File: ch10, Chapter 10: Acquiring IT Applications
True/False
1. Organizations typically move slowly to acquire new information technologies due to the risks involved.
Ans: False
Response: See page 302
2. Organizations today can buy, lease, or build their own information systems.
Ans: True
Response: See page 302
3. The first step in the IT acquisition process is to create the IT architecture.
Ans: False
Response: See page 306
4. The IT development process is complex.
Ans: True
Response: See page 305
5. The application portfolio in an organization is a set of recommended applications resulting from the
planning and justification process in application development.
Ans: True
Response: See page 305
6. The application portfolio in an organization is a set of recommended applications resulting from IT
architecture creation process in application development.
Ans: False
Response: See page 305
7. Planning the acquisition of IT resources starts with technical details of the proposed application.
Ans: False
Response: See page 306
8. Planning the acquisition of IT resources starts with an analysis of the organization’s strategic plan.
Ans: True
Response: See page 306
9. The IT planning process begins with an analysis of the organization’s IT infrastructure.
Ans: False
Response: See page 306
10. The organizational strategic plan is the only input needed in developing the IT strategic plan.
Ans: False
Response: See pages 306-307
11. The IT architecture delineates the way an organization’s information resources should be used to
accomplish its mission.
Ans: True
Response: See page 306
12. The IT infrastructure delineates the way an organization’s information resources should be used to
accomplish its mission.
Ans: False
Response: See page 306
13. The IT architecture includes both technical and managerial aspects of information resources.
Ans: True
Response: See page 306
14. The IT architecture includes only the managerial aspects of information resources.
Ans: False
Response: See page 306
15. The IT strategic plan is a set of long-range goals that describe the IT infrastructure and major IS
initiatives needed to achieve the goal of the organization.
Ans: True
Response: See page 306
16. The IT strategic plan states the mission of the IS department.
Ans: True
Response: See page 306
17. The IT infrastructure states the mission of the IS department.
Ans: False
Response: See page 306
18. The IS operational plan is a set of projects that will be executed by the IS department and by functional
area managers.
Ans: True
Response: See pages 306-307
19. Fixed costs include infrastructure cost, cost of IT services, and IT management cost.
Ans: True
Response: See page 307
20. The cost of a system continues after it is installed.
Ans: True
Response: See page 308
21. Evaluating the benefits of IT projects is typically more complex than evaluating their costs.
Ans: True
Response: See page 308
22. Evaluating the costs of IT projects is typically more complex than evaluating their benefits.
Ans: False
Response: See page 308
23. Benefits are harder to quantify than costs.
Ans: True
Response: See page 308
24. Costs are harder to quantify than benefits.
Ans: False
Response: See page 308
25. In many cases, IT projects generate intangible benefits that may be very desirable but difficult to
quantify.
Ans: True
Response: See page 308
26. Financial analyses must consider tangible benefits and intangible benefits.
Ans: True
Response: See page 308
27. Financial analyses of potential IT projects need only consider tangible benefits.
Ans: False
Response: See page 308
28. The Net Present Value method of cost-benefit analysis works well in situations where the costs and
benefits of the potential IT project are well defined or tangible enough to convert them into monetary
values.
Ans: True
Response: See page 308
29. The Return on Investment method of cost-benefit analysis measures the effectiveness of management in
generating profits with its available assets.
Ans: True
Response: See page 308
30. The Net Present Value method of cost-benefit analysis measures the effectiveness of management in
generating profits with its available assets.
Ans: False
Response: See page 308
31. Buying an existing package can be a cost-effective and time-saving strategy compared with developing
the application in-house.
Ans: True
Response: See page 310
32. Developing an application in-house can be a cost-effective and time-saving strategy compared with
buying an existing application.
Ans: False
Response: See page 310
33. Organizational needs are rarely fully satisfied by buying one software package.
Ans: True
Response: See page 310
34. Organizational needs are typically fully satisfied by buying one software package.
Ans: False
Response: See page 310
35. The buy option is particularly attractive if the software vendor allows the company to modify the
package to meet its needs.
