In the model of the SDLC shown in the accompanying figure, the ____ usually begins with a formal

request to the IT department, called a systems request, which describes problems or desired changes in
an information system or a business process. Answer: systems planning phase

A ____, or requirements model, describes the information that a system must provide. Answer:
business model

Examples of company-wide applications, called ____, include order processing systems, payroll systems,
and company communications networks. Answer: enterprise applications

____ is a systems development technique that produces a graphical representation of a concept or

process that systems developers can analyze, test, and modify. Answer: Modeling

Whereas structured analysis treats processes and data as separate components, ____ combines data
and the processes that act on the data into things called objects. Answer: O-O

Because it focuses on processes that transform data into useful information, structured analysis is called
a(n) ____ technique. Answer: process-centered

Traditionally, the SDLC is pictured as a(n) ____, like that shown in the accompanying figure, where the
result of each phase, which is called a deliverable or end product, flows sequentially into the next phase.
Answer: waterfall model

The ____ method of developing systems produces code that is modular and reusable. Answer:
object-oriented analysis

Structured analysis is a traditional systems development technique that uses a series of phases, called
the ____, to plan, analyze, design, implement, and support an information system. Answer: SDLC

In a typical company organizational model, middle managers ____. Answer: provide direction,
necessary resources, and performance feedback to supervisors and team leaders

The ____ method of developing systems stresses team interaction and reflects a set of community-
based values. Answer: adaptive

In launching a new information system, the greatest risk occurs when a company ____. Answer: tries
to decide how the system will be implemented before determining what the system is supposed to do

In the model of the SDLC shown in the accompanying figure, during ____, the IT staff maintains,
enhances, and protects the system. Answer: systems support and security

In object-oriented design, built-in processes called ____ can change an object's properties. Answer:
methods

When companies attempt to simplify operations or reduce costs, a popular strategy is to have managers
and systems analysts perform ____. Answer: business process reengineering (BPR)
Systems analysts use a process called ____ to represent a company's operations and information needs.
Answer: business process modeling

When planning an information system, a company must consider how a new system will interface with
older systems, which are called ____. Answer: Legacy systems

Over 40 years ago, a concept called Moore's Law accurately predicted that computer processing power
would double about every ____. Answer: 24 months

User productivity systems ____. Answer: include e-mail, voice mail, fax, video conferencing, word
processing, automated calendars, database management, spreadsheets, and high-seed Internet access

In a knowledge management system, a knowledge base consists of logical rules that identify data
patterns and relationships. Answer: False

Because they focus on a longer time frame, middle managers need less detailed information than top
managers, but somewhat more than supervisors who oversee day-to-day operations. Answer: False

A corporate culture is the set of beliefs, rules, traditions, values, and attitudes that define a company
and influence its way of doing business. Answer: True

In the systems analysis phase, the first step is requirements modeling, where business processes are
investigated and what the new system must do is documented. Answer: True

Roark has just joined the company and in his role as lead analyst, he will be responsible for determining
which systems development method the team uses to create the new application for a major medical
supplier.
It is a new day at the firm. Roark has been in place for a few weeks, strengthening the communications
skills of his employees, getting them to work much better together. Now, the challenge that he faces is
not an internal one; it lies with the client, which is increasingly showing itself to be incapable of sticking
with decisions. Roark, based on his past experience with other clients like this, is afraid that the client
will throw them a curveball and want to make changes late in the game — but that they also will be
unwilling to absorb the costs of those changes. For this reason, Roark eliminates which of the following
methods of development? Answer: structured analysis

Roark has just joined the company and in his role as lead analyst, he will be responsible for determining
which systems development method the team uses to create the new application for a major medical
supplier.
After Roark has spent a week getting to know the members of the team, including their strengths and
weaknesses, and what has worked well (and not so well) for this particular team in the past, one theme
keeps recurring: the team has particularly weak communications skills. Which of the following methods,
then, is he least likely to use, given what he knows about the disadvantages of each method?
Answer: agile/adaptive methods

A feasibility study includes tests for ____ feasibility, which means that the projected benefits of the
proposed system outweigh the estimated costs. Answer: economic

A systems request form should not ____. Answer: have complex instructions
In a preliminary investigation report, the ____ contain(s) a brief description of the system, the name of
the person or group performing the investigation, and the name of the person or group who initiated
the investigation. Answer: introduction

