IPA IP 2025 Question 13
A question IPA Japan published in 令和7年度 ITパスポート試験 公開問題 問13, translated into English. ITPEC is based on the same exams.
Which of the following is the most appropriate document that requests the provider of a new IT solution to provide information such as case examples of its use and technical information, in order to judge whether or not to use that IT solution?
Explanation
RFI (request for information) — the document that asks a provider for case examples, technical details and other information before deciding whether to use its solution.
At this stage nothing has been decided: the company wants to know what the solution can do, where it has been used and what technology it rests on. An RFI collects that information from one or more providers. The replies help judge whether the solution is worth adopting and, if it is, shape the requirements written into the RFP that follows. In an RFI, information flows from the vendors to the company.
Answer (c)
Why not others:
- •(a) — EDI (electronic data interchange) is the exchange of business documents such as orders and invoices between companies in an agreed electronic format
- •(b) — a KPI (key performance indicator) measures progress toward a goal; it is not a document sent to vendors
- •(d) — an RFP (request for proposal) comes later: it states the requirements of a system the company has decided to procure and asks vendors for proposals
Key rule: Procurement runs RFI (gather information on what exists) → RFP (state the requirements, ask for proposals) → evaluate the proposals and select a vendor → contract.
System Planning · AI-written, may contain errors
This question comes from the past questions IPA Japan publishes, translated into English by ITPEC Practice. ITPEC Practice is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with IPA or ITPEC. See the original paper (PDF) or Report an issue.