Ans: True
Response: See page 310
36. The buy option is particularly attractive when the software is very expensive.
Ans: False
Response: See page 310
37. Companies should not consider changing their business processes to accommodate leased packages.
Ans: False
Response: See page 310
38. Companies should consider changing their business processes to accommodate leased packages, if
those packages meet 80 percent of the organizations’ needs.
Ans: True
Response: See page 310
39. Leasing can be especially attractive to small and medium-size organizations that cannot afford major
investments in software.
Ans: True
Response: See page 310-311
40. Leasing is more typically more attractive to large organizations than to small organizations.
Ans: False
Response: See page 310-311
41. Insourcing application development is usually more time consuming and expensive than buying or
leasing.
Ans: True
Response: See page 310-311
42. Insourcing application development often leads to a better fit with the specific organizational
requirements.
Ans: True
Response: See page 311
43. Insourcing application development is usually less time consuming and less expensive than buying or
leasing.
Ans: False
Response: See page 311
44. Insourcing application development does not often lead to a better fit with the specific organizational
requirements.
Ans: False
Response: See page 311
45. The systems development life cycle consists of sequential processes by which information systems are
developed.
Ans: True
Response: See page 311
46. Today, developers use the waterfall approach on the majority of systems development projects.
Ans: False
Response: See page 311
47. The SDLC has three major advantages: control, accountability, and error detection.
Ans: True
Response: See page 312
48. The SDLC has three major advantages: cost, speed of development, and error detection.
Ans: False
Response: See page 312
49. The later in the development process that errors are detected, the more expensive they are to correct.
Ans: True
Response: See page 312
50. The earlier in the development process that errors are detected, the less expensive they are to correct.
Ans: True
Response: See page 312
51. The earlier in the development process that errors are detected, the more expensive they are to correct.
Ans: False
Response: See page 312
52. The SDLC is relatively inflexible.
Ans: True
Response: See page 312
53. The SDLC is quite flexible because it has a set sequence of steps to follow.
Ans: False
Response: See page 312
54. The SDLC discourages changes to user requirements once they have been established.
Ans: True
Response: See page 312
55. The SDLC encourages changes to user requirements once they have been established.
Ans: False
Response: See page 312
56. The SDLC is time-consuming and expensive.
Ans: True
Response: See page 312
57. The systems investigation stage begins with the business problem or opportunity.
Ans: True
Response: See page 312
58. The systems investigation stage begins with the IT architecture.
Ans: False
Response: See page 312
59. The most important task in the systems investigation stage is developing the technical specifications for
the new system.
Ans: False
Response: See page 312
60. Technical feasibility determines if the project is an acceptable financial risk and if the organization can
afford the expense and time needed to complete the project.
Ans: False
Response: See page 313
61. Resistance to a new information system may be overt or covert.
Ans: True
Response: See page 313
62. Sabotaging the new system is a form of overt resistance.
Ans: True
Response: See page 313
63. Sabotaging the new system is a form of covert resistance.
Ans: False
Response: See page 313
64. Doing your job the way you have always done it in spite of the new system is a form of overt
resistance.
Ans: False
Response: See page 313
65. The most difficult task in systems analysis is identifying the specific information requirements that the
system must satisfy.
Ans: True
Response: See page 314
66. The most difficult task in systems analysis is identifying the technical specifications of the new system.
Ans: False
Response: See page 314
67. Systems analysis describes how a system will solve the business problem, and systems design describes
what the system must do to accomplish the task.
Ans: False
Response: See page 314
68. The deliverable of the systems analysis stage is the technical design.
Ans: False
Response: See page 314
69. Logical systems design specifications are abstract.
Ans: True
Response: See page 315
70. Physical systems design specifications are abstract.
Ans: False
Response: See page 315
71. Once all participants approve systems specifications, they should not be changed.
Ans: True
Response: See page 315
72. Once all participants approve systems specifications, they should be changed as needed to keep up with
changing business conditions.
