that required three or four steps for checking a customer in would be reduced to one or two steps. 3. In business process reengineering, business processes are analyzed, simplified and redesigned. In a hotel, the reservation and check-in system might be designed to allow the customers to reserve rooms and check in themselves, without the need of a hotel employee to confirm the process. 4. In paradigm shift, the very nature of the business is rethought and new business models are defined. In a hotel, this might mean that the idea of renting rooms on a night-by-night basis to clients might be rethought of as an extended stay place, or perhaps even as a condominium or other business type.
74) Identify and describe each of the five systems development approaches.
1. Systems lifecycle is a sequential step-by-step formal process, written specification and approvals, limited role of users. 2. In prototyping, requirements are specified dynamically with experimental systems in a rapid, informal, and iterative process
51) Which of the following statements about CASE is not true? A) CASE provides hardware and software tools. B) To be used effectively, CASE tools require organizational discipline. C) CASE tools can improve communication between users and technical specialists. D) CASE tools support iterative design. E) CASE tools facilitate the creation of clear documentation.
A
63) In which type of systems building are the development stages organized so that tasks in one stage are completed before the tasks in the next stage begin? A) Traditional B) Prototyping C) RAD D) JAD E) Object oriented development
A
67) What is the primary driving factor for firms in selecting domestic outsourcing firms to build system solutions? A) To take advantage of technical skills the firm does not have B) To save labor costs C) To avoid change management issues D) To reduce the cost of hardware E) To avoid offshore outsourcing
A
76) What is the purpose of responsive web design? A) It allows one website to serve different platforms, such as tablets, PCs, and mobile phones. B) It allows websites to respond quickly to changing user needs. C) It enables websites to customize design according to user preferences. D) It enables websites to customize content based on user location and preferences. E) It enables different people to responsively program the system.
A
8) In order, what are the first three steps in BPM? A) 1. identifying processes for change, 2. analyzing existing processes, 3. designing the new process. B) 1. analyzing existing processes, 2. identifying processes for change, 3. designing the new process. C) 1. identifying processes for change, 2. designing the new process, 3. implementing the new process. D) 1. analyzing processes to change, 2. designing the new process, 3. measuring the optimized process. E) 1. designing new processes, 2. analyzing existing processes, 3. identifying processes for change.
A
80) The process of creating workable information systems in a very short period of time is called: A) RAD. B) JAD. C) prototyping. D) systems analysis and design. E) end user design.
A
83) ________ development focuses on rapid delivery of working software by breaking a large project into a series of small sub-projects that are completed in short periods of time using iteration and continuous feedback. A) Agile B) Rapid application C) Joint application D) Object-oriented E) DevOps
A
85) Which of the following statements about mobile web apps is true? A) Users access mobile web apps through their mobile device's web browser. B) A mobile web app resides on the user's device. C) A mobile web app only works on certain mobile platforms. D) A mobile web app requires the user to sign onto a web page. E) A mobile web app requires the user to login to a web service.
A
21) Which process develops a detailed description of the functions that a new information system must perform? A) Feasibility study B) Requirements analysis C) Systems design D) Test plan development E) Management plan
B
22) Systems design: A) determines whether a solution is feasible from a financial and organizational standpoint. B) shows how the new system will fulfill the information requirements. C) identifies which users need what information, where, when and how. D) is concerned with the logical view of the system solution. E) .translates system specifications into software program code.
B
25) System testing: A) includes all the preparations for the series of tests to be performed on the system. B) tests the functioning of the system as a whole in order to determine if discrete modules will function together as planned. C) tests each program separately. D) provides the final certification that the system is ready to be used in a production setting. E) tests the information requirements of a system.
B
28) In the direct cutover conversion strategy, the new system: A) is tested by an outsourced company. B) replaces the old one at on an appointed day. C) and the old are run together. D) is introduced in stages. E) the old and new systems are run in parallel.
B
30) In what stage of systems development are design specifications created? A) Systems analysis B) Systems design C) Testing D) Conversion E) Implementation
B
32) ________ provide(s) a detailed statement of the information needs that a new system must satisfy A) Systems analysis and design documents B) Information requirements C) A data flow diagram D) A feasibility study E) Requests for proposal
B
35) ________ is the process of changing from the old system to the new system. A) Implementation B) Conversion C) Systems analysis and design D) Programming E) End user involvement
B
4) A bank has reworked its mortgage application process so that several steps are handled by computer software, and some steps are combined to reduce bottlenecks in processing. The goal is to gradually improve its efficiency over time. This is an example of: A) automation. B) rationalization of procedures. C) paradigm shift. D) TQM. E) six sigma.
