Quiz #12: Systems Planning and Development

Show all answers     Hide all answers

Completion

1. SDLC stands for _________. Answer Systems Development Life Cycle
2. ROI stands for _________. Answer Return on Investment
3. TCO stands for _________. Answer Total Cost of Ownership
4. DFD stands for _________. Answer Data Flow Diagram
5. UML stands for _________. Answer Unified Modeling Language

Short answer

6. Describe what a mission statement is. Answer A mission statement is a paragraph the communicates the most important overarching goal of the organization over the next few years.
7. Describe what a vision statement is. Answer A vision statement is based on a mission statement and states what management expects the organization will look like in order to accomplish its mission.
8. Put the following planning steps in the correct order:
   • create strategic plans for IS
   • articulate the vision for IS within the organization
   • create the budget required to achieve goals
   • create a plan of action to achieve mission and vision
   • create organization-wide and IS mission statements
   • create tactical plans for IS
   Answer
   1. create organization-wide and IS mission statements
   2. articulate the vision for IS within the organization
   3. create strategic plans for IS
   4. create tactical plans for IS
   5. create a plan of action to achieve mission and vision
   6. create the budget required to achieve goals
9. Describe three benefits of standardization. Answer Three benefits of standardization are:
   • IT has to spend less time and money for training users and support staff
   • buying in quantity can reduce price per unit
   • commonalities across the organization help avoid system integration problems and make it easier for employees to switch areas and remain productive
10. Describe three drawbacks of standardization. Answer Three drawbacks of standardization are:
    • IT seldom knows what is best for the user, so standardization can lead to lower productivity overall
    • standardization can mean a lack of flexibility (IT is often more concerned with ease of maintenance than the employees' being able to do their jobs)
    • standardization usually doesn't take into account differences between employees (some being extremely computer savvy and some being barely computer literate)
11. Define the term prototyping. Answer Prototyping is the fast development of an application based on initial user requirements and several cycles of user input and developer improvements.
12. Define the term legacy system. Answer A legacy system is an old system that an organization wants to work with rather than replace (often because they work well even though the technology is old).
13. Describe what a cost/benefit analysis is. Answer A cost/benefit analysis is a study of expected costs versus benefits.
14. Describe what is meant by organizational culture. Answer Organizational culture refers to traits common across an organization, such as a willingness to share information or hide knowledge.
15. Describe what is meant by a parallel conversion. Answer In a parallel conversion the old and new systems are kept running together until the new system is proven to work. This is expensive, but safe.
16. Describe what is meant by a phased conversion. Answer In a phased conversion parts of the new system are brought online one at a time as they are tested and ready to go. This approach is less expensive than a parallel conversion and carries a moderate risk.
17. Describe what is meant by a cut-over conversion. Answer In a cut-over conversion the old system is abandoned when the new system is started. This is relatively inexpensive, but very risky.
18. Describe what is meant by a flash cut conversion. Answer Flash cut conversion is a synonym for cut-over conversion. In a flash cut conversion the old system is abandoned when the new system is started. This is relatively inexpensive, but very risky.
19. Describe what is meant by a pilot conversion. Answer In a pilot conversion smaller organizational units get to try out and test the new system before the whole organization starts using it. This reduces risks and expense.
20. Describe what is meant by the term beta site. Answer A beta site is a location which gets to try out a new system or application before it is ready for general distribution to see how well it works and help find problems.