- A
To ensure adequate IT resources to meet current and future business demands
This is the core purpose of capacity management.
- B
To monitor and report on system performance against SLAs
Why wrong: Performance monitoring is part of the process, but the primary objective is planning and alignment.
- C
To minimize the total cost of ownership of IT resources
Why wrong: Cost minimization is a goal but the primary objective is to align capacity with business needs.
- D
To procure hardware and software at the lowest possible cost
Why wrong: Procurement is a separate process; capacity management focuses on demand and supply.
- E
To optimize the use of existing resources to support business growth
Optimization ensures efficient utilization, a key objective of capacity management.
Quick Answer
The answer is to optimize the use of existing resources to support business growth and to ensure that current and future business requirements are met cost-effectively. These two objectives are correct because capacity management is fundamentally about balancing the cost of IT resources against the demand for those resources, ensuring that performance levels are maintained without wasteful over-provisioning. On the CISA exam, this concept tests your understanding that capacity management is a strategic, cost-conscious function—distinct from financial management (which handles budgeting) or performance monitoring (which is a supporting activity, not a primary objective). A common trap is confusing the goal of "monitoring performance" with the primary objective itself; remember that monitoring is a tool, not the end goal. For a quick memory tip, think of the acronym "COST": Capacity management’s primary Objectives are to Support business growth and Trim resource waste.
CISA Practice Question: Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of information systems operations and business resilience. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Which TWO of the following are primary objectives of capacity management? (Select exactly 2.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"primary"Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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
To ensure adequate IT resources to meet current and future business demands
Options B and E are correct. Capacity management aims to ensure that current and future business requirements are met cost-effectively. Option A is about financial management; Option C is performance monitoring but not the primary objective; Option D is procurement.
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.
- ✓
To ensure adequate IT resources to meet current and future business demands
Why this is correct
This is the core purpose of capacity management.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
To monitor and report on system performance against SLAs
Why it's wrong here
Performance monitoring is part of the process, but the primary objective is planning and alignment.
- ✗
To minimize the total cost of ownership of IT resources
Why it's wrong here
Cost minimization is a goal but the primary objective is to align capacity with business needs.
- ✗
To procure hardware and software at the lowest possible cost
Why it's wrong here
Procurement is a separate process; capacity management focuses on demand and supply.
- ✓
To optimize the use of existing resources to support business growth
Why this is correct
Optimization ensures efficient utilization, a key objective of capacity management.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 CISA exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISA question test?
Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience — This question tests Information Systems Operations and Business Resilience — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: To ensure adequate IT resources to meet current and future business demands — Options B and E are correct. Capacity management aims to ensure that current and future business requirements are met cost-effectively. Option A is about financial management; Option C is performance monitoring but not the primary objective; Option D is procurement.
What should I do if I get this CISA question wrong?
Identify which CISA exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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.
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