1.6 Software Projects Flashcards
Describe the main resources available in the organisation of a software project
Capital- this is the budget available to make the SW.
The development environment- HW and SW available to use in the making on the SW. must be allocated properly.
Personnel- analysts project managers and programmers and making sure they are appropriately trained to make the SW project.
Describe the impact of constraints on a SW project
Contraints = limitations/ restrictions on the project.
Schedule- this is a big factor as when making the SW you must adhere to a timescale as falling behind cab cost more money. By keeping to a timescale you are limiting what u can achieve.
Cost- when making the SW you have to be careful to keep to the budget which limits what you can do during development and what can be included in the final product.
The scope of the project- try to only fix what is needed as going off target can eat into the budget and push back the deadline of the project.
Describe the main features of software project management/
Explain the main elements that a project manager works with during the development of a SW project.
Monitoring
Monitoring- v important as the project manager has to make sure things are running steadily. Meaning deadlines are met, tasks are being completed and knowing exactly the current process of each task. Can include meetings which can help them stay on schedule regarding the information they are given.
Describe the main features of software project management/
Explain the main elements that a project manager works with during the development of a SW project.
Scheduling
Scheduling- late delivery of projects can be costly and so the project manager needs to make sure the deadlines are kept by drawing up a schedule. When scheduling the manager needs to be aware on which tasks are dependant on other tasks, which can be done concurrently, the order of the tasks must come and whether the deadlines are realistic.
Describe the main features of software project management/
Explain the main elements that a project manager works with during the development of a SW project.
Budget
Makes sure the projects costs on things such as wages, SW and HW are in control. This will place a constraint in the SW
Describe the main features of software project management/
Explain the main elements that a project manager works with during the development of a SW project.
Resources
They need to correctly allocate people, SW HW and fascilities to get the project completed in the shortest time.
Describe the main features of software project management/
Explain the main elements that a project manager works with during the development of a SW project.
4 areas
Monitoring
Scheduling
Budget
Resources.
Describe the main features of a CPA chart/ graph
To give a visual display of the tasks that needed to be completed within the project.
Showing the time, dependencies and each separate task.
Compare and contrast GANTT AND CPA
Compare- both are visual displays of the tasks needed. Both show time and each task. Both cut down on idle time. And motivate employees.
Contrast- GANT is a horizontal bar graph. CPA is more like a flowchart. CPA shows clear dependencies whereas GANT does not. GANT shows the progress of each task through shading. CPA does not.
Tasks shown as bars in GANT
circles called nodes in CPA
Identify the main components of a GANT chart
Start date
End date
Name of task
Progress
Explain how version management can positively impact the development of a software system.
Version management is the monitoring of changes to a system during the development process and operational life.
They track each change made
Who made it
Why they made it and any enhancements made.
This can help to easily reverse any changes that have been made. Also means developers and users are working on the same systems.
Elements of organising a SW project
Risk
Risks- factors that could derail the project
User involvement
Scheduling flaws
Specification breakdown
Staff turnover
Technology
Elements of organising a SW project
Risk
User involvement
If the user is not involved enough, the requirements might not be accurate
Inflation of requirements can happen if too many user requirements are added.
Elements of organising a SW project
Risk
Scheduling flaws
Not planning what has to be done when by who could lead to the project falling behind
Elements of organising a SW project
Specification breakdown
Risk
If the specification isn’t clear and u sees good by the developers= disaster
Elements of organising a SW project
Risk
Staff turnover
If the only team member who can code in C# leaves
Elements of organising a SW project
Risk
Technology
If the HW/ SW being used to make new app are nkt good enough
Advantages of Gantt chart
See whole project on a single page
Motivates
Cuts down on idle time.
Disadvantages of a Gantt chart
Size of bar may not reflect how difficult task is
For larger projects the chart may become too Complex
Harder to see which tasks depend on other tasks.
Gant chart
Horizontal bar chart showing
Tasks
When each task starts and ends
Current progress of each task
Critical path analysis
Diagram showing
Tasks as circles
Lines between dependant tasks
Time needed for each task
Algorithm used to establish best start and end time for each task
Each task called node
Need specialist SW to make a complex CPA
Advantages of CPA
Can see dependencies visually
Efficiently allocates resources
Cuts down on idle time
Disadvantages of CPA
for larger projects the chart may become too complex.
Version management
As a SW system develops it may go through many versions.
Versions created by SW developer to better implement the design specification.
All versions should have version no.
All changes made to source code documented.
- will be able to easily track changes made
- useful if changes need to be reversed.
Crucial everyone involved using same version of software being created
Importance of version management during system development
All changes must be recorded.
Must be a method of tracking changes.
All documents must have Version number.
Older versions- archived.
