Question 1

A company's IT architecture includes all of the following except:
A)Hardware and software
B)Networks
C)Database management systems
D)The members of the IT staff
E)How IT decisions will be made

Accepted Answer

The IT architecture includes the technical components of a company's IT system, such as hardware, software, networks, and database management systems. It also includes the processes, standards, and guidelines for making IT decisions. However, it does not include the members of the IT staff, as they are part of the human resources of the company.

Question 2

Which of the following statements about determining the costs and benefits of IT investments is false?
A)Some costs are fixed.
B)Costs do not end when the system is installed.
C)Many IT projects end up being over budget.
D)Benefits are hard to quantify because implementing new technology could be used for multiple purposes.
E)Benefits are hard to quantify because they are tangible.

Accepted Answer

The statement "Benefits are hard to quantify because they are tangible" is false. Benefits are actually hard to quantify because they are often intangible, such as increased efficiency or improved customer satisfaction.

Question 3

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 - operation/maintenance
C)Analysis - design - investigation - operation/maintenance - programming/testing - implementation
D)Investigation - analysis - design - programming/testing - operation/maintenance - implementation
E)Investigation - implementation - analysis - programming/testing - design - operation/maintenance

Accepted Answer

The correct sequence for the stages of the systems development life cycle is: Investigation, Analysis, Design, Programming/Testing, Implementation, and Operation/Maintenance. This order reflects the logical progression from understanding the problem (Investigation), through planning and design (Analysis and Design), to building and deploying the solution (Programming/Testing and Implementation), and finally maintaining the system (Operation/Maintenance).

Question 4

In the traditional systems development life cycle, users:
A)Are important and ongoing members of the development team throughout the life of the project.
B)Are important only in the testing phases of the project.
C)Have no input.
D)Are important only in the maintenance phase of the project.
E)Provide information requirements.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the traditional systems development life cycle,...

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

The Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a time-consuming process that involves multiple stages like planning, analysis, design, implementation, and maintenance. It requires extensive documentation at each stage and can cost a significant amount of time and money. Additionally, the SDLC method is prone to delays and may not be suitable for organizations that need to adapt quickly to changing requirements.

Question 6

Which of the following systems acquisition methods can result in a company's acquiring software that is controlled by another company, may be difficult to enhance or modify, and may not support the desired business processes?
A)Systems development life cycle
B)Prototyping
C)End-user development
D)Buy option
E)Component-based development

Accepted Answer

The buy option involves purchasing software from another company. This method can result in the acquisition of software that is difficult to modify or enhance, as it is controlled by the original company that developed it. Additionally, the software may not fully support the desired business processes of the acquiring company.

Question 7

Which of the following is not a part of systems analysis?
A)Defining the business problem
B)Identifying the causes of, and solutions to, the business problem
C)Identifying the information requirements that the solution must satisfy
D)Identifying the technical specifications of the solution
E)Gathering information about the existing system

Accepted Answer

Identifying the technical specifications of the solution is not a part of systems analysis. It is a part of systems design, which comes after systems analysis. The other choices are all part of systems analysis.

Question 8

_____ 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
E)Time

Accepted Answer

Economic feasibility is the most suitable option, as it assesses the financial viability of the project and ensures that the organization can afford the expenses and time needed to complete the project. Technical feasibility is related to the technical aspects of the project; Organizational and Behavioral feasibility appraises the impact of the project on individuals and organizations. Time feasibility determines whether the project can be completed within the given time frame.

Question 9

Which of the following are disadvantages of the buy option for acquiring IS applications?
A)The software may not exactly meet the company's needs.
B)The software may be impossible to modify.
C)The company will not have control over software improvements.
D)The software may not integrate with existing systems.
E)All of these

Accepted Answer

All of these are potential disadvantages of the buy option for acquiring IS applications. Companies should carefully consider these factors before deciding to purchase off-the-shelf software instead of developing custom software in-house.

Question 10

_____ feasibility concerns a project's financial risk.
A)Technical
B)Economic
C)Organizational
D)Behavioral
E)Time

Accepted Answer

Economic feasibility concerns the project's financial risk. It assesses whether the project is financially viable and profitable by considering factors such as cost-benefit analysis, return on investment, and cash flow analysis. Technical feasibility assesses whether the project can be accomplished with available technology/resources. Organizational feasibility examines whether the project can be implemented within the organization's structure and culture. Behavioral feasibility considers whether the project will be accepted by stakeholders and end-users. Time feasibility evaluates whether the project can be completed within the given timeline.

Question 11

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)The software can be tried out.
C)The buy option saves time.
D)The company will know what it is getting.
E)All of these

Accepted Answer

Option A is not an advantage, as the limited availability of off-the-shelf software can lead to a lack of options and potentially limit the company's ability to find the best fit for their needs. The other options listed are advantages of the buy option.

Question 12

Which of the following systems acquisition methods requires 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

Accepted Answer

The systems development life cycle requires staff to systematically go through every step in the development process, including analysis, design, implementation, testing, and maintenance. This method has a lower probability of missing important user requirements because it involves careful planning and analysis before any development work begins. Prototyping and end-user development are both iterative approaches that may not capture all user requirements upfront, while external acquisition and object-oriented development do not necessarily involve the same level of thorough analysis and planning as the systems development life cycle.

