ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027 |
UMGC-Aligned Computer Information
Technology Program | Verified Q&A |
Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Domain 1: Systems Analysis, Design & Project Management
(Questions 1-13)
Q1
Scenario: A state government agency must replace its 15-year-old tax processing system. The
project has a fixed $8M budget, strict regulatory compliance requirements (Sarbanes-Oxley, state
audit standards), and well-understood requirements documented in 400+ pages of existing
procedural manuals. The system must be operational before the next fiscal year begins in 10
months. Which SDLC methodology is MOST appropriate?
A. Agile Scrum with 2-week sprints and continuous stakeholder feedback
B. Kanban with continuous delivery and flow-based development
,C. Waterfall with distinct phases: requirements, design, implementation, testing, deployment
[CORRECT]
D. DevOps with automated CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure as code
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Waterfall is optimal for this scenario because the requirements are well-documented and
fixed, the budget is constrained, regulatory compliance demands comprehensive documentation at
each phase, and the deadline is non-negotiable. PMBOK 7th Edition emphasizes predictive
approaches when scope is clear and constraints are rigid. Distractor A (Agile) suits evolving
requirements but risks scope creep and documentation gaps that auditors require. Distractor B
(Kanban) lacks the structured phase gates necessary for regulatory approval checkpoints.
Distractor D (DevOps) focuses on operational deployment speed rather than the upfront
compliance documentation this project demands. This synthesizes CMIT domains of project
management (predictive vs. adaptive approaches) and regulatory compliance. Real-world example:
California's Franchise Tax Board used Waterfall for its $200M system modernization due to
legislative audit requirements.
Q2
Scenario: A healthcare system's EHR modernization project has conflicting stakeholder priorities:
physicians demand mobile accessibility, administrators require cost controls under $5M, and
compliance officers insist on HIPAA audit trails. The project sponsor schedules a Joint Application
Development (JAD) session. What is the PRIMARY purpose of this JAD session?
A. Distribute email surveys to gather anonymous feedback on requirements priorities
B. Have the project sponsor make unilateral decisions to avoid delays
,C. Facilitate structured, facilitated workshops where stakeholders collaboratively resolve conflicts
and define requirements using MoSCoW prioritization [CORRECT]
D. Build a throwaway prototype to demonstrate technical feasibility only
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: JAD sessions are facilitated workshops designed for collaborative requirements
elicitation and conflict resolution among diverse stakeholders, using techniques like MoSCoW
(Must have, Should have, Could have, Won't have) prioritization. According to BABOK v3, JAD
accelerates consensus through structured interaction. Distractor A lacks the interactive negotiation
necessary to resolve conflicts in real-time. Distractor B violates stakeholder engagement principles
and creates resistance. Distractor D addresses technical validation but ignores the business
requirements conflict resolution that JAD specifically targets. This connects systems analysis
(requirements engineering) with stakeholder management (communications domain). Real-world:
Epic Systems uses JAD sessions with clinicians and administrators to balance usability with
compliance requirements.
Q3
Scenario: A systems analyst is documenting a university course registration system. Students can
enroll in multiple courses; each course has multiple students. Courses belong to departments;
departments offer multiple courses. Which UML diagram BEST represents the static structure of
these relationships?
A. Use Case Diagram showing "Register for Course" and "View Transcript" actors
B. Sequence Diagram showing the message flow between Student and Registration objects
, C. Class Diagram with Student, Course, Department classes showing multiplicity (1..*),
associations, and the Enrollment association class [CORRECT]
D. Activity Diagram showing the flow from login through course selection to confirmation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Class diagrams model static structure including classes, attributes, operations, and
relationships with multiplicity constraints—essential for database design. The many-to-many
Student-Course relationship requires an association class (Enrollment) to capture enrollment
date/grade. UML 2.5.1 specification defines class diagrams for structural modeling. Distractor A
captures functional requirements (behaviors) not structure. Distractor B shows temporal
interactions for a specific scenario. Distractor D models process workflow, not data relationships.
This bridges systems analysis (UML) with database design (ER modeling). Real-world: IBM Rational
Rose and Visual Paradigm use class diagrams to generate database schemas via object-relational
mapping.
Q4
Scenario: An Agile development team has completed Sprint 8 of 12. The product backlog shows
120 story points remaining. The team's velocity has averaged 25 story points per sprint for the past
4 sprints. The release burndown chart shows actual progress below the ideal line. What does this
indicate and what should the Scrum Master do?
A. The project is ahead of schedule; add more features to the backlog
B. The team is underperforming; replace underperforming developers
C. The project will likely miss the release date by 2+ sprints; the Product Owner should negotiate
scope reduction or timeline extension [CORRECT]