- A
Reduced need for ongoing maintenance
Why wrong: Building typically increases maintenance burden.
- B
Faster time to market
Why wrong: Buying is usually faster.
- C
Lower initial cost
Why wrong: Buying often has lower initial cost, but that favors buying, not building.
- D
Need for highly specialized functionality not available in the market
Unique requirements may justify building.
Question 578 of 984
Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CISA Practice Question: Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of information systems acquisition, development, and implementation. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
An organization is considering whether to build a custom application or purchase a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) product. Which of the following factors is MOST important when deciding to build rather than buy?
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
✓
Need for highly specialized functionality not available in the market
When an organization requires highly specialized functionality that is not available in any commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) product, building a custom application becomes the only viable option. COTS products are designed for broad market needs and often lack the unique features or compliance requirements that a custom solution can provide. This factor overrides cost, time, and maintenance considerations because no amount of configuration or customization of a COTS product can meet the specific functional gap.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Reduced need for ongoing maintenance
Why it's wrong here
Building typically increases maintenance burden.
- ✗
Faster time to market
Why it's wrong here
Buying is usually faster.
- ✗
Lower initial cost
Why it's wrong here
Buying often has lower initial cost, but that favors buying, not building.
- ✓
Need for highly specialized functionality not available in the market
Why this is correct
Unique requirements may justify building.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often prioritize lower initial cost or faster time to market, failing to recognize that if the required functionality does not exist in the market, those benefits are irrelevant because the COTS product cannot fulfill the core business need.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In practice, the build-versus-buy decision involves a total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis that includes not only initial development or purchase costs but also long-term maintenance, integration, and upgrade expenses. For highly specialized functionality, such as proprietary algorithms or industry-specific regulatory compliance (e.g., HIPAA, PCI-DSS), a COTS product may require extensive customization that negates its cost and time advantages. The decision matrix often uses a weighted scoring model where functional fit is the highest-weighted criterion, as it directly impacts the organization's ability to meet business objectives.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the CISA exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All CISA questions
984 questions across all exam domains
- →
Certified Information Systems Auditor CISA study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
CISA practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related CISA practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Governance and Management of IT practice questions
Practise CISA questions linked to Governance and Management of IT.
Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation practice questions
Practise CISA questions linked to Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation.
Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience practice questions
Practise CISA questions linked to Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience.
Information System Auditing Process practice questions
Practise CISA questions linked to Information System Auditing Process.
Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation practice questions
Practise CISA questions linked to Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation.
Protection of Information Assets practice questions
Practise CISA questions linked to Protection of Information Assets.
CISA fundamentals practice questions
Practise CISA questions linked to CISA fundamentals.
CISA scenario practice questions
Practise CISA questions linked to CISA scenario.
CISA troubleshooting practice questions
Practise CISA questions linked to CISA troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free CISA practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISA question test?
Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation — This question tests Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Need for highly specialized functionality not available in the market — When an organization requires highly specialized functionality that is not available in any commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) product, building a custom application becomes the only viable option. COTS products are designed for broad market needs and often lack the unique features or compliance requirements that a custom solution can provide. This factor overrides cost, time, and maintenance considerations because no amount of configuration or customization of a COTS product can meet the specific functional gap.
What should I do if I get this CISA question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CISA practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISACA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CISA exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.