Question

The maintenance phase of the system development process could include all of the following activities EXCEPT

A) correcting errors in the software that were detected after implementation
B) changing the heading on a report
C) updating entries in the tax table to reflect changes in the tax rates
D) adding a new function to an existing system
E) performing a complete rewrite for an existing system

Answer 1

The maintenance phase includes correcting errors, changing report headings, and updating tax tables, while adding new functions or performing a complete rewrite of the system falls outside of maintenance activities.

Step-by-step explanation:

The maintenance phase of the system development process includes activities that are focused on retaining the software's functionality and making minor improvements or adjustments. Activities such as correcting errors in the software that were detected after implementation, changing the heading on a report, and updating entries in the tax table to reflect changes in the tax rates are all typical maintenance tasks.

However, adding a new function to an existing system constitutes the enhancement phase and is not considered maintenance. Moreover, performing a complete rewrite for an existing system would be considered as part of the reengineering process, which falls outside the scope of regular maintenance.

Hence, the correct answer to the student’s question is E) performing a complete rewrite for an existing system, as it is not a maintenance activity.