The answer is verifying that the system meets user requirements and capturing lessons learned. These are the two key objectives of a post-implementation review because a PIR is fundamentally a validation and improvement exercise: it confirms that the delivered system satisfies the business needs and functional specifications defined during the requirements phase, while also documenting what worked and what did not to refine future project management and system development processes. On the CISA exam, this topic tests your understanding of the PIR’s role in the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and IT governance; a common trap is confusing operational acceptance testing with the PIR’s broader focus on business alignment and process improvement. To remember, think of the PIR as looking both backward (did it meet requirements?) and forward (what can we learn?), which directly supports continuous improvement. A helpful mnemonic is “R&L” for Requirements and Lessons learned.
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.
Which TWO of the following are key objectives of a post-implementation review of a new system?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Identify lessons learned for future projects
Option C is correct because a key objective of a post-implementation review (PIR) is to capture lessons learned from the project, which helps improve future system development and acquisition processes. This involves documenting what went well, what went wrong, and how processes can be refined, directly supporting continuous improvement in IT governance and project management.
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.
✗
Update the disaster recovery plan
Why it's wrong here
DR plan update is part of maintenance, not post-implementation review.
✗
Assess the project budget variance
Why it's wrong here
Budget review is not a primary objective of post-implementation review.
✓
Identify lessons learned for future projects
Why this is correct
Lessons learned are a key output.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Evaluate vendor performance
Why it's wrong here
Vendor evaluation is typically separate.
✓
Verify that the system meets user requirements
Why this is correct
This is a primary objective.
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 confuse the PIR with project closure activities, mistakenly selecting budget variance or vendor evaluation as key objectives, when the PIR is specifically focused on verifying system effectiveness and capturing lessons learned for future projects.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A post-implementation review (PIR) is a structured evaluation conducted after a system has been in production for a defined period (often 30-90 days) to assess whether it meets its intended business objectives and user requirements. It involves comparing actual system performance against predefined success criteria, such as response times, throughput, and error rates, and gathering user feedback through surveys or interviews. In real-world scenarios, a PIR might reveal that a new ERP system meets functional requirements but has poor adoption due to inadequate training, leading to lessons learned that improve future change management processes.
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: Identify lessons learned for future projects — Option C is correct because a key objective of a post-implementation review (PIR) is to capture lessons learned from the project, which helps improve future system development and acquisition processes. This involves documenting what went well, what went wrong, and how processes can be refined, directly supporting continuous improvement in IT governance and project management.
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
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. What is the PRIMARY purpose of a post-implementation review?
easy
A.To close the project budget and finalize costs
B.To evaluate the performance of the project team
C.To document lessons learned for future projects
✓ D.To assess whether expected benefits were achieved
Why D: 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.
Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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