CSM Data Analysis & Decision Making 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In decision tree analysis, what does the term 'rollback' refer to?
- Reverting a software release after a failed deployment
- Calculating node values from right to left to determine optimal choices (Correct answer)
- Rolling back a database transaction during analysis
- Removing low-probability branches to simplify the tree
Correct answer: Calculating node values from right to left to determine optimal choices
Rollback (or fold-back) is the process of computing expected values from terminal nodes back to the root to identify the optimal decision path.
Question 2: Which data quality dimension measures the degree to which data correctly represents the real-world entities or events it describes?
- Completeness
- Timeliness
- Accuracy (Correct answer)
- Consistency
Correct answer: Accuracy
Accuracy (also called validity) measures how well data represents the true state of the real-world entities being modeled.
Question 3: A software manager is analyzing team velocity over 10 sprints. The median velocity is significantly lower than the mean. What does this suggest about the data distribution?
- The distribution is symmetric and normally distributed
- The distribution is negatively skewed with low outliers
- The distribution is positively skewed with high-velocity outliers (Correct answer)
- The distribution has no outliers and is uniform
Correct answer: The distribution is positively skewed with high-velocity outliers
When the mean exceeds the median, a few high values are pulling the mean up, indicating a right (positive) skew.
Question 4: Which forecasting method is most appropriate when a software project's historical effort data shows both a trend and seasonal patterns?
- Simple moving average
- Exponential smoothing without trend
- Holt-Winters triple exponential smoothing (Correct answer)
- Linear regression with a single predictor
Correct answer: Holt-Winters triple exponential smoothing
Holt-Winters triple exponential smoothing accounts for level, trend, and seasonal components simultaneously.
Question 5: When a software manager uses a RACI matrix to support a decision-making process, what does the 'C' stand for, and what is that role's primary function?
- Controller — approves the final decision
- Contributor — provides labor to complete the task
- Consulted — provides input before the decision is made (Correct answer)
- Coordinator — schedules meetings about the decision
Correct answer: Consulted — provides input before the decision is made
In RACI, Consulted means the person is asked for input before decisions or actions are taken, enabling two-way communication.
Question 6: A Kiviat chart (radar chart) is used to compare a software product against a competitor across six quality attributes. What is the primary advantage of this visualization?
- It reveals time-series trends more clearly than line charts
- It shows multidimensional comparisons on a single visual plane (Correct answer)
- It calculates statistical significance between the two products
- It ranks attributes by their contribution to overall quality
Correct answer: It shows multidimensional comparisons on a single visual plane
Radar charts display multiple variables simultaneously on a single diagram, making multidimensional comparisons intuitive.
Question 7: In the context of software metrics, what is a 'vanity metric'?
- A metric that is too complex to calculate consistently
- A metric that looks impressive but does not drive actionable decisions (Correct answer)
- A metric that only measures cosmetic UI quality
- A metric derived from customer satisfaction surveys
Correct answer: A metric that looks impressive but does not drive actionable decisions
Vanity metrics produce numbers that feel good but don't correlate with meaningful business outcomes or guide management actions.
CSM Data Analysis & Decision Making 3
In decision tree analysis, what does the term 'rollback' refer to?