Chapter 4 Flashcards
What is a Design Brief
A simple document which outlines the core details and problems of your project.
How are goals different from objectives?
A goal is an outcome that you want to achieve and is a broad statement, whereas an objective is a specific and measurable action which can be reached in a short period of time.
What are functional solution requirements?
What will the software solution is required to do, the inputs and outputs it must receive and generate.
What does a Gantt chart allow you to do?
It allows tasks to be visually represented, resources allocated to each task and their progress monitored.
The Waterfall Model
Moves through the PSM method in order, however once an activity/stage is completed, it isnt revisited, thus called the “Waterfall” model.
Advantages of Waterfall Model
- Simple linear progression which is easy to understand and follow.
- Easier to concentrate resources on each task and complete it.
- Works best for small projects
- Easier to keep track of milestones.
Disadvantages of Waterfall Model
- Once an application is in the development or evaluation stage, changes to the design cannot be made.
- Not suited to large scale projects
Agile Model
Makes a quick start and then rapidly performs all of the stages over and over, gradually improving the final product.
Spiral Model
Has four phases:
1. Planning
2. Risk analysis
3. Engineering
4. Evaluation
Advantages of Agile Model
- Clients are more included in the development process
- Agile development is able to adapt to changing circumstances
Disadvantages of Agile Model
- The scope of the project may not be fully evident at the start
- Project can quickly go off track
Advantages of Spiral Model
- As it is focused on Risk analysis, the avoidance of risk is increased
- Good for large projects
- Additional functionality can be added later
- Software is produced early in the development cycle
Disadvantages of Spiral Model
- Risk analysis requires a software developor with a high level of skill/experience
- Doesn’t work well for small projects
Detailed definition of information system
The combination of data, people, processes and digital systems that interact to create, control, and communicate ideas and data in digital solutions
Robustness
Measure of how well a software solution responds to poor use of inputs.
Maintainability
How easily a software solution can be fixed when problems occur.
Disadvantages of surveys
Responses may not be legitimate, time-consuming
Advantages of observations as data collection
Give a view of the system that is unbiased
Describe Organisation goals
Statements that describe potential future principles that the organisation strives to achieve (NEVER QUANTITIVE)
Describe Objectives
They support the goals by providing some TARGETS with MEASUREABLE results. (QUANTITIVE)
Purpose of goals
- Guidance
- Assist planning
- Inspire
- Support evaluation process
What are black holes? (CHAPTER 5)
Used to describe the situation that occurs when data flows into a process but nothing is produced
What are the two ways to record progress?
- Logbook of changes, so that they are able to explain the modifications to the initial plan and the impact of these changes
- Annotation of Gantt Chart
What are milestones?
Times in a project where certain stages are met
What are dependencies?
Tasks depend on other tasks to be completed before they can commence
What is the critical path?
The critical path is defined as the longest path from the beginning to the end of the timeline, with no delays impacting the completion date of the project
What is Portability
The ability for a solution to be moved from one environment to another
