Question 1

Structured design methodology: which primary tool is used to represent the modular decomposition and calling relationships in a design?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Structured analysis and structured design are distinct phases with different tools. Analysts frequently confuse data-flow diagrams (analysis) with structure charts (design). Knowing which artifact fits which phase improves communication and maintainability. Given Data / Assumptions: We are in the design phase (not analysis). We need a representation of modules, hierarchy, and interfaces. Concept / Approach: A structure chart shows modules, their calling relationships, parameters, and control/data coupling. It is the canonical tool for structured design. By contrast, a data-flow diagram models the movement and transformation of data in structured analysis. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the phase: design → pick artifacts that decompose solution modules.Match representation needs: hierarchy, calls, parameters → structure chart.Confirm that flowcharts are lower-level and procedural, not ideal for modular design. Verification / Alternative check: Classic methodologies (e.g., Yourdon/DeMarco) pair DFDs for analysis and structure charts for design handoff. Why Other Options Are Wrong: DFDs are analysis tools; program flowcharts focus on control flow, not modular architecture; “module” alone is not a diagrammatic tool. Common Pitfalls: Over-coupled designs and missing parameter specifications on the chart; always minimize coupling and maximize cohesion. Final Answer: Structure chart

Question 2

During feasibility analysis, department representatives typically act in which capacities for a new information system?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Feasibility analysis evaluates technical, economic, operational, and schedule viability. Department representatives are critical stakeholders who ensure the proposed system aligns with real-world processes and constraints. Given Data / Assumptions: Representatives know current workflows and data. They will likely use or be affected by the new system. They communicate departmental needs to the project team. Concept / Approach: Effective feasibility work requires user participation for accurate requirements, estimates of benefits and costs, and risk identification. Hence, representatives play multiple roles simultaneously: users, liaisons, and information providers. Step-by-Step Solution: Map roles: end users validate usability and needs.As liaisons, they channel feedback and decisions.As information sources, they supply volumes, exceptions, and controls. Verification / Alternative check: User participation correlates strongly with project success and accurate scoping. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Each single role is incomplete; combined participation is necessary in feasibility. Common Pitfalls: Token involvement without decision authority; failing to include representatives from all impacted areas. Final Answer: All of the above

Question 3

System implementation phase: which activities are typically included when putting an information system into production?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The implementation phase transitions the solution into real operations. To control risk, teams employ checkouts, pilots, and sometimes parallel runs to verify correctness and stability. Given Data / Assumptions: The system is built and ready for deployment. Risk must be mitigated through validation activities. Comparisons with the legacy system may be required. Concept / Approach: Checkouts ensure environments are configured properly. Pilot runs validate with a subset of users. Parallel runs, when practical, compare outputs from old and new systems to detect discrepancies before full cutover. Step-by-Step Solution: Plan implementation strategy (pilot, phased, or big bang).Execute system checkouts (interfaces, security, backups).Use pilot or parallel to verify outcomes and gather feedback. Verification / Alternative check: Run-books and acceptance criteria should be satisfied during these activities before declaring production success. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Each single activity is real but incomplete; best practice bundles them appropriately, hence “All of the above.” Common Pitfalls: Skipping rollback planning; inadequate data reconciliation; insufficient user training and support readiness. Final Answer: All of the above

Question 4

Application prototyping: which of the following is NOT typically considered a prototyping tool?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Prototyping emphasizes rapid user feedback. Tools that accelerate building forms, reports, and basic logic are preferred. High-level generators shorten development cycles compared to low-level coding. Given Data / Assumptions: Goal is quick UI and report creation. Minimal boilerplate and high productivity are desired. Concept / Approach: Application, screen, and report generators are classic prototyping aids because they provide templates and wizards. Third-generation languages (3GLs) like C or COBOL are powerful but slower to prototype with due to verbose syntax and manual scaffolding. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify which options are high-productivity tools.Note that 3GLs lack rapid UI/report scaffolding.Select the item that is not a prototyping tool: third-generation language. Verification / Alternative check: RAD/4GL and low-code platforms dominate prototyping due to speed and ease of changes. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Application, screen, and report generators directly support prototyping tasks. Common Pitfalls: Promoting a prototype to production without addressing performance, security, and maintainability. Final Answer: Third-generation language

