CRCM (IFPUG) 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under IFPUG guidelines, which scenario correctly describes when an External Inquiry (EInq) differs from an External Output (EO)?
- An EInq retrieves data without transforming or deriving new values; an EO may derive or calculate output data (Correct answer)
- An EInq always involves two or more ILFs; an EO references only one
- An EInq is only triggered by external regulators; an EO is user-initiated
- An EInq updates an ILF as a side effect; an EO does not
Correct answer: An EInq retrieves data without transforming or deriving new values; an EO may derive or calculate output data
The key distinction is that an EInq retrieves and displays data without mathematical derivation, while an EO processes, calculates, or transforms data to produce output.
Question 2: A CRCM overseeing an IT compliance audit finds the project team counted a file that stores temporary processing data not visible to end users. Under IFPUG rules, this file should be:
- Excluded from the count because it is not a user-identifiable group of data (Correct answer)
- Counted as an ILF since it is maintained by the application
- Counted as an EIF since it is referenced but not displayed
- Counted as a low-complexity ILF by default
Correct answer: Excluded from the count because it is not a user-identifiable group of data
IFPUG requires that ILFs be user-identifiable groups of logically related data; temporary or technical files invisible to users do not qualify.
Question 3: In the context of IFPUG and regulatory compliance, how does function point sizing help a compliance manager evaluate outsourced software development contracts?
- It provides a technology-neutral unit for defining deliverable scope and verifying what was actually built (Correct answer)
- It automatically generates compliance reports for regulatory review
- It replaces the need for a statement of work in vendor contracts
- It measures vendor adherence to data privacy regulations
Correct answer: It provides a technology-neutral unit for defining deliverable scope and verifying what was actually built
Function points offer a consistent, language-independent size metric that can be used to specify contractual scope and objectively verify delivery.
Question 4: A regulatory compliance system's External Input adds a record to one ILF, updates a second ILF, and references an EIF for validation. What is the File Type Referenced (FTR) count for this EI?
- 3 (two ILFs maintained plus one EIF referenced) (Correct answer)
- 2 (only the ILFs that are maintained count as FTRs)
- 1 (only the EIF counts as an FTR for an EI)
- 4 (each field in each file counts as a separate FTR)
Correct answer: 3 (two ILFs maintained plus one EIF referenced)
For an EI, FTRs include all ILFs maintained and all EIFs referenced during processing, so 2 maintained ILFs plus 1 referenced EIF equals 3 FTRs.
Question 5: Which IFPUG concept most closely aligns with a compliance manager's concern about measuring the true business value delivered by a software project?
- Functional size, which measures user-visible functionality independent of implementation (Correct answer)
- Technical complexity adjustments based on system architecture
- Lines of code as a proxy for development investment
- Defect density as a measure of software quality
Correct answer: Functional size, which measures user-visible functionality independent of implementation
Functional size captures the amount of business functionality delivered to users, making it the most business-relevant IFPUG measure for compliance managers.
Question 6: According to IFPUG, what is the unadjusted function point (UFP) value for a low-complexity Internal Logical File?
- 7 (Correct answer)
- 5
- 10
- 15
Correct answer: 7
A low-complexity ILF is assigned 7 unadjusted function points according to the IFPUG Counting Practices Manual.
Question 7: A compliance officer reviewing an IFPUG count finds that the counting team included the same data group as both an ILF and an EIF. Which IFPUG rule does this violate?
- A data group maintained by the application cannot simultaneously be counted as an EIF for the same application (Correct answer)
- An ILF can also be counted as an EIF if referenced by more than one transaction
- EIFs and ILFs may share the same data group if they have different RET structures
- The CPM permits dual-counting when regulatory data is involved
Correct answer: A data group maintained by the application cannot simultaneously be counted as an EIF for the same application
IFPUG rules state that if data is maintained by the application being counted, it is an ILF for that application and cannot also be an EIF within the same count.
CRCM (IFPUG) 4
Under IFPUG guidelines, which scenario correctly describes when an External Inquiry (EInq) differs from an External Output (EO)?