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CISA Practice Question: An IS auditor finds that a project failed to meet…
An IS auditor finds that a project failed to meet its objectives because key stakeholders were not involved in the requirements definition phase. Which phase of the SDLC was most neglected?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse the symptoms of failure (e.g., poor design or failed tests) with the root cause, which is always the phase where the input was missing—requirements analysis.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Requirements analysis
The requirements analysis phase is where stakeholder needs are formally captured and documented. Without key stakeholder involvement, the project lacks a validated baseline of what must be built, leading to misaligned objectives and scope creep. The IS auditor’s finding directly points to a failure in this phase, as it is the only SDLC phase that defines the project’s success criteria from the user’s perspective.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Requirements analysis
Why this is correct
Stakeholder involvement is essential to define complete and accurate requirements.
- ✗
Development
Why it's wrong here
Development implements the design.
- ✗
Design
Why it's wrong here
Design phase is based on requirements already defined.
- ✗
Testing
Why it's wrong here
Testing validates that the system meets requirements.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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