True-False Questions
1.
Requirements regarding the system’s data, calculations, presentations,
and performance expectations are called features.
Answer: True Page Reference: 273 Difficulty:
Moderate
2.
By the time alternative design strategies have been enumerated, top
management has committed to completing the project.
Answer: False Page Reference: 274 Difficulty: Moderate
3.
Before enumerating alternative design strategies, it is useful to
organize system requirements into mandatory, essential, and desired categories.
Answer: True Page Reference: 275, 282 Difficulty: Moderate
4.
Extensive use of outsourcing arrangements supports partial or complete
dissolution of a company’s information systems department.
Answer: True Page Reference: 276-277 Difficulty: Moderate
5.
IBM is the industry leader in revenue generated from software services
and products.
Answer: True Page Reference: 277-278 Difficulty: Moderate
6.
Turnkey systems are typically highly modifiable.
Answer: False Page Reference: 279 Difficulty: Moderate
7.
Because open-source software is free, developers create it without
expectation of profitable income.
Answer: False Page Reference: 280 Difficulty: Moderate
8.
Accenture is a leading provider of prepackaged software.
Answer: False Page Reference: 277-278 Difficulty: Moderate
9.
IT Service firms are useful for companies with little in-house
expertise whose needs cannot be satisfied by off-the-shelf software.
Answer: True Page Reference: 278 Difficulty: Easy
10. A shift to ERP systems sometimes
requires companies to change their business processes.
Answer: True Page Reference: 279-280 Difficulty: Moderate
11. It is typical to develop a system
by mixing in-house development with purchased components or services.
Answer: True Page Reference: 281 Difficulty: Moderate
12. Small software vendors find it
difficult to adjust their software to accommodate changes in hardware and
operating systems.
Answer: True Page Reference: 282 Difficulty: Moderate
13. Programming languages and code
generators are considered to belong to the category of system software.
Answer: True Page Reference: 283 Difficulty: Moderate
14. RFP documents are sent as
advertising brochures from vendors to potential clients.
Answer: False Page Reference: 284 Difficulty: Moderate
15. Weighted scoring is a common
approach for evaluating system design strategies.
Answer: True Page Reference: 285-286 Difficulty: Moderate
16. Two-tier systems are more
scalable than three-tier systems.
Answer: False Page Reference: 287 Difficulty: Moderate
17. An application server sends
client requests to a Web server.
Answer: False Page Reference: 287 Difficulty: Moderate
18. Another word for the middle-tier
server is “fail-over server”
Answer: False Page Reference: 287 Difficulty: Moderate
19. User authentication typically
takes place in the application server.
Answer: True Page Reference: 287-288 Difficulty: Moderate
20. The updated version of a baseline
project plan is typically longer than the original.
Answer: True Page Reference: 288 Difficulty: Moderate
21. Since feasibility assessment
issues would have been dealt with in the original baseline project plan, these are
usually not significantly changed when updating the BPP after selecting
alternative design strategies.
Answer: False Page Reference: 289-290 Difficulty: Moderate
Multiple-Choice Questions
22. Shaping alternative design
strategies involve all of the following steps EXCEPT:
a.
translating user requirements into analysis classes.
b.
dividing requirements into sets of capabilities.
c.
enumerating potential implementation environments.
d.
proposing methods for capabilities acquisition or sourcing.
Answer: a Page
Reference: 273-274 Difficulty: Moderate
23. As a rule of thumb, the best
number of alternative design strategies to generate is:
a.
one.
b.
three.
c.
five.
d.
eight.
Answer: b Page
Reference: 274 Difficulty: Moderate
24. Which of the following would be
considered a system feature to consider when selecting alternative design
strategies?
a.
Response time expectations
b.
Limits on outsourcing proprietary data
c.
Legal or contractual limitations
d.
Availability of human resources
Answer: a Page
Reference: 275-276 Difficulty: Moderate
25. Which of the following would be
considered a system development constraint to consider when selecting
alternative design strategies?
a.
System file data requirements
b.
Online display look-and-feel
c.
Deadline date for replacement system
d.
Necessity for forecasting module
Answer: c Page
Reference: 276 Difficulty: Moderate
26. Which firm is known for
developing prepackaged application software products?
a.
Microsoft
b.
IBM
c.
SAP AG
d.
Accenture
Answer: a Page
Reference: 278-279 Difficulty: Moderate
27. Which firm is known as a leading
vendor of enterprise-resource planning systems?
a.
EDS
b.
Price Waterhouse Cooper
c.
SAP AG
d.