Question 5

Decision tables: which rules are good practice when constructing a decision table for business logic?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Decision tables compactly represent complex conditional logic. To be unambiguous and maintainable, they must follow clear construction rules regarding naming, structure, and notation. Given Data / Assumptions: We are documenting business rules with multiple conditions and actions. Clarity and consistency are priorities. Concept / Approach: Effective decision tables (1) have a named decision scope, (2) list conditions and exhaustive rule combinations, and (3) specify actions tied to each rule. Standardized notation prevents misinterpretation, and action execution order follows the process design. Step-by-Step Solution: Confirm naming practice for discoverability and reuse.Acknowledge independence of rule order vs. defined action order.Insist on standardized symbols and language across artifacts. Verification / Alternative check: Peer reviews and rule-coverage tests validate completeness and consistency. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Any single rule alone is insufficient; all are recommended, hence “All of the above.” Common Pitfalls: Missing rule combinations; overlapping actions; inconsistent terminology leading to defects. Final Answer: All of the above

Question 6

In decision modeling, a decision table primarily relates condition combinations to which elements?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Decision tables systematically map business conditions to the actions that must occur. They are invaluable when multiple variables interact to determine outcomes. Given Data / Assumptions: We have a set of conditions (e.g., customer type, credit score). Each unique combination triggers one or more actions. Concept / Approach: The core of a decision table is the matrix linking condition rules to actions. This ensures exhaustiveness and prevents contradictory behavior. Step-by-Step Solution: List conditions and enumerate possible states.Create rule columns representing combinations.Specify the actions to take for each rule column. Verification / Alternative check: Traceability tests can validate that for every rule, the specified actions match requirements and no states are uncovered. Why Other Options Are Wrong: “Programs,” “operations,” and “tables” are artifacts or contexts, not the direct targets of condition mapping. Common Pitfalls: Failing to mark mutually exclusive rules; not defining default actions for otherwise uncovered cases. Final Answer: Actions

Question 7

Structured design methodology (repeat): which graphic tool best depicts module hierarchy and calling relationships during design?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question revisits the distinction between analysis and design artifacts. In structured design, we focus on how software modules interact and pass control/data. Given Data / Assumptions: Goal: represent modular decomposition and interfaces. Audience: designers and developers planning implementation. Concept / Approach: Structure charts are the canonical tool in structured design, showing hierarchical module relationships, parameters, and coupling. They guide implementation and testing plans. Step-by-Step Solution: Select tool that shows hierarchy and calls → structure chart.Exclude DFDs (analysis of data movement).Exclude flowcharts (low-level control flow). Verification / Alternative check: Design reviews typically require structure charts to assess cohesion/coupling. Why Other Options Are Wrong: DFDs and flowcharts target different concerns; a bare “module” list lacks relationships. Common Pitfalls: Overly deep hierarchies and tight coupling; refactor to improve cohesion. Final Answer: Structure chart

Question 8

Good system design characteristics: which option best captures a core, desirable property of a well-engineered information system?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Quality system design emphasizes maintainability, scalability, and clarity. Modularity—decomposing a system into cohesive, loosely-coupled components—is foundational to achieving these outcomes. Given Data / Assumptions: We seek a core design trait, not a process step. Choices include documentation and deployment, which are important but not architectural qualities. Concept / Approach: A modular approach isolates responsibilities, enabling independent development, testing, and scaling. It reduces ripple effects from changes, improves reuse, and clarifies ownership. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify which option speaks to architecture rather than administration.Select modular approach as the core design characteristic.Acknowledge that documentation is supportive but not the design's intrinsic structure. Verification / Alternative check: Design reviews rate cohesion/coupling as primary evaluation criteria, both improved by modularity. Why Other Options Are Wrong: “Conversion” is a deployment phase activity; “long discussions” without artifacts do not ensure quality; documentation is necessary but does not replace modular architecture. Common Pitfalls: Creating modules that are too granular or too coupled; neglecting clear interfaces and contracts. Final Answer: Modular approach

Question 9

In information systems procurement and financial planning, management may decide to rent a computer system rather than purchase one. Which reasons commonly justify a rental decision, such as tax advantages, avoiding a large one-time capital outlay, …

