Modern Systems Analysis and Design Chapter 2
40 Questions
1 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is a key benefit of using cloud computing for a company?

  • Higher costs compared to internal development
  • Increased need for internal development
  • Slower access to applications than via internal development
  • Reduced dependence on internal IT staff (correct)

    • What type of cloud service is Salesforce.com an example of?

  • Hardware as a Service (HaaS)
  • Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
  • Software as a Service (SaaS) (correct)
  • Platform as a Service (PaaS)

    • Which of the following is NOT a concern related to cloud computing?

  • Security
  • Regulation compliance
  • Reliability
  • Cost-effectiveness (correct)

    • Which of these is an example of open source software?

    <p>Linux (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can open source software developers make money?

    <p>Charging for premium features in a 'Pro' version (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a potential disadvantage of in-house software development?

    <p>Lower maintenance burden compared to cloud solutions (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these is a potential benefit of using a hybrid approach to software development?

    <p>Combining the strengths of both purchased and in-house components (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key component of a company's decision to adopt cloud computing?

    <p>The cost and complexity of managing in-house infrastructure (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the definition of outsourcing in the context of information systems?

    <p>Turning over the responsibility of some or all information systems applications and operations to an outside firm. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a source of software listed in the material?

    <p>Personal software installations (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following options represents a source of enterprise-wide solution software?

    <p>Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do most organizations currently approach application coding and software development?

    <p>They combine in-house coding with the integration of external components. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following serves as an example of a vendor that Shell Oil used for outsourcing?

    <p>Accenture (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of information technology service firms in the context of software sources?

    <p>They offer custom software solutions and IT services. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key benefit of utilizing open-source software?

    <p>It offers greater customization potential without licensing fees. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor is NOT typically considered when evaluating off-the-shelf software?

    <p>Potential for in-house development (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key factor to consider when comparing the cost of off-the-shelf software?

    <p>The cost of developing the same system in-house (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which aspect is crucial for understanding the capabilities of off-the-shelf software?

    <p>The tasks the software can perform and its features (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the viability of a vendor refer to?

    <p>The vendor's ability to adapt and update software (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is not a factor to consider for the ease of using the software?

    <p>Availability of mobile access (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of sending a Request for Proposal (RFP) to vendors?

    <p>To ask vendors to propose solutions that meet system requirements (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When evaluating software, what feedback should analysts consider?

    <p>Feedback from other users of the vendor's product (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following sources can provide unbiased testing results for software?

    <p>Independent software testing services (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is significant about technical marketing literature in the context of selecting software?

    <p>It is often biassed and influenced by the manufacturer. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of software reuse?

    <p>Utilization of previously written software resources in new applications (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which development technology is NOT commonly associated with software reuse?

    <p>Agile development (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the three steps of software reuse?

    <p>Abstraction, Storage, Recontextualization (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which approach to reuse involves mandating the sharing and adoption of reusable assets?

    <p>Managed approach (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common technical issue associated with software reuse?

    <p>Lack of methodology for component library (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main benefit of correctly implementing software reuse?

    <p>Increased productivity and reduced defects (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is true about object class in object-oriented development?

    <p>It includes encapsulation of data and behavior of common entities. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is often deemed a challenge in measuring the benefits of software reuse?

    <p>Lack of commitment and organizational support (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary reason companies choose to outsource software development?

    <p>To access specialized labor skills (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which country is NOT mentioned as a top outsourcing destination?

    <p>Germany (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common characteristic of packaged software?

    <p>It is designed for broad market segments (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does ERP stand for in the context of enterprise solutions software?

    <p>Enterprise Resource Planning (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a benefit of outsourcing?

    <p>Increased internal resource allocation (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of information technology (IT) services firms?

    <p>To develop customized information systems for companies (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement about prepackaged software is accurate?

    <p>It typically runs on both small and large computer systems (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why do some U.S. firms prefer nearshoring?

