Project Initiation and Problem Analysis - Quiz Explanation

The correct answers are indicated below, along with text that explains the correct answers.
 
1. What elements make up a software development methodology?

Please select the best answer.

  A. Standardized project phases and associated deliverables
  B. Standardized process and phases
  C. Standardized notation and deliverables
  D. Standardized process and notation
  The correct answer is D.
The elements that make up a software development methodology are a standardized process and a standardized notation. A and B are incorrect because they do not include a standard notation for the deliverables. C is incorrect because it does not include a standardized process.

2. What is the Unified Modeling Language (UML)?
Please select the best answer.
  A. A notation standard for object-oriented programming
  B. An object-oriented standardized process
  C. A notation standard for object-oriented modeling
  D. An object-oriented development methodology
  The correct answer is C.
The UML is a notation standard for object-oriented modeling. A is incorrect because the UML does not specify any programming-language-level standards. B is incorrect because the UML does not specify any process. D is incorrect because the UML supplies only half of the requirements for a methodology, the notation. It does not specify the process.

3. What are the phases making up the software development process?
Please select the best answer.
  A. Project initiation, problem analysis, architectural analysis, object design, construction, installation, and maintenance
  B. Problem analysis, use case analysis, architectural analysis, construction, testing, and implementation
  C. Project initiation, architectural analysis, problem analysis, object design, construction, and maintenance
  D. Project analysis, problem analysis, object design, construction, architectural analysis, installation, and maintenance
  The correct answer is A.
The phases making up the software development process and their sequence as defined in this course are project initiation, problem analysis, architectural analysis, object design, construction, installation, and maintenance. B is incorrect it does not include project initiation. Use case analysis is only one component of project initiation, and testing is part of every phase, not an isolated phase late in the project. C is incorrect because architectural analysis cannot be performed until after problem analysis. Problem analysis provides the criteria for architectural analysis. D is incorrect because we use the term project initiation rather than project analysis, and architectural analysis comes before object design because object design can be so radically affected by the choice of architecture.

4. What is the purpose of the project initiation phase?
Please select the best answer.
  A. To define the project timeline
  B. To define the problem to be worked on
  C. To define the project tasks to be worked on
  D. To define the resources required by the problem domain
  The correct answer is B.
The purpose of the project initiation phase is to define the problem to be worked on. A and C are incorrect because these tasks are part of project management, not the development methodology. Project management and software development are used side by side, but they may be mixed and matched to meet the needs of the participants and their business environment. D is incorrect because defining the resources of the problem domain is the purpose of problem analysis, not project initiation.

5. What is the scope of project initiation?
Please select the best answer.
  A. To define the resources that make up the problem domain
  B. To define the problem to be solved and the user expectations for the solution
  C. To define the problems that the users are having with the current system
  D. To define the terminology of the problem domain
  The correct answer is B.
The scope of project initiation is to define the problem to be solved and the user expectations for the solution. A is incorrect because defining the resources that make up the problem domain is in the scope of problem analysis, not project initiation. C is incorrect because the problems that the users are having with the current system make up only one aspect of the problem definition. Also included are enhancements and revisions to the current system. D is incorrect because defining the terminology of the problem domain is only one task of project initiation. Also, this task started in project initiation, but will continue throughout the project.

6. What is the purpose of problem analysis?
Please select the best answer.
  A. To define the resources that make up the problem domain
  B. To define the problem to be solved and the user expectations for the solution
  C. To define the problems that the users are having with the current system
  D. To define the terminology of the problem domain
  The correct answer is A.
The purpose of problem analysis is to define the resources that make up the problem domain. B is incorrect because defining the problem to be solved and the user expectations for the solution is the purpose of the project initiation phase. C is incorrect because defining the problems that the users are having with the current system is a part of project initiation. D is incorrect because defining the terminology of the problem domain begins in project initiation and continues throughout the project. This activity is not the primary purpose of problem analysis.

7. What is the scope of problem analysis?
Please select the best answer.
  A. To discover and define the users' expectations of the solution
  B. To discover and define the resources that the problem domain requires for an automation solution
  C. To discover and define the resources that the problem domain uses regardless of automation choices
  D. To discover and define the resources required for the transition to an automated solution
  The correct answer is C.
The scope of problem analysis is to discover and define the resources that the problem domain uses regardless of automation choices. A is incorrect because discovering and defining the users’ expectations of the solution are the within the scope of project initiation, not problem analysis. B and D are incorrect because problem analysis deliberately avoids any discussion of automation choices.

8. What is meant when a methodology is described as an “iterative” process?
Please select the best answer.
  A. It is a process that can be used over and over again in many environments
  B. It is a process that is repeated a specified number of times to achieve a goal
  C. It is a process that is performed repeatedly in whole or in part, adding more information with each repetition
  D. It is a process that repeats each step to verify the results
  The correct answer is C.
An iterative process is a process that is performed repeatedly in whole or in part, adding more information with each repetition. A is incorrect because the term iterative refers to how the process is applied within a single environment. Whether the same process may be applied in different environments is a question of applicability rather than usage. B is incorrect because iterative does not imply a specified number of times through the process, even though there is an implicit goal, that is, compete definition of the deliverable(s) for that portion of the problem. D is incorrect because iteration not only verifies but adds new information and/or new components to the deliverable(s).