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Organizations frequently face a build-buy-rent decision for computing infrastructure. Renting (for example, leasing equipment or using Infrastructure-as-a-Service) shifts costs, risk, and flexibility in ways that can be strategically attractive. This question checks your understanding of why a management team would rationally prefer renting instead of outright purchase. Given Data / Assumptions: Management is evaluating financial and operational implications. Options include capital purchase versus rental/lease. Consider tax strategy, cash flow, and technology change risk. Concept / Approach: Renting can improve cash flow by replacing a large capital expenditure with predictable operating expenses. In many jurisdictions, lease payments are deductible as operating expenses, yielding tax advantages. Renting also improves operational flexibility: equipment can be refreshed more often, scaled up or down, or swapped for newer models without residual asset risk on the balance sheet. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the financial perspective: avoid large one-time cash outlay and potential favorable tax treatment.Identify the operational perspective: easier hardware changes, refresh cycles, and vendor swaps.Combine factors: rental addresses multiple valid management concerns simultaneously. Verification / Alternative check: Common CFO analyses compare Net Present Value and Total Cost of Ownership of purchase vs. lease, often showing that cash preservation and flexibility justify rental in rapidly changing tech environments. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Each single reason is valid, but the best answer aggregates them. Choosing only one understates the multidimensional benefits. Common Pitfalls: Ignoring contract terms such as early termination fees or return conditions that can reduce flexibility if not negotiated properly. Final Answer: All of the above

Question 10

In systems analysis (requirements and logical design), which of the following is NOT typically used as an analysis tool: system test data, decision tables, data flow diagrams (DFDs), or flowcharts?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Systems analysis focuses on discovering and documenting what a system should do before building it. Analysts rely on visual and tabular techniques to express logic, data movement, and rules. This question asks you to separate analysis tools from testing artifacts used later in the lifecycle. Given Data / Assumptions: Phase: analysis (requirements and logical models), not testing. Candidate techniques: decision tables, data flow diagrams, flowcharts. Test data is generally associated with verification/validation phases. Concept / Approach: Decision tables enumerate conditions and actions, clarifying business rules. Data flow diagrams (DFDs) model processes, data stores, and data movement. Flowcharts capture procedural logic at a high level. In contrast, system test data are crafted to verify implemented functionality and are not core tools for analysis modeling. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify artifacts used to elicit and structure requirements: decision tables, DFDs, flowcharts.Recognize that system test data are created after design/build to validate behavior.Select the outlier (not an analysis tool): system test data. Verification / Alternative check: Standard SDLC mappings place decision tables/DFDs/flowcharts in analysis/design deliverables; test data creation belongs to the testing plan and quality assurance phases. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Decision tables, DFDs, and flowcharts are well-established analysis instruments. “None of the above” is incorrect because one option (system test data) does not belong to analysis. Common Pitfalls: Confusing documentation created during analysis with artifacts created for QA. Maintain a clear phase boundary to avoid rework. Final Answer: System test data

Question 11

In computer problem solving, the precise step-by-step set of instructions designed to solve a problem or perform a computation is called what?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Programming and data science rely on exact instructions to transform inputs into desired outputs. The formal name for such a finite, unambiguous, and effective procedure is foundational to computing and appears across all languages and paradigms. Given Data / Assumptions: The procedure must be step-by-step and well defined. It must terminate after a finite number of steps. It must solve a specific problem or class of problems. Concept / Approach: An algorithm is a finite sequence of unambiguous instructions that, when executed, produces a result and halts. Algorithms may be implemented using different control structures (sequence, selection, iteration) and expressed as pseudocode, flowcharts, or executable code. Their efficiency is often evaluated by time and space complexity. Step-by-Step Solution: Check the definition: finite, precise, step-by-step, problem-solving procedure.Match competing terms: lists or plans lack formal rigor; sequential structures are control-flow patterns, not complete solutions.Select the exact term: algorithm. Verification / Alternative check: Computer science curricula universally define algorithms with these properties; programming languages are vehicles to implement them. Why Other Options Are Wrong: List/plan: Informal artifacts; may not be precise or finite. Sequential structure: Only one of several control structures (sequence, selection, iteration). None: Incorrect because the precise term exists. Common Pitfalls: Equating any set of notes with an algorithm; algorithms require determinism, completeness, and termination criteria. Final Answer: An algorithm

