Chapter 20: Introduction to Systems Development and Systems Analysis

Identify the statement below that best describes a Gantt chart. A. A bar chart with project activities on the left-hand side and units of time across the top. B. A network of arrows and nodes representing project activities. C. A pie chart with the size of estimated expenditures represented as slices. D. A scatterplot diagram with activities on the Y access and dots representing the potential expenditures of each activity.

A. A bar chart with project activities on the left-hand side and units of time across the top.

What are the best strategies for determining system requirements? A. Ask users what they need, analyze existing systems, examine existing system utilization, and prototyping. B. Ask users what they need, analyze existing systems, develop concept of new system, and prototyping. C. Analyze existing systems, ask users what they need, prototyping, and monitoring. D. Ask users what they need, analyze existing systems, examine existing system utilization, and develop concept of new system.

A. Ask users what they need, analyze existing systems, examine existing system utilization, and prototyping.

Who is responsible for planning and monitoring a project to ensure timely and cost-effective completion? A. Project development team. B. Information systems steering committee. C. Management. D. Accountants.

A. Project development team.

In which tool is a prioritized list of projects contained? A. The master plan. B. The implementation plan. C. The program evaluation and review technique plan. D. The project development plan.

A. The master plan.

Who prepares a systems analysis report? A. The project development team. B. Management. C. Computer analysts. D. The steering committee.

A. The project development team.

Dysfunctional employee behavior in response to implementation of a new computerized information system is likely to be the result of A. lack of communication and training. B. poor human resource policies. C. inadequate compensation policies. D. weak system controls.

A. lack of communication and training.

PERT is an acronym that stands for A. program evaluation and review technique. B. performance effectiveness and review technique. C. process evaluation and review technique. D. performance effectiveness and refinement technique.

A. program evaluation and review technique.

Which method of data gathering is most likely to result in information that represents the personal biases and opinions of the person giving the information? A. A questionnaire. B. An interview. C. Observation by the analyst. D. System documentation.

B. An interview.

What role does the information systems steering committee play in the systems development process? A. It designs system controls and periodically monitors the system to verify the controls are implemented and functioning properly. B. It is an executive-level group established to plan and oversee the information systems function. C. It guides project development. D. It guides project implementation.

B. It is an executive-level group established to plan and oversee the information systems function.

A good rule to follow to prevent behavioral problems associated with implementing a new system is "Avoid complex systems that cause radical changes." What expression is used to describe this system design rule? A. Provide tech support. B. Keep the system simple and humanize it. C. Manage users' expectations. D. Allay fears and stress new opportunities.

B. Keep the system simple and humanize it.

Which group of individuals listed below can be the most effective in generating employee support and encouraging the development and acceptance of an AIS project? A. Project development team. B. Management. C. Information systems steering committee. D. Accountants.

B. Management.

Suppose an organization is interested in knowing whether the system can be developed and implemented in the time allotted. Where should this requirement be considered in a feasibility study? A. Economic feasibility. B. Scheduling feasibility. C. Operational feasibility. D. Technical feasibility.

B. Scheduling feasibility.

When would a company go through a systems development life cycle? A. When major changes are needed. B. When minor changes are needed. C. Anytime changes are needed. D. Usually a company only goes through one complete systems development life cycle, after which the only phase that is repeated is the operations and maintenance phase.

C. Anytime changes are needed.

Which of the following will help organizations to determine whether a system's benefits justify the time, money, and resources required to implement it. A. Operational feasibility. B. Legal feasibility. C. Economic feasibility. D. Technical feasibility.

C. Economic feasibility

________ model is the basic model used to create a framework for an economic feasibility analysis. A. The cash budgeting B. The cost/benefit C. The capital budgeting D. The profit margin

C. The capital budgeting

Three months after Modern Helpdesks Incorporated began accepting e-mail service requests, several service advisors had never checked their e-mail accounts. This is an example of dealing with change by A. deterrence. B. projection. C. avoidance. D. aggression.

C. avoidance.

When seeking to find anonymous answers, the most useful approach is to A. conduct interviews. B. make observations. C. distribute questionnaires. D. read system documentation.

C. distribute questionnaires.

Data gathered by ________ can often be difficult to interpret properly. A. questionnaires B. interviews C. observation D. reviewing system documentation

C. observation

A feasibility study should first be performed in the ________ stage of the systems development life cycle. A. physical design B. implementation and conversion C. system analysis D. conceptual design

C. system analysis

________ is a form of resistance when users continue to use a manual process instead of adopting a new information system. A. Aggression B. Acceptance C. Aggravation D. Avoidance

D. Avoidance

In order to reduce resistance resulting from uncertainty, what guideline should be implemented and followed during the systems development process? A. Attempt to meet the users' needs. B. Avoid confrontation. C. Keep cost down. D. Keep communication lines open.