B
48) In an object-oriented development framework for a university, how would the classes Degree, Mathematics, and Physics be related? A) Degree would be a sister class to Mathematics and Physics. B) Degree is a superclass to Mathematics and Physics. C) Mathematics and Physics would be ancestors to Degree. D) Degree would be a subclass to Mathematics and Physics. E) Math, Physics and Degree are sister classes.
B
7) ________ provide(s) a methodology and tools for dealing with the organization's ongoing need to revise and optimize its numerous business processes. A) Business process redesign B) Business process management C) CASE tools D) TQM E) Systems analysis and design
B
81) Which type of systems development is characterized by significantly speeding up the design phase and the generation of information requirements and involving users at an intense level? A) RAD B) JAD C) Prototyping D) End-user development E) Traditional
B
82) Groups of objects are assembled into software components for common functions, which can be combined into large-scale business applications, in which type of software development? A) Object-oriented development B) Component-based development C) Structured methodologies D) RAD E) Agile development
B
84) Compared to the use of proprietary components, web services promise to be less expensive and less difficult to implement because of: A) their ability to integrate seamlessly with legacy systems. B) their ability to enable communication among different systems using universal standards. C) the ubiquity of the Internet. D) the ability to reuse web services components. E) their use of custom programming.
B
58) Traditional structured development is more incremental than object-oriented development.
FALSE
27) In a parallel conversion strategy, the new system: A) is tested by an outsourced company. B) replaces the old one on an appointed day. C) and the old are run in parallel. D) is introduced only to a limited area first. E) is slowly converted from the old system.
C
29) Changes in hardware, software, documentation, or production to a production system to correct errors, meet new requirements, or improve processing efficiencies are termed: A) acceptance. B) production. C) maintenance. D) post-implementation E) implementation.
C
33) A(n) ________ is the model or blueprint for an information system solution and consists of all the specifications that will deliver the functions identified during systems analysis. A) feasibility study B) data flow diagram C) systems design document D) information requirements document E) request for proposal
C
47) In object-oriented development: A) the class is used as the basic unit of systems analysis and design. B) an object is a collection of data that is acted on by external processes. C) processing logic resides within objects. D) a strict, step-by-step development process is essential. E) data and processes are separated.
C
5) An upscale organic foods grocery chain is implementing an information system that will enable it to add same-day home delivery of groceries to its customers. This is an example of: A) automation. B) rationalization of procedures. C) paradigm shift. D) business process redesign. E) organizational change.
C
50) Object-oriented development could potentially reduce the time and cost of writing software because: A) object-oriented programming requires less training. B) iterative prototyping is not required. C) objects are reusable. D) a single user interface object can be used for the entire application. E) it's not necessary to use a formal methodology to design a system.
C
52) A native mobile app is: A) a mobile website. B) a mobile web app. C) a stand-alone application that does not use a browser. D) a responsive mobile app. E) one that can only operate on selected devices.
C
71) A prototype is a working version of an information system that serves as a final model..
FALSE
98) What are customization features and when should an organization pursue them?
Customization features allow a commercial software package or cloud-based software to be modified to meet an organization's unique requirements without destroying the integrity of the software. However, if a great deal of customization is required, the effort required to customize the software may become so expensive and time-consuming that it negates the advantages of the software in the first place.
10) Possible functions of BPM tools include all of the following except: A) integrating existing systems to support business processes' improvements. B) automating business processes. C) identifying and document business processes. D) testing the security of business processes. E) designing new processes.
D
11) BPM software provides tools that help business do all of the following except: A) identify and document processes requiring improvement B) create models of improved processes C) capture and enforce business rules for performing processes D) capture and identify information system requirements for a new system E) integrate existing systems to support new or redesigned processes
D
13) A(n) ________ is an organizational change that involves rethinking the nature of the business and the nature of the organization itself. A) automation program B) rationalization program C) systems analysis D) paradigm shift E) business process redesign program
D
2) In automation: A) more manual steps are required. B) business processes are reorganized to cut waste and eliminate repetitive, paper-intensive tasks. C) the nature of the business is rethought. D) employees are enabled to perform their tasks more efficiently. E) business processes are added.
D
23) Transferring data from a legacy system to the new system would be defined by which category of system design specifications? A) Input B) Database C) Manual procedures D) Conversion E) Implementation
D
26) Acceptance testing: A) includes all the preparations for the series of tests to be performed on the system. B) tests the functioning of the system as a whole. C) tests each program separately in the system. D) provides the final certification that the system is ready to be used in a production setting. E) tests the conversion of legacy data to the new system.