Question 12

In developing a Management Information System (MIS), what is the correct starting point—specifically, what should be identified first to ensure the system supports the essence of the business?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: A Management Information System (MIS) succeeds only when it directly supports core business processes and decision needs. Technology choices come later; first, the organization must understand how value is created and what information drives those processes. Given Data / Assumptions: MIS design should be business-driven, not technology-driven. Business processes define information needs and performance metrics. Infrastructure decisions (PCs, LAN, databases) are downstream of requirements. Concept / Approach: Start with process discovery: map value streams, identify stakeholders, enumerate decisions, and list KPIs. These artifacts inform data models, application services, and integration needs. Only after requirements are clear should architects select platforms, topology, and scaling strategy. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the essential business processes and decision points.Translate those into information requirements and service capabilities.Then align technology (DBMS, networks, endpoints) to serve those needs.Therefore, the correct starting point is identifying the core processes. Verification / Alternative check: Best-practice frameworks (for example, business architecture and process modeling) mandate this business-first approach to avoid shelfware systems and misaligned investments. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Choosing platforms (PCs/LAN, minicomputers, distributed DBMS) without requirements risks over- or under-engineering and poor adoption. “None” is incorrect because a clear best starting point exists. Common Pitfalls: Jumping to tools or vendor demos before clarifying processes and information needs, leading to scope creep and low ROI. Final Answer: identification of business processes that are the essence of the business

Question 13

In database systems, what does the Data Definition Language (DDL) accomplish—does it describe how data are structured, specify to the DBMS what is required (not how to process), and determine how data must be structured to produce the user’s view?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Relational database management systems separate the logical description of data (schema) from its manipulation. Data Definition Language (DDL) statements create and alter schemas, tables, constraints, and views, thereby defining how data are organized and exposed to users and applications. Given Data / Assumptions: DDL includes CREATE, ALTER, DROP for schemas, tables, indexes, and views. DDL defines structures and constraints rather than procedural access paths. Views (external schemas) present user-oriented structures over base tables. Concept / Approach: DDL describes structure by declaring tables, columns, data types, and integrity rules. It specifies what is required to the DBMS by declaring desired constraints without detailing algorithms (declarative model). It also determines structures for user views by defining views that tailor the logical representation for tasks and security needs. Step-by-Step Solution: Map each option to DDL capabilities: structure definition, declarative requirements, and view definitions.Confirm all three are true of DDL.Select “All of the above”. Verification / Alternative check: SQL standards classify schema and view definitions as DDL, while procedural data manipulation is handled by DML (INSERT/UPDATE/DELETE/SELECT). Why Other Options Are Wrong: Choosing any single item ignores the full scope of DDL. “None” contradicts widely accepted DBMS behavior. Common Pitfalls: Confusing DDL with DML; remember that DDL shapes the data landscape, DML moves data within it. Final Answer: All of the above

Question 14

In systems theory and information processing, inputs are often classified into two categories that enter a system: which pair correctly names these input types?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: General systems theory distinguishes the kinds of inputs a system receives. Understanding these categories helps analysts design controls, resource provisioning, and monitoring that match the nature of the input stream and the system’s purpose. Given Data / Assumptions: We consider conceptual input classes, not physical media. One class maintains system viability; the other conveys information to be processed. Outputs are distinct (products, services, or waste). Concept / Approach: Maintenance inputs sustain the system’s operation (resources such as energy, staffing, budget, and supplies). Signal inputs carry information to be transformed (transactions, messages, sensor readings). Clear separation clarifies which inputs are necessary to run the system and which are the subject of processing. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the maintenance role: inputs that keep the system functioning.Identify the signal role: inputs that the system processes into outputs.Select the pair that names both correctly: “maintenance and signal”. Verification / Alternative check: Systems analysis texts consistently present this dichotomy to frame data collection and resource planning. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Products/waste are outputs, not inputs. “Energies and maintenance” overlaps partially but omits the information-bearing signal category. “Maintenance and waste” mixes input with output. Common Pitfalls: Conflating throughput resources (like CPU time) with information inputs; both are needed but serve different roles in design and capacity planning. Final Answer: maintenance and signal