Ans: False
Response: See page 315
73. Writing computer code is typically a scientific process that can be engineered.
Ans: False
Response: See page 316
74. Writing computer code is as much art as it is science.
Ans: True
Response: See page 316
75. In structured programming, the loop technique allows the logic flow to branch, depending on certain
conditions being met.
Ans: False
Response: See page 316
76. In structured programming, the loop technique enables the program to execute the same program, or
parts of the program, until certain conditions are met.
Ans: True
Response: See page 316
77. In structured programming, the decision technique enables the program to execute the same program, or
parts of the program, until certain conditions are met.
Ans: False
Response: See page 316
78. In structured programming, the sequence technique enables the program to execute the same program,
or parts of the program, until certain conditions are met.
Ans: False
Response: See page 316
79. Testing occurs only at the end of the programming stage.
Ans: False
Response: See page 316
80. Testing occurs continually throughout the programming stage.
Ans: True
Response: See page 316
81. Syntax errors are easier to find than logic errors.
Ans: True
Response: See page 316
82. Logic errors are easier to find than syntax errors.
Ans: False
Response: See page 316
83. Syntax errors permit the program to run.
Ans: False
Response: See page 316
84. Logic errors permit the program to run.
Ans: True
Response: See page 316
85. Parallel conversion is the process where the old system and the new system operate simultaneously for
a period of time.
Ans: True
Response: See page 317
86. Direct conversion is the process where the old system is cut off and the new system is turned on at a
certain point in time.
Ans: True
Response: See page 317
87. Parallel conversion is the process where the old system is cut off and the new system is turned on at a
certain point in time.
Ans: False
Response: See page 317
88. Pilot conversion is the process where the new system is introduced in one part of the organization.
Ans: True
Response: See page 317
89. Phased conversion is the process where the new system is introduced in one part of the organization.
Ans: False
Response: See page 317
90. Phased conversion is the process where components of the new system are introduced in stages.
Ans: True
Response: See page 317
91. Pilot conversion is the process where the components of the new system are introduced in stages.
Ans: False
Response: See page 317
92. Parallel conversion is the safest process.
Ans: True
Response: See page 317
93. Direct conversion is the safest process.
Ans: False
Response: See page 317
94. Parallel conversion is the riskiest process.
Ans: False
Response: See page 317
95. Direct conversion is the riskiest process.
Ans: True
Response: See page 317
96. Maintenance ends when the new system is implemented and has run long enough for a systems audit.
Ans: False
Response: See page 318
97. Maintenance continues for the life of the system.
Ans: True
Response: See page 318
98. In the prototyping approach, developers do not try to obtain a complete set of user requirements.
Ans: True
Response: See page 318
99. In the prototyping approach, developers try to obtain a complete set of user requirements.
Ans: False
Response: See page 319
100. The main advantage of the prototyping approach is that it speeds up the development process.
Ans: True
Response: See pages 318-319
101. The main advantage of the systems development life cycle is that it speeds up the development
process.
Ans: False
Response: See pages 318-319
102. Prototyping is an iterative process with a great deal of user involvement.
Ans: True
Response: See page 318-319
103. The systems development life cycle is an iterative process with a great deal of user involvement.
Ans: False
Response: See page 319
104. Prototyping allows the users to clarify their information requirements as they use the prototype.
Ans: True
Response: See page 319
105. The systems development life cycle allows users to clarify their information requirements as they use
the system.
Ans: False
Response: See page 319
106. Prototyping generally produces better documentation than the SDLC.
Ans: False
Response: See page 319
107. Prototyping may not produce adequate documentation.
Ans: True
Response: See page 319
108. In joint application design, systems analysts interview or directly observe potential users of the new
information system individually to understand each user’s needs.
Ans: False
Response: See page 319
109. The tools used to automate the early stages of the SDLC (systems investigation, analysis, and design)
are called upper CASE tools.
Ans: True
Response: See page 319
110. The tools used to automate later stages of the SDLC (programming, testing, operation, and
maintenance) are called lower CASE tools.
