Chapter 13 - MIS

A software package evaluation process is often based on a series of detailed questions sent to vendors, called a(n): systems design document. strategic planning document. information systems management plan. request for proposal. logical design document.

request for proposal. Request for Proposal RFP: the package or software services evaluation is based off this. It is a detailed list of questions submitted to software vendors.

Unit testing: includes all the preparations for the series of tests to be performed on the system. tests the functioning of the system as a whole in order to determine if discrete modules will function together as planned. involves testing the entire system with real-world data. provides the final certification that the system is ready to be used in a production setting. tests each program separately

tests each program separately AKA program testing, consist of testing each program separately in the system

The entire system-building effort is driven by: six sigma. feasibility studies. documentation. user information requirements. available information technology.

user information requirements.

List at least nine factors considered in the design specifications for a new system. Give at least two examples for each one. Short Answer

1. Output - medium and content 2. Input - origins and data entry 3. User Interface - simplicity and efficiency 4. Database Design - logical data model and record specs 5. Processing - computations and program modules 6. Manual Procedures - what activities and who performs them 7. Controls - input controls (characters, limits, reasonableness) and processing controls (consistency and records counts) 8. Security - Access controls and audit trails 9. Conversion - data conversion rules and testing method

During the ________ stage of system development, systems tests are evaluated by users and reviewed by management. programming systems analysis and design implementation conversion acceptance testing

Acceptance Testing activities that go into producing an IS solution to an organization problem or opportunity. It is a structured kind of problem solved with distinct activities such as systems analysis, design, programming, testing, conversion, and production and maintenance.

________ provide(s) a methodology and tools for dealing with the organization's ongoing need to revise and optimize its numerous business processes. Business process redesign Business process management CASE tools TQM Systems analysis and design

Business process management Business Process Management BPM: used to deal with changes. It provides a variety of tools and methodologies to analyze existing processes, design new processes, and optimize those processes. It is never concluded because there is always room for change.

The most common form of IT-enabled organizational change is redesign of processes. T/F

False Automation is

The most common form of IT-enabled organizational change is redesign of processes. T/F

False Automation: most common. The first applications of IT involved assisting employees with performing their tasks more efficiently and effectively. Reveals bottlenecks in production and makes the existing arrangement of procedures and structures cumbersome.

In a parallel conversion strategy, the new system: is tested by an outsourced company. replaces the old one on an appointed day. and the old are run together for a time. is introduced only to a limited area first. is slowly converted from the old system.

and the old are run together for a time.

A systems analysis includes a ________ that is used to determine whether the solution is achievable, from a financial, technical, and organizational standpoint. feasibility study data flow diagram logical design systems design document request for proposal

feasibility study feasibility study helps you determine if your proposed solution is achievable before you spend thousands of dollars.

Which of the following statements about CASE is not true? CASE tools provide automated graphics facilities for producing charts. CASE tools reduce the need for end user participation in systems development. CASE tools have capabilities for validating design diagrams and specifications. CASE tools support collaboration among team members. CASE tools facilitate the creation of clear documentation.

CASE tools reduce the need for end user participation in systems development. Computer-aided software engineering (CASE) provides developers with an easy-to-use method of developing software code that is well-documented, well-designed, and easily reused. Because software programs are becoming so complex it's not unusual to have teams of programmers develop the code. CASE tools provide an element of coordination and management for the programming teams. CASE tools also help keep programming elements such as data flow diagrams and data dictionaries synchronized. CASE tools bring discipline and structure to the program design and development process that may otherwise be lacking.

Organizations will adjust to new information systems without any special efforts if the system is a good system to begin with. T/F

False

Traditional structured development is more incremental than object-oriented development. T/F

False Object-oriented development is an iterative and incremental way of building programs. The structured development method keeps data and processes separate. Object-oriented development combines the two and treats them as one object. More importantly, the objects are created once and, if they are done right, can be used many times over. That reduces the cost of creating new objects once you have built up a library of them. It also makes it easier to create new software, because you aren't continually starting from scratch.