D
42) The entire system-building effort is driven by: A) six sigma. B) feasibility studies. C) documentation D) user information requirements. E) available information technology.
D
43) The primary tool for representing a system's component processes and the flow of data between them is the: A) data dictionary. B) process specifications diagram. C) structure chart D) data flow diagram. E) object-oriented chart
D
64) You are an IT project manager for an advertising firm. The firm wishes to create an online tool that will be used to survey focus group reactions to products in development. The most important consideration for the firm is being able to offer the tool as soon as possible as a new corporate service. However, you know that many of the senior managers that are business owners of this project have difficulty in understanding technical or software development issues, and are likely to change their requirements during the course of development. What development method would be most successful for this project? A) RAD B) JAD C) End-user development D) Prototyping E) Traditional
D
66) Which of the following may occur when systems are created rapidly, without a formal development methodology? A) End users can take over the work of IT specialists. B) The organization quickly outgrows the new system. C) Hardware, software, and quality standards are less important. D) Testing and documentation may be inadequate. E) IT specialists dominate the design of the system.
D
68) A software package evaluation process is often based on a series of questions sent to vendors, called a(n): A) systems design document. B) strategic planning document. C) information systems management plan. D) request for proposal. E) logical design document.
D
77) A "responsive design" for mobile applications is a design that responds to a user's: A) needs. B) location. C) voice commands. D) digital device and screen size. E) gestures.
D
79) Which of the following is not a top priority in mobile application development? A) Designing for multitouch B) Saving resources C) Limiting the use of keyboards D) Designing for keyboard data entry E) Designing for a mobile device's camera or other features
D
9) What is the greatest barrier to successful business process change? A) Ineffective project management B) Usability of implemented solution C) Selecting the correct process to change D) Organizational change E) Poor choice of technology
D
73) A primary benefit of offshore outsourcing is that this can substantially reduce hidden costs.
FALSE
15) Rationalization of procedures describes a radical rethinking of the business models.
FALSE
16) Organizations will adjust to new information systems without any special efforts if the system is a good system to begin with.
FALSE
36) Information systems can only have one possible design.
FALSE
37) Documentation reveals how well a system works from both a technical standpoint, but not an end-user standpoint.
FALSE
57) Objects are grouped into hierarchies, and hierarchies into classes.
FALSE
90) What is outsourcing? Describe the advantages and disadvantages to outsourcing software development.
In outsourcing, a firm hires an external organization to build or maintain part or all of its information system needs. This can include software development and hosting applications, but the firm may also host any developed applications on its own hardware while having the vendor create and maintain software or systems. The vendor may be domestic or in another country (in offshore outsourcing). The benefit to outsourcing is, in the case of domestic outsourcing, being able to develop systems that in-house staff may not have the time or skills to do. In the case of offshore outsourcing, a primary benefit is cost savings, as costs and salaries in foreign countries can be significantly less. Disadvantages would include relinquishing some control over development, having third party firms access to privileged company data and information. It is also possible to underestimate costs in outsourcing, which include costs for transferring knowledge, cultural differences, productivity losses, and other human resource issues.
75) What are the advantages and disadvantages of prototyping? Describe the steps in prototyping. Give at least two circumstances under which prototyping might be useful.
Prototyping is most useful when there is some uncertainty about requirements or design solutions. Because prototyping encourages intense end-user involvement throughout the process, it is more likely to produce systems that fulfill user requirements. Working prototype systems can be developed very rapidly and inexpensively. Rapid prototyping can gloss over essential steps in systems development. If the completed prototype works reasonably well, management may not see the need for reprogramming, redesigned, full documentation in testing to build a polished production system. This can backfire later with large quantities of data or large numbers of users in a production environment. The steps in prototyping are: 1. identify the user's basic requirements, 2. develop an initial prototype, 3. use the prototype, 4. revise and enhance the prototype. Prototyping might be especially useful in designing end-user interfaces, or situations in which the users have no clear ideas of what their information requirements are.
19) What is the business importance of managing the quality of business processes? Describe two methods of quality management.
