Term
| Name the three approaches to Cost/Benefit Analysis |
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Definition
1. Least cost
2. Payback period
3. Return on Investment (ROI) |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| What is NPV? Why is NPV useful? |
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Definition
It looks at costs and benefits over the entire life of the system and reduces them to a common currency.
This allows the user to take into account inflation and subtract the value that could have been added with other investments (e.g. interest) |
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Term
| How do you carry out NPV calculations? |
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Definition
Add the costs of the project up.
Apply the NPV formula for each year the project will last, then find the sum of all the benefits.
NPV is benefits - costs.
If it's positive, it's worth doing, if it's negative shouldn't bother. |
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Term
| What three components are needed to work out NPV? |
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Definition
Appropriate rate
Present value
How many years the project will last |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| Provides a profitability measure as a percentage return that is directly comparable with interest rates. |
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Term
| If the current interest rate is 10%, what value would the IRR have to be for the project to be worthwhile? |
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Definition
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Term
| Name the 8 steps in the Projects Ladder approach to cost benefit analysis, and list them in order |
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Definition
Business Transformation
Strategic Systems
Interorganisational Systems
Infrastructure
MSS+DSS
Direct Value added
Automation
Mandatory |
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Term
| What happens as a project type goes higher up the "Projects Ladder"? |
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Definition
| There will be increased benefits from implementation but also increased risk of failure |
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Term
| What is Information Economics? |
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Definition
| A technique which incroporates typical ROI techniques but also extends the concept by giving value to intangible benefits |
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Term
| Name the three additional processes which Information Economics requires? |
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Definition
Value linking
Value acceleration
Job Enrichment |
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Term
| How does Information Economics define "Value Linking"? |
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Definition
| an consequential impact over a range of departments |
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Term
| How does Information Economics define "Value Acceleration"? |
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Definition
| the value of future systems which will depend on the proposed system |
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Term
| How does Information Economics define "Job Enrichment"? |
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Definition
| enhanced skills and understanding which will be acquired from staff using or developing the new system |
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Term
| When carrying out IRR analysis, if there are multiple IRRs found which one should be used? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
IRR can falsely indicate that a project is attractive even though the NPV may suggest the opposite.
in this case, you should use the NPV |
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Term
| Does IRR always give an answer? |
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Definition
| No, if the NPV graph does not cut the X axis, there will be no IRR |
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Term
| Name the 4 motivation theories discussed in CTEC3901 and who created them |
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Definition
Theory X and Theory Y (McGregor)
Hierarchy of Needs (Maslow)
Motivation and Maintenance Factors (Herzberg)
Expectancy Theory (Vroom) |
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Term
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Definition
| The idea of an authoritarian management is the only one that works; that human beings have an inherent dislike of work; that people have relatively little ambition |
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Term
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Definition
| the idea that workers want to achieve a common goal; that man will exercise self-direction and self-control to service objectives given to him; average humans seeks to learn and gain responsibility |
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Term
| What is the premise of Theory X vs Theory Y? |
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Definition
| That human beings are capable of greater potential when given responsibility (theory Y) and their potential is limited when tight control is enforced (theory X) |
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Term
| What are the 5 levels in the Hierarchy of Needs? (in order) |
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Definition
Self Actualisation
Self Esteem
Belongingness and Love
Safety and Security
Physiological Needs |
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Term
| What are the two existence needs in the Hierarchy of Needs? |
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Definition
| Physiological needs, safety and security |
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Term
| What is the relatedness level of the hierarchy of needs? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are the two growth levels of the hierarchy of needs? |
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Definition
| self esteem, self actualisation |
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Term
| What is the premise of the Hierarchy of Needs? |
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Definition
That lower, more basic levels of motivation are required before the next level of needs becomes significant.
Also, as someone approaches higher levels of needs, an increase in the lower "existence" levels becomes less effective in increasing motivation |
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Term
| Name some hygiene factors described by Herzberg |
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Definition
pay and benefits
company policy
relationships with co-workers
supervision
status
job security
working conditions
personal life |
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Term
| Name some motivating factors described by Herzberg |
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Definition
achievement
recognition
work itself
responsibility
promotion
growth |
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Term
| Name the three possible scenarios when describing an individual influenced by motivation and maintenance factors |
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Definition
1. hygiene and motivation factors missing; dissatisfied employees
2. hygiene factors only; satisfied by unmotivated employees
3. hygiene and motivation factors met; satisfied and motivated employees |
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Term
| how does vroom explain the term expectancy? |
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Definition
| more effort = increased performance |
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Term
| how does vroom explain the term instrumentality? |
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Definition
| good performance = reward |
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Term
| how does vroom explain the term valence? |
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Definition
| how much importance a reward has for someone |
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Term
| Explain "expectancy theory" |
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Definition
| Individuals apply effort according to the value they place on the outcome and their perception of the reward |
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Term
| Name the four leadership styles proposed by Likert in the "systems of management" theory |
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Definition
1. exploitative authoriative
2. benevolent authoritative
3. consultative
4. participative group management |
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Term
| explain the exploitative authoritative style of management |
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Definition
| use fear and threats; top down management |
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Term
| explain the benevolent authoritative style of management |
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Definition
| use rewards; prescribed decision management delegated to lower levels; superiors expect subservience |
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Term
| explain the consultative style of management |
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Definition
| use punishments and rewards; big decisions from the top, cautious upward critical communication - but wider details allowed |
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Term
| explain the participative group management style of management |
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Definition
| encouraged participation with high performance goals; communication in all directions; low staff turnover |
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Term
| Name three other leadership types (not proposed by Likert) |
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Definition
autocratic (managers ensure decisions are carried out)
democratic (managers trust subordinates to carry out decisions)
laissez-faire (managers leave subordinates to do make decisions and implement themselves) |
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Term
| Define the fields in a network diagram node |
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Definition
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Term
| Describe the process of doing a forward pass on a Network Diagram |
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Definition
To find EST, copy the EFT from the previous node (or 0 if starting node)
To find EFT: EST + duration
Repeat the process until reach the end - the earliest finish time of the project is the EFT of the last node |
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Term
| Describe the process of doing a backwards pass on a Network Diagram |
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Definition
To find EFT, copy the LST from the previous node (or EFT if the end node)
To find LST: LFT - duration
Repeat the process until reach the first node.
