Flashcards - FSE Week 9 Computer Science Study Materials

Question 1

What is software change inevitable?

Answer 1

Because new requirements emerge, the business environment changes, errors must be repaired, new equipment is added, and performance/reliability may need improvement.

Question 2

What key problem do organizations face regarding software systems?

Answer 2

Implementing and managing change to existing software systems.

Question 3

What does the evolution stage of a software system entail?

Answer 3

It is when the system is in operational use and evolving due to new requirements.

Question 4

What is the difference between servicing and evolution in software?

Answer 4

Servicing involves only necessary changes to keep software operational, while evolution includes implementing new requirements.

Question 5

What drives software evolution processes?

Answer 5

Proposals for change linked with affected components allowing costs and impacts to be estimated.

Question 6

What involves program understanding in change implementation?

Answer 6

Understanding how the program is structured and how changes might affect it.

Question 7

What is the purpose of regression testing?

Answer 7

To check that changes have not ‘broken’ previously working code.

Question 8

What issues arise in handover problems between agile and plan-based approaches?

Answer 8

Differences in documentation expectations and methods between agile and plan-based evolution teams.

Question 9

What defines a legacy system?

Answer 9

An older system relying on outdated languages and technologies, often dependent on obsolete hardware.

Question 10

What is a socio-technical system?

Answer 10

A system that includes hardware and software, defined operational processes, and influences from organizational structures.

Question 11

Why is legacy system replacement risky?

Answer 11

Due to undocumented business rules, tight integration with processes, and risks of new software being late or over budget.

Question 12

What are the components of a legacy system?

Answer 12

System hardware, support software, application software, application data, business processes, and policies/rules.

Question 13

What is the consequence of high system change requests?

Answer 13

The lower the quality of the system.

Question 14

How is software maintenance defined?

Answer 14

Modifying a program after it has been put into use, primarily for custom software.

Question 15

What types of maintenance are there in software engineering?

Answer 15

Fault repairs, environmental adaptation, and functionality addition/modification.

Question 16

What is the main focus of software evolution in large companies?

Answer 16

Devoting budget primarily to changing and evolving existing software than to developing new software.

Question 17

What does environmental adaptation in software maintenance refer to?

Answer 17

Changing a system to operate in a different environment from its initial implementation.

Question 18

What financial impact does legacy system maintenance have?

Answer 18

It can be expensive due to lack of consistent programming style and obsolete languages.

Question 19

What is typically a low-quality legacy system assessed based on?

Answer 19

Its business value and overall system quality.

Question 20

What should be considered when assessing business value of a system?

Answer 20

The viewpoints of end-users, business customers, managers, and IT personnel.

Question 21

What is a Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) system?

Answer 21

A ready-made software or hardware product available for sale to the general public.

Question 22

What is the importance of risk management in software projects?

Answer 22

To identify risks and draw up plans to minimise their effect on a project.

Question 23

What is one of the primary success criteria in software project management?

Answer 23

Deliver the software to the customer at the agreed time.

Question 24

What are project managers responsible for during project planning?

Answer 24

Estimating, scheduling project development and assigning people to tasks.

Question 25

Why is software project management considered different from other project management?

Answer 25

The product is intangible and cannot be seen or touched.

Question 26

What is a risk register in the context of project management?

Answer 26

A document that contains the results of various risk management processes, often displayed in a table or spreadsheet format.

Question 27

What are the two dimensions of risk classification?

Answer 27

The type of risk and what is affected by the risk.

Question 28

What does risk avoidance entail?

Answer 28

Elimination of a specific risk by removing the root cause of the risk.

Question 29

What is the first step in the risk management process?

Answer 29

Risk Identification, which involves identifying project, product, and business risks.

Question 30

What should be considered when managing people in a project?

Answer 30

People are an organisation’s most important assets and understanding them is crucial for management success.

Question 31

Which strategy involves transferring the risk to a relevant third party?

Answer 31

Risk Transference.

Question 32

What factors influence the management of a project?

Answer 32

Company size, software customers, software size, software type, organisational culture, and software development processes.

Question 33

What is a common task in project management reporting?

Answer 33

Reporting on the progress of a project to customers and managers of the company developing the software.

Question 34

What is essential for motivating people in a project?

Answer 34

Organising the work and working environment to encourage effective work.

Question 35

What should project managers do when they identify a risk?

Answer 35

Assess the likelihood and consequences of the identified risks.

Question 36

What type of risk is associated with several engineers being ill at the same time?

Answer 36

People Risk.

Question 37

What factors are important for team management?

Answer 37

Consistency, respect, inclusion, and honesty.

Question 38

What is risk mitigation?

Answer 38

Reducing the impact a risk can have on a project or the likelihood of its occurrence.

Question 39

What can help assess risk factors on a regular basis?

Answer 39

Risk indicators that are specific to types of risk.

Question 40

What is the role of a project manager in people management?

Answer 40

To choose people for their team and establish effective ways of working.

Question 41

What happens when the customer fails to deliver the revised requirements as predicted?

Answer 41

It is classified as Requirement Risk.

Question 42

What are the types of motivation important for team members?

Answer 42

Basic needs, personal needs, and social needs.

Question 43

How should recognition of achievements be handled?

Answer 43

Through esteem, providing appropriate rewards.

Question 44

What might indicate poor people management?

Answer 44

It is an important contributor to project failure.

Question 45

What is one aspect of the motivation hierarchy?

Answer 45

Self-realisation, which includes training and responsibility.

Question 46

According to the lecture, what is an essential part of the management activity during a project?

Answer 46

Proposal Writing to win contracts for the project.