Exam 1 - Review

An organization's information system needs may result from ____________

-requests to deal with problems in current procedures. -the desire to perform additional tasks. -the realization that information technology could be used to capitalize on an existing opportunity. <bold>All of the above</bold>

If the optimistic time is 10, the pessimistic time is 25, and the realistic time is 16, the expected time would be

16.5.

What is a Gantt chart? What is a network diagram? Which would most likely be used for information systems development?

A Gantt chart is a graphical representation of a project that shows each task as a horizontal bar whose length is proportional to its time for completion. A network diagram depicts project tasks and their interrelationships. While both charts are beneficial project management tools, the network diagram is more likely to be used for information systems development projects.

Which of the following determines if the information system makes sense for the organization from an economic and operational standpoint?

A feasibility study

What is a project? Who is a project manager?

A project is a planned undertaking of related activities to reach an objective that has a beginning and an end. A project manager is a systems analyst with a diverse set of skills; he/she is responsible for initiating, planning, executing, and closing down a project.

Which of the following is a factor that influences project selection?

ALL OF THE ABOVE -Perceived and real needs -List of potential and ongoing projects -Current organizational environment

Factors influencing the need for improved information systems project identification and selection include:

ALL OF THE ABOVE -many systems often do not address the critical problems of the business as a whole nor support strategic applications. -systems maintenance costs are out of control as old, poorly planned systems must constantly be revised. -application backlogs often extend three years or more and frustrated end users are forced to create their own systems, often creating redundant databases and incompatible systems in the process.

Which of the following are sources of software?

All of the above

Why are projects undertaken?

Although projects can be undertaken for a variety of reasons, the two primary reasons are to take advantage of business opportunities and address business problems.

During which SDLC phase would generating alternative initial designs most likely be done?

Analysis

__________ is an organization that hosts and runs computer applications for other companies, typically on a per-use or license basis.

Applications service provider

Which of the following matrices identifies which data are created, updated, accessed, or deleted in each system?

Data entity-to-information system

The use of the Internet between firms best defines:

Extranet

A turnkey system integrates individual, traditional business functions into a series of modules so that a single transaction occurs seamlessly within a single information system rather than several separate systems.

False

Agile Methodologies focus on the role that an individual performs rather than focusing on the individual.

False

Which of the following is characteristic of information systems identification and selection decisions made by the user department?

Faster development

A Graphical representation of a project that shows each task as a horizontal bar whose length is proportional to its time for completion best describes

Gantt chart.

Which of the following is characteristic of information systems identification and selection decisions made by top management?

Greater strategic focus

When compared to other planning approaches, which of the following is not an advantage to the top-down approach?

Identification of specific problems

According to a study cited in the textbook, which of the following development methods can lead to a larger maintenance burden?

In-house development

Which of the following is the property that occurs when entity types or object classes are arranged in a hierarchy and each entity type or object class assumes the attributes and methods of its ancestors?

Inheritance

Which of the following is a true statement about the internal staffing requirements for in-house development?

Internal staff is necessary, although staff size may vary

Which of the following has a medium to high formality rating and is used to resolve issues?

Meetings

The practice of turning over responsibility of some to all of an organization's information systems applications and operations to an outside firm best defines ___________.

Outsourcing

Which of the following is the third phase of the project management process in which the plans created in the prior phases are put into action?

Project execution

Which of the following is the second phase of the project management process, which focuses on defining clear, discrete activities and the work needed to complete each activity within a single project?

Project planning

Identify five project team communication methods.

Project team communication methods include project workbook, meetings, seminars and workshops, project newsletters, and status reports. Additional communication methods were mentioned in the chapter.

A document provided to vendors to ask them to propose hardware and system software that will meet the requirements of your new system best describes ___________.

RFP

Which of the following reflects the project manager's "best guess" of the amount of time an activity actually will require for completion?

Realistic time

Which of the following is not an approach to reuse of software?

