100+ AST Consultant Interview Questions and Answers

Answers to various questions related to Scrum framework and Agile methodology.

• Velocity trend is the rate at which the team is delivering the product increment.

• Metrics used in Scrum framework include burndown chart, velocity, sprint goal, etc.

• Types of conflicts in Scrum are personal, technical, and domain-related. They can be resolved through communication, negotiation, and compromise.

• INVEST model is used for creating user stories that are Independent, Negotiable, Valuable, Es...read more

Implemented load balancing and failover mechanisms using AWS services.

• Used Amazon Elastic Load Balancer to distribute traffic across multiple instances.

• Configured Auto Scaling groups to automatically launch new instances in case of failure.

• Implemented Multi-AZ deployment for RDS instances to ensure high availability of database.

• Used Route 53 for DNS failover to redirect traffic to healthy instances in case of failure.

• Implemented S3 cross-region replication for disaster recove...read more

Data sparsity refers to the situation where a large portion of data is missing or empty. To handle it, techniques like data imputation or interpolation can be used. Dollar tables can be avoided in ODI loading by using appropriate mappings and transformations.

• Data sparsity occurs when there are missing or empty values in a dataset.

• To handle data sparsity, techniques like data imputation or interpolation can be used to fill in the missing values.

• Data imputation involves estimat...read more

To call two load plans in parallel and make them wait if needed, use a parallel step and a wait step.

• Create a parallel step in the load plan

• Add the two load plans as child steps to the parallel step

• Create a wait step after the parallel step

• Set the wait step to wait for completion of the parallel step

• Adjust the wait time as needed

CAA stands for Civil Aviation Authority. It is the regulatory body for aviation safety in the UK.

• CAA is responsible for ensuring the safety of civil aviation in the UK

• It sets standards for aircraft design, maintenance, and operation

• CAA issues licenses to pilots, air traffic controllers, and other aviation professionals

• It also regulates airports and air traffic services

• Examples of CAA regulations include the Air Navigation Order and the Civil Aviation Regulations

Overriding and overloading were implemented in various parts of the framework.

• Overriding was implemented in the base class to allow derived classes to provide their own implementation of a method.

• Overloading was implemented in various methods to allow for multiple versions of the same method with different parameters.

• Examples of overriding and overloading can be found in the class hierarchy for handling different types of data.

• Overriding can also be seen in the implementation...read more

Yes, I have done end to end implementation of various solutions.

• I have implemented a CRM solution for a client from requirement gathering to deployment.

• I have also implemented an ERP solution for a manufacturing company.

• I have experience in implementing various software solutions for different industries.

• I follow a structured approach to ensure successful implementation.

• I work closely with the client to understand their requirements and provide customized solutions.

Protractor was chosen for its compatibility with AngularJS and its ability to handle asynchronous testing.

• Protractor is designed specifically for AngularJS applications

• It uses WebDriverJS to interact with the browser and simulate user actions

• Protractor can handle asynchronous testing, which is common in AngularJS applications

• It has built-in support for Angular-specific locator strategies

• Example: Protractor was used to automate testing for an AngularJS e-commerce website

CSS and XPath are both locators used in Selenium for web automation.

• CSS is faster and more readable than XPath.

• XPath is more powerful and flexible than CSS.

• CSS is recommended for simple locators like class, id, tag name.

• XPath is recommended for complex locators like nested elements, dynamic attributes.

• CSS locators are more stable than XPath as they are less likely to break with changes in the DOM.

• XPath locators are more reliable than CSS when working with older browsers.

• Both ...read more

Performance tuning troubleshooting involves identifying bottlenecks and optimizing system resources.

• Identify the bottleneck by monitoring system resources such as CPU, memory, disk I/O, and network usage.

• Analyze application and database performance metrics to identify slow queries or inefficient code.

• Optimize system resources by adjusting configuration settings, upgrading hardware, or implementing caching mechanisms.

• Test and validate performance improvements to ensure they ha...read more

ODI file wait is a feature that allows ODI to wait for a file to be available before proceeding with the execution of a task.

