LADWP SYSTEMS ANALYST EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
Question 1: In the context of system requirements gathering for LADWP enterprise software, what is
the primary distinction between functional and non-functional requirements?
A. Functional requirements describe security compliance, while non-functional requirements outline
user roles.
B. Functional requirements define what the system must do, while non-functional requirements specify
quality attributes and constraints like performance, scalability, and security.
C. Functional requirements are optional additions, while non-functional requirements are mandatory for
deployment.
D. Functional requirements are determined by database administrators, while non-functional
requirements are written by business sponsors.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Functional requirements define what the system must do, while non-functional
requirements specify quality attributes and constraints like performance, scalability, and security.
Rationale: Functional requirements define specific behaviors, features, and functions of a system (e.g.,
generating utility billing reports). Non-functional requirements specify systemic qualities, operation
standards, and constraints (e.g., system uptime, query response times, and compliance with data
encryption standards).
Question 2: Which Database Management System (DBMS) normalization form specifically ensures that
all non-key attributes are fully functionally dependent on the primary key, eliminating partial
dependencies?
A. First Normal Form (1NF)
B. Second Normal Form (2NF)
C. Third Normal Form (3NF)
D. Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF)
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Second Normal Form (2NF)
Rationale: Second Normal Form (2NF) requires that the table is already in 1NF and that all non-key
attributes are fully functionally dependent on the primary key, thereby removing partial dependencies
(which typically occur when a composite primary key is present).
Question 3: When evaluating IT projects using Agile frameworks, which artifact serves as the
prioritized list of all features, enhancements, and bug fixes needed for the system?
,A. Sprint Backlog
B. Product Backlog
C. Burndown Chart
D. Increment
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Product Backlog
Rationale: The Product Backlog is an ordered, single source of truth listing everything required in the
product or application. The Sprint Backlog is a subset selected specifically for a given sprint cycle.
Question 4: In unified modeling language (UML), which diagram type is best suited for illustrating the
dynamic flow of control from activity to activity within a business process or workflow?
A. Class Diagram
B. Component Diagram
C. Activity Diagram
D. Deployment Diagram
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Activity Diagram
Rationale: Activity diagrams are behavioral UML diagrams used to model the operational workflows of a
system step-by-step, showing control flow between activities, decisions, and parallel processing
branches.
Question 5: What is the main objective of conducting a Feasibility Study during the initial phase of the
Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)?
A. To write the primary source code for core software modules.
B. To evaluate technical, operational, economic, schedule, and legal viability before committing
resources.
C. To perform acceptance testing with end-users in a live environment.
D. To establish network firewalls and deploy database schema modifications.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To evaluate technical, operational, economic, schedule, and legal viability
before committing resources.
Rationale: A feasibility study assesses whether a proposed IT project is achievable and worth pursuing by
examining dimensions such as Technical, Economic, Legal, Operational, and Schedule (TELOS) factors.
,Question 6: Which network protocol operates at the Transport Layer (Layer 4) of the OSI model to
provide reliable, connection-oriented data transmission through acknowledgement mechanisms?
A. User Datagram Protocol (UDP)
B. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
C. Internet Protocol (IP)
D. Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
Rationale: TCP is a connection-oriented Transport Layer protocol that guarantees reliable data delivery,
error checking, and sequential arrival via handshakes and acknowledgements. UDP is connectionless and
does not guarantee delivery.
Question 7: In SQL database design, what type of index allows queries to search and retrieve data
fastest by physically altering the order in which rows are stored on disk?
A. Non-Clustered Index
B. Clustered Index
C. Foreign Key Index
D. Composite Index
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Clustered Index
Rationale: A Clustered Index determines the physical storage order of data rows in a table based on the
key values. Because data is physically sorted, a table can have only one Clustered Index.
Question 8: During data modeling, what type of relationship exists when a single record in Entity A
corresponds to multiple records in Entity B, but each record in Entity B corresponds to only one record
in Entity A?
A. One-to-One (1:1)
B. One-to-Many (1:M)
C. Many-to-Many (M:N)
D. Recursive Relationship
CORRECT ANSWER: B. One-to-Many (1:M)
, Rationale: A One-to-Many (1:M) relationship occurs when an individual instance of an entity can be
associated with multiple instances of a secondary entity, while each instance of the secondary entity
links back to just one instance of the primary entity.
Question 9: Which software testing methodology tests individual software units or components in
isolation from the rest of the application codebase?
A. Integration Testing
B. System Testing
C. Unit Testing
D. User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Unit Testing
Rationale: Unit Testing focuses on testing individual software modules, functions, or procedures in
isolation to ensure that specific logical units perform accurately according to design specs.
Question 1: Which of the following best describes the primary role of a Systems Analyst in a large
public utility organization such as LADWP?
A. Writing low-level device drivers for SCADA hardware
B. Bridging business requirements and technical solutions while documenting system needs
C. Performing daily meter reading and field maintenance
D. Managing the physical construction of power substations
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Bridging business requirements and technical solutions while documenting
system needs
Rationale: A Systems Analyst focuses on understanding organizational needs, eliciting requirements,
modeling processes, and translating them into technical specifications. This intermediary role is essential
in complex utility environments where business processes must align with IT and operational systems.
Question 2: In the context of systems analysis for water and power utilities, what does the acronym
SCADA primarily refer to?