Examples of tangible benefits include all of the following except a(n) ____. Answer: user-friendly
system that improves employee job satisfaction

____ components can provide automated response to sales inquiries, Web-based order processing, and
online inventory tracking. Answer: Customer relationship management (CRM)

A popular technique for investigating causes and effects is called a(n) ____ diagram, which is an analysis
tool that represents the possible causes of a problem as a graphical outline. Answer: fishbone

____ planning is the process of identifying long-term organizational goals, strategies, and resources.
Answer: Strategic

In sequence, the interviewing process involves a series of steps: ____, conduct the interview, document
the interview, and evaluate the interview. Answer: determine the people to interview, establish
objectives for the interview, develop interview questions, prepare for the interview

During strategic planning, top managers ask a series of questions that is called a(n) ____ analysis
because it examines a company's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Answer: SWOT

The primary method of obtaining information during the preliminary investigation is to ____.
Answer: conduct interviews

When assessing priorities for systems requests, a systems analyst should look for high scores in all of the
following except ____. Answer: Will the proposed system decrease revenue for the company?

When evaluating systems requests, all of the following are disadvantages of a systems review
committee except ____. Answer: one person's bias is more likely to affect the decisions

To avoid the problem of project creep, ____. Answer: define project scope as clearly as possible

When using a ____ diagram to investigate causes of a problem, an analyst first states the problem and
then draws a main bone with sub-bones that represent possible causes of the problem. Answer:
fishbone

Projects where management has a choice in implementing them are called ____ projects. Answer:
discretionary

Competition drives many information systems decisions. Answer: True

Even if users have difficulty with a new system, it still will produce the expected benefits. Answer:
False
When interacting with users, a systems analyst should focus on difficulties instead of questioning users
about additional capability they would like to have. Answer: False

Whenever possible, a systems analyst should evaluate a proposed project based on tangible costs and
benefits that represent actual (or approximate) dollar values. Answer: True

As part of the annual report for the fiscal year just ended, Lara is working on a grid that summarizes the
major decisions that the small business for which she works made during the year. As part of her review,
she is identifying whether a decision was impacted by factors internal to the company, or external.

Which of the following does not appear on Lara's list of external factors? Answer: Sales reps
requested a more powerful sales analysis report.

Sam is the analyst with the responsibility for assessing the economic feasibility of the new system that
his team has been hired to develop for Widgets, Inc.

Sam's boss has asked for a quick list of the tangible benefits of the new system, because the client has
expressed some concerns about the project and she wants to reassure him. Which of the following
would NOT be on such a list as developed by Sam? Answer: The new system is more user-friendly,
thus increasing employee job satisfaction.

The estimated costs of a proposed system usually are considered the ____, which includes ongoing
support and maintenance costs, as well as acquisition costs. Answer: TCO

Of the measures of feasibility in the accompanying figure, ____ considers questions such as "Does
management support the project?" and "Will the new system require training for users?" Answer:
operational feasibility

____ is an example of a discretionary project. Answer: Creating a new report for a user

A systems analyst conducts a(n) ____ investigation to study the systems request and recommend
specific action. Answer: preliminary

Of the measures of feasibility in the accompanying figure, ____ assesses tangible and intangible benefits
to the company in addition to costs. Answer: economic feasibility

When setting priorities for systems requests, the highest priority goes to projects that provide the ____.
Answer: greatest benefit, at the lowest cost, in the shortest period of time

A feasibility study includes tests for ____ feasibility, which refers to the practical resources needed to
develop, purchase, install, or operate the system. Answer: technical

In the preliminary investigation report, the ____ section contains the results of the preliminary
investigation, including a description of the project's scope, constraints, and feasibility. Answer:
findings

____ limitations result when a system that was designed for a specific hardware configuration becomes
obsolete when new hardware is introduced. Answer: Performance
Determining the project ____ means to define the boundaries, or extent, of a project — being as specific
as possible. Answer: scope

The purpose of an interview, and of the preliminary investigation itself, is to convince others that a
project is justified, not to uncover facts. Answer: False

Data entry controls should be excessive without being effective. Answer: False

If only one person has the necessary IT skills and experience to evaluate systems requests, that person
should consult closely with users and managers throughout the company to ensure that business and
operational needs are considered carefully. Answer: True

Sam is the analyst with the responsibility for assessing the economic feasibility of the new system that
his team has been hired to develop for Widgets, Inc.

