BSAN 325: Systems Analysis and Design KU Test 1

Describe the three types of XaaS cloud computing models.

In the infrastructure as a service (IaaS) model, only the basic capabilities of processing, storage, and networking are provided. Hence, the customer has the most control over the resources. In the platform as a service (PaaS) model, customers can run their own applications, which are typically designed using tools provided by the service provider. In this model, the user has control over the applications but has limited or no control over the underlying infrastructure. In the software as a service (SaaS) model, the customer uses only applications provided via a cloud infrastructure.

When an organization has the resources and a system must be built from scratch, an organization should choose what type of software?

In-house development

When resources and staff are available and the system must be built from scratch, a company should consider ________.

In-house development

The term ________ is used when a project is reviewed after each stage to determine its continuance.

Incremental commitment

Robert is doing an economic analysis using today's dollar values. He is doing:

Internal rate of return analysis

Which of the following is a FALSE statement regarding the Project Scope Statement?

It is a description of the alternative solution.

Which option identifies the point at which benefits equal costs?

Break-even analysis

Ramona is preparing an economic feasibility study. She is calculating the payback period. She is calculating:

Break-even point

Which of the following is NOT a phase in the Rational Unified Process?

Calculation

If an organization is using applications rented from a third party vendor running in a remote location, they are most likely using what type of software system?

Cloud Computing

All of the following are included in the baseline project report except ________.

Conclusion

Which of the following is an example of an intangible cost?

Customer Goodwill

Which feasibility category deals with identifying financial benefits associated with the project?

Economic

Which solution enables a firm to integrate all parts of a business process into a unified information system?

Enterprise software solutions

Which of the following is NOT an example of open-source software?

Excel

True or False: An organizational approach to systems analysis and design is not driven by methodologies.

False

True or False: In the SDLC, it is not possible to complete some activities in one phase in parallel with some activities of another phase.

False

True or false: Because open source software is free, it is impossible to make money with it.

False

A ________, which is conducted by the project manager, involves determining if the information system makes sense for the organization from an economic and operational standpoint.

Feasibility Study

Which of the following is NOT a factor in determining legal and contractual feasibility?

Financial budgets

In the ________ model, only the basic capabilities of processing, storage, and networking are provided. Hence, the customer has the most control over the resources.

IaaS

In which phase of the SDLC is the information system coded, tested, installed, and supported in the organization?

Implementation

Who is a systems analyst and what are the duties of a systems analyst?

Many people in organizations are responsible for systems analysis and design; in most organizations the systems analyst has the primary responsibility. When you begin your career in systems development, you will most likely begin as a systems analyst or as a programmer with some systems analysis responsibilities. The primary role of a systems analyst is to study the problems and needs of an organization in order to determine how people, methods, and information technology can best be combined to bring about improvements in the organization. A systems analyst helps system users and other business managers define their requirements for new or enhanced information services. As such, a systems analyst is an agent of change and innovation.

Which of the following is NOT a major category of sources of software?

Offshore

Why would an organization use the request for proposal (RFP) process?

One way to get all of the information you want about a software package is to collect it from the vendor. If all of the information is not available, you may have to submit a request for proposal (RFP) or a request for quote (RFQ) process your organization requires when major purchases are made

Which feasibility is concerned with the project attaining its desired objectives?

Operational feasibility

Which of the following is a reason why a company may outsource certain operations?

Outsource noncore activities

What is the practice of a company running a computer application for another organization?

Outsourcing

In the ________ model, customers can run their own applications, which are typically designed using tools provided by the service provider.

PaaS

Which of the following is NOT a part of the Evolutionary model of the SDLC process?

Procedure

The ________ is a systems analyst with a diverse set of skills— management, leadership, technical, conflict management, and customer relationship—who is responsible for initiating, planning, executing, and closing down a project.

Project Manager (Meredith)

________ is a controlled process of initiating, planning, executing, and closing down a project.

Project management

Which document outlines all work required to complete the project?

Project scope document

The SDLC planning phase consists of which activity?

Project selection

Which is NOT suggested for IT development projects?

Projects need to give a positive return on investment within four years

The V-model pays more explicit attention to ___________:

Protyping

The following is NOT an example of a type of feasibility study.

Resource feasibility

Which of the below is a traditional methodology used to develop, maintain, and replace information systems?

SDLC

Applications under the ________ model are typically easiest to deploy, because the customer does not have to worry about maintaining or updating the software, the underlying platform, or the hardware infrastructure.

SaaS

In the ________ model, the customer uses only applications provided via a cloud infrastructure. Typically, such applications include Web-based e-mail services and Web-based productivity suites.

SaaS

All of the following are categories of feasibility except ________.

Scope

A Project Scope Statement can be used to ________.

