CSQA Prep - Chapter 10 - Outsourcing, Cots And Contracting Quality

1. Name few Differences or Challenges faced with software developed by an outsourcer: Select all that apply.

Quality factors may not be specified, Non-testable requirements and criteria

Customer’s standards may not be met, Missing requirements

Overlooked changes in standards in technology, Training and deployment may be difficult

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Explanation

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2. Among the challenges / differences in contracted software developed by an Outsourcer, which one is more specific to an offshore outsourcing.

Quality factors may not be specified

Training and deployment may be difficult

Non-testable requirements and criteria

Cultural differences / Communication barriers

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Explanation

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3. Factors that go into development of Selection Criteria while selecting an outsourced organization. Select all that apply.

Assure That Requirements and Contract Criteria are Testable / Assure That the Contractor Has an Adequate Software Development Process

Assure That the Contractor Has an Effective Test Process / Define Acceptance Testing Criteria

Contractor’s Status Reporting / Ensure Knowledge Transfer Occurs

Ensure Protection of Intellectual Property Rights of Both Organizations

Assure That Requirements and Contract Criteria are Testable / Assure That the Contractor Has an Adequate Software Development Process / Assure That the Contractor Has an Effective Test Process / Define Acceptance Testing Criteria / Contractor’s Status Reporting / Ensure Knowledge Transfer Occurs / Ensure Protection of Intellectual Property Rights of Both Organizations (Page: 10-18 thru 10-21).

Explanation

Assure That Requirements and Contract Criteria are Testable / Assure That the Contractor Has an Adequate Software Development Process / Assure That the Contractor Has an Effective Test Process / Define Acceptance Testing Criteria / Contractor’s Status Reporting / Ensure Knowledge Transfer Occurs / Ensure Protection of Intellectual Property Rights of Both Organizations (Page: 10-18 thru 10-21).

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4. Name the Differences or Challenges faced with COTS software: Select all that apply.

Task or items missing / Software fail to perform

Extra features / Does not meet business needs

Does not meet operational needs / does not meet people needs

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Explanation

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5. What are key steps that many organizations follow in assuring that the COTS software selected is appropriate for the business needs. Select all that apply.

Assure Completeness of Needs Requirements / Define Critical Success Factor

Determine Compatibility with Hardware, Operating System, and other COTS Software

Assure the Software can be Integrated into Your Business System Work Flow / Demonstrate the Software in Operation

Evaluate People Fit / Acceptance Test the Software Process

Assure Completeness of Needs Requirements / Define Critical Success Factor / Determine Compatibility with Hardware, Operating System, and other COTS Software / Assure the Software can be Integrated into Your Business System Work Flow / Demonstrate the Software in Operation / Evaluate People Fit / Acceptance Test the Software Process (Page: 10-6).

Explanation

Assure Completeness of Needs Requirements / Define Critical Success Factor / Determine Compatibility with Hardware, Operating System, and other COTS Software / Assure the Software can be Integrated into Your Business System Work Flow / Demonstrate the Software in Operation / Evaluate People Fit / Acceptance Test the Software Process (Page: 10-6).

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6. What are the major concerns that could come up during Operation and Maintenance: Select all that apply.

Adequacy of hardware / Skilled personnel / Multi-contractor problem resolution

Cost of services / Cost of operations

Error diagnosis / Error documentation

Adequacy of control / Adequacy of documentation / Speed of service / Nearness of service / Competency of service / Adequacy of hardware / Skilled personnel / Multi-contractor problem resolution / Cost of services / Cost of operations / Error diagnosis / Error documentation (Page: 10-30).

Explanation

Adequacy of control / Adequacy of documentation / Speed of service / Nearness of service / Competency of service / Adequacy of hardware / Skilled personnel / Multi-contractor problem resolution / Cost of services / Cost of operations / Error diagnosis / Error documentation (Page: 10-30).

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7. Criteria or factors that must be present in the acquired software for it to be successful. are also called ____________.

Needs

Critical Success Factors

Needs and Critical Success Factors

Critical success factors (CSFs). CSFs and Needs are closely related and complementary, but different in scope and purpose. Often the needs do not take into account some of the intangible criteria that make the difference between success and failure. In other words, the needs define what we are looking for, and the critical success factors tell us how we will evaluate that product after we get it (Page: 10-7).