A data flow diagram shows each level of design, its relationship to other levels, and its place in the overall design structure. T/F

False Structure Charts: is a top-down chart, showing each level of design, its relationship to other levels, and its place in the overall design structure. Data Flow Diagram: primary tool for representing a system's component processes and the flow of data between them. Offers a logical graphic model of information flow, partitions a system into modules that show manageable levels of detail.

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? RAD JAD Prototyping End-user development Traditional

Joint Application Design - JAD One of the new approaches for System Building in the Digital Era - Joint Application Design: JAD is used to accelerate the generation of information requirements and to develop the initial system design. Brings end users and information systems specialists together in an interactive session to discuss the system's design. Properly prepared and facilitated. Involves users at an intense level.

What are the main activities in the Production and Maintenance phase of system development? Short Answer

Operate the system, evaluate the system and modify the system.

Which conversion process introduces the system first to a limited portion of the organization? Pilot study strategy Phased approach strategy Limited cutover strategy Parallel strategy Parallel approach strategy

Phased approach strategy where you install parts of the new system slowly into specific areas of the organization. Two systems, two methods, integration problems, support problems, and so on.

________ describe the transformation occurring within the lowest level of the data flow diagrams. Design requirements Information requirements Technology design plans Object-oriented frameworks Process specifications

Process specifications Process Specifications: describe the transformation occurring within the lowest level of the data flow diagrams. They explain the logic for each process.

Discuss the role and influence the user plays in software development. Short Answer

The users are a significant piece during software development. Information systems specialists and the users need to collaborate together to ensure the system is being created in a way to benefit the users. The users give insights of what information requirements are important and all the functions that will need to be made in order for them to do their jobs effectively and efficiently. Users are able to gain more control over the building phase to help the information systems specialist enhance business processes, rather than create more bottlenecks. Ultimately, by having the user involved creates opportunity to build a better system. The main reason why many systems fail is the lack of collaboration the software developers have with users. There are different types of methods used in development, however, that may effect how much users are actually involved

End-user-developed systems can be completed more rapidly than those developed through the conventional systems lifecycle. T/F

True

Responsive web design enables websites to change layouts according to the user's screen size. T/F

True

Web services are less expensive to weave together than proprietary components. T/F

True

CASE tools facilitate the creation of clear documentation and the coordination of team development efforts. T/F

True Computer-aided software engineering (CASE) provides developers with an easy-to-use method of developing software code that is well-documented, well-designed, and easily reused. Because software programs are becoming so complex it's not unusual to have teams of programmers develop the code. CASE tools provide an element of coordination and management for the programming teams. CASE tools also help keep programming elements such as data flow diagrams and data dictionaries synchronized. CASE tools bring discipline and structure to the program design and development process that may otherwise be lacking.

DevOps emphasizes close collaboration between the software developers and IT operational staff. T/F

True DevOps—short for development and operations—relies on collaboration between software developers and IT operations staff to create a program. DevOps makes it possible to update production systems with new software within hours rather than weeks or months.

End-user development: allows end users to create highly complex information systems. increases the time and steps required to produce a finished application when compared to professional development. allows ends users to develop simple information systems. requires more time to develop systems. requires formal assistance from technical specialists.

allows ends users to develop simple information systems.

An upscale organic foods grocery store 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: automation. rationalization of procedures. paradigm shift. business process redesign. organizational change.

business process redesign can cause radical disruption. Business process reengineering causes planners to completely rethink the flow of work, how the work will be accomplished, and how costs can be reduced by eliminating unnecessary work and workers.

