page | 1
PURDUE GLOBAL IT222 SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
AND DESIGN – FINAL EXAM | STUDY GUIDE |
LATEST UPDATE 2026/2027 | PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | EXAM REVIEW
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Systems Development Life Cycle and Methodologies
2. Systems Analyst Roles, Skills, and Project Initiation
3. Feasibility Analysis and Project Selection
4. Requirements Elicitation and Analysis
5. Process Modeling with Data Flow Diagrams
6. Data Modeling and Entity-Relationship Diagrams
7. Object-Oriented Analysis and UML
8. Use Case Modeling and Requirements Documentation
9. Systems Design: Architecture, Interface, and Database
10. Implementation, Testing, and Conversion
11. Maintenance, Support, and Quality Assurance
12. Project Management, Risk, and Change Control
13. Agile, Scrum, and Modern Development Practices
, page | 2
Question 1: Which phase of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) involves
identifying and documenting business requirements?
A) Planning
B) Analysis
C) Design
D) Implementation
Correct Answer: B) Analysis
The analysis phase focuses on understanding current systems, gathering requirements, and
defining what the new system must do. It produces models such as data flow diagrams and
use cases that describe business needs. Design then determines how the system will satisfy
those requirements.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of the planning phase in the SDLC?
A) To write program code
B) To define the project scope, objectives, and feasibility
C) To train end users
D) To convert data from legacy systems
Correct Answer: B) To define the project scope, objectives, and feasibility
Planning establishes the project vision, scope, stakeholders, and initial feasibility. It
determines whether the project should proceed and provides a foundation for later phases.
Coding, training, and data conversion occur later in the life cycle.
Question 3: Which SDLC model follows a linear, sequential approach where each phase must
be completed before the next begins?
A) Agile
B) Waterfall
C) Spiral
D) RAD
, page | 3
Correct Answer: B) Waterfall
The waterfall model is a traditional sequential approach with distinct phases such as
requirements, design, implementation, testing, and maintenance. It emphasizes
documentation and formal reviews. It is less flexible for changing requirements than iterative
or agile models.
Question 4: Which methodology is characterized by short iterations, frequent customer
feedback, and working software over comprehensive documentation?
A) Waterfall
B) Agile
C) Spiral
D) V-Model
Correct Answer: B) Agile
Agile methodologies emphasize iterative development, collaboration, and responsiveness to
change. They prioritize working software and customer collaboration over rigid
documentation. Scrum and Extreme Programming are common agile frameworks.
Question 5: What is a key characteristic of the spiral model?
A) It is purely linear
B) It combines iterative development with risk analysis
C) It eliminates testing
D) It requires no customer involvement
Correct Answer: B) It combines iterative development with risk analysis
The spiral model is iterative and places strong emphasis on risk assessment at each cycle. It
is suitable for large, complex, high-risk projects. Each spiral includes planning, risk analysis,
engineering, and evaluation.
Question 6: Which approach emphasizes rapid development through user involvement,
prototyping, and iterative refinement?
, page | 4
A) Waterfall
B) Rapid Application Development (RAD)
C) V-Model
D) Capability Maturity Model
Correct Answer: B) Rapid Application Development (RAD)
RAD focuses on fast delivery through user involvement, prototyping, and iterative
development. It is well suited for projects with clearly defined user needs and tight timelines.
It often uses JAD sessions and CASE tools.
Question 7: What is the primary role of a systems analyst?
A) To manage the organization's finances
B) To bridge business problems and technology solutions
C) To write all production code
D) To supervise network security
Correct Answer: B) To bridge business problems and technology solutions
Systems analysts investigate business problems, gather requirements, and translate them into
system specifications. They act as liaisons among stakeholders, developers, and management.
They may also design, test, and implement systems.
Question 8: Which skill is most important for a systems analyst when working with
nontechnical stakeholders?
A) Advanced programming
B) Communication and active listening
C) Hardware repair
D) Network administration
Correct Answer: B) Communication and active listening
Systems analysts must elicit requirements from users who may not understand technology.
Strong communication and active listening help uncover true business needs. Technical skills
are also important but secondary to understanding stakeholder requirements.
