Data Analysis & Decision Making Flashcards

A software manager uses Monte Carlo simulation to estimate project completion dates. What is the primary advantage over a single-point estimate?

Answer: It produces a probability distribution of outcomes rather than one deterministic date

Monte Carlo simulation runs thousands of iterations with varied inputs to produce a probability distribution showing the likelihood of different completion dates.

When conducting a post-mortem analysis, which data collection method is most effective for capturing candid team feedback without social pressure influencing responses?

Answer: Anonymous surveys distributed before the meeting

Anonymous surveys remove social pressure and hierarchy effects, encouraging more honest and candid responses from team members.

A software manager needs to prioritize 20 backlog features using limited data. The MoSCoW method classifies items as Must have, Should have, Could have, and Won't have. What is the primary risk of this technique?

Answer: Everything tends to get classified as 'Must have,' reducing its utility

In practice, stakeholders often classify most items as 'Must have,' which undermines the technique's ability to surface true priorities.

In Bayesian decision theory applied to software quality management, what does the 'prior probability' represent?

Answer: The initial belief about the probability of an event before new evidence is observed

In Bayesian inference, the prior probability represents the belief or estimate about an event's likelihood before incorporating new data.

A manager wants to determine which of five software quality factors most strongly predicts customer satisfaction scores. Which analytical technique is most appropriate?

Answer: Multiple linear regression with quality factors as independent variables

Multiple linear regression models the relationship between customer satisfaction (dependent variable) and multiple quality factors (independent variables) simultaneously.

The 'cost of poor quality' (COPQ) framework categorizes quality costs into four types. Which pair represents costs incurred AFTER a product reaches the customer?

Answer: External failure costs and warranty costs

External failure costs and warranty costs are incurred after delivery, including field defect repairs, recalls, and customer support.

A software manager uses a weighted scoring model to select a technology platform. Assigning weights to criteria before scoring alternatives is important because it:

Answer: Prevents post-hoc rationalization of a preferred option by locking in priorities first

Setting weights before scoring prevents anchoring on a preferred solution and then adjusting criteria weights to justify that choice.