Reflective

When classifying and ranking projects, which of the following refers to the amount and type of resources the project requires and their availability?

Resource availability

Agile software development values ____________.

Responding to change over following a plan

____________ is an approach to systems development based on building complete systems through assembling software components, each of which models generic business functions.

Service-Oriented Architecture

Which of the following is the most obvious end product of the systems development life cycle?

Software

Which of the following is viewed as a top-down source?

Steering committee

When classifying and ranking projects, which of the following refers to the extent to which the project is viewed as helping the organization achieve its strategic objectives and long-term goals?

Strategic alignment

What are the activities associated with project closedown?

The activities associated with project closedown are closing down the project, conducting postproject reviews, and closing the customer contract.

What are the characteristics of a task?

The characteristics of a task are: it can be done by one person or a well-defined group; has a single and identifiable deliverable; has a known method or technique; has well-accepted predecessor and successor steps; is measurable so that percent completed can be determined.

Identify and briefly discuss the four project management phases.

The four project management phases are project initiation, project planning, project execution, and project closedown. During project initiation, activities are performed to assess the size, scope, and complexity of the project and to establish procedures to support later project activities. Project planning focuses on defining clear, discrete activities and the work needed to complete each activity within a single project. During project execution, the plans created in prior phases are put into action. During project closedown, the project is brought to an end.

True statements regarding the SDLC include each of the following except ____________.

The life cycle is sequential

What are the activities associated with project planning?

The phases associated with project planning are: describing the project scope, alternatives, and feasibility; dividing the project into manageable tasks; estimating resources and creating a resource plan; developing a preliminary schedule; developing a communication plan; determining project standards and procedures; identifying and assessing risk; creating a preliminary budget; developing a Statement of Work; and setting a Baseline Project Plan.

What are the activities associated with project execution?

The project execution activities are: executing the baseline project plan, monitoring project progress against the baseline project plan, managing changes to the baseline project plan, maintaining the project workbook, and communicating the project status.

Define work breakdown structure.

Work breakdown structure refers to the process of dividing the project into manageable tasks and logically ordering them to ensure a smooth evolution between tasks.

The process of arranging planning matrix information so the clusters of information with some predetermined level or type of affinity are placed next to each other on a matrix report best defines:

affinity clustering

Skills required for the team management activity include:

communication within and between teams; peer evaluations; conflict resolution; team building; self-management.

The shortest time in which a project can be completed best describes:

critical path

Skills required for the management activity include:

defining and sequencing activities; communicating expectations; assigning resources to activities; monitoring outcomes.

During logical design, the project team ____________.

describes the functional features of the system chosen for development in the previous phase

The establishing management procedures activity involve

developing team communication and reporting procedures, job assignments and roles, project change procedures, and determining how project funding and billing will be handled.

Business planning, marketing and sales, and production operations are examples of:

functions

ERP advantages do not include ___________.

inexpensive and short implementation time

The matrix system that identifies which information systems support each business objective as identified during organizational planning is

information system-to-objective.

The theme of designed reuse in software development is ___________.

organization invests in carefully designing assets for reuse, choosing assets for domain or product line

The first phase of the SDLC is:

project identification and selection.

The primary deliverable from the project identification and selection phase is a:

schedule of specific IS development project

During the analysis phase, the project team ____________.

studies the organization's current procedures and the information systems used to perform organizational tasks

Designing and sequencing activities to attain project goals best describes the:

technical problem-solving project manager activity

The describing project scope, alternatives, and feasibility activity involves:

understanding the content and complexity of the project, identifying and documenting general alternative solutions for the current business problem or opportunity, and assessing the feasibility of each alternative solution and choosing which to consider during subsequent SDLC phases.

The developing a preliminary schedule activity involves:

using the information on tasks and resource availability to assign time estimates to each activity in the work breakdown structure.

The process of dividing the project into manageable tasks and logically ordering them to ensure a smooth evolution between tasks best defines:

work breakdown structure