• ODI file wait is configured in the ODI topology manager

• It can be used in scenarios where a file needs to be processed before continuing with the task

• ODI file wait can be set to wait for a specific file name or a file pattern

• It can also be configured to wait for a specific amount of time before timing out

• Once the file is available, ODI will proceed with ...read more

Automation testing in agile project is managed by continuous integration, frequent testing, and collaboration.

• Use continuous integration to ensure that automated tests are run frequently and consistently.

• Collaborate with developers and testers to ensure that automated tests are integrated into the development process.

• Use tools like Selenium, Appium, and JUnit to automate testing.

• Ensure that automated tests are written in a way that is maintainable and scalable.

• Use test-driven...read more

I work with various technologies on a daily basis, including Java, Python, and SQL.

• I have experience with Java programming and use it frequently for developing applications.

• I also work with Python for data analysis and machine learning tasks.

• SQL is another technology I use regularly for managing and querying databases.

• I am familiar with various software development tools such as Git, JIRA, and Jenkins.

• I stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and trends in the industry t...read more

I increased revenues in cyber security by implementing targeted marketing campaigns and offering customized solutions to clients.

• Implemented targeted marketing campaigns to reach potential clients in need of cyber security services

• Offered customized solutions to clients based on their specific needs and budget constraints

• Expanded service offerings to include additional cyber security solutions such as penetration testing and incident response

• Established partnerships with othe...read more

I have experience in OAF personalization and Forms personalization.

• In OAF personalization, I have customized the user interface by adding new fields, modifying existing fields, and creating custom pages.

• In Forms personalization, I have created custom triggers, added validation rules, and modified the behavior of standard forms.

• For example, in OAF personalization, I added a new field to the employee details page to capture additional information.

• In Forms personalization, I cre...read more

List and Set are data structures in Java. List allows duplicates while Set does not.

• List is an ordered collection while Set is not.

• List allows null values while Set does not.

• In Selenium, we can use List to store a collection of web elements and Set to store a collection of unique strings.

• Example: List names = new ArrayList<>(); Set numbers = new HashSet<>();

• List has methods like add(), remove(), get() while Set has methods like add(), remove(), contains().

Failed tests in Selenium can be rerun using TestNG or JUnit frameworks.

• Use TestNG or JUnit frameworks to rerun failed tests.

• In TestNG, use the 'retryAnalyzer' attribute to specify the retry analyzer class.

• In JUnit, use the '@RetryTest' annotation to specify the number of times to retry the test.

• Configure the maximum number of retries and the delay between retries.

• Use a test listener to log the results of the rerun.

CSS selector is used to select HTML elements based on their id, class, attributes, etc. XPath is a language for navigating XML documents.

• CSS selector is more commonly used for selecting elements in HTML documents.

• XPath is more powerful and flexible, allowing for more complex selection of elements.

• CSS selector is easier to read and write for simple selections.

• XPath can traverse both upwards and downwards in the document tree.

• CSS selector example: div.container > p

• XPath example...read more

The == operator compares the reference of two String objects, while the equals() method compares their values.

• The == operator checks if two String objects refer to the same memory location.

• The equals() method checks if two String objects have the same sequence of characters.

• Using == for String comparison can lead to unexpected results.

• Example: String str1 = "hello"; String str2 = "hello"; str1 == str2 will return true because they refer to the same memory location, but str1.e...read more

Response status codes of REST APIs and their meanings.

• 200 OK - Successful request

• 201 Created - New resource created

• 400 Bad Request - Invalid request

• 401 Unauthorized - Authentication failed

• 403 Forbidden - Authorization failed

• 404 Not Found - Resource not found

• 500 Internal Server Error - Server error

Always On is a high availability feature in SQL Server that provides automatic failover, while clustering is a group of servers working together to provide high availability.

• Always On is a feature in SQL Server that provides automatic failover and disaster recovery capabilities

• Clustering is a group of servers working together to provide high availability and load balancing

• Always On is specific to SQL Server, while clustering can be used in various technologies

• Always On requir...read more

Complex files in ODI can be handled by using various techniques.

• Use ODI's built-in file handling capabilities

• Use custom Java code to handle complex file formats

• Use third-party tools like Apache Nifi or Talend to preprocess the files

• Use ODI's knowledge modules to transform the data into a more manageable format

• Use ODI's parallel processing capabilities to speed up the processing of large files

Perform DR activity by activating the secondary backup servers.