Question 15

Within the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC), which activity is most characteristic of the maintenance phase after deployment and change requests—establishing requirements, conducting analysis, or testing modified programs?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: After a system goes live, it enters maintenance—corrective fixes, adaptive changes, perfective enhancements, and preventive updates. Each change must be controlled, implemented, and verified to preserve stability and service levels. This question pinpoints the activity central to maintenance work products. Given Data / Assumptions: System is already in production. Change requests flow through change management. Quality assurance continues for each update. Concept / Approach: While small-scale analysis and mini-requirements exist for each change, the signature activity of maintenance is testing modified programs (unit, integration, regression, and user acceptance). This ensures that bug fixes or enhancements do not break existing functionality and that the system remains compliant and reliable. Step-by-Step Solution: Recognize SDLC phase boundaries: requirements and full analysis occur before initial build, not as ongoing core maintenance tasks.In maintenance, evaluate and implement change requests with rigorous testing.Select the choice that uniquely characterizes maintenance: “Programs are tested”. Verification / Alternative check: ITIL/DevOps practices emphasize continuous testing and regression checks on maintenance releases and hotfixes. Why Other Options Are Wrong: “System analysis” and “requirements established” are primary development-phase activities; in maintenance they appear in narrow scope but are not the hallmark. “All of the above” overstates maintenance scope. Common Pitfalls: Skipping regression tests for “small” fixes; even minor changes can have wide impact without automated tests and rollback plans. Final Answer: Programs are tested

Question 16

In a systems flowchart, which symbol is used to represent on-line data entry via a keyboard (that is, manual keying of input on an on-line terminal)?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Systems flowcharts use standardized symbols to communicate processes, inputs, and storage in a technology-agnostic way. Clear symbol choice improves readability and prevents ambiguity between manual, batch, and on-line activities. This question targets the symbol for on-line keyed input. Given Data / Assumptions: The input occurs on-line through a terminal/keyboard. The action is manual keying, not automated file transfer. We are selecting the appropriate standardized symbol. Concept / Approach: The on-line keyboard symbol (sometimes depicted as a keystation/terminal) indicates data captured by a user at an on-line device. This differentiates it from the generic manual operation symbol (manual processing that is not necessarily on-line) and from on-line storage symbols (disks/databases) that hold data rather than collect it. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the mode: on-line, interactive data capture.Select the symbol depicting a keyboard/terminal input.Exclude symbols for storage or generic manual operations. Verification / Alternative check: Most systems analysis symbol sets (e.g., ANSI/ISO-influenced) include a distinct icon for on-line input/terminal entry. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Manual operation symbol: A generic manual process, not specifically on-line entry. Online storage symbol: Represents files/databases, not the act of entering data. “Keeping operation symbols”: Not a standard term. Common Pitfalls: Using storage symbols to imply input; keep input, processing, and storage symbols distinct for accurate documentation. Final Answer: Online keyboard symbol

Question 17

In file structures and linked data organization, a record chain in which the last record points back to the first record (forming a closed ring) is called what?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Linked structures are fundamental to file organization and memory representation. When records are linked in a cycle so that traversal returns to the starting record, the structure forms a ring. Recognizing this pattern matters for traversal logic, termination conditions, and certain algorithms like round-robin scheduling. Given Data / Assumptions: Records are connected via links or pointers. The last record references the first, creating a cycle. Terminology comes from data structure conventions. Concept / Approach: A chain where the tail points to the head forms a loop (circular list). Without a proper stopping rule, traversal can continue indefinitely. Implementations often include a sentinel or track visited nodes to avoid infinite loops during processing or debugging. Step-by-Step Solution: Interpret the description: last record refers to the first, closing the chain.Map to data structure terminology: circular linkage equals a loop.Select the concise term: loop. Verification / Alternative check: Textbooks on data structures describe singly/doubly linked circular lists that exhibit loop properties; detection uses algorithms like Floyd’s cycle-finding method. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Pointer/addressing/location: Components of linking, not the overall cyclic structure. None: Incorrect because a standard term exists. Common Pitfalls: Failing to include a termination condition when iterating over circular structures, causing non-terminating processes. Final Answer: loop

