ISDS 406 Exam Study Questions Bank- Questions
and Correct Answers| Latest Update 2024/2025
What is Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) - ANSWER List of tasks hierarchically
numbered. WBS uses a top-down approach with high lvl tasks defined first, then further
broken down into subtasks
How does one start a questionnaire? - ANSWER Start w/ business requirements or Start
w/ as-is system or process
Which of the following is NOT a reason why do about 50% of large system development
projects fail?
a) Missed deadlines
b) Poor planning
c) Comes down to if project was correctly carefully planned & whether the organization
stuck to the plan
d) Big data - ANSWER d) Big Data
Describe "Black Hole" in DFD - ANSWER An instance in the Data Flow Diagram where a
process has an input but no output (it just "consumes" data). This is an error.
One of the goals in Analysis Phase is: - ANSWER Collect and Analyze Requirements.
Develop new system concept and describe new system with analysis model.
What are the guidelines for creating DFDs? - ANSWER Never have data flowing from one
entity to another
Never have data flowing from an entity to a data store
Never have data flowing a data store to an entity
Never have data flowing from one data store to another
,*Processes must be in between each
What is the purpose of a context diagram? - ANSWER There are several levels of DFDs,
so the context diagram is the top level showing the entire system in context with the
environment. Lower levels then give more detail. A context diagram shows the overall
business process, without data stores.
Which of the following is NOT one of the four main elements/symbols in the type of
diagram that is thoroughly explained in Chapter 5? - ANSWER Customer (triangle)
Which of the following statements about the waterfall methodology is true? - ANSWER
The waterfall methodology moves sequentially from planning, to analysis, to design, to
implementation. Each part of the SDLC is carefully completed before moving on to next
step.
Project managers always face trade-offs among three critical aspects of a project. If one
changes, it affects the other two. What are those three critical aspects? - ANSWER
Project Cost, Project Scope, Project Time
Technology Analysis - ANSWER - Analysts and employees both list important and
interesting technologies
- The group goes through each list and identifies how each might be applied to the
business and how the business might benefit
Key aspects of working on a team (3 C's) - ANSWER - Communication: Expectations and
team cohesion
- Conveyance: Sharing task information and work
- Convergence: Making decisions about the work
,What is an advantage and disadvantage of systems prototyping? - ANSWER Advantage
- Users get to work with the prototype very quickly.
- Feedback cycle let users identify change and refine requirement.
Disadvantage
- Overlooked features may be hard to add later.
- Initial design decision may be poor.
Project charter - ANSWER Formal document that specifies key rules & standards for
working together on a project (individual deadlines, meetings, work status reporting,
availability, person or online documentation storage). Authorizes the system to begin
the SDLC phase for.
Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) - ANSWER List of tasks hierarchically numbered
where high-level tasks are defined first & then broken into subtasks. (top-down
approach, backbone of work plan)
Time boxing - ANSWER Sets tight but realistic deadline; identify core, essential
functional requirements
- Focus just to essential functions
-High quality stressed
-Other functions will be added later
-Repeat to add refinements & enhancements
Scope creep - ANSWER Happens when new requirements are added to the project after
the original project scope was defined. Can happen bc users realize new functionality
useful
Do's and Don't for motivating employees - ANSWER Do: recognition, achievement in
work itself, responsibility, advancement, chance to learn new skills, free dinner, awards
, Don't: assign unrealistic deadlines, ignore good efforts, create low-quality products, give
everyone on the project a equal raise, make important decisions w/out team's input,
poor working conditions
What is timeboxing - ANSWER A technique for ensuring the most critical requirements
of the software are deployed in a timely manner, with enhancements coming later if
needed.
Timeboxing - a fixed deadline for a project and delivers the system by that deadline no
matter what, even if functionality needs to be reduced.
How many gathering strategies are there? - ANSWER 8 gathering strategies (Problem
analysis, Root cause analysis, duration analysis, activity-based analysis, informal
benchmarking, outcome analysis, technology analysis, activity elmination
One of the outcomes of using a use case is: - ANSWER describe all the tasks that users
need to perform using the system & giving out instructions in case of emergency
happens outside or the normal course of the system
How many steps does Planning phase have? and what are they? - ANSWER The planning
phase has 2 steps:
1) Project initiation
-system's business value is identified
-system request
-feasibility analysis (can we build it?)(will it provide value?)(if we build it will w=it be
used?)
