AIS 630

COMPILATION OF PAST SEMESTERS

QUESTIONS

APRIL 2008 JUNE 2013

COMPILED BY : AC220 6E STUDENTS

LECTURER : DR. INTAN SALWANI MOHAMED
DATE : AS AT 25TH NOVEMBER 2013
CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Information Systems Development

APRIL 2009
Question 1
a) System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is one of the commonly used methods for
developing information system. Explain what SDLC is.
(4 marks)

OCTOBER 2009
Question 1
a) Developing information systems is a complex process and requires team effort with
different skills and experts. Explain the role of the following team members in relation to
SDLC.
i) End user
ii) Infrastructure analyst
iii) System Analyst
iv) Project manager
(8 marks)

OCTOBER 2010
Question 1
a) List the phases that can be found in the systems development life cycle.
(5 marks)
b) Explain two (2) critics towards the waterfall model of the systems development life cycle.
(4
marks)

APRIL 2011
Question 1
) An information systems development team needs a mixture of knowledge and skills to
successfully build a system. List any four (4) personnel involved in a typical information
systems development team.
(2 marks)

JANUARY 2012
Question 1
a) State the FIVE (5) components of a computer-based information system.
(2.5 marks)

JUNE 2012
Question 1
a) Systems development life cycle is a series of recommended steps or phases designed
as a guideline for developing information system. List any two (2) tasks involved in each
of the phases of a systems development life cycle.
(5 marks)
JANUARY 2013
Question 1
Titan Sdn. Bhd. is planning to develop a new computer based information system for its Cash
Receipts Department. Currently, the department is using an old system, which had been
purchased from a software development company that no longer exists.
As an accounts executive of a company, you are required to answer the following questions:
a) Hardware and software components are parts of a computer based information system.
Differentiate between the hardware and software components and give TWO (2)
examples for each component.
(4 marks)

b) State TWO (2) main reasons why companies need to change their existing systems.
(2 marks)

JUNE 2013
Question 1
a) Computer based information system (CBIS) consists of several interrelated components.
Describe how each component in a CBIS interacts with each other.
(5 marks)

b) DigiEye Enterprise employs FOUR (4) project members to work out on a new system
development. Based on the following description, please identify their position in the
development team.
i. Abu Bakar oversees the entire project and is responsible to monitor the planning,
execution and closing of the project.
ii. Umar is responsible to ensure adequate documentation and support is available
to users, co-ordinate training and develop strategies to overcome resistance to
change.
iii. Osman helps to review the business process and design information systems.
He is familiar with programming languages, system analysis and design.
iv. Ali supplies and receives information from information system.
(4 marks)

c) Accountants play important roles in the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC). Explain
why and how accountants are involved in SDLC.
(6 marks)
CHAPTER 2 Organizational Information Systems

OCTOBER 2008
Question 1
) Different authorities have proposed SDLC models with as few as four (4) and as many
as fourteen (14) specific stages. From an accountants point of view the number of
actual stages is of no particular importance. Discuss the main concerns of accountants
in developing new system.
(10 marks)

) Explain the five (5) roles of Accountant in SLDC? Why might an accountant be called
upon for input into the development of an accounting information system?
(10 marks)

APRIL 2009
Question 5
) Who performs the post implementation review of a newly developed information system?
(2marks)

) Explain four (4) reasons why there is a need to perform a post implementation review.
(8 marks)

OCTOBER 2009
Question 1
a) What is the purpose of a system analysis? Identify three(3) information that should be
included in the system analysis report.
(4 marks)
Question 4
b) Identify two (2) factors needed in selecting "cut-over" approaches for system
conversion? Discuss any two (2) cut - over approaches.
(8 marks)

c) Post-implementation review should be conducted to ensure the new AIS meet its
planned objectives. List four (4) important factors to be considered during the Post
implementation review.
(4 marks)

APRIL 2011
Question 1
) Explain two (2) roles played by the accountants in the development of information
systems?
(4 marks)
JANUARY 2012
Question 1
) The General Systems Theory is a framework that can be used to help organizations
identify critical aspects of their environment and the areas where information technology
can play an important role.
Explain the theory in detail with the aid of a diagram.
(11 marks)
JUNE 2012
Question 1
) Define Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and provide two (2) advantages and
disadvantages of Enterprise Resource Planning.
(5 marks)