Then, find the float between by doing LST - EST. |
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Term
| What is the critical path of a Network Diagram |
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Definition
| The chain of nodes from start to finish which has a float of 0 |
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Term
| When do you need dummy nodes in a Network Diagram? |
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Definition
| When there are more than one starting nodes or ending nodes |
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Term
| What is the ISO definition of software quality? |
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Definition
| the totality of features and characteristics of a product or service that bear on its ability to satisfy specified or implied needs |
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Term
| What are the two aspects of software quality management? |
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Definition
technical (software meets specification)
usability (meets the users needs) |
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Term
| Who created a model of software quality? |
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Definition
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Term
| Who created the 7 criteria for a good metric of software quality? |
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Definition
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Term
| Name the 7 criteria for a good metric of software quality |
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Definition
Objectivity
Reliability
Validity
Standardisation
Comparability
Economy
Usefulness |
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Term
| Name the three categories which feature in the model of software quality |
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Definition
Product Operations
Product Revision
Product Transition |
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Term
| Name the 5 criteria which feature in the "Product Operations" category within the model of software quality |
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Definition
Correctness
Reliability
Efficiency
Integrity
Usability |
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Term
| Name the 3 criteria which feature in the "Product Revision" category within the model of software quality |
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Definition
Maintainability
Flexibility
Testability |
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Term
| Name the 3 criteria which feature in the "Product Transition" category within the model of software quality |
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Definition
Portability
Flexibility
Interoperability |
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Term
| What are the two main management approaches to Software Quality? |
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Definition
| TickIT and Software Inspection |
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Term
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Definition
An approach to software quality management.
Requires each project to have: development plan, control procedures, design reviews, suitability of ISDM review, code of practise for development.
Certified by DTI. |
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Term
| What is software inspection? |
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Definition
| "a formal technique in which software requirements, design or code are examined by someone other than the author to detect faults, violations of standards and other problems" |
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Term
| What does "software inspection" approach to quality not look at? |
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Definition
| alternatives to the problem, or style of the solution |
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Term
| What are the benefits of the "software inspection" approach to quality? |
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Definition
| productivity improvement, reduced time scales, test cost reduction, lifetime cost reduction |
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Term
| What are the costs of the "software inspection" approach to quality? |
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Definition
| ongoing inspection costs, short term costs, long term costs (e.g. training, analysis, experimentation failures) |
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Term
| What is the underlying process of "software inspection" approach to quality? |
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Definition
| Entry, checking, logging meeting, completion, follow up, exit |
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Term
| Give a thorough definition of software configuration management |
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Definition
| process of identifying and defining items within the system, controlling changes to these items throughout the project lifecycle, reporting and recording the status of those items and verifying completeness and correctness |
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Term
| Name the four generic software configuration items |
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Definition
design documents
software code
data files (inc. test files)
software development tools |
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Term
| Name the 7 issues to be dealt with in configuration management |
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Definition
| version management; item identification; system assembly; change control; library control; release management; auditing |
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Term
| What two processes happen during change control? |
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Definition
examine change requests and approve their implementation
assume the quality of software revisions |
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Term
| Name the 4 factors that influence change control |
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Definition
Urgency
Effect on timescales and service level
Effort required (cost/time)
Resource required |
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Term
| What is the most commonly used tool to carry out change control? |
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Definition
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Term
| Explain impact analysis in relation to configuration management |
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Definition
| Carried out after a change request arrives; looks at each item to be changed and see if it affects other items; if approved, followed by implementation and quality assurance |
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Term
| Use one word to explain what PRINCE2 is in relation to project management |
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Definition
a METHOD
(not a methodology) |
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Term
| Name the three areas within PRINCE2 |
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Definition
| Processes, Components, Techniques |
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Term
| What type of approach does PRINCE2 take? |
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Definition
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Term
| Name the four organisational levels in the PRINCE2 hierarchy |
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Definition
Project Board
Project Manager
Team Management
Development Teams |
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Term
| How many people are on a PRINCE2 project board and who is it comprised of? |
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Definition
| 3 members - one from the supplier and two from the customer |
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Term
| Who does the project manager report to in PRINCE2? |
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Definition
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Term
| Name the 7 processes in PRINCE2 |
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Definition
| start up; initiate; planning; direct; control; manage delivery; close; |
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Term
| Name the 7 components in PRINCE2 |
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Definition
| business case; organisation; plans; controls; risk management; quality; configuration management |
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Term
| Name the 4 techniques in PRINCE2 |
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Definition
| product based techniques, planning, change control; quality reviews |
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