WGU D075 Information Technology Management Essentials Quizzes and Assessment Review 2026/2027

A hospital administrator wants to improve patient discharge procedures. Rather than selecting the most familiar method, the administrator compares evidence, professional standards, organizational resources, and patient outcomes. Which concept is the administrator applying? A. Benchmarking B. Best practice C. Data normalization D. Predictive reporting Correct Answer: B. Best practice Rationale: A best practice is the most effective method for achieving a desired outcome based on evidence and experience. Benchmarking compares performance with standards or other organizations but does not itself identify the optimal procedure. Data normalization removes database redundancies, while predictive reporting forecasts future outcomes rather than determining the most effective operating method. Question 2 A technology director notices that newer computers provide substantially greater processing capacity without requiring proportionally larger physical components. Which principle best explains the long-term trend that computing processing power tends to double approximately every 18 months? A. Metcalfe’s law B. Moore’s law C. Murphy’s law D. Parkinson’s law Correct Answer: B. Moore’s law Rationale: Moore’s law describes the historical observation that computing processing power, commonly associated with transistor density, tends to double approximately every 18 months. Metcalfe’s law addresses the value of networks as users increase. Murphy’s law concerns the possibility of failure, and Parkinson’s law states that work expands to fill available time. Question 3 An engineering student runs a complex simulation that requires millions of mathematical operations each second. Which computer component performs most of these calculations? A. Random-access memory B. Solid-state drive C. Central processing unit D. Network interface controller Correct Answer: C. Central processing unit Rationale: The central processing unit, or CPU, executes instructions and performs most arithmetic and logical calculations. RAM temporarily stores active data but does not serve as the primary calculation component. A solid-state drive provides longterm storage, while a network interface controller enables communication between the computer and a network. Question 4 A physician uses a program that calculates medication dosages based on patient weight and kidney function. Why is this program classified as application software? A. It manages the computer’s hardware resources. B. It performs a specific task for the user. C. It connects the computer to a local network. D. It controls the computer during startup. Correct Answer: B. It performs a specific task for the user. Rationale: Application software is designed to help users perform specific activities, such as calculating dosages, preparing documents, or managing records. Software that manages hardware resources or controls startup is system software. Network connectivity depends primarily on networking hardware, drivers, and operatingsystem services rather than the defining purpose of application software. Question 5 A company is reviewing all software installed on its computers. The review identifies operating systems, device drivers, spreadsheet programs, and customer management applications. Into which two broad categories should these programs be divided? Public and private software Local and remote software System and application software Structured and unstructured software Correct Answer: C. System and application software Rationale: Software is broadly divided into system software and application software. System software, including operating systems and drivers, manages computer resources. Application software helps users complete specific tasks. Public and private describe access, local and remote describe location, and structured and unstructured usually describe data rather than software categories. Question 6 A sales representative uses a business laptop for presentations, spreadsheets, email, and video meetings. How should this computer be classified? A. Mainframe B. Supercomputer C. Microcomputer D. Minicomputer Correct Answer: C. Microcomputer Rationale: A laptop is a microcomputer because it is designed for use by one person and contains a microprocessor. Mainframes support large-scale organizational processing and many simultaneous users. Supercomputers perform exceptionally complex scientific calculations. Minicomputers historically occupied a middle category between personal computers and mainframes but are not the appropriate classification for a standard business laptop. Question 7 A software vendor states that its application is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms. Why can an operating system be described as a platform? A. It provides the environment in which applications operate. B. It permanently stores every application file. C. It replaces the computer’s processing hardware. D. It prevents all compatibility problems. Correct Answer: A. It provides the environment in which applications operate. Rationale: An operating system is called a platform because it provides the underlying environment and services that allow applications to run. Storage devices permanently store files, not the operating system alone. An operating system does not replace processing hardware and cannot eliminate every compatibility issue because applications must still be designed for the relevant platform. Question 8 A small office connects a high-capacity scanner to its network so that employees in several departments can use it. How should the scanner be classified? A. A network protocol B. A peripheral device C. A system platform D. A database server Correct Answer: B. A peripheral device Rationale: A peripheral device is hardware connected to a computer or network that provides input, output, storage, or another supporting function. A scanner is an input peripheral that may be shared by network users. A protocol is a communication rule, a platform is an operating environment, and a database server manages data rather than scanning documents. Question 9 An employee replaces the password “T7$z9” with “Green bicycles cross rivers at sunrise.” Why may the second option provide stronger practical security? A. It is shorter and easier to type. B. It is secure and easier to remember. C. It does not require encryption. D. It can be shared safely with coworkers. Correct Answer: B. It is secure and easier to remember. Rationale: A passphrase combines several words into a longer credential that can be easier to remember while remaining difficult to guess or crack. Short passwords are often more vulnerable. Passphrases still require secure storage and encryption, and no password or passphrase should be shared with coworkers because sharing undermines accountability and access control. Question 10 A business connects employee computers so they can exchange files, access a common database, and use shared equipment. Which description best defines this arrangement? Two or more computers connected to shared resources Several applications installed on one computer One computer running multiple operating systems Multiple users sharing a single password Correct Answer: A. Two or more computers connected to shared resources Rationale: A computer network consists of two or more connected computers or devices that communicate and share resources. Installing applications on one computer does not create a network. Multiple operating systems may be created through virtualization, while sharing one password is an unsafe access practice and does not define network connectivity.