Ans: True
Response: See page 319
111. The tools used to automate the early stages of the SDLC (systems investigation, analysis, and design)
are called lower CASE tools.
Ans: False
Response: See page 319
112. The tools used to automate later stages of the SDLC (programming, testing, operation, and
maintenance) are called upper CASE tools.
Ans: False
Response: See page 319
113. CASE tools require more extensive and accurate definition of user requirements.
Ans: True
Response: See page 319
114. CASE tools are easy to customize.
Ans: False
Response: See page 319
115. The main advantage of rapid application development is the active involvement of users in the
development process.
Ans: True
Response: See page 320
116. End-user development usually results in applications that are well documented.
Ans: False
Response: See page 320
117. Objects represent tangible, real-world entities.
Ans: True
Response: See page 320-321
118. Objects represent abstract ideas of systems developers.
Ans: False
Response: See page 320-321
119. Outsourcing is the use of outside contractors or external organizations to acquire IT services.
Ans: True
Response: See page 321
120. An application service provider is a vendor who assembles the software needed by enterprises and
packages them with outsourced development, operations, maintenance, and other services.
Ans: True
Response: See page 322
121. The essential difference between an application service provider and an outsourcer is that an ASP will
manage application servers in a centrally controlled location, rather than on a customer’s site.
Ans: True
Response: See page 321-322
122. The most difficult task in evaluating a vendor and software package is to determine a set of detailed
criteria for choosing the best vendor and package.
Ans: True
Response: See page 326
123. The most difficult task in evaluating a vendor and software package is to determine the financial
health and “staying power” of the vendor.
Ans: False
Response: See page 326
124. Service level agreements delineate the division of work between a company and its vendors.
Ans: True
Response: See page 327
Multiple Choice
1. IT applications can be developed in which of the following ways?
a) build the system in-house
b) buy an application and install it
c) lease software from an application service provider
d) outsource it
e) all of the above
Ans: e
Response: See page 302
2. The information systems planning process proceeds in which order?
a) organization mission – organization strategic plan – IS strategic plan – new IT architecture
b) organization mission – IS strategic plan – organization strategic plan – IS operational plan
c) organization strategic plan – organization mission – IS strategic plan – new IT architecture
d) IT architecture – IS strategic plan – organization strategic plan – organization mission
e) IS development projects – IS operational plan – new IT architecture – organization mission
Ans: a
Response: See page 306-307
3. A typical IS operational plan contains which of the following elements?
a) mission of the IS function
b) summary of the information needs of the functional areas and of the entire organization
c) IS function’s estimate of its goals
d) application portfolio
e) all of the above
Ans: e
Response: See page 306-307
4. Which of the following is not a part of the typical IS operational plan?
a) mission of the IS function
b) organizational mission
c) IT architecture
d) application portfolio
e) IS function’s estimate of its goals
Ans: b
Response: See page 307
5. Evaluating the benefits of IT projects is more complex than evaluating their costs for which of the
following reasons?
a) benefits are harder to quantify
b) benefits are often intangible
c) IT can be used for several different purposes
d) probability of obtaining a return from an IT investment is based on the probability of implementation
success
e) all of the above
Ans: e
Response: See page 308
6. Evaluating the benefits of IT projects is more complex than evaluating their costs for all of the following
reasons except:
a) benefits are harder to quantify
b) benefits are often tangible
c) IT can be used for several different purposes
d) probability of obtaining a return from an IT investment is based on the probability of implementation
success
Ans: b
Response: See page 308
7. The _____ method converts future values of benefits to today’s value by “discounting” them at the
organization’s cost of funds.
a) net present value
b) cost-benefit analysis
c) return on investment
d) internal rate of return
e) business case approach
Ans: a
Response: See page 308
8. The _____ method measures the effectiveness of management in generating profits with its available
assets.