Question 13

The deliverable of the systems design stage is:
A)User requirements.
B)Technical system specifications.
C)The prototype.
D)The source code.
E)A working application.

Accepted Answer

The systems design stage is where the technical system specifications are developed. This includes detailed designs of the system architecture, hardware and software specifications, data models, network diagrams, and other technical details. The prototype, source code, and working application are typically developed in later stages such as implementation and testing. User requirements are gathered in the requirements analysis stage.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

The systems development life cycle (SDLC) posits that changes made earlier in the process are less expensive than those made later. This is because early changes often require less rework and can be integrated more smoothly into the development process.

Question 15

_____ is a method of delivering software in which a vendor hosts the applications and customers access these applications over the Internet.
A)Software-as-a-Service
B)Prototyping
C)Leasing the application
D)Service-oriented architecture
E)The buy option

Accepted Answer

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is a method of delivering software in which a vendor hosts the applications and customers access these applications over the internet. This eliminates the need for customers to install and run software on their computers. SaaS is typically offered through a subscription model, with customers paying a recurring fee to access the software.

Question 16

Which of the following statements is false?
A)Companies that use Software-as-a-Service are running applications on the vendor's hardware.
B)Application service providers are similar to Software-as-a-Service providers.
C)Companies that purchase open-source software cannot modify it.
D)Outsourcing refers to acquiring IT applications from outside contractors.
E)Insourcing refers to building IT applications in-house.

Accepted Answer

Companies that purchase open-source software can modify it as necessary, which is one of the benefits of using open-source software. The other statements are all true - A) Software-as-a-Service involves running applications on the vendor's hardware, B) Application service providers offer similar services to Software-as-a-Service providers, D) Outsourcing involves acquiring IT applications from outside contractors, and E) Insourcing involves building IT applications in-house.

Question 17

Which of the following systems acquisition methods saves the company's time, enables the company to select software that has been used for similar problems in other organizations, and allows the company to try out the software?
A)Systems development life cycle
B)Prototyping
C)End-user development
D)Buy option
E)Object-oriented development

Accepted Answer

The "Buy option" allows a company to save time by purchasing off-the-shelf software that has already been developed and tested for similar problems in other organizations. This method also often includes the possibility of a trial period to test the software before making a final decision.

Question 18

A company's IT application portfolio is
A)A list of existing application the company owns.
B)A list of applications that need to be updated.
C)A list of applications that need to be removed.
D)A list of applications that need to be replaced.
E)A list of application to be added or modified.

Accepted Answer

A company's IT application portfolio is a comprehensive list of existing applications, as well as any planned modifications or new additions. This allows the company to have a clear understanding of their current IT capabilities and plan for future growth and development. Therefore, option E is the best choice as it encompasses both current and future application needs.

Question 19

Evaluating the benefits of IT projects is more complex than evaluating their costs for all of the following reasons except:
A)Benefits are harder than costs to quantify.
B)Benefits tend to be more tangible than costs.
C)IT can be used for several different purposes.
D)The probability of obtaining a return from an IT investment is based on the probability of implementation success.
E)The proposed system may be "cutting edge."

Accepted Answer

Benefits tend to be less tangible and harder to quantify than costs. This is because costs are usually associated with the expenses incurred in implementing the IT project, such as hardware, software, and personnel costs, which can be easily measured. On the other hand, benefits may be intangible, indirect, or difficult to measure, such as increased productivity or improved customer satisfaction.

Question 20

_____ feasibility addresses the human issues of an information systems project.
A)Technical
B)Economic
C)Organizational
D)Behavioral
E)Time

Accepted Answer

Behavioral feasibility refers to the human issues that may arise during the development and implementation of an information system project. It considers factors such as user acceptance, resistance to change, and cultural differences.

Quiz 13: Acquiring Information Systems and Applications

A company's IT architecture includes all of the following except:

Which of the following statements about determining the costs and benefits of IT investments is false?

Place the stages of the systems development life cycle in order:

In the traditional systems development life cycle, users:

Which of the following systems acquisition methods is time consuming, costly, and may produce excessive documentation?

Which of the following systems acquisition methods can result in a company's acquiring software that is controlled by another company, may be difficult to enhance or modify, and may not support the desired business processes?

Which of the following is not a part of systems analysis?

_____ 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.

Which of the following are disadvantages of the buy option for acquiring IS applications?

_____ feasibility concerns a project's financial risk.

Which of the following is not an advantage of the buy option for acquiring IS applications?

Which of the following systems acquisition methods requires staff to systematically go through every step in the development process and has a lower probability of missing important user requirements?

The deliverable of the systems design stage is:

The _ that changes are made in the systems development life cycle, the _ expensive these changes become.

_____ is a method of delivering software in which a vendor hosts the applications and customers access these applications over the Internet.

Which of the following statements is false?

Which of the following systems acquisition methods saves the company's time, enables the company to select software that has been used for similar problems in other organizations, and allows the company to try out the software?

A company's IT application portfolio is

Evaluating the benefits of IT projects is more complex than evaluating their costs for all of the following reasons except:

_____ feasibility addresses the human issues of an information systems project.