AIS exam 3 book questions
RFP is important because of what 4 things
1. saves time 2. simplifies decision making process 3. reduces errors 4. avoids potential for disagreement
How are data sources and destinations represented in a data flow diagram? A) square B) curved arrow C) circle D) 2 parallel lines E) as none of the above
A
The documentation skills that accountants require vary with their job function. However, all accountants should at least be able to do which of the following? A) read documentation to determine how the system works B) critique and correct documentation that others prepare C) prepare documentation for a newly developed information system D) teach others how to prepare documentation
A
increased error rates, disruptions, and sabotage are examples of which of the following? A) aggression B) avoidance C) projection D) payback
A
to compare system performance, a company can create a data processing task with input, processing, and output jobs. this task is performed on the systems under consideration and the processing times are compared. the AIS with the lowest time is the most efficient. what is this process called? A) benchmarking B) requirements costing C) point scoring D) performance testing
A
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
which of the following is NOT a benefit of outsourcing? A) it offers a great deal of flexibility because it is relatively easy to change outsourcers B) it can provide access to the expertise and special services provided by outsourcers C) it allows companies to move to a more sophisticated level of computing at a reasonable cost D) it is a cost effective way to handle the peaks and valleys found in seasomal businesses
A
All of the following are recommended guidelines for making flowcharts more readable, clear, concise, consistent, and understandable EXCEPT: A) divide a document flowchart into columns with labels B) flowchart all data flows, especially exception procedures and error routines C) design the flowchart so that flow proceeds from top to bottom and from left to right D) show the final disposition of all documents to prevent loose ends that leave the reader dangling
B
a DFD is a representation of which of the following? A) logical operations performed by a computer program B) flow of data in an organization C) decision rules in a computer program D) computer hardware configuration
B
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
which of the following is NOT an advantage of prototyping? A) better definition of user needs B) adequately tested and documented systems C) higher user involvement and satisfaction D) faster development time
B
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
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
which of the following statements is FALSE? A) as a general rule, companies should buy rather than develop software if they can find a package that meets their needs B) as an AIS increases in size and complexity, there is a greater likelihood that canned software can be found that meets user needs C) a company should not attempt to develop its own custom software unless experienced, in house programming personnel are available and the job can be completed less expensively on the inside D) as a general rule, a company should develop custom software only when it will provide a significant competitive advantage
B
All of the following are guidelines that should be followed in naming DFD data elements EXCEPT: A) process names should include action verbs such as update, edit, prepare, and record B) make sure the names describe all the data or the entire process C) name only the most important DFD elements D) choose active and descriptive names
C
Which of the following statements is FALSE? A) flowcharts make use of many symbols B) a document flowchart emphasizes the flow of documents or records containing data C) DFDs help convey the timing of events D) both A and B are false
C
when a company is buying large and complex systems, vendors are invited to submit systems for consideration. what is such a solicitation called? A) request for quotation B) request for system C) request for proposal D) good faith estimate
C
when is it most appropriate to use prototyping? A) when there is little uncertainty about the AIS B) when it is clear what users' needs are C) when the final AIS cannot be clearly visualized because the decision process is still unclear D) when there is a very low likelihood of failure
C
which of the following statements is true? A) because the AIS is so crucial, companies never outsource parts of the AIS B) most mainframe outsourcing contracts are for 2-3 years and cost thousands of dollars a year C) outsourcers often buy the client's computers and hire all or most of its information systems employees D) only companies struggling to survive and wanting a quick infusion of cash from selling their hardware use outsourcing
C
Which of the following flowcharts illustrates the flow of data among areas of responsibility in an organization? A) program flowchart B) computer configuration chart C) system flowchart D) document flowchart
D
Which of the following statements is FALSE? A) a flowchart is an analytical technique used to describe some aspect of an information system in a clear, concise, and logical manner B) flowcharts use a standard set of symbols to describe pictorially the flow of documents and data through a system C) flowcharts are easy to prepare and revise when the designer utilizes a flowcharting software package D) a system flowchart is a narrative representation of an information system
D
the purchasing department is designing a new AIS. Who is best able to determine departmental information requests? A) steering committee B) controller C) top management D) purchasing department
D