• Activate the secondary backup servers and restore data from the latest backup

• Ensure that all necessary applications and services are running on the secondary servers

• Test the restored data and applications to ensure they are functioning properly

• Update DNS records and routing to direct traffic to the secondary servers

• Monitor the secondary servers closely to ensure they are handling the load properly

A war file is a compressed file format used to package Java web applications.

• A war file contains web application components such as servlets, JSPs, HTML pages, and other resources.

• The file structure includes a WEB-INF directory containing web.xml deployment descriptor, lib directory containing JAR files, and classes directory containing compiled Java classes.

• The war file can be unzipped using any standard zip utility.

• Example: sample.war file unzipped will have a directory str...read more

Cache and persist are both used for optimizing Spark performance by storing intermediate results in memory, but persist allows for more customization.

• Cache() is a shorthand for persist(StorageLevel.MEMORY_ONLY)

• Persist() allows for specifying different storage levels such as MEMORY_ONLY, MEMORY_AND_DISK, etc.

• Persist() also allows for specifying serialization formats like Java, Kryo, etc.

Use Selenium Java code to identify broken links on a web page

• Create a WebDriver instance using Selenium

• Find all the links on the web page using findElements method

• Iterate through each link and check for response code using HttpURLConnection class

• Identify links with response code other than 200 as broken links

There are different types of consultants such as management, IT, financial, and HR consultants, each with their own unique processes.

• Management consultants help organizations improve their performance through analysis and strategy implementation.

• IT consultants provide technology solutions and support to businesses.

• Financial consultants offer advice on financial planning, investments, and risk management.

• HR consultants assist with human resource management, including recruitme...read more

Methods for gathering requirements include interviews, surveys, observation, and prototyping.

• Interviews with stakeholders to understand their needs and expectations

• Surveys to gather feedback from a larger group of people

• Observation of current processes and workflows

• Prototyping to test and refine ideas

• Brainstorming sessions to generate new ideas

• Focus groups to gather feedback from a specific target audience

• Document analysis to review existing documentation

• JAD sessions to bring...read more

I chose TCS because of its global presence, diverse opportunities, and strong reputation in the industry.

• TCS has a strong global presence with offices in over 46 countries, providing opportunities to work on international projects and collaborate with diverse teams.

• TCS offers a wide range of career opportunities across various industries, allowing me to explore different domains and develop a versatile skillset.

• TCS has a strong reputation in the IT industry, known for its inn...read more

To fine tune a query, optimize the database, use indexes, limit the result set, and use appropriate joins.

• Optimize the database by removing unnecessary data and improving data structure

• Use indexes to speed up data retrieval

• Limit the result set by using WHERE clause and pagination

• Use appropriate joins to minimize the number of rows returned

• Consider using caching to reduce database load

We handle different situations during project life cycle by identifying the issue, analyzing it, and implementing a solution.

• Identify the issue or problem

• Analyze the situation and gather information

• Develop a plan of action

• Implement the solution

• Monitor and evaluate the results

• Adjust the plan as necessary

My automation test framework is built using Selenium WebDriver and TestNG for web applications.

• Utilizes Selenium WebDriver for interacting with web elements

• Uses TestNG for test case management and reporting

• Includes page object model design pattern for better code organization

• Integration with CI/CD tools like Jenkins for automated test execution

String is immutable in Java to ensure security, thread safety, and optimization.

• String objects are stored in the String pool, which helps in memory optimization.

• Immutable strings are thread-safe, as their values cannot be changed once created.

• String immutability prevents malicious code from modifying sensitive data.

• Example: String str = "Hello"; str.concat(" World"); // This does not change the original string value.

I have worked on RICE objects for various modules including FI, MM, and SD.

• Developed custom reports using ALV and Smart Forms for FI module

• Created custom transactions for MM module using BDC and BAPI

• Enhanced standard SD transactions using user exits and BADI

• Implemented custom workflows using SAP Workflow for various modules

• Developed custom interfaces using IDOCs and RFCs

Code for setters and getters methods

• For each instance variable, create a setter and getter method

• Setters should take in a parameter and assign it to the instance variable

• Getters should return the value of the instance variable

• Naming convention for setters and getters should follow camelCase

Different types of network topology include bus, star, ring, mesh, and hybrid.