BPM software provides tools that help business do all of the following except: identify and document processes requiring improvement. create models of improved processes. capture and enforce business rules for performing processes. capture and identify information system requirements for a new system. integrate existing systems to support new or redesigned processes.

capture and identify information system requirements for a new system. the BPM process helps in: Identifying and documenting processes Creating models of improved processes Capturing and enforcing business rules for performing processes Integrating existing systems to support new or redesigned process Providing analytics for verifying improvements in process performance Measuring the impact of process changes

Object-oriented modeling is based on the concepts of: class and inheritance. classes and objects. objects and relationships. objects and inheritance. classes and relationships.

class and inheritance. Class: objects that belong to a class or general category of similar objects have the features of that class. Objects similar to grouped together to form a class, and classes grouped into hierarchies in which a subclass inherits the attributes and methods from its superclass.

Object-oriented development could potentially reduce the time and cost of writing software because: object-oriented programming requires less training. iterative prototyping is not required. objects are reusable. a single user interface object can be used for the entire application. it's not necessary to use a formal methodology to design a system

objects are reusable. Object-oriented development is an iterative and incremental way of building programs. The structured development method keeps data and processes separate. Object-oriented development combines the two and treats them as one object. More importantly, the objects are created once and, if they are done right, can be used many times over. That reduces the cost of creating new objects once you have built up a library of them. It also makes it easier to create new software, because you aren't continually starting from scratch.

Acceptance testing: includes all the preparations for the series of tests to be performed on the system. tests the functioning of the system as a whole. tests each program separately in the system. provides the final certification that the system is ready to be used in a production setting. tests the conversion of legacy data to the new system.

provides the final certification that the system is ready to be used in a production setting.

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: automation. rationalization of procedures. paradigm shift. TQM. six sigma.

rationalization of procedures. Rationalization of procedures causes the organization to examine its standard operating procedures, change the ones that don't work well anymore, eliminate those no longer needed, and make the organization more efficient.

Systems design: determines whether a solution is feasible from a financial and organizational standpoint. shows how the new system will fulfill the information requirements. identifies the information requirements for a system. is concerned with the logical view of the system solution. translates system specifications into software program code.

shows how the new system will fulfill the information requirements. Systems Design: shows how the system will fulfill the objective of information requirements. Serves as a blueprint including all the specifications that give the system its form and structure.

Compared to the use of proprietary components, web services promise to be less expensive and less difficult to implement because of: their ability to integrate seamlessly with legacy systems. their ability to enable communication among different systems using universal standards. the ubiquity of the Internet. the ability to reuse web services components. their use of custom programming.

their ability to enable communication among different systems using universal standards.

What is the purpose of responsive web design? It allows one website to serve different platforms, such as tablets, PCs, and mobile phones. It allows websites to respond quickly to changing user needs. It enables websites to customize design according to user preferences. It enables websites to customize content based on user location and preferences. It enables different people to responsively program the system.

It allows one website to serve different platforms, such as tablets, PCs, and mobile phones. responsive web design that enables web sites to automatically change layouts according to a user's screen resolution regardless of the device used to access the site

Changes in hardware, software, documentation, or production to a production system to correct errors, meet new requirements, or improve processing efficiencies are termed: Acceptance Production Maintenance Post-implementation Implementation

Maintenance

Six sigma describes the measurement of quality as 60 defects per million. T/F

Six Sigma: a specific measure of quality, describes the measurement of quality as 3.4 defects per million opportunities. Is used as a goal for driving ongoing quality improvement programs.

The idea that the achievement of quality control is an end in itself describes a main concept of: BPM. BPR. six sigma. TQM. systems analysis and design.

TQM. Total Quality Management: TQM makes achieving quality an end in itself and the responsibility of all people and functions with an organization.

What is the primary driving factor for firms in selecting domestic outsourcing firms to build system solutions? To take advantage of technical skills the firm does not have To save labor costs To avoid change management issues To reduce the cost of hardware To avoid offshore outsourcing

To take advantage of technical skills the firm does not have

A primary benefit of offshore outsourcing is that this can substantially reduce hidden costs. T/F

True

Often there are multiple possible designs for a system. T/F

True