CISA Practice Question: Information Systems Acquisition, Development and Implementation
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of information systems acquisition, development and implementation. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 common risks in the procurement of custom-developed software?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Lack of documentation
Lack of documentation (C) is a common risk in custom-developed software because without comprehensive technical and user documentation, the organization faces challenges in maintenance, troubleshooting, and knowledge transfer. This risk is especially acute when the original developers leave, leaving the system opaque and difficult to support. Proper documentation is essential for ongoing operations, audits, and future enhancements.
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.
✗
Poor user acceptance
Why it's wrong here
User acceptance is a risk in implementation, not procurement.
✗
Excessive customization
Why it's wrong here
Customization is inherent; excessive is a risk but not the most common in procurement.
✓
Lack of documentation
Why this is correct
Custom development often lacks thorough documentation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Vendor lock-in
Why this is correct
Proprietary components can lead to dependency.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Inadequate service level agreements
Why it's wrong here
While a risk, it is more about contract management.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'excessive customization' (a scope/design risk) with a procurement risk, when in fact the procurement risk is about the vendor's control over the software's future (vendor lock-in) and the lack of maintainability (lack of documentation).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In custom software procurement, vendor lock-in (D) occurs when the software is built using proprietary frameworks, APIs, or data formats that make it difficult to switch vendors or bring development in-house. This risk is exacerbated when the contract lacks clauses for source code escrow, data portability, or adherence to open standards. For example, using a vendor's proprietary database schema without an export mechanism can trap the organization into paying for ongoing support and modifications at the vendor's price.
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: Lack of documentation — Lack of documentation (C) is a common risk in custom-developed software because without comprehensive technical and user documentation, the organization faces challenges in maintenance, troubleshooting, and knowledge transfer. This risk is especially acute when the original developers leave, leaving the system opaque and difficult to support. Proper documentation is essential for ongoing operations, audits, and future enhancements.
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.
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Question Discussion
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