09 System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Flashcards

1
Q

Define the SDLC.

A

A SDLC is “a sequence of activities that are performed when a system is analysed designed and implemented”. This cycle is repeated as the software is updated and improved from time to time.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the stages of SDLC?

A
  1. Investigation
  2. Analysis
  3. Design
  4. Implementation
  5. Maintenance
  6. Evaluation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What four methods does a Systems Analyst use to gather information during the investigation phase?

A
  • Questionnaires given to employees, managers or customers
  • Interviews with managers and a few key employees and customers
  • Observation of employees doing their normal day-to-day work
  • Reading of documents and reports
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is adaptive maintenance?

A

Adaptive maintenance makes changes to the system to meet the changing needs of the business or organisation. I.e. as a company grows more employees might use the application than was expected. So the system may need more processing power to allow for this.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is perfective maintenance?

A

Perfective maintenance improves the performance of the system after it has been implemented. For example, the database developer provides an upgrade that makes queries run faster.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is corrective maintenance?

A

Corrective maintenance fixes bugs in the software that were not discovered during testing. For example, the software developer provides security patches that fix vulnerabilities.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How does a Systems Analyst use in-depth interviews during the investigation phase of the SDLC?

A

The analyst conducts interviews with managers, senior operations staff and the biggest customers and suppliers using both open and closed questions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is an advantage of using in-depth interviews during the investigation phase of the SDLC?

A

Interviews can reveal information the analyst had not considered. The analyst has the opportunity to ask follow-up questions and to request deeper explanation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is a disadvantage of using in-depth interviews during the investigation phases of the SDLC?

A
  • Conducting interviews can be time consuming

* Results are qualitative, difficult to analyse and often cannot be represented in charts.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is an advantage of using questionnaires during the investigation phase of the SDLC?

A
  • Questionnaires are most effective when given to a large number of people, so that quantitative statistics can be produced
  • Questionnaires are an efficient way of obtaining information from a large number of employees or customers, especially if they are in different locations.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is a disadvantage of using questionnaires during the investigation phase of the SDLC?

A

• Questions are fixed in advance - respondents cannot respond to clarify. Staff may not return questionnaires or not fill them in accurately.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What four aspects should be considered in the design stage of the SDLC?

A
  • House style
  • Hardware specification
  • Structures (i.e. database tables and fields)
  • User interface
  • Output reports
  • Networks
  • Staffing issues
  • Security processes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

A Systems Analyst has four choices of changeover strategy when a new IT system is introduced. Name them.

A
  • Direct changeover
  • Parallel changeover
  • Phased changeover
  • Pilot changeover
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

State an advantage and a disadvantage of direct changeover strategy.

A
  • Advantage - Simplest and least costly
  • Disadvantage - High risk. If new system doesn’t work perfectly the first time the company could face serious financial consequences.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

State an advantage and a disadvantage of parallel changeover of IT systems.

A
  • Advantage - Lower risk. If the new system doesn’t run properly, the old system is still running.
  • Disadvantage - Cost of running two infrastructures may be high. Also, data must be entered and processed in two locations which is inefficient.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

State an advantage and a disadvantage of phased changeover.

A
  • Advantage - IT consultants are able to deal with a smaller number of issues as they arise
  • Disadvantage - Only an option if the system can be broke down into modules.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

State an advantage and a disadvantage of pilot changeover.

A
  • Advantage - Lowers risk so if something goes wrong it only affects one location.
  • Disadvantage - Takes the longest to implement and the system isn’t being tested at full scale.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Describe direct changeover of IT systems.

A

Direct changeover means the old system is switched off as the new system is powered up.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Describe parallel changeover of IT systems.

A

Parallel changeover means the new and old systems are run at the same time until the new system is ready to take over.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Describe phased changeover of IT systems.

A

Phased changeover means individual modules of the system are implemented one at a time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Describe pilot changeover of IT systems.

A

Pilot changeover means the system is tested in one or a few locations rather than in the whole company.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

“A sequence of activities that are performed when a system is analysed, designed and implemented.” is the definition of what?