) The information systems development team has a primary responsibility to ensure that
the system serves the need of the organization. Explain three (3) actions that should be
taken by the information systems development team during the preliminary investigation
stage.
(6 marks)

JANUARY 2013
Question 1
a) List FOUR (4) reasons why legacy systems are considered to be potentially problematic.
(4 marks)
CHAPTER 3: Systems Planning Preliminary Investigation

JUNE 2013
QUESTION 2
System planning is important to prevent poor analysis and design of a new system. This
includes conducting preliminary investigation to define the problem and set the direction for the
entire information system project.
a) Explain THREE (3) reasons why a feasibility study is required during the preliminary
investigation phase.
(6 marks)

b) One of documents that are used to obtain information about the existing information
system is the organizational chart. Explain TWO (2) ways how organizational chart
can help in gathering information about the existing information system.
(4 marks)

c) System development process is exposed to certain risks such as schedule delay,

cost overrun and less functionality than planned. List down FIVE (5) possible ways to
minimize the system development risk.
(5 marks)

JAN 2013
QUESTION 1

Titan SdnBhd is planning to develop a new computer based information system for its Cash
Receipts Department. Currently, the department is using an old system which had been
purchased from a software development company that no longer exists.

As an accounts executive of a company, you are required to answer the following questions:

d) Describe FOUR (4) types of feasibility study that an organization should consider before
approving any system development project.
(8 marks)
JUN 2012
QUESTION 1
c) The information systems development team has a primary responsibility to ensure that
the system serves the need of the organization. Explain three (3) actions that should be
taken by the information systems development team during the preliminary investigation
stage.
(6 marks)

JAN 2012
QUESTION 1
c) "In the preliminary investigation process the information system team must find out
the courses of the business problems rather than just dealing with the symptom of
these problems."
Explain the meaning of the above statement and give an example to support your
answer.
(4 marks)

APRIL 2011
QUESTION 1
c) The start of systems development life cycle is usually triggered by submission of
systems request by management or end users. Explain any two (2) considerations
included in a systems request.
(4 marks)

d) Explain three (3) important roles of an information systems steering committee.

(6 marks)
OCTOBER 2010
QUESTION 1
c) Explain two (2) reasons why it is important to develop an information system strategic
planning.
(4 marks)

d) A system request needs to go through a feasibility study to determine whether it is

worthwhile to proceed with the development project. Explain the following three (3) types
of feasibility studies required to be conducted.
i. Technical Feasibility
ii. Operational Feasibility
iii. Schedule Feasibility
(6 marks)

APR 2010
QUESTION 1
a) What is Preliminary Investigation? Explain the nature of the problem, scope and
objective in Preliminary Investigation.
(8 marks)

b) You have been assigned to investigate the existing manual purchasing system of KTK
Sdn Bhd, which need to be computerized. In relation to this, you are required to design a
Preliminary Investigation Report to present your findings to the top management of KTK
Sdn Bhd.
(4 marks)
OCT 2009
QUESTION 1
c) Explain four (4) feasibility measures that should be considered in SDLC.
(8 marks)

APRIL 2009
QUESTION 1

b) An information system steering committee typically consists of the Chief Executive

Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Information Officer (CIO), senior
managers from user areas and computer services, and an internal auditor. Explain four
(4) roles of an information system steering committee.
(8 marks)

c) What is a feasibility study? Discuss any two (2) types of feasibility study.
(8 marks)
CHAPTER 4: Systems Planning Information Systems Project Management

JANUARY 2013
QUESTION 2

At a recent meeting, the Steering Committee of Titan Sdn Bhd had agreed to appoint Encik
Bukhari as the project manager in view of his vast experience and knowledge. Later, he
appointed several people to assist him in preparing a framework to manage the project and to
gather data about the existing system.

a) Describe the FOUR (4) essential skills that Encik Bukhari should posses in order to
become a good project manager.
(8 marks)

b) Encik Bukhari is using the Microsoft Project Management software to schedule the
tasks for the project. Identify and explain with example the FOUR (4) different types of
tasks relationships that can be used to link between two tasks.
(8 marks)

JANUARY 2012
QUESTION 2

a) Many project managers find PERT/CPM Chart as a more helpful tool than Gantt
Charts in monitoring and controlling projects. Discuss.
(4 marks)

