IPA IP 2026 Question 22
A question IPA Japan published in 令和8年度 ITパスポート試験 公開問題 問22, translated into English. ITPEC is based on the same exams.
Which of the following is the most appropriate means of achieving automation and improved efficiency by having a software robot take over routine office work such as slip input processing?
Explanation
RPA — Robotic Process Automation: software robots that take over routine office work, such as entering slips, from people.
An RPA bot repeats the operations a person performs on a PC by fixed rules: reading data from forms, e-mails or spreadsheets, typing it into business systems, checking figures and producing standard reports. It works through the existing screens, so the business systems need no changes, and it suits high-volume, rule-based tasks.
Answer (d)
Why not others:
- •(a) BPO — business process outsourcing hands a whole business process, such as payroll or a call centre, to an outside company; people elsewhere do the work, no software robot
- •(b) EUC — end-user computing: users in the business departments build and use systems themselves, for example with spreadsheets
- •(c) FA — factory automation automates production lines with industrial machines and robots, not office work
Key rule: RPA automates the PC work of office staff with software; BPO moves the work to another company, and FA automates the factory floor.
Business Industry · 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.