A. Secure Customer Access and Data Authorization
B. Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
C. System Configuration and Database Administration
D. Standardized Customer Account Data Archive
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
Question 1: In the context of system requirements gathering for LADWP enterprise software, what is
the primary distinction between functional and non-functional requirements?
A. Functional requirements describe security compliance, while non-functional requirements outline
user roles.
B. Functional requirements define what the system must do, while non-functional requirements specify
quality attributes and constraints like performance, scalability, and security.
C. Functional requirements are optional additions, while non-functional requirements are mandatory for
deployment.
D. Functional requirements are determined by database administrators, while non-functional
requirements are written by business sponsors.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Functional requirements define what the system must do, while non-functional
requirements specify quality attributes and constraints like performance, scalability, and security.
Rationale: Functional requirements define specific behaviors, features, and functions of a system (e.g.,
generating utility billing reports). Non-functional requirements specify systemic qualities, operation
standards, and constraints (e.g., system uptime, query response times, and compliance with data
encryption standards).
Question 2: Which Database Management System (DBMS) normalization form specifically ensures that
all non-key attributes are fully functionally dependent on the primary key, eliminating partial
dependencies?
A. First Normal Form (1NF)
B. Second Normal Form (2NF)
C. Third Normal Form (3NF)
D. Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF)
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Second Normal Form (2NF)
Rationale: Second Normal Form (2NF) requires that the table is already in 1NF and that all non-key
attributes are fully functionally dependent on the primary key, thereby removing partial dependencies
(which typically occur when a composite primary key is present).
Question 3: When evaluating IT projects using Agile frameworks, which artifact serves as the
prioritized list of all features, enhancements, and bug fixes needed for the system?
,A. Sprint Backlog
B. Product Backlog
C. Burndown Chart
D. Increment
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Product Backlog
Rationale: The Product Backlog is an ordered, single source of truth listing everything required in the
product or application. The Sprint Backlog is a subset selected specifically for a given sprint cycle.
Question 4: In unified modeling language (UML), which diagram type is best suited for illustrating the
dynamic flow of control from activity to activity within a business process or workflow?
A. Class Diagram
B. Component Diagram
C. Activity Diagram
D. Deployment Diagram
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Activity Diagram
Rationale: Activity diagrams are behavioral UML diagrams used to model the operational workflows of a
system step-by-step, showing control flow between activities, decisions, and parallel processing
branches.
Question 5: What is the main objective of conducting a Feasibility Study during the initial phase of the
Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)?
A. To write the primary source code for core software modules.
B. To evaluate technical, operational, economic, schedule, and legal viability before committing
resources.
C. To perform acceptance testing with end-users in a live environment.
D. To establish network firewalls and deploy database schema modifications.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To evaluate technical, operational, economic, schedule, and legal viability
before committing resources.
Rationale: A feasibility study assesses whether a proposed IT project is achievable and worth pursuing by
examining dimensions such as Technical, Economic, Legal, Operational, and Schedule (TELOS) factors.
,Question 6: Which network protocol operates at the Transport Layer (Layer 4) of the OSI model to
provide reliable, connection-oriented data transmission through acknowledgement mechanisms?
A. User Datagram Protocol (UDP)
B. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
C. Internet Protocol (IP)
D. Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
Rationale: TCP is a connection-oriented Transport Layer protocol that guarantees reliable data delivery,
error checking, and sequential arrival via handshakes and acknowledgements. UDP is connectionless and
does not guarantee delivery.
Question 7: In SQL database design, what type of index allows queries to search and retrieve data
fastest by physically altering the order in which rows are stored on disk?
A. Non-Clustered Index
B. Clustered Index
C. Foreign Key Index
D. Composite Index
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Clustered Index
Rationale: A Clustered Index determines the physical storage order of data rows in a table based on the
key values. Because data is physically sorted, a table can have only one Clustered Index.
Question 8: During data modeling, what type of relationship exists when a single record in Entity A
corresponds to multiple records in Entity B, but each record in Entity B corresponds to only one record
in Entity A?
A. One-to-One (1:1)
B. One-to-Many (1:M)
C. Many-to-Many (M:N)
D. Recursive Relationship
CORRECT ANSWER: B. One-to-Many (1:M)
, Rationale: A One-to-Many (1:M) relationship occurs when an individual instance of an entity can be
associated with multiple instances of a secondary entity, while each instance of the secondary entity
links back to just one instance of the primary entity.
Question 9: Which software testing methodology tests individual software units or components in
isolation from the rest of the application codebase?
A. Integration Testing
B. System Testing
C. Unit Testing
D. User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Unit Testing
Rationale: Unit Testing focuses on testing individual software modules, functions, or procedures in
isolation to ensure that specific logical units perform accurately according to design specs.
Question 1: Which of the following best describes the primary role of a Systems Analyst in a large
public utility organization such as LADWP?
A. Writing low-level device drivers for SCADA hardware
B. Bridging business requirements and technical solutions while documenting system needs
C. Performing daily meter reading and field maintenance
D. Managing the physical construction of power substations
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Bridging business requirements and technical solutions while documenting
system needs
Rationale: A Systems Analyst focuses on understanding organizational needs, eliciting requirements,
modeling processes, and translating them into technical specifications. This intermediary role is essential
in complex utility environments where business processes must align with IT and operational systems.
Question 2: In the context of systems analysis for water and power utilities, what does the acronym
SCADA primarily refer to?
A. Secure Customer Access and Data Authorization
B. Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
C. System Configuration and Database Administration
D. Standardized Customer Account Data Archive
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