- enters the approval committee to determine the feasibility
2) after approval it enters project management
and Correct Answers| Latest Update 2024/2025
What is Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) - ANSWER List of tasks hierarchically
numbered. WBS uses a top-down approach with high lvl tasks defined first, then further
broken down into subtasks
How does one start a questionnaire? - ANSWER Start w/ business requirements or Start
w/ as-is system or process
Which of the following is NOT a reason why do about 50% of large system development
projects fail?
a) Missed deadlines
b) Poor planning
c) Comes down to if project was correctly carefully planned & whether the organization
stuck to the plan
d) Big data - ANSWER d) Big Data
Describe "Black Hole" in DFD - ANSWER An instance in the Data Flow Diagram where a
process has an input but no output (it just "consumes" data). This is an error.
One of the goals in Analysis Phase is: - ANSWER Collect and Analyze Requirements.
Develop new system concept and describe new system with analysis model.
What are the guidelines for creating DFDs? - ANSWER Never have data flowing from one
entity to another
Never have data flowing from an entity to a data store
Never have data flowing a data store to an entity
Never have data flowing from one data store to another
,*Processes must be in between each
What is the purpose of a context diagram? - ANSWER There are several levels of DFDs,
so the context diagram is the top level showing the entire system in context with the
environment. Lower levels then give more detail. A context diagram shows the overall
business process, without data stores.
Which of the following is NOT one of the four main elements/symbols in the type of
diagram that is thoroughly explained in Chapter 5? - ANSWER Customer (triangle)
Which of the following statements about the waterfall methodology is true? - ANSWER
The waterfall methodology moves sequentially from planning, to analysis, to design, to
implementation. Each part of the SDLC is carefully completed before moving on to next
step.
Project managers always face trade-offs among three critical aspects of a project. If one
changes, it affects the other two. What are those three critical aspects? - ANSWER
Project Cost, Project Scope, Project Time
Technology Analysis - ANSWER - Analysts and employees both list important and
interesting technologies
- The group goes through each list and identifies how each might be applied to the
business and how the business might benefit
Key aspects of working on a team (3 C's) - ANSWER - Communication: Expectations and
team cohesion
- Conveyance: Sharing task information and work
- Convergence: Making decisions about the work
,What is an advantage and disadvantage of systems prototyping? - ANSWER Advantage
- Users get to work with the prototype very quickly.
- Feedback cycle let users identify change and refine requirement.
Disadvantage
- Overlooked features may be hard to add later.
- Initial design decision may be poor.
Project charter - ANSWER Formal document that specifies key rules & standards for
working together on a project (individual deadlines, meetings, work status reporting,
availability, person or online documentation storage). Authorizes the system to begin
the SDLC phase for.
Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) - ANSWER List of tasks hierarchically numbered
where high-level tasks are defined first & then broken into subtasks. (top-down
approach, backbone of work plan)
Time boxing - ANSWER Sets tight but realistic deadline; identify core, essential
functional requirements
- Focus just to essential functions
-High quality stressed
-Other functions will be added later
-Repeat to add refinements & enhancements
Scope creep - ANSWER Happens when new requirements are added to the project after
the original project scope was defined. Can happen bc users realize new functionality
useful
Do's and Don't for motivating employees - ANSWER Do: recognition, achievement in
work itself, responsibility, advancement, chance to learn new skills, free dinner, awards
, Don't: assign unrealistic deadlines, ignore good efforts, create low-quality products, give
everyone on the project a equal raise, make important decisions w/out team's input,
poor working conditions
What is timeboxing - ANSWER A technique for ensuring the most critical requirements
of the software are deployed in a timely manner, with enhancements coming later if
needed.
Timeboxing - a fixed deadline for a project and delivers the system by that deadline no
matter what, even if functionality needs to be reduced.
How many gathering strategies are there? - ANSWER 8 gathering strategies (Problem
analysis, Root cause analysis, duration analysis, activity-based analysis, informal
benchmarking, outcome analysis, technology analysis, activity elmination
One of the outcomes of using a use case is: - ANSWER describe all the tasks that users
need to perform using the system & giving out instructions in case of emergency
happens outside or the normal course of the system
How many steps does Planning phase have? and what are they? - ANSWER The planning
phase has 2 steps:
1) Project initiation
-system's business value is identified
-system request
-feasibility analysis (can we build it?)(will it provide value?)(if we build it will w=it be
used?)
- enters the approval committee to determine the feasibility
2) after approval it enters project management