D. Keep communication lines open.

A newly installed robotic vacuuming system stopped working. A service technician was called to repair the robots. The technician found that water had been placed into the robot's path, causing it to malfunction. This is an example of dealing with change by A. deterrence. B. projection. C. avoidance. D. aggression.

D. aggression.

The purpose of systems analysis is to A. communicate information needs to consider during business process reengineering. B. discover any violations of policies established by the information systems steering committee. C. determine design specifications for the new (or redesigned) system. D. identify the problem to be solved by the new (or redesigned) system and the causes of the problem in the current system.

D. identify the problem to be solved by the new (or redesigned) system and the causes of the problem in the current system.

One disadvantage of a Gantt chart is the fact that A. it does not show project progress. B. it does not permit an individual to quickly determine which activities are behind schedule. C. it does not show the entire schedule for a project. D. it does not show relationships among project activities.

D. it does not show relationships among project activities.

The least time-consuming method of collecting data for use in a systems survey is A. observation. B. reviewing system documentation. C. interviews. D. questionnaires.

D. questionnaires.

Initial Investigation

a preliminary investigation to determine whether a proposed new system is both needed and feasible

Systems Survey Report

a report that summarizes all the activities that took place during the systems survey, including all relevant documentation

Proposal to Conduct Systems Analysis

a request to complete the systems analysis phase for a project that makes it through the initial investigation

Internal Rate of Return (IRR)

a return on investment technique that calculates the interest rate that makes the present value of total costs equal to the present value of total savings

Net Present Value (NPV)

a return on investment technique that discounts all estimated future cash flows back to the present using a discount rate that reflects the time value of money

Payback Period

a return on investment technique used to calculate the number of years required for the net savings of a system to equal its initial cost

Capital Budgeting Model

a return on investment technique used to compare estimated benefits and costs to determine whether a system is cost beneficial

Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)

a way to plan, develop, coordinate, control, and schedule systems development activities

Request for Systems Development

a written request for a new or improved system that describes the current systems problems, the reasons for the change, and the proposed systems objectives, benefits, and costs

8. What is often the most significant problem a company encounters in designing, developing, and implementing a system? a. the human element b. technology c. legal challenges d. planning for the new system

a. the human element

6. Resistance is often a reaction to the methods of instituting change rather than to change itself. a. true b. false

a. true

Systems Survey

an extensive study of the current AIS

Feasibility Study

an investigation to determine whether it is practical to develop a new application or system

9. Determining whether the organization has access to people who can design, implement, and operate the proposed system is referred to as which of the following? a. technical feasibility b. operational feasibility c. legal feasibility d. scheduling feasibility e. economic feasibility

b. operational feasibility

Questionnaires are conducted during the _____ step in systems analysis. a. feasibility study b. systems survey c. initial investigation d. None of the above

b. systems survey

The capital budgeting technique that considers the time value of money is: a. Payback period b. IRR c. NPV d. SDLC

c. NPV

Systems Analysis Report

comprehensive report summarizing systems analysis that documents the findings of analysis activities

4. Which of the following is the correct order of the steps in systems analysis? a. initial investigation, determination of information needs and system requirements, feasibility study, system survey b. determination of information needs and system requirements, system survey, feasibility study, initial investigation c. system survey, initial investigation, determination of information needs and system requirements, feasibility study d. initial investigation, system survey, feasibility study, determination of information needs and system requirements

d. initial investigation, system survey, feasibility study, determination of information needs and system requirements

Operational Feasibility

determining if the organization has access to people who can design, implement, and operate the proposed system and if employees will use the system

Project Development Plan

document showing project requirements, a cost benefit analysis, and how a project will be completed

Some of the reasons why employees resist new systems include(s): a. Fear b. Communications c. Promotions d. All of the above e. A and B

e. A and B

10. Which of the following is NOT one of the tangible or intangible benefits a company might obtain from a new system? a. cost savings b. improved customer service and productivity c. improved decision making d. improved data processing e. All are benefits of a new system.

e. All are benefits of a new system

1. Which of the following is NOT a reason why companies make changes to their AIS? a. gain a competitive advantage b. increase productivity c. keep up with business growth d. downsize company operations e. All of the above are reasons why companies change an AIS.

e. All of the above are reasons why companies change an AIS

Operations and Maintenance

fifth SDLC step where the system is periodically reviewed and necessary modifications and improvements are made

System Analysis

first SDLC step where the information needed to purchase, develop, or modify a system is gathered

Implementation and Conversion

fourth SDLC step where the company hires and trains employees, tests and modifies procedures, establishes standards and controls, completes documentation, moves to the new system, and detects and corrects design deficiencies

Information Systems Steering Committee

high level management who plan and oversee the IS function, setting IS policies that govern the AIS, ensuring top management guidance and control, and coordinating and integrating systems activities