Explanation

Critical success factors (CSFs). CSFs and Needs are closely related and complementary, but different in scope and purpose. Often the needs do not take into account some of the intangible criteria that make the difference between success and failure. In other words, the needs define what we are looking for, and the critical success factors tell us how we will evaluate that product after we get it (Page: 10-7).

8. Which of the following is one the key difference between software developed in-house and software developed by outside organization.

Extra features

Task or items missing

Relinquishment of control / Loss of control over reallocation of resources

Does not meet business / operational / people needs

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Explanation

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9. Objective of Acceptance Test the Software Process is to validate that the software will in fact meet the functional and structural needs of the user of the software. These functional and structural testing would also be called as:

Correctness and reliability testing

Transactional testing

Stress testing

Integration testing

The objective of acceptance testing is to validate that the software meets the functional and structural needs of the user. Correctness and reliability testing refers to testing the software to ensure that it functions correctly and reliably, which aligns with the objective of acceptance testing. Therefore, correctness and reliability testing can be considered as a form of functional and structural testing in the context of acceptance testing.

Explanation

The objective of acceptance testing is to validate that the software meets the functional and structural needs of the user. Correctness and reliability testing refers to testing the software to ensure that it functions correctly and reliably, which aligns with the objective of acceptance testing. Therefore, correctness and reliability testing can be considered as a form of functional and structural testing in the context of acceptance testing.

10. In a contract to develop software, what contractual section explains (in detail) the description on application system, documentation, and other products to be provided by the contractor:

Vendor support

Governing law

Foreign attachment

Warranty

Deliverables

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Explanation

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11. Name the concerns that need to be addressed during Feasibility study activity, when one of the methods of implementation is contracting for software development: Select all that apply.

Control specification / needed installation date

Value of applications / Systems specifications defined

Useful life / Confidentiality of application

Confidentiality of data / Legal implications / Contract implications

Control specification / needed installation date / Value of applications / Systems specifications defined / Useful life / Confidentiality of application / Confidentiality of data / Legal implications / Contract implications (Page: 10-16 thru 18).

Explanation

Control specification / needed installation date / Value of applications / Systems specifications defined / Useful life / Confidentiality of application / Confidentiality of data / Legal implications / Contract implications (Page: 10-16 thru 18).

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12. While the software may be developed by an outside organization, purchasing organization is still responsible for the quality of the organization. Which of the following is NOT part of seven-step process includes those activities which many organizations follow in assuring that the COTS software selected is appropriate for the business needs.

Assure Completeness of Needs Requirements

Define Critical Success Factor

Static Analysis

Determine Compatibility with Hardware, Operating System, and other COTS Software

Assure the Software can be integrated into Your Business System Work Flow

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Explanation

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13. Selecting a Contractor is similar to Systems Design phase within software development life cycle.

True

False

Page: 10-15. It is a time of studying alternative contractors, costs, schedules, detailed implementation design specifications, and the specification of all the deliverables, such as documentation. The selection of an outside organization may involve the following individuals in addition to the quality control reviewer:
• Systems analysts
• User personnel
• Internal auditor
• Purchasing agent
• Legal counsel

Page: 10-18. It is during the Contractor selection step that whether or not the purchased application meets the needs of the organization. During the systems design phase, the needs are translated into systems design specifications. During selection those needs are translated into contractual requirements.

Explanation

Page: 10-15. It is a time of studying alternative contractors, costs, schedules, detailed implementation design specifications, and the specification of all the deliverables, such as documentation. The selection of an outside organization may involve the following individuals in addition to the quality control reviewer:
• Systems analysts
• User personnel
• Internal auditor
• Purchasing agent
• Legal counsel

Page: 10-18. It is during the Contractor selection step that whether or not the purchased application meets the needs of the organization. During the systems design phase, the needs are translated into systems design specifications. During selection those needs are translated into contractual requirements.

14. During the step “Selecting an Outside Organization”, which activity serve the purpose of identifying and evaluating the alternative solutions to satisfy a need without getting to detailed methods of implementing the solution.