Question 18

In file organization methods, what does Indexed-Sequential access (ISAM-style) mean in practice: how are records stored and how are they located?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Classic files can be organized sequentially, directly (hashed), or indexed-sequential. Indexed-Sequential Access Method (ISAM) combines the strengths of sequential storage (efficient batch processing) with indexing for faster keyed retrieval, a foundational concept behind modern indexed tables. Given Data / Assumptions: Records are maintained in a logical key order. An index exists to accelerate searches, inserts, and updates. Overflow areas or level-2 indexes may handle growth. Concept / Approach: In indexed-sequential organization, records are stored sequentially (usually ordered by a primary key). An index maps key ranges or specific keys to physical locations, enabling near-random access for lookups while still supporting efficient sequential scans for reporting and batch jobs. This hybrid approach predates and informs B-tree indexes used in relational databases. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify storage pattern: records are arranged sequentially by key.Identify access aid: an index to locate records quickly without full scans.Select the option explicitly stating both properties. Verification / Alternative check: ISAM/VSAM documentation describes an index plus sequential data set, often with overflow handling and periodic reorganization. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Random placement contradicts sequential order. “Index for each key type” is not required; typically there is a primary index, with optional secondary indexes. “Contiguous blocks according to a key” is overly restrictive and not the defining characteristic. Common Pitfalls: Allowing unchecked overflow growth which degrades performance; plan reorganizations to maintain locality and index efficiency. Final Answer: Stores records sequentially but uses an index to locate records

Question 19

During a comprehensive System Study in systems analysis, what activities are included: studying the existing system, documenting it thoroughly, and identifying current deficiencies to set new goals?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: A System Study is the opening chapter of any structured systems development life cycle. Its purpose is to understand the as-is environment, capture facts, and translate gaps into measurable goals for the to-be solution. Success here reduces rework and cost later. Given Data / Assumptions: The organization has an existing process or application in production. Stakeholders want improvements aligned with business objectives. The question asks which activities belong to the System Study phase. Concept / Approach: System Study (also called preliminary investigation) typically has three pillars: discovery (study the current system), documentation (record workflows, data, controls, and volumes), and diagnosis (identify deficiencies and set objectives/constraints). These feed feasibility analysis and later detailed design. Step-by-Step Solution: List standard System Study tasks: interviews, observation, document review, and data collection.Map them to outputs: current-state documentation (process maps, data dictionaries, control catalogs).Add gap analysis: define deficiencies, opportunities, and targets (performance, compliance, cost, usability).Therefore, all three activities belong to the phase. Verification / Alternative check: Well-known SDLC frameworks describe initial phases that culminate in a problem statement, objectives, scope, and baseline documentation—matching the three listed activities. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Study alone misses formal capture and goal setting. Documentation alone lacks context and improvement targets. Deficiency identification alone lacks grounding in real operations. Thus the complete and correct choice is 'All of the above'. Common Pitfalls: Jumping to solutions without documenting facts, ignoring controls/compliance, and failing to quantify problems (e.g., cycle time, error rates, costs). Final Answer: All of the above

Question 20

In software testing practice, what does Positive Testing specifically verify about a new program or module under normal, valid inputs?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: Positive testing is a core QA activity that confirms software behaves correctly when provided with expected, valid inputs. It complements negative testing (invalid inputs) and boundary testing. Given Data / Assumptions: The program has specified requirements and valid transaction scenarios. Testers want to verify compliance with those specifications. The question asks for the definition of Positive Testing. Concept / Approach: Positive testing verifies that the system accepts valid data and produces correct results. It follows the user stories or use cases and uses test cases derived from acceptance criteria. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the test objective: confirm correct behavior with valid inputs.Map to specification-based testing: use explicit scenarios required by the spec.Select the option that states this: 'process certain transactions according to Specifications'. Verification / Alternative check: Traceability from requirements to test cases ensures positive tests directly validate specified behavior and acceptance criteria. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Running with live data (option A) is acceptance testing, not the definition of positive testing. Checking program logic (option C) is white-box review or unit logic verification, not specifically positive testing. Testing changes (option D) describes regression or re-test of fixes. Common Pitfalls: Confusing positive testing with happy-path only; true positive coverage should include all specified valid variations, not just a single path. Final Answer: making sure that the new programs do in fact process certain transactions according to Specifications

System Analysis and Design Questions