Compaq
Answer: c Page
Reference: 280 Difficulty: Moderate
28. The practice of relying on
another organization to develop or run a company’s information systems
application is called:
a.
application servicing.
b.
consulting.
c.
vendoring.
d.
outsourcing.
Answer: d Page
Reference: 276-277 Difficulty: Easy
29. Five of the top 10 global
software firms specialize in:
a.
operating systems.
b.
IT consulting services.
c.
prepackaged software products.
d.
business process management.
Answer: b Page
Reference: 278 Difficulty: Moderate
30. ____________ systems are
off-the-shelf software products that cannot be modified to meet the individual
needs of a particular organization.
a.
Packaged
b.
Application
c.
Turnkey
d.
Fixed
Answer: c Page
Reference: 279 Difficulty: Moderate
31. ERP systems are characterized by
providing:
a.
linkages between application software and databases.
b.
web services for Internet-based systems.
c.
design alternatives for outsourced applications.
d.
seamless transaction operations across business functions.
Answer: d Page
Reference: 279-280 Difficulty: Moderate
32. Which of the following is a
well-known open-source software product?
a.
SAP
b.
mySql
c.
PVF
d.
Oracle
Answer: b Page
Reference: 280 Difficulty: Moderate
33. As a general rule of thumb, which
of the following packaged software selection criteria should always be
considered most important?
a.
Documentation
b.
Flexibility
c.
Vendor support
d.
Ease of installation
Answer: c Page
Reference: 281 Difficulty: Moderate
34. Which type of software is most
likely to be provided by a hardware manufacturer?
a.
General-purpose applications
b.
System software and utilities
c.
Enterprise-wide information systems
d.
Customized applications
Answer: b Page
Reference: 283 Difficulty: Moderate
35. Which of the following factors
support the decision to upgrade to new hardware or system software when
developing a new information system instead of staying with older platforms?
a.
Ease of integration with existing systems.
b.
System development cost minimization.
c.
Familiarity and comfort.
d.
Migration toward object-oriented software.
Answer: d Page
Reference: 283-284 Difficulty: Moderate
36. RFPs are most likely to be used
when:
a.
outsourcing is employed for systems development.
b.
the baseline plan is being updated after vendors have been selected.
c.
the application will be created by in-house programming staff.
d.
The decision has been made to discontinue the development project.
Answer: a Page
Reference: 284 Difficulty: Moderate
37. In the weighted approach to
evaluating alternative design solutions, the weight refers to:
a.
the quality of a potential design solution regarding a particular
criterion.
b.
the overall score of a design solution.
c.
the importance of a requirement or constraint.
d.
the influence of a particular stakeholder’s opinion.
Answer: c Page
Reference: 285-286 Difficulty: Moderate
38. ____________ refers to the
ability for a system’s capabilities to be seamlessly updated through hardware
and/or software upgrades.
a.
Scalability
b.
Version control
c.
Flexibility
d.
Architecture
Answer: a Page
Reference: 287 Difficulty: Easy
39. In a three-tier architecture, the
application server is typically in the ____________ tier.
a.
first
b.
second
c.
third
d.
first and third
Answer: b Page
Reference: 287 Difficulty: Moderate
40. In a multi-tier Internet-based
systems, management of client interactions and broker requests is handled by
the:
a.
application server.
b.
database server.
c.
web server.
d.
fail-over server.
Answer: c Page Reference: 287-288 Difficulty: Easy
41. In a multi-tier Internet-based
systems, transaction processing logic is processed primarily by the:
a.
application server.
b.
database server
c.
Web server.
d.
fail-over server.
Answer: a Page
Reference: 287-288 Difficulty: Easy
42. The major document used by the
steering committee to decide whether to go to the design phase of a systems
development project is the:
a.
project charter.
b.
request for proposal.
c.
technical system documentation.
d.
updated baseline plan.
Answer: d Page
Reference: 288 Difficulty: Easy
Essay Questions
43. Describe the three main processes
involved in shaping alternative system design strategies. In theory, what is the maximum potential
number of strategies that can result from these processes? Based on these
processes, what are the deliverables and outcomes that should result from these
processes?
Answer:
The
three processes are (1) dividing requirements into sets of system capabilities,
(2) enumerating potential implementation environments, and (3) identifying
potential sources. The capabilities can be subdivided according to necessity.
For example, capabilities can range from bare minimum necessity to essential to
“nice to have.” Alternatively,
capabilities could be grouped based on organizational units. Implementation
environments to be selected include hardware, system software, and network
platforms. Development sources range from prepacked software to outsourcing to
in-house development. The potential number of strategies is the product of the
number of sets of capabilities times the number of implementation environments
times the number of sources. At the end of these processes, the deliverables
should include a minimum of three substantially different design strategies
(representing low-end, midrange, and high-end solutions), an identification of
and rationale for one strategy, and a baseline project plan for the recommended
design strategy.