Sam's boss has asked for a quick list of the tangible benefits of the new system, because the client has
expressed some concerns about the project and she wants to reassure him. Which of the following
would NOT be on such a list as developed by Sam? Answer: The new system is more user-friendly,
thus increasing employee job satisfaction.

The first step in creating a WBS is to ____. Answer: identify all tasks

A ____ is an event that could affect a project negatively. Answer: risk

When maintaining schedules, if enough ____ and frequent checkpoints exist, problems will be detected
rapidly. Answer: milestones

When two or more concurrent tasks depend on a single prior task, the concurrent tasks are called ____
tasks. Answer: successor

The first step in the creation of a PERT/CPM chart is to ____. Answer: identify all the project tasks

A ____ path includes all tasks that are vital to the project schedule. Answer: critical

All of the following are metrics of a successful project EXCEPT ____. Answer: completion with the
same personnel as were on the team at the outset

Project managers always must be aware of the ____ path, so they can monitor the vital tasks and keep
the project on track. Answer: critical

In addition to tasks, every project has ____, which are reference points used to monitor progress and
manage the project. Answer: milestones

A project manager must balance ____ to achieve a workable schedule; graphical planning aids like the
one in the accompanying figure can help in the process. Answer: all of the above
task time estimates, sequences, personnel assignments
A project manager's planning _____. Answer: includes identifying project tasks and estimating
completion times and costs

For a project manager, monitoring and controlling _____. Answer: includes monitoring the progress
of the project, evaluating results, and taking corrective action when necessary to stay on target

Most risk identifications include a brief description of all of the following EXCEPT ____. Answer: the
team member most vulnerable to a given risk

In developing time and cost estimates, project managers must consider _____. Answer: all of the
above
project size and scope, prior experience with similar projects or systems, IT resources

Problems with timetables and project milestones can indicate ____. Answer: any of the above
personality conflicts among team members, turnover of project personnel, poor control methods

The accompanying figure shows task ____, which each might represent several activities that can be
shown in a more detailed chart. Answer: groups

All of the following are possible causes of cost overruns related to human resource factors EXCEPT ____.
Answer: inaccurate TCO forecast

Many project managers find ____ charts more helpful for scheduling, monitoring, and controlling
projects. Answer: PERT/CPM

Project scheduling involves all of the following EXCEPT ____. Answer: defining project constraints

Most managers recognize that problems do occur on most projects; it is better to alert management
sooner rather than later. Answer: True

System developers can initiate a formal project as early as the preliminary investigation stage, or later
on, as analysis, design, and implementation activities occur. Answer: True

Project planning is a dynamic task and involves constant change. Answer: True

When tasks must be completed one after another, they are called concurrent tasks. Answer: False

In discussing PERT/CPM charts, you discuss the types of task patterns that can occur in a project
schedule. You give an example of two tasks, A and B, that can both begin as soon as task C is finished.
Which of the following is NOT a true statement about tasks A and B? Answer: They are predecessor
tasks of each other.

Two or more concurrent tasks often depend on a single prior task, which is called a(n) ____ task.
Answer: predecessor

A _____ cannot be started until one or more other tasks are completed. Answer: dependent task
PERT/CPM is called a(n) ____ technique, because it analyzes a large, complex project as a series of
individual tasks. Answer: bottom-up

When several tasks can start at the same time, each is called a ____ task. Answer: concurrent

A project manager's scheduling function _____. Answer: involves staffing, which includes selecting
the project team and assigning specific tasks to team members

In a PERT/CPM chart, each task has all of the following EXCEPT a(n) ____. Answer: reference to
successor tasks

A risk ____ plan is a proactive effort to anticipate a risk and describe an action plan to deal with it.
Answer: response

Using prior experience to make time and cost estimates works best for large projects. Answer: False

When two or more concurrent tasks depend on a single prior task, each of the concurrent tasks is called
a predecessor task. Answer: False

Although a Gantt chart provides more detailed information about a project, a PERT/CPM chart offers a
rapid overview that graphically displays the timing, duration, and progress of each task. Answer:
True

A common tool for showing the distribution of a questionnaire or sampling results is a vertical bar chart
called a(n) ____. Answer: histogram