• Bus Topology: All devices are connected to a central cable, like a bus route.

• Star Topology: All devices are connected to a central hub.

• Ring Topology: Each device is connected to two other devices, forming a ring.

• Mesh Topology: Every device is connected to every other device.

• Hybrid Topology: Combination of two or more different types of topologies.

String memories are allocated in different places depending on the programming language and platform.

• In C, string memories are allocated on the stack or heap depending on how they are declared.

• In Java, string memories are allocated on the heap.

• In Python, string memories are allocated on the heap and are managed by the interpreter.

• In JavaScript, string memories are allocated on the heap and are managed by the garbage collector.

Large files can be loaded in ODI using various techniques such as partitioning, chunking, and parallel processing.

• Use partitioning to divide the large file into smaller chunks and load them in parallel

• Chunking involves breaking the large file into smaller pieces and loading them sequentially

• Parallel processing can be used to load multiple chunks of the file simultaneously

• ODI also supports external tables, which can be used to load data from large files stored outside the data...read more

Inspection types in SAP QM include goods receipt inspection, goods issue inspection, and in-process inspection.

• Goods receipt inspection is used to inspect materials received from vendors

• Goods issue inspection is used to inspect materials before they are issued to production

• In-process inspection is used to inspect materials during the production process

Rank, dense rank, and ntile functions are used in SQL to assign a ranking to rows based on a specified criteria.

• Rank function assigns a unique rank to each row based on the specified criteria.

• Dense rank function assigns a unique rank to each row, but does not leave gaps in the ranking sequence.

• Ntile function divides the result set into a specified number of groups and assigns a group number to each row.

• Example: SELECT name, salary, RANK() OVER (ORDER BY salary DESC) AS rank F...read more

Consistent JKM ensures uniformity in the execution of tasks and processes.

• JKM stands for Job Knowledge Management

• Consistent JKM involves documenting and sharing best practices

• It helps in reducing errors and improving efficiency

• For example, a consistent JKM approach in software development would involve using the same coding standards and tools across the team

Performance issues in production environments are common and can be fixed by identifying the root cause, optimizing code, tuning database queries, and monitoring system resources.

• Identify the root cause of the performance issue by analyzing logs, monitoring tools, and user reports.

• Optimize code by removing unnecessary loops, improving algorithms, and reducing database calls.

• Tune database queries by adding indexes, optimizing joins, and caching query results.

• Monitor system res...read more

Screenshots in Selenium can be taken using the getScreenshotAs method of the WebDriver interface.

• Use the getScreenshotAs method of the WebDriver interface to capture the screenshot.

• Save the screenshot as a file using the FileUtils class.

• Handle exceptions like IOException when saving the screenshot.

To automate a drop down, you can use tools like Selenium WebDriver to interact with the drop down element and select options programmatically.

• Use Selenium WebDriver to locate the drop down element on the webpage

• Identify the options within the drop down using findElements method

• Use select class in Selenium to interact with the drop down and select desired option

The Alert class in Java provides different methods to display alerts or messages to the user.

• The showMessageDialog() method displays a message dialog with an OK button.

• The showConfirmDialog() method displays a confirmation dialog with Yes/No buttons.

• The showOptionDialog() method displays a customized dialog with options to choose from.

• The showInputDialog() method displays an input dialog to get input from the user.

• The showErrorDialog() method displays an error dialog with an ...read more

Static look up is done at compile time while dynamic look up is done at runtime.

• Static look up is determined at compile time based on the code structure.

• Dynamic look up is determined at runtime based on the actual data or conditions.

• Example: Static look up in a switch statement with fixed cases, dynamic look up in a database query with changing parameters.

M365 and Office 365 are both productivity suites, but M365 includes additional features like Windows 10 and Enterprise Mobility + Security.

• M365 includes Office 365, Windows 10, and Enterprise Mobility + Security.

• Office 365 is focused on cloud-based productivity tools like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

• M365 offers advanced security and device management capabilities.

• Office 365 plans are available for personal, business, and enterprise use.

• M365 is designed for businesses and incl...read more