MIS 3320 Finals (questions and answers)
2024/2025 latest
What is an information system?
a set of interrelated computer components that collects, processes, stores, and provides as output
the information needed to complete business tasks
What are the components of an information system?
-The software/code
-The database
-The interface
-The programs
-The networks
What is a system?
a set of interrelated components working together to achieve a common goal
What is a systems analyst?
organizational role most responsible for analysis and design of information systems; like an architect
What is the main role of a systems analyst?
translates a business problem into an information systems solution
What are the necessary skills for a systems analyst?
technical - DB, programming, computer hardware, networking, operating systems, utilities,
communication and collaborative technologies, SDLC techniques
business - organizational knowledge, management techniques, and functional work processes
people - communication skills, interpersonal skills, roles: negotiator, teacher, mentor, collaborator,
and manager
What is the difference between a tool and technique?
a tool is a software application that assists developers in creating models or other components
required in a project (Visio, Microsoft Project, etc.)
techniques are guidelines to specify a method for how to carry out a development activity or task
(data modeling techniques, user-interviewing techniques, etc.)
What is a systems development project?
is a planned undertaking, has fixed beginning and end, produces desired result or product, varies in
size
What are the steps in the SDLC?
Project initiation (identify the the problem/need and obtain approval)
Planning (plan and monitor the project)
Analysis (discover and understand the details)
Design (design the system components)
Implementation (build, test, and integrate system components)
Deployment (complete system tests and deploy solution)
, What is involved in the Project Initiation phase?
identify the problem, quantify project approval factors, perform risk and feasibility analysis, and
review with the client and obtain approval
What is involved in the Planning phase?
establish the project environment, schedule the work, staff and allocate resources, evaluate work
processes, and monitor progress and make corrections
What is involved in the Analysis phase?
gather detailed information, define requirements, prioritize requirements, develop user-interface
dialogs, and evaluate requirements with users
What is involved in the Design phase?
design the environment, design application architecture and software, design user interfaces, design
system interfaces, design the database, and design system controls and security
What is involved in the Implementation phase?
program the software, unit test the software, identify and build test cases, and integrate and test
components
What is involved in the Deployment phase?
perform system and stress tests, perform user acceptance tests, convert existing data, build training
materials and conduct training, configure and set up production environment, and deploy the solution
What is the predictive approach?
requirements well understood and well defined, low technical risk, can be planned in advance, system
can be developed according to the plan (waterfall and modified waterfall)
What is the adaptive approach?
requirements and needs uncertain, high technical risk, iterative, must be flexible and adapt (spiral
model and iterative development)
What is the waterfall model? What are the problems with this?
one phase begins when another phase completes; specifications are frozen
problems: system requirements locked in, limited user involvement, too much focus on milestone
deadlines
What is the modified waterfall model? What improvement did this model provide over the waterfall?
the modified waterfall allows for phases to overlap as well as the ability to go backwards; shortened
the development time
What is the spiral model?
an iterative approach; spiral until project completed then deploy; Go-No Go Axis (after analysis there
should be a check to see if the project should be continued; feasibility study/check)
What are the improvements of the spiral model?
2024/2025 latest
What is an information system?
a set of interrelated computer components that collects, processes, stores, and provides as output
the information needed to complete business tasks
What are the components of an information system?
-The software/code
-The database
-The interface
-The programs
-The networks
What is a system?
a set of interrelated components working together to achieve a common goal
What is a systems analyst?
organizational role most responsible for analysis and design of information systems; like an architect
What is the main role of a systems analyst?
translates a business problem into an information systems solution
What are the necessary skills for a systems analyst?
technical - DB, programming, computer hardware, networking, operating systems, utilities,
communication and collaborative technologies, SDLC techniques
business - organizational knowledge, management techniques, and functional work processes
people - communication skills, interpersonal skills, roles: negotiator, teacher, mentor, collaborator,
and manager
What is the difference between a tool and technique?
a tool is a software application that assists developers in creating models or other components
required in a project (Visio, Microsoft Project, etc.)
techniques are guidelines to specify a method for how to carry out a development activity or task
(data modeling techniques, user-interviewing techniques, etc.)
What is a systems development project?
is a planned undertaking, has fixed beginning and end, produces desired result or product, varies in
size
What are the steps in the SDLC?
Project initiation (identify the the problem/need and obtain approval)
Planning (plan and monitor the project)
Analysis (discover and understand the details)
Design (design the system components)
Implementation (build, test, and integrate system components)
Deployment (complete system tests and deploy solution)
, What is involved in the Project Initiation phase?
identify the problem, quantify project approval factors, perform risk and feasibility analysis, and
review with the client and obtain approval
What is involved in the Planning phase?
establish the project environment, schedule the work, staff and allocate resources, evaluate work
processes, and monitor progress and make corrections
What is involved in the Analysis phase?
gather detailed information, define requirements, prioritize requirements, develop user-interface
dialogs, and evaluate requirements with users
What is involved in the Design phase?
design the environment, design application architecture and software, design user interfaces, design
system interfaces, design the database, and design system controls and security
What is involved in the Implementation phase?
program the software, unit test the software, identify and build test cases, and integrate and test
components
What is involved in the Deployment phase?
perform system and stress tests, perform user acceptance tests, convert existing data, build training
materials and conduct training, configure and set up production environment, and deploy the solution
What is the predictive approach?
requirements well understood and well defined, low technical risk, can be planned in advance, system
can be developed according to the plan (waterfall and modified waterfall)
What is the adaptive approach?
requirements and needs uncertain, high technical risk, iterative, must be flexible and adapt (spiral
model and iterative development)
What is the waterfall model? What are the problems with this?
one phase begins when another phase completes; specifications are frozen
problems: system requirements locked in, limited user involvement, too much focus on milestone
deadlines
What is the modified waterfall model? What improvement did this model provide over the waterfall?
the modified waterfall allows for phases to overlap as well as the ability to go backwards; shortened
the development time
What is the spiral model?
an iterative approach; spiral until project completed then deploy; Go-No Go Axis (after analysis there
should be a check to see if the project should be continued; feasibility study/check)
What are the improvements of the spiral model?