APRIL 2011
QUESTION 2

a) Information system project management is an ongoing process of directing and

coordinating of all phases of the system development life cycle. Explain the activities
involved under the information systems project management.
(8 marks)
OCTOBER 2010
QUESTION 2

a) Explain three (3) reasons how Gantt Charts become the useful tools for planning and
scheduling projects.
(6 marks)
OCTOBER 2009
QUESTION 2

c) Discuss four (4) skills that project manager should posses in handling the information
systems project management.
(8 marks)
CHAPTER 5: Systems Analysis Developing Analysis Plan

JAN 2012
QUESTION 2
b)Differentiate between business process automation and business process reengineering and
give and example for each situation.
CHAPTER 6: Systems Analysis Gathering Requirements

OCTOBER 2008 - QUESTION 2 (B)

List the documents that you might want to review when studying an existing information
systems. Explain the significance of reviewing such documents.
(5 Marks)

OCTOBER 2009 - QUESTION 2(B)

What is prototyping? Identify five (5) stages needed in selecting prototyping and provide two (2)
advantages of selecting prototyping approach.
(8 Marks)

APRIL 2010 - QUESTION 2(B)

What is end user development approach? Explain any two (2) risks associated with end user
development approach?
(5 marks)

OCTOBER 2010 - QUESTION 2

c) Differentiate the following fact gathering techniques:
Joint Application Design
Observation
Review of Documents
Questionnaires
(8 marks)

d) Explain two (2) possible reasons why an interview could become unsuccessful.
(4 marks)

APRIL 2011 - QUESTION 2(C)

Interviewing is one of the common techniques of information gathering. Explain four (4) basic
steps in an interview preparation.
(8 marks)

JANUARY 2012 - QUESTION 2(C)

Explain prototyping and state TWO (2) advantages and TWO (2) disadvantages of prototyping.
(6 marks)

JUNE 2012 - QUESTION 2(C)

The following relates to different methods for gathering information:

i) State five (5) guidelines which should be observed in designing a good questionnaire.
(5 marks)

ii) Identify the usefulness of observation.

(4 marks)
JANUARY 2013 - QUESTION 2
At a recent meeting, the Steering Committee of Titan Sdn Bhd had agreed to appoint Encik
Bukhari as the project manager in view of his vast experience and knowledge. Later, he
appointed several people to assist him in preparing a framework to manage the project and to
gather data about the existing system.

a) Describe the FOUR (4) essential skills that Encik Bukhari should possess in order to become
a good project manager.
(8 marks)

b) Encik Bukhari is using the Microsoft Project Management software to schedule the tasks for
the project. Identify and explain with example the FOUR (4) different types of tasks relationships
that can be used to link between two tasks.
(8 marks)

c) Suppose that Encik Bukhari wants to collect information from a large number of workers
within a short period of time, suggest the best technique that he can use. Give any TWO (2)
disadvantages of using this technique.
(2 marks)
CHAPTER 7: Data Flow Diagram
CHAPTER 9: Systems Design Strategies

OCTOBER 2010 - QUESTION 4(A)

Differentiate between horizontal and vertical market software.
(5 marks)

APRIL 2011 - QUESTION 4(A)

Evaluate outsourcing as an option in developing an information system.
(6 marks)

JANUARY 2012 - Question 4(B)

One Way Sdn Bhd, a travel and tour company, decided to acquire a computerized reservation
and booking system. Evaluate which method is more appropriate for the owner to choose from,
whether to purchase ready-made software package or develop the software in house. (10
marks)

JUNE 2012 - QUESTION 4(B)

End user approach does not eliminate the need for involvement of systems professionals.
Explain.
(6 marks)

JANUARY 2013 - QUESTION 4

After analyzing the new system requirements, Encik Bukhari is considering several alternatives
to develop the system. He has the options either to outsource the project to a third party or to
purchase ready-made software that is available in the market.

a) Explain THREE (3) types of outsourcing contracts that are available.

