Flashcards - FSE Week 9 Computer Science Study Materials
What is software change inevitable?
Because new requirements emerge, the business environment changes, errors must be repaired, new equipment is added, and performance/reliability may need improvement.
What key problem do organizations face regarding software systems?
Implementing and managing change to existing software systems.
What does the evolution stage of a software system entail?
It is when the system is in operational use and evolving due to new requirements.
What is the difference between servicing and evolution in software?
Servicing involves only necessary changes to keep software operational, while evolution includes implementing new requirements.
What drives software evolution processes?
Proposals for change linked with affected components allowing costs and impacts to be estimated.
What involves program understanding in change implementation?
Understanding how the program is structured and how changes might affect it.
What is the purpose of regression testing?
To check that changes have not ‘broken’ previously working code.
What issues arise in handover problems between agile and plan-based approaches?
Differences in documentation expectations and methods between agile and plan-based evolution teams.
What defines a legacy system?
An older system relying on outdated languages and technologies, often dependent on obsolete hardware.
What is a socio-technical system?
A system that includes hardware and software, defined operational processes, and influences from organizational structures.
Why is legacy system replacement risky?
Due to undocumented business rules, tight integration with processes, and risks of new software being late or over budget.
What are the components of a legacy system?
System hardware, support software, application software, application data, business processes, and policies/rules.
What is the consequence of high system change requests?
The lower the quality of the system.
How is software maintenance defined?
Modifying a program after it has been put into use, primarily for custom software.
What types of maintenance are there in software engineering?
Fault repairs, environmental adaptation, and functionality addition/modification.
What is the main focus of software evolution in large companies?
Devoting budget primarily to changing and evolving existing software than to developing new software.
What does environmental adaptation in software maintenance refer to?
Changing a system to operate in a different environment from its initial implementation.
What financial impact does legacy system maintenance have?
It can be expensive due to lack of consistent programming style and obsolete languages.
What is typically a low-quality legacy system assessed based on?
Its business value and overall system quality.
What should be considered when assessing business value of a system?
The viewpoints of end-users, business customers, managers, and IT personnel.
What is a Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) system?
A ready-made software or hardware product available for sale to the general public.
What is the importance of risk management in software projects?
To identify risks and draw up plans to minimise their effect on a project.
What is one of the primary success criteria in software project management?
Deliver the software to the customer at the agreed time.
What are project managers responsible for during project planning?
Estimating, scheduling project development and assigning people to tasks.
Why is software project management considered different from other project management?
The product is intangible and cannot be seen or touched.
What is a risk register in the context of project management?
A document that contains the results of various risk management processes, often displayed in a table or spreadsheet format.
What are the two dimensions of risk classification?
The type of risk and what is affected by the risk.
What does risk avoidance entail?
Elimination of a specific risk by removing the root cause of the risk.
What is the first step in the risk management process?
Risk Identification, which involves identifying project, product, and business risks.
What should be considered when managing people in a project?
People are an organisation’s most important assets and understanding them is crucial for management success.
Which strategy involves transferring the risk to a relevant third party?
Risk Transference.
What factors influence the management of a project?
Company size, software customers, software size, software type, organisational culture, and software development processes.
What is a common task in project management reporting?
Reporting on the progress of a project to customers and managers of the company developing the software.
What is essential for motivating people in a project?
Organising the work and working environment to encourage effective work.
What should project managers do when they identify a risk?
Assess the likelihood and consequences of the identified risks.
What type of risk is associated with several engineers being ill at the same time?
People Risk.
What factors are important for team management?
Consistency, respect, inclusion, and honesty.
What is risk mitigation?
Reducing the impact a risk can have on a project or the likelihood of its occurrence.
What can help assess risk factors on a regular basis?
Risk indicators that are specific to types of risk.
What is the role of a project manager in people management?
To choose people for their team and establish effective ways of working.
What happens when the customer fails to deliver the revised requirements as predicted?
It is classified as Requirement Risk.
What are the types of motivation important for team members?
Basic needs, personal needs, and social needs.
How should recognition of achievements be handled?
Through esteem, providing appropriate rewards.
What might indicate poor people management?
It is an important contributor to project failure.
What is one aspect of the motivation hierarchy?
Self-realisation, which includes training and responsibility.
According to the lecture, what is an essential part of the management activity during a project?
Proposal Writing to win contracts for the project.
