Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CISA Practice Question: Information Systems Acquisition, Development, and Implementation
An organization is considering whether to build a custom application or purchase a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) product. Which of the following factors would most strongly support a build decision?
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
✓
The required functionality is unique to the organization's competitive advantage.
When the organization's processes are unique and provide a competitive advantage, custom development allows for exact fit and control.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Short time to market is critical.
Why it's wrong here
COTS typically has faster deployment.
- ✗
The vendor offers a robust service-level agreement (SLA).
Why it's wrong here
A strong SLA favors purchase.
- ✓
The required functionality is unique to the organization's competitive advantage.
Why this is correct
Unique needs often cannot be met by COTS without extensive customization.
- ✗
The organization has limited in-house development resources.
Why it's wrong here
Limited resources favor purchase.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.