Quality management is one area of continuous process improvement. Quality improvements in business processes can increase efficiency, reduce waste, lower costs, and can raise the level of product and service quality. Two methods for achieving greater quality are Total Quality Management (TQM) and Six Sigma. In TQM, quality is the responsibility of all people and functions within an organization. Everyone is expected to contribute to the overall improvement of quality. Six sigma is a specific measure of quality, representing 3.4 defects per million opportunities. Most companies cannot achieve this level of quality but use six sigma as a goal to implement a set of methodologies and techniques for improving quality and reducing costs.
97) You are a software developer for a large online retailing site with a cloud-based IT infrastructure with hundreds of small software services that communicate with each other. What approach might you recommend for managing your software infrastructure?
Student answers will vary, but a good fit for this type of organization is the DevOps framework, which allows these types of companies, like Netflix, to automatically create software code that integrates within the existing infrastructure, and allows companies to update their production systems with new software within hours, as opposed to months.
? 38) You are consulting for the information technology division of a state university to guide and facilitate the design of a new system for handling college applications, which has previously been handled entirely with a paper-based process. They would like to set up a system by which prospective students can apply online. Describe in detail their first steps and any studies they should perform before designing the new information system.
Student answers will vary, but should include an understanding of the first step of systems development—systems analysis, along with feasibility studies and determining information requirements. An example answer is: The college will need to perform systems analysis. This consists of defining the problem, identifying its causes, specifying the solution, identifying the information requirements. It also includes identifying the primary owners and users of data along with existing hardware and software, the problems of existing systems, examining documents, work papers, and procedures
41) You work for the IT department of a startup ASP, and it is your job to set up the testing processes for a new enterprise system the company will be hosting. Describe the processes you will recommend. What unique considerations will you have?
The first step is to prepare the test plan. Any individual components will need to be tested separately, first (in unit testing), and then the system as a whole will need to be tested (in system testing). Finally acceptance testing will be conducted to make sure the system is ready to be used in a production setting. Because this is a hosted application, the system will need to be tested as accessed from the variety of platforms that are supported by the application. If the hosted application supports both Mac and Windows users, the system and its parts will need to be tested using client computers running these systems.
99) Briefly describe the four main conversion strategies for changing from an old system to a new system.
The four main conversion strategies are the parallel strategy, the direct cutover strategy, the pilot study strategy, and the phased approach strategy. The parallel strategy involves running the old system and its replacement concurrently until the organization is sure that the new one will work properly. The direct cutover strategy replaces the old system with the new one entirely on a specific date, which could be risky. The pilot study strategy introduces the new system to a limited area of the organization to test its efficacy. The phased approach strategy introduces the system in stages, either by functions or by organizational units.
40) Discuss the role and influence the user plays in software development.
The user is the primary focus of software development. Whether a new information system succeeds or fails largely depends on the roles of users. Building successful information systems requires close cooperation among end users and information systems specialists throughout the systems development process. If users are heavily involved in the development of a system, they have more opportunities to mold the system according to their priorities and business requirements, and more opportunities to control the outcome. They also are more likely to react positively to the completed system because they have been active participants in the change process. Incorporating user knowledge and expertise leads to better solutions. The role of the user in the development of software depends on the method of development used. In SLDC work, end users are limited to providing information requirements and reviewing the technical staff's work. In prototyping, users are involved throughout development, through the use and review of iterative steps of the prototype. In end-user development, the users themselves create the system. Users are typically more involved also in RAD, through the use of prototyping and JAD. In joint application design, end users and information systems specialists work together in an interactive session to discuss design.
96) How is the relationship between software developers and end users different under the traditional systems life cycle compared to DevOps?
Under the traditional systems life cycle, there is a formal division of labor between end users and information systems specialists, and end users are limited to providing their information requirements and reviewing work. However, under DevOps, there's close collaboration between software developers and the IT staff using the applications. DevOps tries to avoid problems that arise when the development team is unaware of operational issues that prevent software from working as expected.
39) List and describe at least nine factors considered in the design specifications for a new system. Give at least two examples for each one.
• Output. Medium, content, timing • Input. Origins, flow, data entry • User interface. Simplicity, efficiency, logic, feedback, errors • Database design. Logical data model, volume and speed requirements, organization and design, record specifications • Processing. Computations, program modules, required reports, timing of outputs • Manual procedures. What activities, who performs them, when, how, where • Controls. Input controls, processing controls, output controls, procedural controls • Security. Access controls, catastrophe plans, audit trails • Documentation. Operations documentation, systems documents, user documentation • Conversion. Transfer files, initiate procedures, select testing method, cut over to new system • Training. Select training techniques, develop training modules, identify training facilities • Organizational changes. Task redesign, job design, process design, organization structure design, reporting relationships