A(n) ____ is a UML technique that visually represents the interaction between users and an information
system. Answer: use case diagram

Greater user involvement in the system development process usually results in ____. Answer: more
satisfied users

In an interview, ____ are questions that ask a person to evaluate something by providing limited
answers to specific responses or on a numeric scale. Answer: range-of-response questions

In a use case diagram, the user becomes a(n) ____, with a specific role that describes how he or she
interacts with a system. Answer: actor

____ is a typical example of a system requirement for the input category. Answer: Student grades
must be entered on machine-scannable forms prepared by the instructor

When preparing a representative sample from a list of 200 customers who complained about errors in
their statements, a ____ might select every tenth customer for review. Answer: systematic sample

In a(n) ____ structure, which usually is based on interpersonal relationships, some people have more
influence or knowledge than appears on an organization chart. Answer: informal
When preparing a representative sample from a list of 200 customers who complained about errors in
their statements, a ____ could ensure the sample is balanced geographically by selecting five customers
from each of four zip codes. Answer: stratified sample

When preparing a representative sample from a list of 200 customers who complained about errors in
their statements, a ____ might select any 20 customers. Answer: random sample

____ is a typical example of a system requirement for the output category. Answer: The contact
management system must generate a daily reminder list for all sales reps

Using a(n) ____, an analyst can show business functions and break them down into lower-level functions
and processes. Answer: FDD

____ enable a systems analyst to identify a problem, evaluate the key elements, and develop a useful
solution. Answer: Analytical skills

A(n) ____ is a top-down representation of a function or a process. Answer: FDD

If an interviewee gives only short or incomplete responses to open-ended questions, a systems analyst
should do all of the following EXCEPT ____. Answer: give the interviewee easy access to supporting
material that might be needed

In a(n) ____, team members prepare to lunge at each other to achieve their objectives. Answer:
scrum

The ____ phase of the SDLC includes four main activities: requirements modeling, data and process
modeling, object modeling, and consideration of development strategies. Answer: systems analysis

RAD relies heavily on ____. Answer: both a and b

prototyping, user involvement

In an interview, ____ encourage spontaneous and unstructured responses. Answer: open-ended

questions

The ability to manage information is the mark of a successful systems analyst and an important skill for
all IT professionals. Answer: True

When fact-finding, asking what is being done is the same as asking what could or should be done.
Answer: False

In the early stages of systems analysis, interviews usually focus on specific topics, but as the fact-finding
process continues, the interviews are more general. Answer: False

IT professionals recognize that successful systems must be user-oriented, and users need to be involved,
formally or informally, at every stage of systems development. Answer: True

Perry has inherited an Excel sheet that lists all of the system requirements for his team's new project,
but unfortunately, his predecessor did not label the requirements with categories—or in some cases
failed to categorize them correctly—so he needs to take care of this so the requirements can be sorted
correctly.

Perry has found one system requirement that he thinks could fit into a couple of different categories.
What is the best categorization of this requirement: An employee record must be added, changed, or
deleted only by a member of the human resources department? Answer: control

In projects where it is desirable to obtain input from a large number of people, a(n) ____, such as that
shown in the accompanying figure, can be a valuable tool. Answer: questionnaire

____ is a typical example of a system requirement for the performance category. Answer: The
student records system must produce class lists within five hours after the end of registration

When preparing a representative sample from a list of 200 customers who complained about errors in
their statements, a ____ might select any 20 customers. Answer: random sample

The ____ is a widely used method of visualizing and documenting software systems design. Answer:
UML

____ is a typical example of a system requirement for the control category. Answer: The system
must maintain separate levels of security for users and the system administrator

In an interview, ____ limit or restrict the response. Answer: closed-ended questions

In a(n) ____ structure, which usually is based on interpersonal relationships, some people have more
influence or knowledge than appears on an organization chart. Answer: informal

In addition to direct costs, systems developers must identify and document indirect expenses that
contribute to the ____. Answer: TCO

When preparing a representative sample from a list of 200 customers who complained about errors in
their statements, a ____ could ensure the sample is balanced geographically by selecting five customers
from each of four zip codes. Answer: stratified sample

When designing a questionnaire, arrange questions in a random order, intermixing simple and more
complex topics. Answer: False

