CISA Practice Question: Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of information systems acquisition, development and implementation. 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.
What is the PRIMARY purpose of a post-implementation review?
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
To assess whether expected benefits were achieved
The primary purpose of a post-implementation review (PIR) is to determine whether the system or project has delivered the expected business benefits, such as improved efficiency, cost savings, or enhanced functionality. This aligns with the IS auditor's focus on value realization and governance, ensuring that the investment achieved its intended objectives before the project is formally closed.
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 close the project budget and finalize costs
Why it's wrong here
Budget closure is part of project closure, but the post-implementation review is about assessing value.
✗
To evaluate the performance of the project team
Why it's wrong here
While team performance may be reviewed, the primary focus is on project outcomes and benefits realization.
✗
To document lessons learned for future projects
Why it's wrong here
Lessons learned are an important output, but the primary purpose is to verify that expected benefits have been realized.
✓
To assess whether expected benefits were achieved
Why this is correct
The post-implementation review determines if the system delivers the intended business value and helps identify areas for improvement.
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
The trap here is that candidates confuse the PIR's primary purpose with the project closure process (Option A) or the team's performance evaluation (Option B), but CISA emphasizes that the review's core objective is to confirm that the system delivers the expected business value, not just to complete administrative tasks.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Lessons learned are an important output, but the primary purpose is to verify that expected benefits have been realized.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A post-implementation review typically involves comparing actual metrics (e.g., transaction throughput, error rates, user adoption statistics) against the baseline defined in the business case or feasibility study. For example, if an ERP implementation promised a 20% reduction in inventory carrying costs, the PIR would audit inventory turnover ratios and carrying cost data from the system's financial modules to confirm the benefit. This review also identifies any gaps requiring remediation, such as tuning database queries or adjusting security controls, before the system is handed over to operations.
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 — 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: To assess whether expected benefits were achieved — The primary purpose of a post-implementation review (PIR) is to determine whether the system or project has delivered the expected business benefits, such as improved efficiency, cost savings, or enhanced functionality. This aligns with the IS auditor's focus on value realization and governance, ensuring that the investment achieved its intended objectives before the project is formally closed.
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.
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.
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Question Discussion
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