Chapter 4

Question 1

What is a Design Brief

Answer 1

A simple document which outlines the core details and problems of your project.

Question 2

How are goals different from objectives?

Answer 2

A goal is an outcome that you want to achieve and is a broad statement, whereas an objective is a specific and measurable action which can be reached in a short period of time.

Question 3

What are functional solution requirements?

Answer 3

What will the software solution is required to do, the inputs and outputs it must receive and generate.

Question 4

What does a Gantt chart allow you to do?

Answer 4

It allows tasks to be visually represented, resources allocated to each task and their progress monitored.

Question 5

The Waterfall Model

Answer 5

Moves through the PSM method in order, however once an activity/stage is completed, it isnt revisited, thus called the “Waterfall” model.

Question 6

Advantages of Waterfall Model

Answer 6

1. Simple linear progression which is easy to understand and follow.
2. Easier to concentrate resources on each task and complete it.
3. Works best for small projects
4. Easier to keep track of milestones.

Question 7

Disadvantages of Waterfall Model

Answer 7

1. Once an application is in the development or evaluation stage, changes to the design cannot be made.
2. Not suited to large scale projects

Question 8

Agile Model

Answer 8

Makes a quick start and then rapidly performs all of the stages over and over, gradually improving the final product.

Question 9

Spiral Model

Answer 9

Has four phases:
1. Planning
2. Risk analysis
3. Engineering
4. Evaluation

Question 10

Advantages of Agile Model

Answer 10

1. Clients are more included in the development process
2. Agile development is able to adapt to changing circumstances

Question 11

Disadvantages of Agile Model

Answer 11

1. The scope of the project may not be fully evident at the start
2. Project can quickly go off track

Question 12

Advantages of Spiral Model

Answer 12

1. As it is focused on Risk analysis, the avoidance of risk is increased
2. Good for large projects
3. Additional functionality can be added later
4. Software is produced early in the development cycle

Question 13

Disadvantages of Spiral Model

Answer 13

1. Risk analysis requires a software developor with a high level of skill/experience
2. Doesn’t work well for small projects

Question 14

Detailed definition of information system

Answer 14

The combination of data, people, processes and digital systems that interact to create, control, and communicate ideas and data in digital solutions

Question 15

Robustness

Answer 15

Measure of how well a software solution responds to poor use of inputs.

Question 16

Maintainability

Answer 16

How easily a software solution can be fixed when problems occur.

Question 17

Disadvantages of surveys

Answer 17

Responses may not be legitimate, time-consuming

Question 18

Advantages of observations as data collection

Answer 18

Give a view of the system that is unbiased

Question 19

Describe Organisation goals

Answer 19

Statements that describe potential future principles that the organisation strives to achieve (NEVER QUANTITIVE)

Question 20

Describe Objectives

Answer 20

They support the goals by providing some TARGETS with MEASUREABLE results. (QUANTITIVE)

Question 21

Purpose of goals

Answer 21

1. Guidance
2. Assist planning
3. Inspire
4. Support evaluation process

Question 22

What are black holes? (CHAPTER 5)

Answer 22

Used to describe the situation that occurs when data flows into a process but nothing is produced

Question 23

What are the two ways to record progress?

Answer 23

1. Logbook of changes, so that they are able to explain the modifications to the initial plan and the impact of these changes
2. Annotation of Gantt Chart

Question 24

What are milestones?

Answer 24

Times in a project where certain stages are met

Question 25

What are dependencies?

Answer 25

Tasks depend on other tasks to be completed before they can commence

Question 26

What is the critical path?

Answer 26

The critical path is defined as the longest path from the beginning to the end of the timeline, with no delays impacting the completion date of the project

Question 27

What is Portability

Answer 27

The ability for a solution to be moved from one environment to another