which of the following is NOT one of the difficulties accountants have experienced using the traditional systems development life cycle? A) AIS development projects are backlogged for years B) changes are usually not possible after requirements have been frozen C) the AIS that is developed may not meet their needs D) all are difficulties with the SDLC
D
which of the following is a true statement with respect to prototyping? A) in the early stages of prototyping, system controls and exception handling may be sacrificed in the interests of simplicity, flexibility, and ease of use B) a prototype is a scaled down, first draft model that is quickly and inexpensively built and given to users to evaluate C) the first step in prototyping is to identify system requirements D) all of the statements are true
D
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
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 why companies change an AIS
E
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
a return on investment technique that calculates the interest rate that makes the PV of total costs equal to the PV of total savings
IRR
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
NPV
A DFD consists of the following 4 basic elements: data sources and destinations, data flows, transformation processes, and data stores. Each is represented on a DFD by a different symbol. T/F
True
Documentation methods such as DFDs, BPDs, and flowcharts save both time and money, adding value to an organization. T/F
True
resistance to change intended to destroy, cripple, or weaken system effectiveness, such as increased error rates, disruptions, or deliberate sabotage
aggression
company that delivers software via the internet
application service provider (ASP)
resistance to change where users ignore a new IS in the hope that the new system will eventually go away (MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONIST)
avoidance
the (+) and (-) ways people react to change; managing these behavioral reactions is crucial to successfully implementing a new system
behavioral aspects of change
comparing systems by executing an input, processing, and output task on different computer systems and evaluating the results
benchmark problem
a visual way to describe the different steps or activities in a business process
business process diagram (BPDs)
a systematic approach to continuously improving and optimizing business processes; a more gradual improvement facilitated by technology
business process management (BPM)
system that automates and facilitates business process improvements throughout the SDLC
business process management system (BPMS)
the thorough analysis and redesign of business processes and information systems to achieve dramatic performance improvements; often a drastic, one-time event
business process reengineering (BPR)
a return on investment technique used to compare estimated benefits and costs to determine whether a system is cost beneficial
capital budgeting model
highest level of DFD; a summary level view of a system, showing the data processing system, its inputs and outputs, and their sources and destinations
context diagram
the entity that receives data produced by a system
data destination
the movement of data among processes, stores, sources, and destinations
data flow
the entity that produces or sends the data that is entered into a system
data source
the hands on development, use, and control of computer based information systems by users
end-user computing (EUC)
a preliminary investigation to determine whether a proposed new system is both needed and feasible
initial investigation
system description that focuses on what essential activities are performed and the flow of information irrespective of how the flow is actually accomplished
logical model
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 process, the prioritization of planned projects, and the prioritization criteria
master plan
prototypes that are discarded, but the system requirements identified from the prototypes are used to develop a new system
nonoperational prototype (throwaway)
prototypes that are further developed into fully functional systems
operational prototypes
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
payback period
the description of how a system functions by describing document flow, computer processes performed, the people performing them, and the equipment used
physical model
evaluating the overall merits of vendor proposals by assigning a weight to each evaluation criterion based on its importance
point scoring
the action that transforms data into other data or information
process
document showing project requirements (people, hardware, software, and financial), a cost benefit analysis, and how to project will be completed
project development plan
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 (PHARMACY CASHIER)
projection
a request to complete the systems analysis phase for a project that makes it through the initial investigation
proposal to conduct systems analysis
a request for vendors to bid on a system to meet a company's specified needs
request for proposal (RFP)
comparing systems based on the cost of all required features; when software does not meet all requirements, the cost of developing unavailable features is estimated and added to its cost
requirements costing
comprehensive report summarizing systems analysis that documents the findings of analysis activities
systems analysis report
a complete description of how the system is supposed to work, including questionnaire copies, interview notes, memos, document copies, and models
systems documentation
a report that summaries all the activities that took place during the systems survey, including all relevant documentation
systems survey report
companies that buy rather than develop an AIS must still go through the systems development life cycle. T/F
true
resistance is often a reaction to the methods of instituting change rather than to change itself. T/F
true