(6 marks)

b) The procurement of ready-made software package involves FOUR (4) basic steps.
Briefly explain the steps.
(8 marks)

c) Regardless of his decision, the new system must have better quality than the old system.
Describe any FOUR (4) characteristics of quality information system.
(8 marks)
CHAPTER 10: Systems Design Input, Output and User Interface

JAN 2013
QUESTION 4
c) Regardless of his decision, the new system must have better quality than the old
system. Describe any FOUR (4) characteristics of quality information system.
(8 marks)

JUNE 2012
QUESTION 4
c) A printed report should supply its user with the necessary information in a readable
format. When designing printed reports, you need to consider the reports functional
and stylistic attributes. List down two (2) items related to functional and stylistic
attributes of printed reports.
(4 marks)

JAN 2012
QUESTION 5
Nora Elena Sdn. Bhd. owns "Nora Elena Cake House" - the baker and the seller shops
chain. The company produces a variety of commercial cake based products and cake
ingredients I cake raw materials in 8 manufactures and retail outlets located in northern
region - Perlis (2), Kedah (3) and Penang (3). The company has decided to install a realtime
data communications system for processing sales orders. The computer center is located in
Kangar, and one more microcomputers that will also function as terminals will be located in each
sales office.

a) Identify THREE (3) attributes, which should be observed in designing a good user
interface.
(6 marks)

APR 2011
QUESTION 4
b) Good user interface design is important to ensure that the input to the system is
always complete. Explain three (3) feedback features that help to enhance the
success of user interaction.
(6 marks)

OCT 2010
QUESTION 4
b) Differentiate between input design and output design.
(6 marks)

APR 2010
QUESTION 2
c) Discuss the three (3) common types of user interface design.
(9 marks)

QUESTION 4
a) Explain four (4) important characteristics of a quality information system.
(8 marks)
OCT 2009
QUESTION 3
a) The process of designing a new system must consider a better quality design as
compare to the existing system. Identify three (3) characteristics of a quality design
system.
(3 marks)
c) Identify four (4) elements that should be considered in designing printed financial
report for each of the followings:
i) Functional Attributes
ii) Stylistics Attributes
(8 marks)
APR 2008
QUESTION 2
c) Explain three (3) important characteristics of a quality information system.
(6 marks)
CHAPTER 12 Systems Construction and Implementation

OCTOBER 2008
Question 3
) Explain the term Pseudocoding used in the system design phase. What is the
difference between pseudocoding and programming language?
(5 marks)

) Explain why there is a need to perform a system walkthrough after completing detail
design.
(10 marks)

APRIL 2009
Question 5
a) Who performs the post implementation review of a newly developed information system?
(2marks)

b) Explain four (4) reasons why there is a need to perform a post implementation review.
(8 marks)

OCTOBER 2009
Question 1
a) What is the purpose of a system analysis? Identify three(3) information that should be
included in the system analysis report.
(4 marks)

Question 4
b) Identify two (2) factors needed in selecting "cut-over" approaches for system
conversion? Discuss any two (2) cut-over approaches.
(8 marks)

c) Post-implementation review should be conducted to ensure the new AIS meet its
planned objectives. List four (4) important factors to be considered during the Post
implementation review.
(4 marks)

APR 2010
Question 5
a) Explain the importance of the following activities in relation to systems implementation:
Selecting and training users
Site preparation and installing new computer equipment
File conversion
(6 marks)

b) Discuss any four (4) the importance of documentation during system implementation?
(10 marks)
OCTOBER 2010
Question 5
a) Explain two (2) reasons why system implementation review is not done right after the
system is implemented.
(4 marks)

b) Explain four (4) types of testing to be performed in the system construction phase.

(7 marks)

APRIL 2011
Question 5
) Explain three (3) potential problems that may arise when an organization attempts to
convert or merge files that are stored separately.
(6 marks)

JANUARY 2012
Question 4
c) Construction and implementation phase is a crucial phase in the system development
life cycle as it involves efforts from various people such as programmers, designers,
database administrators, users, as well as accountant. Implementation is the process of
installing a new system and putting it to use.
State the objective of the implementation phase and explain the tasks involved in a
system implementation.
(7 marks)

JUNE 2012
Question 5
a) Differentiate between Unit Testing and System Testing.
(4 marks)

b) Identify four (4) reasons on why it is necessary to perform a post implementation review
once a new information system has been installed. State three (3) possible people who
might be responsible to perform such review.
(7 marks)

c) Explain what is meant by parallel cutover and direct cutover. State two (2) situations in
which the direct cutover approach is most appropriate.
(6 marks)

JUNE 2013
Question 5
System construction and implementation is a crucial phase in SDLC as it involves efforts from
various people such as designers, programmers, database administrator, users and
accountants.
a) Explain the tasks performed during the construction phase.
(6 marks)

b) The implementation phase involves converting the old system to the new system.
Evaluate THREE (3) system conversion approaches in term of risk, cost and time.
(9 marks)