A

System Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Analysis is which stage of the SDLC?

A

Second

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Evaluation is which stage of the SDLC?

A

Sixth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Maintenance is which stage of the SDLC?

A

Fifth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Implementation is which stage of the SDLC?

A

Fourth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Investigation is which stage of the SDLC?

A

First

28
Q

Design is which stage of the SDLC?

A

Third

29
Q

What are the four methods used to gather information?

A
  • Questionnaires
  • Interviews
  • Observation
  • Documentation
30
Q

Questionnaires, interviews, observations, and documentation are used during which stage of the SDLC?

A

Investigation.

31
Q

What method is most effective when given to a large number of people, so that quantitative statistics can be produced?

A

Questionnaires

32
Q

What is an effective way of obtaining information from a large number of employees or customers?

A

Questionnaires

33
Q

What can reveal information the analyst had not considered?

A

In-depth interviews.

34
Q

What can be time consuming if done in-depth?

A

Interviews

35
Q

What qualitative results can be difficult to analyse and often cannot be represented in charts?

A

In-depth interviews

36
Q

Questions being fixed in advance meaning respondents cannot respond to clarify the questions is a disadvantage of what?

A

Questionnaires.

37
Q

What fixes bugs in the software that were not discovered during testing?

A

Corrective maintenance.

38
Q

What makes changes to the system to meet the changing needs of the business or organisation?

A

Adaptive maintenance.

39
Q

What improves the performance of the system after it has been implemented?

A

Perfective maintenance

40
Q

House style is an aspect that should be considered in what stage of the SDLC?

A

Design stage

41
Q

Hardware specification is an aspect that should be considered in what stage of the SDLC?

A

Design stage

42
Q

Structures is an aspect that should be considered in what stage of the SDLC?

A

Design stage

43
Q

User interface is an aspect that should be considered in what stage of the SDLC?

A

Design stage

44
Q

Output report is an aspect that should be considered in what stage of the SDLC?

A

Design stage

45
Q

Networks is an aspect that should be considered in what stage of the SDLC?

A

Design stage

46
Q

Staffing issues is an aspect that should be considered in what stage of the SDLC?

A

Design stage

47
Q

Security processes is an aspect that should be considered in what stage of the SDLC?

A

Design stage

48
Q

Direct changeover is a method used when?

A

A new IT system is introduced

49
Q

Parallel changeover is a method used when?

A

A new IT system is introduced

50
Q

Pilot changeover is a method used when?

A

A new IT system is introduced

51
Q

Phased changeover is a method used when?

A

A new IT system is introduced

52
Q

The old system being switched off as the new one is powered up is the description of which changeover method?

A

Direct changeover

53
Q

New and old systems being run at the same time until the new system is ready to take over is the description of which changeover method?

A

Parallel changeover

54
Q

Individual modules of the system being implemented one at a time is the description of which changeover method?

A

Phased changeover

55
Q

The system being tested in one or a few locations rather than in the whole company is the description of which changeover method?

A

Pilot changeover

56
Q

Which changeover method is the simplest and least costly?

A

Direct changeover

57
Q

Which changeover method runs at lower risk so if the new system doesn’t work, the old one is still running?

A

Parallel changeover

58
Q

Which changeover method means IT consultants are able to deal with a smaller number of issues as they arise?

A

Phased changeover

59
Q

Which changeover method lowers risk so if something goes wrong it only affects one location?

A

Pilot changeover

60
Q

Which changeover method is of the highest risk so if the new system doesn’t work perfectly the first time the company could face serious financial consequences?

A

Direct changeover

61
Q

Which changeover method is the most expensive due to running two infrastructures at the same time?

A

Parallel changeover

62
Q

Which changeover method is only an option if the system can be broken down into modules?

A

Phased changeover

63
Q

Which changeover method takes the longest to implement?

A

Pilot changeover

64
Q

Which changeover method is the least efficient as data has to be entered and processed in two locations?

A

Parallel changeover

65
Q

Which changeover method means the system isn’t being tested to its full scale?

A

Pilot changeover.