a) net present value
b) cost-benefit analysis
c) return on investment
d) internal rate of return
e) business case approach
Ans: c
Response: See page 308
9. Which of the following are advantages of the buy option for acquiring IS applications?
a) many different types of off-the-shelf software are available
b) software can be tried out
c) saves time
d) company will know what it is getting
e) all of the above
Ans: e
Response: See page 309
10. Which of the following is not an advantage of the buy option for acquiring IS applications?
a) few types of off-the-shelf software are available, thus limiting confusion
b) software can be tried out
c) saves time
d) company will know what it is getting
e) all of the above
Ans: a
Response: See page 309
11. Which of the following are disadvantages of the buy option for acquiring IS applications?
a) software may not exactly meet the company’s needs
b) software may be impossible to modify
c) company will not have control over software improvements
d) software may not integrate with existing systems
e) all of the above
Ans: e
Response: See page 310
12. Which of the following systems acquisition methods results in software that can be tried out, has been
used for similar problems in other organizations, and can save time?
a) systems development life cycle
b) prototyping
c) end-user development
d) buy option
e) object-oriented development
Ans: d
Response: See page 310
13. Which of the following systems acquisition methods results in software that is controlled by another
company, may be difficult to enhance or modify, and may not support desired business processes?
a) systems development life cycle
b) prototyping
c) end-user development
d) buy option
e) component-based development
Ans: d
Response: See page 310
14. Which of the following systems acquisition methods forces staff to systematically go through every
step in the development process and has a lower probability of missing important user requirements?
a) systems development life cycle
b) prototyping
c) end-user development
d) external acquisition
e) object-oriented development
Ans: a
Response: See page 311
15. Which of the following systems acquisition methods is time-consuming, costly, and may produce
excessive documentation?
a) systems development life cycle
b) prototyping
c) end-user development
d) external acquisition
e) object-oriented development
Ans: a
Response: See page 311
16. Place the stages of the systems development life cycle in order:
a) investigation – analysis – design – programming – testing – implementation – operation – maintenance
b) investigation – design – analysis – programming – testing – implementation – maintenance – operation
c) analysis – design – investigation – operation – maintenance – programming – testing – implementation
d) investigation – analysis – design – programming – testing – maintenance – operation – implementation
Ans: a
Response: See page 312
17. The feasibility study addresses which of the following issues?
a) economic feasibility
b) technical feasibility
c) behavioral feasibility
d) all of the above
Ans: d
Response: See page 313
18. The _____ that changes are made in the systems development life cycle, the _____ expensive these
changes become.
a) sooner, less
b) later, less
c) more frequently, more
d) more extensively, more
e) sooner, more
Ans: a
Response: See page 313
19. ____ feasibility determines if the hardware, software, and communications components can be
developed and/or acquired to solve the business problem.
a) technical
b) economic
c) organizational
d) behavioral
Ans: a
Response: See page 313
20. _____ feasibility determines if the project is an acceptable financial risk and if the organization can
afford the expense and time needed to complete the project.
a) technical
b) economic
c) organizational
d) behavioral
Ans: b
Response: See page 313
21. _____ feasibility addresses the human issues of an information systems project.
a) technical
b) economic
c) organizational
d) behavioral
Ans: d
Response: See page 313
22. _____ feasibility concerns a firm’s policies and politics, power structures, and business relationships.
a) technical
b) economic
c) organizational
d) behavioral
Ans: c
Response: See page 314
23. Which of the following is not a part of systems analysis?
a) definition of the business problem
b) identification of the causes of, and solution to, the business problem
c) identification of the information requirements that the solution must satisfy
d) identification of the technical specifications of the solution
Ans: d
Response: See page 314
24. Systems analysts use which of the following techniques to obtain the information requirements for the
new system?
a) direct observation
b) structured interviews
c) unstructured interviews
d) document analysis
e) all of the above
Ans: e
Response: See page 314
25. Which of the following is not a technique used to obtain the information requirements for the new
system?
a) direct observation
b) structured interviews
c) unstructured interviews
d) use the system themselves
e) document analysis
Ans: d
Response: See page 314
26. Which of the following are problems associated with eliciting information requirements?
a) business problem may be poorly defined
b) users may not know exactly what the business problem is
c) users may disagree with each other
d) the problem may not be related to information systems
e) all of the above
Ans: e
Response: See page 314
27. _____ is the systems development stage that determines how the information system will do what is
needed to solve the business problem.