Performance based contracting

System specification definition

Feasibility study

Implementation of requirements

Feasibility Study (Page: 10-16).

Explanation

Feasibility Study (Page: 10-16).

15. What are the Key items that need to be included in Contracts: Select all that apply.

What is done / Who does it

Selection criteria

When it is done / How it is done

Where it is done / Penalties for non-performance

What is done / Who does it / When it is done / How it is done / Where it is done / Penalties for non-performance (Page: 10-22).

Explanation

What is done / Who does it / When it is done / How it is done / Where it is done / Penalties for non-performance (Page: 10-22).

Submit

16. Many organizations select COTS software based on -------------- which is a static analysis of the documentation and benefits of the software.

Assessment

Evaluation

User Acceptance Test

People Fit

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Evaluation versus Assessment
Many organizations select COTS software based on evaluation which is a static analysis of the
documentation and benefits of the software, versus performing an assessment which requires that
the software be tested in a dynamic mode before selection.

Explanation

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Evaluation versus Assessment
Many organizations select COTS software based on evaluation which is a static analysis of the
documentation and benefits of the software, versus performing an assessment which requires that
the software be tested in a dynamic mode before selection.

17. Considering the various aspects of contracting for software development, it is necessary to establish an acquisition life cycle for contracted software. What are the three activities under this life cycle:

Selecting an Outside Organization / Feasibility study / Contract Negotiations

Selecting an Outside Organization / Contract Negotiations / Contractor inspection

Selecting an Outside Organization / Acceptance Testing / Operations and Maintenance

Selecting an Outside Organization / Contract Negotiations / Operations and Maintenance

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Explanation

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18. Name few Differences or Challenges faced with software developed by an outsourcer which is an Offshore Organization:Select all that apply.

Cultural differences, Communication barriers

Loss of employee morale and support

Root cause of the purchasing organization IT organization not addressed.

Better Control over Resource allocation

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Explanation

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19. Software developed by Outside Organizations (Contracted software) may be developed or may be only partially developed and thus it incorporates many of the aspects of in-house developed software except the actual implementation of the requirements/criteria.

False

True

Software developed by Outside Organizations (Contracted software) may be developed or may be only partially developed and thus it incorporates many of the aspects of in-house developed software except the actual implementation of the requirements/criteria (Page: 10-15).

Explanation

Software developed by Outside Organizations (Contracted software) may be developed or may be only partially developed and thus it incorporates many of the aspects of in-house developed software except the actual implementation of the requirements/criteria (Page: 10-15).

20. What are the areas of concerns that could come up during Acceptance test: Select all that apply.

Meets specifications / On Time

Adequate test data / Preparation for operation

User training / When can it begin

Conversion to production

Meets specifications / On Time / Adequate test data / Preparation for operation / User training / When can it begin / Conversion to production (Page: 10-29).

Explanation

Meets specifications / On Time / Adequate test data / Preparation for operation / User training / When can it begin / Conversion to production (Page: 10-29).

Submit

21. “Performance-based contracting” (means that the performance criteria of the contractor will be defined and once defined, can be monitored and measured to assure that Requirements and Contract Criteria are Testable) need to be established as part of which activity within the acquisition life cycle for contracted software.

Acceptance Testing

Contract Negotiations

Operations and Maintenance

Selecting an Outside Organization

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Explanation

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22. What are the Concerns that need to be addressed during Contract Negotiations: Select all that apply.

Warranty / Deliverables / Delivery Date / Commencement Date

Installation / Updates / Contractor Support / Costs / Foreign Attachments

Operations and Maintenance concerns

Warranty / Deliverables / Delivery Date / Commencement Date / Installation / Updates / Contractor Support / Costs / Foreign Attachments / Penalties / Life of Contract / Modification capability / Service Discontinuance / Acceptance test criteria / Purchase versus lease / Fairness of contract / Performance of Maintenance / Contractor training (Page: 10-23).

Explanation

Warranty / Deliverables / Delivery Date / Commencement Date / Installation / Updates / Contractor Support / Costs / Foreign Attachments / Penalties / Life of Contract / Modification capability / Service Discontinuance / Acceptance test criteria / Purchase versus lease / Fairness of contract / Performance of Maintenance / Contractor training (Page: 10-23).

Submit