Software Development Decisions

Questions and Answers

What is the primary goal of prioritizing conditions such as effectiveness, convenience, or feasibility when making a decision?

To make an appropriate decision for a solution

Making decisions in a program only affects the flow of the program.

False

What does thinking logically allow you to do in terms of planning and preparing for different scenarios?

plan and prepare for different scenarios

Decision making is one of the most important aspects of _______________________;

problem solving Signup and view all the answers

Match the following conditions with their purpose in decision making:

Effectiveness = To determine the best approach for a solution Convenience = To determine the user experience Feasibility = To determine the resources required for a solution Signup and view all the answers

Decision making is only important for the flow of a program.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is a key factor to consider when making a decision about a programming language?

The language's suitability to the problem Signup and view all the answers

A decision is a result reached after some consideration.

True Signup and view all the answers

When drawing flow charts, what shape is typically used to represent a decision?

diamond Signup and view all the answers

When making a decision, it is important to consider what is most _______________.

effective Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a decision that needs to be made when building a program?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

A decision can have more than two outcomes.

False Signup and view all the answers

Match the following factors that affect the outcome of a decision with their descriptions:

Effectiveness = The outcome that achieves the desired result Convenience = The outcome that is easiest to implement Cost = The monetary value of the outcome Popularity = The outcome that is most widely used Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to identify where decisions will need to be made when building a solution?

to gather enough information about our options and make an informed decision Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Decision Making in Software Development

A decision is a result reached after some consideration, and it plays a crucial role in solving problems and designing programs.
One of the first and biggest decisions made in software development is choosing the approach or paradigm used.
Other examples of decision making in software development include deciding how to collect different pieces of information.

Decision Making Process

To simplify the decision-making process, it's essential to limit the possible solutions to pick from.
When deciding on a programming language, consider its feasibility, suitability to the problem, and the functionality it provides.
Also, consider your comfort level with the language and how easy it is to learn a new language given time constraints.

Identifying Decisions

It's crucial to identify where decisions will need to be made when building solutions, allowing you to gather enough information about your options.
This enables you to make an informed decision.

Representing Decisions

In flowcharts, a decision is usually shown by a diamond-shaped icon, which can have two results, yes or no (true/false).

Conditions Affecting Decision Outcomes

Factors that affect the outcome of a decision include:
- What is most effective?
- What is most convenient?
- Is this option reasonable?
Evaluate these conditions and prioritize them from most important to least important to make an appropriate decision.

Decisions Affecting Program Flow

Decisions determine how different parts of the program are completed.
Different decisions can produce completely different results and routes through the program.
It's essential to understand how decisions made by the user affect the program's flow.

Thinking Logically

Thinking logically involves identifying where decisions need to be made by the user within the program and planning out the outcomes.
This provides a foresight of the decisions made throughout the program.
Good decision making is the key to solving problems effectively.