a) systems design
b) systems analysis
c) systems implementation
d) systems development
e) operation and maintenance
Ans: a
Response: See page 314
28. Logical systems design refers to _____, while physical systems design refers to _____.
a) the collection of user requirements, the development of software
b) what the system will do, how the tasks are accomplished
c) how the tasks are accomplished, what the system will do
d) the order of task accomplishment, how the tasks are accomplished
e) operation of the system, debugging the system
Ans: b
Response: See page 315
29. Systems design answers the question, _____:
a) How will the information system do what it must to obtain a solution to the business problem?
b) Why must the information system do what it must to obtain a solution to the business problem?
c) What is the problem the information system must address?
d) Who will benefit from use of the information system being developed?
e) What is the effective operational life of the system?
Ans: a
Response: See page 315
30. When users ask for added functionality during a systems development project, this is called:
a) user-defined software
b) scope creep
c) bloatware
d) out-of-control project
e) runaway project
Ans: b
Response: See page 315
31. Structured design advocates the use of software modules. Which of the following items are advantages
of this approach?
a) modules can be reused
b) modules cost less to develop
c) modules are easier to modify
d) all of the above
Ans: d
Response: See page 316
32. Structured programming includes which of the following restrictions?
a) each module has one, and only one, function
b) each module has one entrance and one exit
c) no GOTO statements allowed
d) has only three techniques: sequence, decision, loop
e) all of the above
Ans: d
Response: See page 316
33. Which of the following is not a restriction of structured programming?
a) each module has multiple functions
b) each module has one entrance and one exit
c) no GOTO statements allowed
d) has only three techniques: sequence, decision, loop
e) none of the above
Ans: a
Response: See page 316
34. In structured programming’s _____ structure, the logic flow branches depending on certain conditions
being met.
a) decision
b) sequence
c) decision
d) return
e) parallel
Ans: a
Response: See page 316
35. In structured programming’s _____ structure, the software executes the same program, or parts of it,
until certain conditions are met.
a) decision
b) sequence
c) decision
d) return
e) parallel
Ans: c
Response: See page 316
36. _____conversion is the process where the old system and the new system operate simultaneously for a
period of time.
a) parallel
b) direct
c) pilot
d) phased
Ans: a
Response: See page 317
37. _____ conversion is the process where the old system is cut off and the new system is turned on at a
certain point in time.
a) parallel
b) direct
c) pilot
d) phased
Ans: b
Response: See page 317
38. _____ conversion is the process where the new system is introduced in one part of the organization.
a) parallel
b) direct
c) pilot
d) phased
Ans: c
Response: See page 318
39. _____ conversion is the process where components of the new system are introduced in stages.
a) parallel
b) direct
c) pilot
d) phased
Ans: d
Response: See page 318
40. The riskiest type of conversion process is:
a) parallel
b) direct
c) pilot
d) phased
Ans: b
Response: See page 317
41. If a firm shuts down its old COBOL legacy system and starts up the new PeopleSoft ERP system
immediately, this is called _____:
a) phased conversion
b) direct conversion
c) parallel conversion
d) pilot conversion
Ans: b
Response: See page 317
42. As systems age, maintenance costs _____:
a) decrease
b) increase
c) stay the same
d) remain negligible
e) are not considered
Ans: b
Response: See page 318
43. Maintenance includes which of the following types of activities?
a) debugging
b) updating the system to accommodate changes in business conditions, but not adding functionality
c) adding new functionality to the system
d) all of the above
Ans: d
Response: See page 318
44. Which of the following systems acquisition methods helps clarify user requirements, promotes genuine
user participation, and may produce part of the final system?
a) systems development life cycle
b) prototyping
c) end-user development
d) external acquisition
e) component-based development
Ans: b
Response: See page 318
45. Which of the following systems acquisition methods may encourage inadequate problem analysis, is
not practical with large numbers of users, and may result in a system with lower quality.