Serve as a contract

Nodes not on the critical path contain ________ time and allow the project manager some flexibility in scheduling.

Slack

List the six sources of software used by organizations.

Software sources can be categorized as information technology firms, packaged software providers, vendors of ERP software, cloud computing, open source, and the organization itself.

Requests for Proposals (RFPs) serve what purpose?

Solicit information from providers

Which evaluation criterion for classifying and ranking projects deals with helping an organization achieve its long-term goals?

Strategic alignment

Which of the following is NOT a consideration during the assessing technical feasibility stage?

System cost

Most organizations find it beneficial to use a standard set of steps, called ________, to develop and support their information systems.

Systems development methodology

Why is open source software different than the other types of software?

The source code is free.

True or False: Every successful organization has a mission.

True

True or False: Information systems analysis and design is a process to develop and maintain computer-based information systems.

True

________ is the process of dividing the project into manageable tasks and logically ordering them to ensure a smooth evolution between tasks.

Work breakdown structure

A Gantt chart is the graphical representation of a project that shows each task as a ________ bar whose length is proportional to its time for completion.

horizontal

Which of the following is a feature of a public cloud?

pay per use

Which would normally NOT be a reason for a project?

An open source platform has just come on the market

In which phase of the SDLC are the system requirements studied and structured?

Analysis

Which term describes a systems development project that is plagued with too much analysis work?

Analysis Paralysis

Define tangible and intangible benefits and costs. What is the difference between the two? Give examples.

A tangible benefit refers to a benefit derived from the creation of an information system that can be measured in dollars and with certainty. Examples include reduced personnel expenses, lower transaction costs, and higher profit margins. Intangible benefit refers to a benefit derived from the creation of an information system that cannot be easily measured in dollars or with certainty. Examples include competitive necessity, promotion of organizational learning and understanding, and improved asset utilization. While tangible costs are costs associated with an information system that can be measured in dollars and with certainty, intangible costs are costs associated with an information system that cannot be easily measured in terms of dollars or with certainty. Hardware costs, labor costs, and operational costs are tangible costs. Loss of customer goodwill, employee morale, and operational inefficiency are intangible costs.

Define Project Scope Statement (PSS) and Baseline Project Plan (BPP)? Compare and contrast the two.

The Baseline Project Plan and the Project Scope Statement are the major outcomes and deliverables for the project initiation and planning phase. All information collected and analyzed during this phase is contained in the BPP. This plan reflects the best estimate of the project's scope, benefits, costs, risks, and resource requirements. It also specifies detailed project activities for the following phase and more general specifications for the remaining phases. The BPP can be used by the project selection committee to determine the project worth—accept, reject, or modify. The Project Scope Statement is a document prepared for the customer during project initiation and planning that describes what the project will deliver and outlines generally at a high level all work required to complete the project. The PSS consists of a high-level summary of the BPP. While the actual role of the PSS can vary, the PSS can be used by the analyst and the customer to gain an understanding of the project.

Which is probably true about packaged software?

The business need is common

Which of the below is a true statement regarding the systems development life cycle?

The life cycle can be thought of as a circular process in which the end of the useful life of one system leads to the beginning of another project to develop a new version of or replace an existing system.

List the five major phases of the SDLC and explain them briefly.

The major SDLC phases include planning, analysis, design, implementation, and maintenance. Planning is the first phase of the SDLC in which an organization's total information system needs are identified, analyzed, prioritized, and arranged. Analysis is the second phase of the SDLC in which system requirements are studied and structured. During the third phase, the design phase, a description of the recommended solution is converted into logical and then physical system specifications. Implementation is the fourth phase of the SDLC in which the information system is coded, tested, installed, and supported in the organization. Maintenance is the fifth and final phase of the SDLC in which an information system is systematically repaired and improved.

Describe the criticism of traditional waterfall SDLC process.

There are several criticisms of the traditional life-cycle approach to systems development. One relates to the way the life cycle is organized. Note how the flow of the project begins in the planning phase and from there runs "downhill" to each subsequent phase, just like a stream that runs off a cliff. It became too tempting to ignore the need for feedback and to treat each phase as complete unto itself, never to be revisited once finished. Another criticism of the traditional waterfall SDLC is that the role of system users or customers was narrowly defined. User roles were often relegated to the requirements determination or analysis phases of the project, where it was assumed that all of the requirements could be specified in advance. Such an assumption, coupled with limited user involvement, reinforced the tendency of the waterfall model to lock in requirements too early, even after business conditions had changed.

Which of the following methodologies might be most appropriate if you have a system project with: unclear user requirements; unfamiliar technologies; somewhat complex; needs to be reliable; time is not an issue and the schedule visibility is somewhat important?

Throwaway prototyping

Which term below means that money available today is worth more than the same amount tomorrow?

Time value of money