The main objective of a sample is to ensure that it represents the overall population accurately.
Answer: True

A list of topics should be sent to an interviewee several days before the meeting, especially when
detailed information is needed, so the person can prepare for the interview and minimize the need for a
follow-up meeting. Answer: True

Kieran has finished compiling the list of the various members of the JAD group: He is the JAD project
leader, Malia is the representative from top management, Simon is a manager, Alisa and Ian are users,
Shakira and Max are systems analysts, and Devon is the recorder.
As Kieran develops the agenda he wants to put the name of the appropriate person next to the agenda
item. Whose name would he put next to the final task on the agenda, the task of preparing the report
that will be sent to JAD team members? Answer: his own

In a data dictionary, some data elements have ____ rules, such as an employee's salary must be within
the range defined for the employee's job classification. Answer: validity

In data and process modeling, a(n) ____ model shows what the system must do, regardless of how it will
be implemented physically. Answer: logical

A black hole process is a process that has ____. Answer: no output

A black hole process is a process that has ____. Answer: a process step that is repeated until a
specific condition changes

A decision ____ is a graphical representation of the conditions, actions, and rules found in a decision
table. Answer: tree

____ is the process of drawing a series of increasingly detailed DFDs, until all functional primitives are
identified. Answer: Leveling

____ is/are logically impossible in a DFD because a process must act on input, shown by an incoming
data flow, and produce output, represented by an outgoing data flow. Answer: All of the above
Spontaneous generation, Gray holes, Black holes

Decision trees show the logic structure in a ____. Answer: horizontal form that resembles a tree
with the roots at the left and the branches to the right

DFD symbols are referenced by using all ____ letters for the symbol name. Answer: capital

The data dictionary usually records and describes a default value, which is the ____. Answer: value
for the data element if a value otherwise is not entered for it

In a data dictionary, data elements are combined into ____, which are meaningful combinations of data
elements that are included in data flows or retained in data stores. Answer: records

A data dictionary specifies a data element's ____, which is the set of values permitted for the data
element. Answer: domain

In a data dictionary, a(n) ____ is the smallest piece of data that has meaning within an information
system. Answer: field

In a DFD, the Gane and Sarson symbol for a process is a ____. Answer: rectangle with rounded
corners

Because diagram 0 is a more detailed or expanded version of process 0 on a context diagram, diagram 0
is called a(n) ____. Answer: exploded view
In a data dictionary, any name other than the standard data element name is called a(n) ____.
Answer: alias

Balancing ____. Answer: ensures that the input and output data flows of the parent DFD are
maintained on the child DFD

In a DFD, the Gane and Sarson symbol for a data flow is a ____. Answer: line with a single or double
arrowhead

In most data dictionaries, records are defined together with the data flows and data stores. Answer:
False

Two data stores can be connected by a data flow without an intervening process. Answer: False

In addition to describing each data element, data flow, data store, record, entity, and process, the data
dictionary documents the relationships among these components. Answer: True

In modular design, a rectangle represents a condition or decision, a diamond shape represents a step or
a process, and the logic follows the lines in the direction indicated by the arrows. Answer: False

The analysts at Novel Systems Worldwide are considering the four-model approach to system
development for a new client.

If they pursue the four-model approach, which of the following is a likely outcome? Answer: Costs
may be high.

The analysts at Novel Systems Worldwide are considering the four-model approach to system
development for a new client.

Which of the following will NOT be developed if they decide to use the four-model approach?
Answer: A teleological model of the current system

A data ____ is a central storehouse of information about a system's data. Answer: repository

In a DFD, the Gane and Sarson symbol for a data flow is a ____. Answer: line with a single or double
arrowhead

The selection structure is the completion of ____ Answer: one or more process steps based on the
results of a test or condition

If processes must be performed in a specific sequence, you document the information in the ____.
Answer: process descriptions

____ maintains consistency among DFDs by ensuring that input and output data flows align properly.
Answer: Balancing

Typical process description tools include all of the following EXCEPT ____. Answer: context diagrams
Structured English might look familiar to programming students because it resembles ____, which is
used in program design. Answer: pseudocode

A(n) ____ table shows a logical structure, with all possible combinations of conditions and resulting
actions. Answer: decision

In a DFD, the Gane and Sarson symbol for an entity is a ____. Answer: rectangle, which may be
shaded to make it look three-dimensional

In a data dictionary, ____ refers to whether the data element contains numeric, alphabetic, or character
values. Answer: type

What makes one system more complex than another is the number of components, the number of
levels, and the degree of interaction among its processes, entities, data stores, and data flows.
Answer: True

In a DFD, a data flow must have a process symbol on at least one end. Answer: True

Evan is an expert on all of the different kinds of process description tools, so when his colleagues have
questions, they know where to turn.

