Study Guide Exam #1MIS3770 –Fall 2015

This study guide reflects *most* of the questions that will be covered in Exam #1, which will be administered on September 30th. Exam will cover topics 1, 2, 3, & 4, and consist of 20 multiple-choice questions, and 10 long-answer questions.  Each multiple-choice question is worth0.25 points, and each long-answer question is worth 1 point, thus making the total of 15 points.

The exam will be open book, and you are allowed use any sources.  However, you cannot copy and paste from class materials (e.g., textbook, lecture slide), or the Internet. Doing so will result in zero point.Further, your answers for long-answer questions must be comprehensive enough to show your knowledge, understanding, and logics of what is being asked.  Lastly, please note that a time limit will be strictly enforced (85 minutes), and failing to submit your answers in a timely manner may result in zero on the entire exam.  This means that you should have sufficient knowledge about the topics and you would not want to use exam time to study the topics.  Lastly, no additional time will be given to those who come late so please arrive timely.

I do not guarantee that every single question will be reflected in this study guide, although the vast majority will be.Also, be aware that, in most cases, you will need to know more than just what the topic is. I may ask any sort of question that probes your knowledge and in-depth understanding of that topic.

Topic 1: introductiontosystemsanalysisanddesign&thesystemsdevelopmentenvironment
What is Information System? What are its five components? How is it different from Information Technology?
What are key challenges associated with developing information systems?
What is Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC), and what are the four phases of it?
What are the limitations of SDLC? What is Boehm’s cost? Howdoes agile methodology overcome these limitations?
What are the skills needed for business/systems analysts? and tips to becoming a good business/systemsanalyst?

Topic2: thesourcesofsoftware
What is outsourcing? what are different types of outsourcing? What are the risks associated with outsourcing?
What is “offshoring”?
What are 6 different sources of software? What are pros and cons of each source?
What are criteria for choosing off-the-shelf software?
What is enterprise resource planning (ERP) system? What are its characteristics?
What are the disadvantages of implementing ERP systems?
What is cloud computing? What are the concerns associated with it? Examples of cloud computing?
What is open-source software?

Topic 3: systemsplanningandselection
What are sources of IT projects?
What is System request (and business case), and what is the purpose of writing such documents?
What are different types of feasibility studies, and why do you need to conduct feasibility studies?
What is Risk Management, and why is is important for managing IT projects?
What are the factors that influence risks analysis and assessment?

Topic 4: determiningsystemsrequirements
What is a requirement? What are different types of requirements?
How important are requirements for IT projects? and why?
What are different requirements analysis strategies?
What are practical and general tips for requirements determination?
What are the different techniques for determining (eliciting) requirements?
Describe general steps and practical guidelines associated with conducting interviews for requirements determination.
What are the key benefits of directly observing users?
What are the different types of documents that can be used for requirements determination?
What is Joint Application Design (JAD)? What’s its purpose, its benefits, how it works, its key participants, and end result?

Study Guide Exam #1MIS3770 –Fall 2015

This study guide reflects *most* of the questions that will be covered in Exam #1, which will be administered on September 30th. Exam will cover topics 1, 2, 3, & 4, and consist of 20 multiple-choice questions, and 10 long-answer questions.  Each multiple-choice question is worth0.25 points, and each long-answer question is worth 1 point, thus making the total of 15 points.

The exam will be open book, and you are allowed use any sources.  However, you cannot copy and paste from class materials (e.g., textbook, lecture slide), or the Internet. Doing so will result in zero point.Further, your answers for long-answer questions must be comprehensive enough to show your knowledge, understanding, and logics of what is being asked.  Lastly, please note that a time limit will be strictly enforced (85 minutes), and failing to submit your answers in a timely manner may result in zero on the entire exam.  This means that you should have sufficient knowledge about the topics and you would not want to use exam time to study the topics.  Lastly, no additional time will be given to those who come late so please arrive timely.

I do not guarantee that every single question will be reflected in this study guide, although the vast majority will be.Also, be aware that, in most cases, you will need to know more than just what the topic is. I may ask any sort of question that probes your knowledge and in-depth understanding of that topic.

Topic 1: introductiontosystemsanalysisanddesign&thesystemsdevelopmentenvironment
What is Information System? What are its five components? How is it different from Information Technology?
What are key challenges associated with developing information systems?
What is Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC), and what are the four phases of it?
What are the limitations of SDLC? What is Boehm’s cost? Howdoes agile methodology overcome these limitations?
What are the skills needed for business/systems analysts? and tips to becoming a good business/systemsanalyst?

Topic2: thesourcesofsoftware
What is outsourcing? what are different types of outsourcing? What are the risks associated with outsourcing?
What is “offshoring”?
What are 6 different sources of software? What are pros and cons of each source?
What are criteria for choosing off-the-shelf software?
What is enterprise resource planning (ERP) system? What are its characteristics?
What are the disadvantages of implementing ERP systems?
What is cloud computing? What are the concerns associated with it? Examples of cloud computing?
What is open-source software?

Topic 3: systemsplanningandselection
What are sources of IT projects?
What is System request (and business case), and what is the purpose of writing such documents?
What are different types of feasibility studies, and why do you need to conduct feasibility studies?
What is Risk Management, and why is is important for managing IT projects?
What are the factors that influence risks analysis and assessment?

Topic 4: determiningsystemsrequirements
What is a requirement? What are different types of requirements?
How important are requirements for IT projects? and why?
What are different requirements analysis strategies?
What are practical and general tips for requirements determination?
What are the different techniques for determining (eliciting) requirements?
Describe general steps and practical guidelines associated with conducting interviews for requirements determination.
What are the key benefits of directly observing users?
What are the different types of documents that can be used for requirements determination?
What is Joint Application Design (JAD)? What’s its purpose, its benefits, how it works, its key participants, and end result?