Master Plan

it describes what a system will consist of, how it will be developed, who will develop it, when it will be developed, how needed resources will be acquired, the status of projects in progress, the prioritization of planned projects, and the prioritization criteria

Systems Analysts

people who help users determine their information needs, study existing systems and design new ones, and prepare specifications used by computer programmers

Computer Programmers

people who write and test programs using the specifications developed by the analysts and modify and maintain existing computer programs

Aggression

resistance to change intended to destroy, cripple, or weaken system effectiveness, such as increased error rates, disruptions, or deliberate sabotage

Projection

resistance to change that blames anything and everything on the new system, such that it becomes the scapegoat for all real and imagined problems and errors

Avoidance

resistance to change where users ignore a new IS in the hope that the new system will eventually go away

Conceptual Design

second SDLC step where analysts decide how to meet user needs, identify and evaluate design alternatives, and develop detailed specifications for what the system is to accomplish and how it is to be controlled

Logical Model

system description that focuses on what essential activities are performed and the flow of information irrespective of how the flow is actually accomplished

Critical Path

the PERT path requiring the greatest amount of time to complete a project

Which is the best data-gathering approach to use when information must be obtained from many different people? A. A questionnaire. B. An interview. C. Observation by the analyst. D. System documentation.

A. A questionnaire.

Gantt Chart

a bar graph used for project planning

Systems Documentation

a complete description of how the system is supposed to work, including questionnaire copies, interview notes, memos, document copies, and models

Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

a five step process used to design and implement a new system

In a master plan, a planning horizon of approximately _____ years is reasonable, and the plan should be updated at least _____ a year. a. 3; 2 to 3 times b. 4; once c. 3; 1 to 2 times d. 4; 2 to 3 times

a. 3; 2 to 3 times

Refer to the table below, which shows the results of payback, net present value, and internal rate of return analysis of four projects. Which is preferred by the payback criterion? A. Project A B. Project B C. Project C D. Project D

a. Project A

7. Increased error rates, disruptions, and sabotage are examples of which of the following? a. aggression b. avoidance c. projection d. payback

a. aggression

2. Which of the following is the planning technique that identifies implementation activities and their relationships, constructs a network of arrows and nodes, and then determines the critical path through the network? a. Gantt chart b. PERT diagram c. physical model d. data flow diagram

b. PERT diagram

Which of the following statement(s) is (are) true? a. Management assists the project development team. b. The steering committee sets policies that govern the AIS. c. Accountants may play two roles during the systems design. d. The project development team designs new systems.

b. The steering committee sets policies that govern the AIS

5. Which of the following is the long-range planning document that specifies what the system will consist of, how it will be developed, who will develop it, how needed resources will be acquired, and its overall vision? a. steering committee agenda b. master plan c. systems development life cycle d. project development plan

b. master plan

The following are the five steps in the systems development life cycle: 1. Implementation and Conversion 2. Conceptual Design 3. Systems Analysis 4. Operations and Maintenance 5. Physical Design The correct order in which these steps occur is: a. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 b. 2, 4, 3, 1, 5 c. 3, 2, 5, 1, 4 d. 4, 2, 3, 5, 1

c. 3, 2, 5, 1, 4

_____ project was scrapped after 6 years of work and a $120 million investment. a. Nike's b. Bank of America's c. Blue Cross/Blue Shield's d. None of the above

c. Blue Cross/Blue Shield's

In the IRS's attempts to replace its aging information system, it lost almost _____ million on the BSM project. a. $1.2 b. $2.5 c. $3.0 d. $4.0

d. $4.0

The types of systems development plans that are needed include: a. Project development plan b. A master plan c. A recovery plan d. A and B e. B and C

d. A and B

Which activity is performed throughout the SDLC? a. Planning b. Budgeting c. Managing behavioral reactions to change d. B and C

d. B and C

3. The purchasing department is designing a new AIS. Who is best able to determine departmental information requirements? a. steering committee b. controller c. top management d. purchasing department

d. purchasing department

Scheduling Feasibility

determining if a proposed system can be developed and implemented in the time allotted

Technical Feasibility

determining if a proposed system can be developed given the available technology

Legal Feasibility

determining if a proposed system will comply with all applicable federal and state laws, administrative agency regulations, and contractual obligations

Economic Feasibility

determining whether system benefits justify the time, money, and resources required to implement it

Physical Model

the description of how a system functions by describing document flow, computer processes performed, the people performing them, and the equipment used

Behavioral Aspects of Change

the positive and negative ways people react to change; managing these behavioral reactions is crucial to successful implementing a new system

Physical Design

third SDLC step where broad, user oriented conceptual design requirements are translated into the detailed specifications used to code and test software, design input/output, creates files/databases, develop procedures, and implement controls