One of the firm's beginner analysts is working on a financial process that will continue to print vendor
payments until it reaches the end of the file. Which of the following processes will Evan suggest that the
analyst use? Answer: iteration

The line from the actor to a use case is called a(n) ____. Answer: association

The UML symbol for a use case is a(n) ____ with a label that describes the action or event. Answer:
oval

A ____ is a command that tells an object to perform a certain method. Answer: message

A use case ____ is a visual summary of several related use cases within a system or subsystem.
Answer: diagram

An object has certain ____, which are characteristics that describe the object. Answer: attributes

The UML notation ____ identifies a zero or many relation. Answer: 0..*

A(n) ____ represents a real person, place, event, or transaction. Answer: object

____ describe what objects need to know about each other, how objects respond to changes in other
objects, and the effects of membership in classes, superclasses, and subclasses. Answer:
Relationships

Your red Mustang is a(n) ____ of the CAR class. Answer: instance
Inheritance enables an object, called a ____, to derive one or more of its attributes from another object.
Answer: child

In an object-oriented system, objects can ____ certain attributes from other objects. Answer: inherit

All objects within a(n) ____ share common attributes and methods. Answer: class

____ allows objects to be used as modular components anywhere in the system. Answer:
Encapsulation

An object belongs to a group or category called a(n) ____. Answer: class

____ enable objects to communicate and interact as they perform business functions and transactions
required by the system. Answer: Relationships

An object's ____ are the tasks or functions the object performs. Answer: methods

In a use case, an external entity is called a(n) ____. Answer: actor

The ____ of an object is an adjective that describes the object's current status. Answer: state

A major advantage of O-O designs is that systems analysts can save time and avoid errors by using
modular objects. Answer: True

An object treats data and processes separately. Answer: False

Use cases cannot interact with other use cases. Answer: False

Just as objects are similar to adjectives, attributes resemble verbs that describe what and how an object
does something. Answer: False

Class diagrams evolve into code modules, data objects, and other system components. Answer: True

Alex is getting a little confused by the terminology in the object-oriented world, so he consults his
roommate, who has been doing a lot of work in object modeling in previous coursework.

Which of the following does Alex's roommate use as an example of an instance of the APPLIANCE class?
Answer: microwave oven

Alex is getting a little confused by the terminology in the object-oriented world, so he consults his
roommate, who has been doing a lot of work in object modeling in previous coursework.

The following examples—bake cakes, self-clean, and reheat pasta—are all what with regard to the oven
object, according to Alex's roommate? Answer: methods

____ resemble verbs that describe what and how an object does something. Answer: Methods
Your car performs a(n) ____ called OPERATE WIPERS when you send a message by moving the proper
control. Answer: method

____ is a widely used method of visualizing and documenting an information system. Answer: UML

In a use case, an external entity is called a(n) ____. Answer: actor

By limiting access to internal processes, an object prevents its internal code from being altered by
another object or process. Answer: True

The same message to two different objects produces the same results. Answer: False

An object treats data and processes separately. Answer: False

A gas pump is an example of a black box. Answer: True

Jaime, the newest analyst at Novel Systems Worldwide, is responsible for assigning the appropriate UML
notations to a given class diagram.

In a given diagram, Jaime is marking up a relationship in which a given employee can have no payroll
deductions or she can have many deductions. Which of the following notations will Jaime write to mark
this relationship? Answer: 0..*

A(n) ____ is a firm that delivers a software application, or access to an application, by charging a usage
or subscription fee. Answer: ASP

When determining outsourcing fees, a ____ uses a set fee based on a specified level of service and user
support. Answer: fixed fee model

Companies that develop software for sale are called software ____. Answer: vendors

A ____ is a document that describes a company, lists the IT services or products needed, and specifies
the features required. Answer: request for proposal (RFP)

A firm that offers outsourcing solutions is called a ____ provider. Answer: service

