Essentials of Systems Analysis and Design, 6e (Valacich)
Chapter 1 The Systems Development Environment
1) The end user is not the person in the organization most involved in the systems analysis and
design process.
CLLO: Discuss the role of information systems in supporting business processes
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology
2) Systems analysis is the second phase of the systems development life cycle.
CLLO: Compare and contrast different methods for developing information systems
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Application of Knowledge
3) The main goal of systems analysis and design is to improve organizational systems, typically
through applying software that can help employees accomplish key business tasks more easily
and efficiently.
CLLO: Discuss the role of information systems in supporting business processes
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Application of Knowledge
4) Application software is also called a system.
CLLO: Describe the components of an information system (IS)
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Application of Knowledge
1
5) An information system does not include hardware and systems software.
CLLO: Describe the components of an information system (IS)
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Application of Knowledge
6) Methodologies are a sequence of step-by-step approaches that help to develop the information
system.
CLLO: Compare and contrast different methods for developing information systems
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Application of Knowledge
7) All methodologies incorporate only one development technique.
CLLO: Compare and contrast different methods for developing information systems
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Application of Knowledge
8) Techniques generally only provide support for one task.
CLLO: Compare and contrast different methods for developing information systems
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Application of Knowledge
9) Techniques are processes that you, as an analyst, will follow to help ensure that your work is
well thought-out, complete, and comprehensible to others on your project team.
CLLO: Compare and contrast different methods for developing information systems
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Application of Knowledge
2
10) CASE is an example of a tool.
CLLO: Describe the components of an information system (IS)
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology
11) A system is an interrelated set of business procedures used by one business unit, working
together for a purpose.
CLLO: Describe the components of an information system (IS)
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology
12) A component is the line that marks the inside or outside of a system.
CLLO: Describe the components of an information system (IS)
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Application of Knowledge
13) A boundary often is called a subsystem.
CLLO: Describe the components of an information system (IS)
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Application of Knowledge
14) Components are most likely interrelated.
CLLO: Describe the components of an information system (IS)
Classification: Application
AACSB: Application of Knowledge
3
15) A boundary marks the inside and outside of a system and sets the system apart from its
environment.
CLLO: Describe the components of an information system (IS)
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Application of Knowledge
16) The overall goal of an information system is called its meaning.
CLLO: Describe the components of an information system (IS)
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology
17) A system exists within an environment, which consists of everything outside of the system.
CLLO: Describe the components of an information system (IS)
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology
18) Components are parts, or an aggregation of parts of the system.
CLLO: Describe the components of an information system (IS)
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology
19) A boundary is the point of contact where a system meets its environment or where
subsystems meet each other.
CLLO: Describe the components of an information system (IS)
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology
4
20) Systems analysts are key to the systems development process.
CLLO: Discuss the role of information systems in supporting business processes
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Application of Knowledge, Information Technology
21) A systems development methodology is a standard process followed in an organization to
conduct all the steps necessary to analyze, design, implement, and maintain information systems.
CLLO: Compare and contrast different methods for developing information systems
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Application of Knowledge, Information Technology
22) A systems development technique is the series of steps used to mark the phases of
development for an information system.
CLLO: Compare and contrast different methods for developing information systems
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology
23) The systems development life cycle is a sequentially ordered set of phases.
CLLO: Compare and contrast different methods for developing information systems, Discuss
best practices for selecting, evaluating, and managing information systems projects
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology
5
24) The phases of the systems development life cycle are circular in nature.
CLLO: Compare and contrast different methods for developing information systems, Discuss
best practices for selecting, evaluating, and managing information systems projects
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology
25) In the systems development life cycle, it is possible to complete some activities in one phase
in parallel with some activities of another phase.
CLLO: Compare and contrast different methods for developing information systems, Discuss
best practices for selecting, evaluating, and managing information systems projects
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology
26) Sometimes the systems development life cycle (SDLC) is iterative.
CLLO: Compare and contrast different methods for developing information systems, Discuss
best practices for selecting, evaluating, and managing information systems projects
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology
27) The second task in systems analysis is to investigate the system and determine the proposed
system’s scope.
CLLO: Discuss best practices for selecting, evaluating, and managing information systems
projects
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology
6
28) Logical design is tied to a specific hardware and software platform.
CLLO: Discuss best practices for selecting, evaluating, and managing information systems
projects
Classification: Synthesis
AACSB: Information Technology, Application of Knowledge
29) During logical design, the analyst team decides which programming languages the computer
instructions should be written in, which database systems and file structures will be used for the
data, and which hardware platform, operating system, and network environment the system will
run under.
CLLO: Discuss best practices for selecting, evaluating, and managing information systems
projects
Classification: Application
AACSB: Application of Knowledge
30) Involving the user in analysis and design is a key advantage to the prototyping technique.
role of computer–aided software engineering (CASE) tools in systems development.
CLLO: Compare and contrast different methods for developing information systems
Classification: Application
AACSB: Information Technology, Application of Knowledge
31) A key principle of the Agile Methodologies is a clear focus on people rather than roles.
role of computer–aided software engineering (CASE) tools in systems development.
CLLO: Compare and contrast different methods for developing information systems
Classification: Application
AACSB: Information Technology, Application of Knowledge
7
32) An information system interacts with its environment by:
A) processing data.
B) receiving data.
C) XML protocols.
D) systems analysts.
E) sending data.
CLLO: Describe the components of an information system (IS)
Classification: Application
AACSB: Application of Knowledge, Information Technology
33) A system is separated from other systems by a(n):
A) interface.
B) barrier.
C) boundary.
D) border.
E) cross-platform.
CLLO: Describe the components of an information system (IS)
Classification: Application
AACSB: Application of Knowledge, Information Technology
34) A system’s capacity can be viewed as a(n):
A) system benefit.
B) on-going issue.
C) system constraint.
D) liability.
E) cost center.
CLLO: Describe the components of an information system (IS)
Classification: Application
AACSB: Application of Knowledge, Information Technology
8
35) Breaking a system down into its smaller components is called:
A) cohesion.
B) modularity.
C) exertion.
D) coupling.
E) decompressing.
CLLO: Describe the components of an information system (IS)
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Application of Knowledge, Information Technology
36) ________ results in smaller and less complex systems that are easier to understand than
larger, complicated systems.
A) Cohesion
B) Compaction
C) Modularity
D) Chopping
E) Reduction
CLLO: Describe the components of an information system (IS)
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Application of Knowledge, Information Technology
37) A direct result of decomposition is:
A) composition.
B) cohesion.
C) adherence.
D) divergence.
E) modularity.
CLLO: Describe the components of an information system (IS)
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Application of Knowledge, Information Technology
9
38) The extent to which subsystems depend on each other is called:
A) cohesion.
B) coupling.
C) inheritance.
D) morphism.
E) dependence.
CLLO: Describe the components of an information system (IS)
Classification: Application
AACSB: Application of Knowledge, Information Technology
39) A(n) ________ is conducted before the second phase of the SDLC to determine the
economic and organizational impact of the system.
A) feasibility study
B) essential study
C) scheduling study
D) planning session
E) project discussion
CLLO: Discuss best practices for selecting, evaluating, and managing information systems
projects
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology
40) The output of the systems planning and selection phase is:
A) a description of the alternative solution recommended by the analysis team.
B) a detailed project proposal.
C) a basic project plan.
D) a baseline project plan.
E) a cost benefit analysis.
CLLO: Discuss best practices for selecting, evaluating, and managing information systems
projects
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology
10