Chapter 9: Systems Development and Project Management: Corporate Responsibility

Question 1

Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

Answer 1

the overall process for developing information systems from planning and analysis through implementation and maintenance

Question 2

1. Planning phase

Answer 2

establishes a high-level plan of the intended project and determines project goals

Question 3

2. Analysis phase

Answer 3

involves analyzing end-user business requirements and refining project goals into defined functions and operations of the intended system

Question 4

3. Design phase

Answer 4

establishes descriptions of the desired features and operations of the system including screen layouts, business rules, process diagrams, pseudo code, and other documentation

Question 5

4. Development phase

Answer 5

involves taking all of the detailed design documents from the design phase and transforming them into the actual system

Question 6

5. Testing phase

Answer 6

involves bringing all the project pieces together into a special testing environment to eliminate errors and bugs, and verify that the system meets all of the business requirements defined in the analysis phase

Question 7

6. Implementation phase

Answer 7

involves placing the system into production so users can begin to perform actual business operations with it

Question 8

4 Types of Implementation Systems

Answer 8

1. Pilot
2. Parallel
3. Plunge
4. Phased

Question 9

Pilot

Answer 9

allows the new system to be tested in one department before being installed in others

Question 10

Parallel

Answer 10

offers a low-risk but expensive way of implementing a new system

Question 11

Plunge

Answer 11

the direct changeover method offers a quick but high-risk way of implementing a new system

Question 12

Phased

Answer 12

a medium risk but lengthy method of replacing an old system with a new

Question 13

In-sourcing (in-house-development)

Answer 13

uses the professional expertise within an organization to develop and maintain its information technology systems

Question 14

Outsourcing

Answer 14

an arrangement by which one organization provides a service or services for another organization that chooses not to perform them in-house

Question 15

Factors Driving Outsourcing Growth

Answer 15

• core competencies
• financial savings
• rapid growth
• the internet and globalization

Question 16

Outsourcing Projects

Answer 16

• onshore outsourcing: came country
• nearshore outsourcing: same continent
• offshore outsourcing: overseas

Question 17

Pros of Outsourcing

Answer 17

• increased quality and efficiency
• reduced operating expenses and increased capital investments
• access to outsourcing service provider’s expertise, economies of scale, best practices, and advanced technologies
• increased flexibility for faster response to market changes and less time to market for new products or services

Question 18

Cons of Outsourcing

Answer 18

• length of contract
• threat to competitive advantage
• loss of confidentiality