PURDUE GLOBAL IT222 SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
AND DESIGN – FINAL EXAM | STUDY GUIDE |
LATEST UPDATE 2026/2027 | PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | EXAM REVIEW
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Systems Development Life Cycle and Methodologies
2. Systems Analyst Roles, Skills, and Project Initiation
3. Feasibility Analysis and Project Selection
4. Requirements Elicitation and Analysis
5. Process Modeling with Data Flow Diagrams
6. Data Modeling and Entity-Relationship Diagrams
7. Object-Oriented Analysis and UML
8. Use Case Modeling and Requirements Documentation
9. Systems Design: Architecture, Interface, and Database
10. Implementation, Testing, and Conversion
11. Maintenance, Support, and Quality Assurance
12. Project Management, Risk, and Change Control
13. Agile, Scrum, and Modern Development Practices
, page | 2
Question 1: Which phase of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) involves
identifying and documenting business requirements?
A) Planning
B) Analysis
C) Design
D) Implementation
Correct Answer: B) Analysis
The analysis phase focuses on understanding current systems, gathering requirements, and
defining what the new system must do. It produces models such as data flow diagrams and
use cases that describe business needs. Design then determines how the system will satisfy
those requirements.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of the planning phase in the SDLC?
A) To write program code
B) To define the project scope, objectives, and feasibility
C) To train end users
D) To convert data from legacy systems
Correct Answer: B) To define the project scope, objectives, and feasibility
Planning establishes the project vision, scope, stakeholders, and initial feasibility. It
determines whether the project should proceed and provides a foundation for later phases.
Coding, training, and data conversion occur later in the life cycle.
Question 3: Which SDLC model follows a linear, sequential approach where each phase must
be completed before the next begins?
A) Agile
B) Waterfall
C) Spiral
D) RAD
, page | 3
Correct Answer: B) Waterfall
The waterfall model is a traditional sequential approach with distinct phases such as
requirements, design, implementation, testing, and maintenance. It emphasizes
documentation and formal reviews. It is less flexible for changing requirements than iterative
or agile models.
Question 4: Which methodology is characterized by short iterations, frequent customer
feedback, and working software over comprehensive documentation?
A) Waterfall
B) Agile
C) Spiral
D) V-Model
Correct Answer: B) Agile
Agile methodologies emphasize iterative development, collaboration, and responsiveness to
change. They prioritize working software and customer collaboration over rigid
documentation. Scrum and Extreme Programming are common agile frameworks.
Question 5: What is a key characteristic of the spiral model?
A) It is purely linear
B) It combines iterative development with risk analysis
C) It eliminates testing
D) It requires no customer involvement
Correct Answer: B) It combines iterative development with risk analysis
The spiral model is iterative and places strong emphasis on risk assessment at each cycle. It
is suitable for large, complex, high-risk projects. Each spiral includes planning, risk analysis,
engineering, and evaluation.
Question 6: Which approach emphasizes rapid development through user involvement,
prototyping, and iterative refinement?
, page | 4
A) Waterfall
B) Rapid Application Development (RAD)
C) V-Model
D) Capability Maturity Model
Correct Answer: B) Rapid Application Development (RAD)
RAD focuses on fast delivery through user involvement, prototyping, and iterative
development. It is well suited for projects with clearly defined user needs and tight timelines.
It often uses JAD sessions and CASE tools.
Question 7: What is the primary role of a systems analyst?
A) To manage the organization's finances
B) To bridge business problems and technology solutions
C) To write all production code
D) To supervise network security
Correct Answer: B) To bridge business problems and technology solutions
Systems analysts investigate business problems, gather requirements, and translate them into
system specifications. They act as liaisons among stakeholders, developers, and management.
They may also design, test, and implement systems.
Question 8: Which skill is most important for a systems analyst when working with
nontechnical stakeholders?
A) Advanced programming
B) Communication and active listening
C) Hardware repair
D) Network administration
Correct Answer: B) Communication and active listening
Systems analysts must elicit requirements from users who may not understand technology.
Strong communication and active listening help uncover true business needs. Technical skills
are also important but secondary to understanding stakeholder requirements.