Page
Reference: 273-274 Difficulty: Moderate
44. What is outsourcing? Describe some
working arrangements that qualify as types of outsourcing. What are some
reasons that a company may want to outsource some of its systems development or
maintenance operations?
Answer:
Outsourcing
is the practice of turning over responsibility for portions of an
organization’s information systems applications and operations over to another
firm. This could mean that the company’s applications are developed by the
outsourcing firm, that they run on computers held at the outsourcer’s site, or
even that the outsourcing company takes over responsibility for all information
systems functions, so that the IS department of the client company can be
completely dissolved. Outsourcing can prove cost effective. For example, an
outsourcing firm that specializes in a particular business function, such as
payroll or order processing, can use economies of scale to provide their
services for a large number of clients. Also, since many client companies do
not consider their information systems management to be part of their core
mission or competencies, they may be attracted to sharing this burden with
other organizations that specialize in IT services. This can often help the
client company overcome technical, personnel, and operating problems.
Page
Reference: 276-277 Difficulty: Moderate
45. List and describe six possible
sources of software. Give an example of a leading company, product, or
organization representing each of the external (not in-house) sources. Identify
the type of software or service you would expect to obtain from each of these
sources?
Answer:
Software
components are provided by the following main sources: IT service firms,
prepackaged software producers, custom software producers, enterprise software
vendors, and in-house staff. IT service firms help companies develop custom
information systems and/or develop and host applications for clients. Surprisingly,
IBM, usually known as a hardware
manufacturer, is also a leader in IT
Services, largely thanks to its merger with Price Waterhouse Cooper. The leader
in prepackaged software delivery is Microsoft, who provides operating systems
as well as a host of off-the-shelf products, most notably for office
applications such as word processors and spreadsheet software. In general
prepackaged software vendors will be used when the software components are
required to support generic tasks. Custom software producers are used for
outsourcing development of software products that meet the specific needs of an
individual company or organization. Accenture and Capgemini are leaders in this
category. Enterprise
Page
Reference: 277-281 Difficulty: Moderate
46. What is an ERP system? How does
it differ from other software solutions such as prepackaged or custom software?
What are advantages and disadvantages of ERP systems?
Answer:
ERP
stands for Enterprise Resource Planning. This refers to information systems
that integrate individual business functions into modules, thereby enabling a
single information system to seamlessly perform all operations regarding
business transactions, including order processing, manufacturing, inventory
control, shipping, billing, accounting, and human resource functions. Unlike
individual custom or prepackaged software products, which are typically built
to support a particular functional unit of the organization, ERP systems focus
on business processes that cut across all functional units. This has the
advantage of allowing a single repository of data to support all aspects of the
business process. In addition, ERP systems are flexible, in that new modules
can be added or modified as needed once the basic system is in place. However,
ERP systems tend to be quite complex, requiring extensive implementation time.
Also, in-house expertise is almost never available for these types of systems;
thus an ERP user must rely on consultants who can be very expensive. Finally,
because ERP systems impose a preset structure, this often necessitates that the
organization alter its business processes to fit the restrictions of the ERP
system.
Page
Reference: 279-280 Difficulty: Moderate
47. What is open-source software, and
why is it unique in comparison to other software sources? How can open-source developers reap financial
profits from providing this type of software? When is it appropriate to select
this type of software source? Finally, identify three open-source software
products.
Answer:
The
main distinctions that separate open-source software from other products are
that (a) it is developed by a community of developers rather than employees of
a particular company, (b) it is distributed free of charge to anyone who wants
it, and (c) the source code is provided along with the executable product
itself. Although it is provided for free, developers can still profit from this
method of distribution. For example, the software can be provided free of
charge, and then users could be charged for maintenance and services. Also,
some vendors may provide one version of the software for free, and an enhanced
version with more functionality for an additional fee. This software will be an
appropriate choice for generic tasks when cost is a major issue. Three
currently popular open-source products are Linux (an operating system), mySql
(a database management system), and FireFox (a web browser).
Page
Reference: 280-281 Difficulty: Moderate
48. List and describe the main
criteria for selecting off-the-shelf software from external vendors. How are
these criteria to be ranked in terms of importance level?
