CS CHAPTER 1

• What does the System Life Cycle refer to?

  The stages through which the development of a new system passes
• What does updating a computer system involve?

  Training employees, changing server locations, and possibly firing employees
• Why might a new system be created?

  To replace an inefficient, unsuitable, redundant, or outdated system
• What should a new system aim to achieve?

  Increase productivity, quality of output, and minimize costs
• What is involved in planning a new system?

  Thinking about details and organizing activities to achieve a desired goal
• What organizational issues should be anticipated during planning?

  • Lack of guiding organizational strategies
  • Lack of stakeholder and end-user participation
  • Lack of end-user ownership of the system
  • Lack of attention to required training
  • Lack of attention to organizational culture
• What is the need for change management?

  To shift individuals and organizations from the present state to a desired state
• What is the goal of change management?

  To maximize benefits and minimize negative impacts of change
• What does a legacy system refer to?

  An old technology, hardware, computer system, or application program
• Why are legacy systems important in organizations?

  Because their data is still relevant
• What compatibility issues can arise from legacy systems or business mergers?

  Incompatibility with new systems and data exchange issues
• What is software incompatibility?

  A situation where different software entities cannot operate satisfactorily together
• What are the benefits of SaaS (Software-as-a-Service)?

  It provides a scalable solution and requires minimal IT personnel
• What are the drawbacks of SaaS?

  Possibility of data loss if the provider goes out of business
• What are the major installation processes for a new system?

  • Parallel Changeover
  • Big Bang or Direct Changeover
  • Pilot Changeover
  • Phased Changeover
• What is data migration?

  The transfer of data between different formats, storage types, and computer systems
• What problems can arise during data migration?

  Incompatibility with the new system and incomplete data transfer
• What is validation in relation to data input?

  The process of evaluating whether data input follows appropriate specifications
• What is verification in relation to data input?

  The process of ensuring that the data input matches the original source data
• What are the types of testing in computer software?

  • Functional testing
  • Alpha testing
  • Beta testing
  • Dry-run testing
  • Unit testing
  • Integration testing
  • User acceptance testing
• What is the purpose of functional testing?

  To test individual commands and confirm they perform correctly according to design specifications
• What is the difference between alpha and beta testing?

  • Alpha testing: Conducted by the company in a controlled environment
  • Beta testing: Involves external users providing feedback
• What is the last stage of the software testing process?

  User acceptance testing, determining if the system meets customer needs
• What is the significance of user acceptance testing?

  It is conducted in user premises before accepting transfer of ownership
• What is the role of validation and verification in data input?

  • Validation: Ensures data input follows specifications
  • Verification: Ensures data matches original source
• What is Alpha testing in software development?

  Alpha testing is done before the software product is made available to the general public.
• Who typically carries out Alpha testing?

  Alpha testing is carried out by the company that develops the software.
• In what type of environment is Alpha testing usually conducted?

  Alpha testing is conducted in a laboratory type environment.
• What is Beta testing?

  Beta testing includes comments and suggestions from users outside the company.
• Why is user feedback valuable during Beta testing?

  User feedback can be used to fix defects and errors that were missed.
• What is dry-run testing?

  Dry-run testing is conducted using pen-and-paper by the programmer.
• What does a programmer do during dry-run testing?

  The programmer mentally runs the algorithm and examines the source code.
• What is unit testing?

  Unit testing involves testing individual parts of the system separately.
• What is integration testing?

  Integration testing verifies that all components of the system can work together.
• What is user acceptance testing?

  User acceptance testing determines if the system satisfies customer needs.
• Where is user acceptance testing typically conducted?

  User acceptance testing is conducted in user premises before accepting transfer of ownership.
• What is validation in relation to data input?

  Validation evaluates whether data input follows appropriate specifications and is within reasonable limits.
• What is verification in relation to data input?

  Verification ensures that the data input is the same as the original source data.
• How does verification differ from validation in software testing?

  Verification confirms that a product meets specifications, while validation confirms it meets design function.
• What role does a client play in a networked world?

  A client receives data via the network.