CMIS 526 Final Study Guide
What is the purpose of "the business case"? - ANSExplain to a business why a project should
be pursued, and why it should be considered over its alternatives.
What are the components of the business case? - ANSFact: The true numbers/details of a
business case; what you know is true.
Faith: Information in a business case that you feel strongly about; willing to put your faith/the
integrity of your job on this belief.
Fear: Putting the fear of god in the business' management; creating a fear factor by saying "If
we don't pursue this opportunity, we will lose at..."
Costs: The different cost considerations of a project (ie: new technologies, employee training,
etc.)
Benefits: What the business will gain by pursuing a project (ie: increased sales, more efficient
work force, etc.)
What are the pitfalls of beginning new projects? - ANSPoor management implementation;
Time-consuming.
What is the productivity paradox? - ANSBelief that information systems have improved
workplace productivity (is no concrete research to support though)
What is a proxy measure? Give an example. - ANSTool used to help quantify more challenging
business benefits.
Example: It would be hard to justify an estimated $50,000 annual marketing savings by pursuing
a project. Instead, it is easier to explain that with the new project, the Marketing Department
would save an average of 3 hours per day to perform other tasks, thus allowing the project to
positively impact the business in multiple ways.
When presenting a business case, it's important to... - ANSKnow your audience: Every manager
has different business needs/requests; make sure you are voicing to their needs.
Monetize the project's business: Be able to give estimates on how a project's benefits will allow
the business to perform better.
Know the management's hot-button issues: If you target the audience with messages they're
truly seeking, a business case is much more impactful.
, What are the steps of the System Development Process? - ANSSystems Planning: Defining the
business requirements (ie: Based on the business case, where does the business need to
improve?)
Systems Analysis: Defining the needed system capabilities/assessing what type of system to
pursue, based on monetary allocations.
Systems Design: Determining how the system will "look" -- giving it all of its "bells and whistles"
to have the desired functionality/capabilities
Systems Implementation: Introducing the system to your business for operation
What are the benefits & pitfalls of the System Development Process? - ANSBenefits: Ability to
handle large projects; High levels of control from the business throughout the development
process
Pitfalls: Very expensive; Very Time-Consuming; Very bureaucratic (many decision makers
involved, delaying the advancement of the project); As time passes, business needs change, so
the system's requirements may change
What is prototyping? Why is it beneficial, and what is a pitfall? - ANSDefinition: A standardized,
generic software used for demonstration to customers. Based on customer feedback, the
prototype can be customized/modified to best fit the customer's needs.
Benefit: It creates a relationship between the business and the external software developer
THROUGHOUT the development process (improved customer satisfaction)
Pitfall: Lower quality technologies
Define external acquisition. - ANSObtaining software from an outside entity for use in your
organization
What are the types of external acquisition? - ANS1. Purchasing a pre-built, licensed software
2. Consulting with an external source to determine what pre-built, licensed software is best for
your organization
3. Outsourcing the build of a customized software system to an external developer
For what reason do businesses acquire systems externally? - ANSTypically...
1. because their internal IT staff is unable/incapable in some way
2. because doing so is more cost effective
What is the purpose of "the business case"? - ANSExplain to a business why a project should
be pursued, and why it should be considered over its alternatives.
What are the components of the business case? - ANSFact: The true numbers/details of a
business case; what you know is true.
Faith: Information in a business case that you feel strongly about; willing to put your faith/the
integrity of your job on this belief.
Fear: Putting the fear of god in the business' management; creating a fear factor by saying "If
we don't pursue this opportunity, we will lose at..."
Costs: The different cost considerations of a project (ie: new technologies, employee training,
etc.)
Benefits: What the business will gain by pursuing a project (ie: increased sales, more efficient
work force, etc.)
What are the pitfalls of beginning new projects? - ANSPoor management implementation;
Time-consuming.
What is the productivity paradox? - ANSBelief that information systems have improved
workplace productivity (is no concrete research to support though)
What is a proxy measure? Give an example. - ANSTool used to help quantify more challenging
business benefits.
Example: It would be hard to justify an estimated $50,000 annual marketing savings by pursuing
a project. Instead, it is easier to explain that with the new project, the Marketing Department
would save an average of 3 hours per day to perform other tasks, thus allowing the project to
positively impact the business in multiple ways.
When presenting a business case, it's important to... - ANSKnow your audience: Every manager
has different business needs/requests; make sure you are voicing to their needs.
Monetize the project's business: Be able to give estimates on how a project's benefits will allow
the business to perform better.
Know the management's hot-button issues: If you target the audience with messages they're
truly seeking, a business case is much more impactful.
, What are the steps of the System Development Process? - ANSSystems Planning: Defining the
business requirements (ie: Based on the business case, where does the business need to
improve?)
Systems Analysis: Defining the needed system capabilities/assessing what type of system to
pursue, based on monetary allocations.
Systems Design: Determining how the system will "look" -- giving it all of its "bells and whistles"
to have the desired functionality/capabilities
Systems Implementation: Introducing the system to your business for operation
What are the benefits & pitfalls of the System Development Process? - ANSBenefits: Ability to
handle large projects; High levels of control from the business throughout the development
process
Pitfalls: Very expensive; Very Time-Consuming; Very bureaucratic (many decision makers
involved, delaying the advancement of the project); As time passes, business needs change, so
the system's requirements may change
What is prototyping? Why is it beneficial, and what is a pitfall? - ANSDefinition: A standardized,
generic software used for demonstration to customers. Based on customer feedback, the
prototype can be customized/modified to best fit the customer's needs.
Benefit: It creates a relationship between the business and the external software developer
THROUGHOUT the development process (improved customer satisfaction)
Pitfall: Lower quality technologies
Define external acquisition. - ANSObtaining software from an outside entity for use in your
organization
What are the types of external acquisition? - ANS1. Purchasing a pre-built, licensed software
2. Consulting with an external source to determine what pre-built, licensed software is best for
your organization
3. Outsourcing the build of a customized software system to an external developer
For what reason do businesses acquire systems externally? - ANSTypically...
1. because their internal IT staff is unable/incapable in some way
2. because doing so is more cost effective