Answer:
When
selecting prepackaged software components, the analyst should consider a number
of criteria. Cost is, of course, one factor; all things being equal, you would
select the lowest cost product. More important is functionality. You want to
select the product that most completely meets the needs of the organization,
although it should be noted that prepackaged software solutions are generic and
are unlikely to meet all specific needs of a company. At minimum, you should
ensure that the software product meets the mandatory needs outlined when
generating alternative design strategies. Off-the-shelf software products vary
in flexibility; this pertains to how customizable the product is. The more
flexible the product, the more likelihood that its can be tailored to meet your
company’s specific requirements. Customization, however, can affect cost, so
these factors must be weighed against each other. System performance issues
such as response time are another important criterion. Another factor to
consider is ease of installation, although this is generally a one-time or at
least infrequent issue. Documentation can also be important; ideally a software
product should include online help and technical documentation. Although these
criteria may vary in importance based on the needs of the organization, the
most important criteria are those involving the vendor. For example, it is
imperative to select a well-respected vendor with a proven track record of
viability. Also, you should make sure that the vendor provides substantial and
reliable support for the product.
Page
Reference: 281-283 Difficulty: Moderate
49. When purchasing a software
package from an outside source, it is important to obtain as much valid
information about the product as possible. What are some ways that an analyst
may accomplish this task?
Answer:
Analysts
can obtain information about a vendor’s software product or services from many
sources. One source is the vendor itself. Typically, a team of analysts will
put together a request for proposals (RFP) or request for quotes (RFQ), and
send this to potential vendors, who are then responsible to provide detailed
information about the product or service they can render. Another way to obtain
information is to actually spend some time using the software, running it
through tests based on the user’s requirements. Thorough study of the technical
and user documentation should also be done. Analysts can also query other users
of the vendor’s product in order to gain their perspective on the product;
vendors will often supply a list of their satisfied customers, and the
experienced analyst should rely on her own network of contacts to get a more
objective sample if possible. Trade publications often provide reviews of
software products, so these can also be used as information. Finally,
independent software testing services exist who can evaluate vendor products
for a fee.
Page
Reference: 282-283 Difficulty: Moderate
50. Discuss the issues to consider in
deciding whether or not to convert to a different implementation environment
when developing a new information system. What are the relative advantages and
disadvantages of sticking with the old platform vs. moving to a new one?
Answer:
The
decisions regarding hardware and system software platforms are affected by the
state of the current platform and the requirements of the new system, as well
as the practices and mind-set of the organization. Sometimes new application
components will necessitate a move to a new platform. For example, if the
organization is moving from a legacy system to one involving new technology
such as object-orientation, this may necessitate upgrading to a new database,
switching from mainframe to client-server architecture, or upgrading the
operating system. Upgrading the
implementation environment presents opportunities to the organization beyond
the immediate issues regarding the new information system. It gives the
organization an opportunity to increase the value of its technological
holdings, and provides an incentive for making radical changes to business
processes and information infrastructure. On the other hand, there are factors
that support remaining with the old platform. Cost is certainly one factor; it
is much more expensive to move to a new implementation environment. Also, it is
easier to integrate the new application with existing information systems if
the new application can be delivered on the existing environment. Familiarity
and comfort are also important factors. Users already know the existing environment,
and switching to a new one requires a steep learning curve. There may be less
political resistance to the new system if it is delivered on the old platform.
Page
Reference: 283-284 Difficulty: Moderate
51. Describe the main updates that will
likely occur to the baseline project plan (BPP) as a result of design strategy
selection. Be as comprehensive as possible, including discussion of each
section of the BPP.
Answer:
Several
elements of the original BPP need to be modified during this stage of systems
development. At this point, a more detailed analysis has been completed, and
the information gained from this analysis changes, or at least refines, the
assumptions that were in place when the BPP was originally developed. Each
section of the original BPP will now be updated. The Introduction section
should now include the recommendation of the preferred design strategy; this
includes a summary of the important findings as well as any recommendations for
subsequent activities. The System Description section should include detailed
descriptions of all the alternative strategies together with comparison charts.
The Feasibility Assessment will probably be modified significantly based on the
knowledge gained during systems analysis, and should include much more detailed
and accurate estimates of costs and benefits as well as a much better
understanding of technical and organizational risks. In particular, the
schedule, timeline, and resource requirements will be much more detailed than
before; the Gantt or Pert charts will be more detailed based on (a) report and
form designs, (b) data designs, (c) programming requirements, and (d) training
and implementation issues. In addition, some tasks may be marked as already in
progress or completed. Finally, the Management Issues section will be updated,
specifying any employee performance issues, staffing changes needed,
modifications to communication procedures, and any other management issues that
were discovered during this phase.
Page
Reference: 287-293 Difficulty: Moderate
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