A(n) ____ model is an outsourcing fee model that charges a variable fee based on the volume of
transactions or operations performed by the application. Answer: transaction

Guidelines to follow when determining data entry and storage considerations include all of the following
except ____. Answer: data duplication should be encouraged

The choice between developing versus purchasing software often is called a ____ decision. Answer:
build or buy

The physical design is developed during the ____ phase of the SDLC. Answer: systems design

In a ____, the commands tend to resemble natural statements that people use. Answer: 4GL
Web-based software usually requires additional layers, called ____, to communicate with existing
software and legacy systems. Answer: middleware

Typically, companies choose in-house software development for all of the following reasons except to
____. Answer: obtain input from other companies who already have implemented the software

A ____ is a value that the user enters whenever a query is run, which provides flexibility, enables users
to access information easily, and costs less. Answer: parameter

A ____ is a value that a system displays automatically. Answer: default

Advantages of purchasing a software package over developing software in-house include all of the
following except ____. Answer: satisfaction of unique business requirements

A software ____ is software that is obtained from a vendor or application service provider. Answer:
package

Some industry leaders predict that ____ computing will offer an overall online software and data
environment supported by supercomputer technology. Answer: cloud

Buyers can customize a software package by ____. Answer: all of the above
negotiating directly with the software vendor to make enhancements to meet the buyer's needs by
paying for the changes, purchasing a basic package that vendors will customize to suit the buyer's needs,
purchasing the software and making their own modifications, if this is permissible under the terms of
the software license

The decision to develop software in-house will require less participation from the systems analyst than
outsourcing or choosing a commercial package. Answer: False

A subscription model charges a variable fee based on the volume of transactions or operations
performed by the application. Answer: False

Many firms feel that in-house IT resources and capabilities provide a competitive advantage because an
in-house team can respond quickly when business problems or opportunities arise. Answer: True

Mission-critical IT systems should be outsourced only if the result is a cost-attractive, reliable, business
solution that fits the company's long-term business strategy. Answer: True

Software vendors regularly upgrade software packages by adding improvements and enhancements to
create a new version or release. Answer: True

In an approach called ____ prototyping, systems analysts use prototyping to verify user requirements,
after which the prototype is discarded and implementation continues. Answer: design

A ____ measures the time a package takes to process a certain number of transactions. Answer:
benchmark
In addition to configuring software, an IT staff can create a user ____, which includes screens,
commands, controls, and features that enable users to interact more effectively with the application.
Answer: interface

Building an application in a ____ environment can offer greater benefits, and sometimes greater risks,
compared to a traditional environment. Answer: Web-based

____, like that illustrated in the accompanying figure, produces an early, rapidly constructed working
version of a proposed system. Answer: Prototyping

____ is the transfer of information systems development, operation, or maintenance to an outside firm
that provides these services, for a fee, on a temporary or long-term basis. Answer: Outsourcing

Some data files should be totally hidden from view, while others should have ____ so users can view,
but not change, the data. Answer: read-only properties

Microsoft's ____ is one of the major Web-based development environments. Answer: .NET

Building an application in a Web-based environment might involve different risks and benefits,
compared to a traditional environment. Answer: True

A request for quotation (RFQ) is less specific than an RFP (request for proposal). Answer: False

By designing a system in-house, companies can develop and train an IT staff that understands the
organization's business functions and information support needs. Answer: True

The primary objective of an evaluation and selection team is to eliminate system alternatives that will
not work, rank the system alternatives that will work, and present the viable alternatives to
management for a final decision. Answer: True

Now that they have joined the firm, Priscilla is providing the junior analysts on the team with some real-
world illustrations to explain some of the system design concepts that they have studied in their
coursework, to solidify their understanding.

Which of the following is NOT a guideline Priscilla will impart to the new class of analysts? Answer:
Data duplication should be encouraged.

You have started the process of selecting a new system for the firm and you are weighing all of the
various issues that need to be considered and the resources you have at your disposal as you make this
important decision.

As you prepare to winnow the field in your selection of a new system, you want a quick refresher on the
difference between RFPs and RFQs. If you need an RFP, Simone will write it, and if you need an RFQ,
Marny is responsible for writing that. Which of the following is true? Answer: When Marny is tasked
with the job, her output can involve outright purchase or a variety of leasing options.