a) systems development life cycle
b) prototyping
c) end-user development
d) external acquisition
e) component-based development
Ans: b
Response: See page 318
46. The _____ approach to systems development defines an initial list of user requirements, then develops
the system in an iterative fashion.
a) integrated computer-assisted software engineering
b) joint application design
c) rapid application development
d) prototyping
e) systems development life cycle
Ans: d
Response: See page 318
47. The _____ approach to systems development is a group-based tool for collecting user requirements.
a) integrated computer-assisted software engineering
b) joint application design
c) rapid application development
d) prototyping
e) systems development life cycle
Ans: b
Response: See page 319
48. The _____ approach to systems development uses specialized tools to automate many of the tasks in the
systems development life cycle.
a) integrated computer-assisted software engineering
b) joint application design
c) rapid application development
d) prototyping
Ans: a
Response: See page 319
49. Which of the following is not an advantage of the Joint Application Design approach to systems
development?
a) involves fewer users in the development process
b) saves time
c) greater user acceptance of the new system
d) can produce a system of higher quality
Ans: a
Response: See page 319
50. Computer-aided software engineering tools provide which of the following advantages?
a) can produce systems with longer effective operational lives
b) can produce systems that more closely meet user requirements
c) can speed up the development process
d) can produce systems that are more adaptable to changing business conditions
e) all of the above
Ans: e
Response: See page 319
51. Which of the following is not an advantage of computer-aided software engineering tools?
a) can produce systems with longer effective operational lives
b) can produce systems that more closely meet user requirements
c) can require fewer developers
d) can speed up the development process
Ans: c
Response: See page 319
52. Computer-aided software engineering tools provide which of the following disadvantages?
a) produce initial systems that are more expensive to build and maintain
b) require more extensive and accurate definition of user requirements
c) difficult to customize
d) difficult to use with existing systems
e) all of the above
Ans: e
Response: See page 319
53. Which of the following is not a disadvantage of computer-aided software engineering tools?
a) produce initial systems that are more expensive to build and maintain
b) require more extensive and accurate definition of user requirements
c) require more developers
d) difficult to customize
Ans: c
Response: See page 319
54. Advantages of Rapid Application Development include which of the following?
a) active involvement of users in the development process
b) faster development process
c) system better meets user needs
d) reduction in training costs
e) all of the above
Ans: e
Response: See page 320
55. Which of the following systems acquisition methods bypasses the IT department, avoids delays, and
results in increased user acceptance of the new system?
a) systems development life cycle
b) prototyping
c) end-user development
d) external acquisition
e) component-based development
Ans: c
Response: See page 320
56. Which of the following systems acquisition methods may eventually require maintenance assistance
from the IT department, produce inadequate documentation, and result in a system with inadequate
interfaces to existing systems?
a) systems development life cycle
b) prototyping
c) end-user development
d) external acquisition
e) component-based development
Ans: c
Response: See page 320
57. Which of the following is the most difficult and crucial task in evaluating a vendor and a software
package?
a) identifying potential vendors
b) determining the evaluation criteria
c) evaluating vendors and packages
d) choosing the vendor and package
e) negotiating a contract
Ans: b
Response: See page 325-326
Short Answer
1. Differentiate between the IT strategic plan and the IS operational plan.
Response: See pages 306-307
2. Discuss tangible and intangible benefits of a proposed system.
Response: See page 308
3. Describe the various methods of conducting cost-benefit analyses.
Response: See page 308
4. What is the waterfall approach to systems development?
Response: See page 311
5. Describe the feasibility study of the SDLC.
Response: See pages 312-314
6. Compare and contrast the systems analysis and systems design phases of the SDLC.
Response: See pages 314-316
7. Describe good-enough software.
Response: See pages 316-317
8. Compare and contrast rapid application development and joint application design.
Response: See pages 319-320
9. What are application service providers and how do they differ from outsourcing?
Response: See page 321-323
10. Describe the vendor selection process.
Response: See page 325-327