    <p>To reduce time-related issues (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Modern Systems Analysis and Design, Chapter 2: The Origins of Software

    • Historically, software development for a corporate information systems department was primarily done in-house.
    • Now, software development involves components from external sources.
    • Much in-house coding involves integrating components from external sources.
    • Six sources of software:
      • Information technology service firms
      • Packaged software providers
      • Vendors of enterprise-wide solution software
      • Cloud computing
      • Open-source software
      • In-house development
    • Methods of evaluating software from various sources are available.
    • Outsourcing is the practice of transferring responsibility for some or all of an organization's information systems applications and operations to an external firm.
    • Shell Oil's outsourcing spending totalled $3.2 billion in 2008.
    • Outsourcing vendors (2008-2011): EDS, T-Systems, AT&T, IBM, Logica, Wipro, Accenture.
    • Reasons to outsource:
      • Cost-effectiveness (economies of scale).
      • Filling in deficiencies in in-house knowledge.
      • Freeing internal resources.
      • Reducing time to market.
      • Enhancing process efficiency.
      • Outsourcing system development as a non-core activity.
      • Political considerations (e.g., labor disputes).
    • Top outsourcing countries (2014 A.T. Kearny report): India, China, Malaysia. Top 10 in Asia, Latin America, Europe, and Africa.
    • U.S. firms are increasingly shifting to nearshoring (same time zone, lower labor costs).
    • Examples of leading software firms and their specializations are listed in Table 2-1.
    • Information Technology (IT) service firms help companies develop customized internal information systems and run applications for customers. Additional services include management, accounting, and financial functions.
    • Packaged software producers offer a range of software. From broad-based packages (e.g., general ledger) to niche packages (e.g., day care management), catering to various market segments.
    • Packaged software is pre-packaged, "off-the-shelf", and turnkey software (non-customizable).
    • Off-the-shelf software typically meets 70% of organizational needs. Software runs from microcomputers to large mainframes.
    • Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems integrate individual traditional business functions into modules for seamless cross-functional transactions. SAP AG is a leading ERP vendor.
    • Cloud computing provides computing resources (applications) over the Internet. Customers avoid investing in and maintaining computing infrastructure. Pay-per-use or monthly/yearly licenses are common. Cloud computing examples: Google Apps, Salesforce.com, Microsoft Azure platform, Amazon.com.
    • Open-source software is available free of charge, with source code. It's developed by communities of interested individuals and performs commercial software functions. Examples: Linux, MySQL, Firefox.
    • Benefits of open-source software: -Free software and source code. -Usually freely available. -Developed by passionate individuals. -Maintained and improved by communities.
    • How open-source software providers generate revenue: -Providing support/maintenance services. -Selling more comprehensive versions of the free software.
    • In-house development is most effective when sufficient expertise with the target platform exists. Maintenance burden is often greater than other approaches in-house development. Hybrid methods (involving a mix of purchased and in-house components) are common. Comparison of various software-building strategies is found in Table 2-2.

    Selecting Off-the-Shelf Software

    • Cost considerations involve comparing in-house development costs to the costs of purchasing or licensing software.
    • Functionality includes tasks the software can perform (mandatory, essential, and desired features).
    • Vendor support includes the type and cost of support.
    • Vendor viability involves assessing if the vendor will adapt to evolving systems software and hardware.
    • Selection factors also include flexibility (ease of customization), documentation (manuals and technical information), response time (speed of interactive responses), and ease of installation.

    Validating Purchased Software Information

    • Requests for proposal (RFPs) are submitted to vendors. These documents specify a company's needs.
    • Information sources for validating a software package acquisition can include vendor proposals, running the software through tests, feedback from others who utilize the system, independent testing services, and customer surveys. Articles in trade publications can sometimes be misleading (e.g., manufacturer-inserted bias).
    • RFPs (sometimes called Request for Quotes or RFQs) help analysts identify the best selection.

    Reuse

    • Reuse involves utilizing previously written software assets (objects/components) in new applications. This is commonly applied to object-oriented and component-based development.
    • Object-oriented development is based on object-classes encapsulating data and behavior of common organizational entities (e.g. employees).
    • Component-based development uses components varying in size (from objects to software for single business functions).
    • Reuse can increase productivity and reduce rework, but can be affected by technical or organizational issues, including the availability of component libraries and organizational commitment.
    • Costs and benefits of reuse are highlighted in Figure 2-5.
    • Three steps involved in implementing software reuse:
      • Abstraction - designing reusable software.
      • Storage - making software resources accessible.
      • Recontextualization - making the software understandable to developers.
    • Approaches to reuse range from ad-hoc to facilitated, managed, and designed. These approaches vary in the degree of reuse, commitment levels, policies, and costs, as outlined in Table 2-3.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Related Documents

    Modern Systems Analysis and Design PDF

    Description

    This quiz explores the evolution of software development as discussed in Chapter 2 of Modern Systems Analysis and Design. It covers the shift from in-house software development to utilizing external components and outsourcing practices. Examine the various sources of software and the implications of outsourcing in the information systems sector.

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser