Human Resource Information Systems Basics Applications and Future Directions 3rd Edition by Michael J. Kavanagh -Test Bank

Human Resource Information Systems Basics Applications and Future Directions 3rd Edition by Michael J. Kavanagh -Test Bank

 

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Sample Questions Are Posted Below

 

Chapter 5:  System Design and Acquisition

 

Multiple Choice

 

1. The ____________ of a system focuses on the translation of business requirements into improved business processes, irrespective of any technological implementation.

*A. logical design

1. business case requirement
2. physical design
3. workflow

 

2. The focus and goal of ___________ is the determination of the most effective means of translating business processes into a physical system including hardware and software.
3. logical design.
4. a flowchart.

*C. physical design

1. a workflow chart

 

3. The strength of the _______model is that it focuses on how the hardware and software will actually operate.
4. logical
5. blueprint

*C. physical

1. design

 

4. The strength of using _________ is that the HR staff and developers can focus specifically on business processes, policies, and procedures instead of on technology, leading to stronger solutions.
5. gap analysis
6. the needs analysis
7. the physical model

*D. the logical model

 

5. The _________ perspective of system modeling focuses on organizational data but is not be concerned with how the data are used within the organization

*A. data

1. process
2. logical
3. practical

 

6. In the ______________perspective, the designer focuses on the flow of data through the system.
7. data

*B. process

1. logical
2. practical

 

 

 

7. A ___________________ is a graphical representation of the key business activities and processes in the HR system, the system boundaries, any external individuals or departments that interact with the system.

*A. data flow diagram

1. process model
2. workflow process
3. practical model

 

8. You are working with a consultant on your HRIS. At your next meeting you expect to discuss the process model and data flows of the department. What should you expect the consultant to bring to the meeting?
9. One overall data flow diagram
10. Several context level data flow diagrams
11. Listings of the data needs of your HR department

*D. Several data flow diagrams representing multiple levels of detail

 

9. You are involved with your organization’s decision regarding the physical design of the HRIS. The most likely approach that your organization will use is to
10. Make changes to only the HR business processes without new or upgraded technology
11. Do nothing

*C. Buy prepackaged, commercial off-the-shelf software (COTS)

1. Implement the business process changes along with new or upgraded technology

 

10. A(n) ________________ solicits proposals and bids for proposed work from potential consultants or vendors and defines the organization’s goals and requirements for the new HRIS.

*A. Request for Proposals (RFP)

1. vendor bid
2. needs analysis
3. work order

 

11. After receiving the vendor responses, you have the opportunity to evaluate the relative strengths and weaknesses of each vendor. Which of the following would you consider in your assessment of the software options?
12. Functionality
13. IT Architecture and IT Integration
14. Price

*D. All of the above

 

12. _____________________ focuses on how well the proposed system fits in with the current and future organizational environment.
13. Functional feasibility
14. Legal feasibility
15. Operational feasibility

*D. Political feasibility

 

13. The goal of __________ feasibility analysis is to determine whether the costs of developing, implementing, and running the system are worth the benefits derived from its use.
14. technical

*B. economic

1. operational
2. political

 

14. Pre-written or developed software or hardware products which already exist for purchase is called:

*A. Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Software

1. Application Software
2. Integration Software
3. RFP Software

 

15. The basic hardware, software and networking infrastructure of the organization is called:
16. Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Software

*B. IT Architecture

1. Integration Software
2. Commerical Architecture

 

16. The DFD level that outlines the major processes (functions) of the system, their basic sequence, the basic data stores, and the external entities which interact with the system is called a
17. Basic Diagram

*B. Level 0 Diagram

1. Level 1 Diagram
2. Beginning Point

 

 

True/False

 

17. Using an Application Service Provider (ASP) is a software acquisition strategy where ready-made software is purchased and installed on the organization’s local network.
18. True

*B. False

 

18. A context level diagram is used to represent the system, its boundary and the external entities which interact with the system.

*A. True

1. False

 

19. A Data Flow is pictorially depicted by circles with the name of the type of data.
20. True

*B. False

 

20. A Data Flow Diagram (DFD) is a statistical tool which can be used to manipulate or change the data.
21. True

*B. False

 

21. Economic Feasibility is a feasibility assessment tool that focuses on the financial and economic benefits and costs which a new system would bring to the organization.

*A. True

1. False

 

22. IT Architecture describes the basic hardware, software and networking infrastructure capabilities of the organization.

*A. True

1. False

 

23. Base design is a phase in the SDLC in which a new system is designed without regard to the technology (e.g. hardware, software, networking, etc.) in which it will be implemented.
24. True

*B. False

 

24. A logical model of the system graphically illustrates what the system does, independent of any technological architecture (e.g. hardware, software, networking, etc.).

*A. True

1. False

 

25. Operational Feasibility is a tool that focuses on how well the new system will fit within the organization, including issues such as development schedule, extent of organizational change, and user responses to the system.

*A. True

1. False

 

26. Logical design describes a phase in the SDLC in which a new system is designed with particular focus on how the hardware, software, networking, activities, users, etc. will be implemented.
27. True

*B. False

 

27. In a DFD, processes are the mechanism through which data is transformed, manipulated, created, etc. into output such as a report, a decision, etc.

*A. True

1. False

 

28. The Request for Proposal (RFP) is a document that solicits potential consultants or vendors to submit proposals and bids for proposed work.

*A. True

1. False

 

29. Logical feasibility is a system feasibility assessment tool that focuses on the technical capability of the organization and the availability of the technology necessary to implement a new system.
30. True

*B. False

 

30. In the context of HRIS, a vendor is a company which specializes in making or selling commercial software for purchase by other companies.

*A. True

1. False

 

31. A single data flow diagram typically is all that is typically needed when discussing data flow.
32. True

*B. False

 

 

Short Answer

 

32. What is meant by a data view of a system?

*Answer: The data perspective focuses on the data which the organization captures and uses, the definitions and relationships of the data, and on the most efficient and effective way to capture the data to ensure accuracy. It ignores how, where, and when the data is used by the organization. The data view would focus on the important data but would not be concerned with how the data are to be used within the organization.

 

33. What is meant by a process view of a system?

*Answer: The process perspective focuses on the business processes and activities in which the organization engages and on how data flow through the system. The designer would focus on the specific business processes, including the input of the data into the system, the flow of data through the system, and the storage of the data, and not on precisely what data are captured and how they are best organized or stored.

 

34. Why is the distinction between data and process views important when designing a new system?

*Answer: The distinction between process and data perspectives is important since each represents a portion of the total HRIS but neither provides the complete picture. By modeling each separately, the organization is better able to understand and communicate its needs to the technical staff. In addition, while processes may change in the future, data generally represent the most permanent and stable part of a system. This permanency of data and the more dynamic aspect of processes suggest the importance of dealing with each separately.

 

35. What is a physical model of an HRIS?

*Answer: The physical model focuses on the computer technology for the HRIS, that is, the hardware, software, networking plans, and technical manuals. The strength of this type of model is that it focuses on how the system will actually operate. In turn, this strength also becomes its weakness because by focusing on the actual way the system will be implemented in terms of technology, analysts and HR staff may be constrained by the current, operational physical model.

 

36. What is a logical model of an HRIS?

*Answer: A logical model of an HRIS focuses on how the final system will be operationalized in multiple ways in terms of the technology. The strength of using logical models is that the HR staff and developers can focus specifically on the business processes, policies, and procedures instead of on technology. By focusing on what the system does or needs to be able to do, the analyst and HR staff will be less likely to be distracted by or to focus on a single technology platform. In turn, they will be more likely to design a stronger solution.

 

37. Which model – the physical or logical – is more useful in designing the HRIS?

*Answer: Both the physical and logical models should be applied to designing the HRIS.  They are complementary and one is not better than the other since they serve different purposes. The logical model serves as a blueprint and provides the organization with an outline of the key business processes and goals for the system. Then, the physical model translates the processes and goals for the system into the hardware and software platforms that best fit the business’s needs.

 

38. Explain what is meant by the data perspective.

*Answer: The data perspective focuses on an analysis of what data the organization captures and uses, the definitions and relationships of the data, while ignoring how or where the data are used by the organization. This perspective would focus on the important data but would not be concerned with how the data are to be used within the organization. In addition, the data perspective focuses on the most efficient and effective way to capture the data to ensure accuracy and uses tools that describe the data that the system uses.

 

39. Explain what is meant by the process perspective.

*Answer: The process perspective focuses on the business processes and activities in which the organization engages and on how data flow through the HRIS. The designer would focus on the specific business processes, including the input of the data into the system, the flow of data through the system, and the storage of the data, and not on precisely what data are captured and how they are best organized or stored.

 

40. Is one perspective, the data or the process perspective, more important than the other…why or why not?

*Answer: Both the process and data perspectives are equally important since each represents a portion of the total HRIS but neither provides the complete picture.

 

41. You are responsible for putting together a request for proposal (RFP). What are some key recommendations to follow to ensure it is most successful?

*Answer: 1. Focus on the business requirements.

2. Be specific. With all the effort placed into the needs analysis and the redesign of business processes, very specific requirements will be available and should be included in the RFP.
3. Keep it simple. Essentially, this would mean that if it’s not something that is important to the HR department and reflective of the business processes modeled in the DFDs, it is best not to include it.
4. Work closely with the HRIS and IT staff as the RFP is developed.