Writing Assignment – Software Engineering Essay Example

being updated, it is important to build new software with the same capabilities. 1. Consider the seven sofa;are categories presented in Section 1. 12. Do you think that the same approach to software engineering can be applied for each? Explain your answer. Millions of software engineers worldwide are hard at work on software projects in one or more of these categories. In some cases, new systems are being built, but in many others, existing applications are being corrected, adapted, and enhanced. Because of this, a different approach to software engineering may be ARQ aired for individual categories.

Many of the programs that software engineers work on are extremely old, and continue to be upgraded. Therefore, it makes sense that you wouldn't use the same approach for an existing program that you would use for a new program. 1. 6 Figure 1. Places the three software engineering layers on top of a layer entitled "a quality focus. " This implies an organizational quality program such as total quality management. Do a bit of research and develop an outline of the key tenets of a total quality management program.

TTS can be defined as the management of initiatives and procedures that are aimed at achieving the delivery of quality products and services. A number of key principles can be identified in defining TTS, including: Executive Management - Top management should act as the main driver for TTS and create an environment that ensures its success. * Training - Employees should receive regular training on the methods and concepts of quality. Customer Focus - Improvements in quality should improve customer satisfaction. * Decision Making -? Quality decisions should

be made based on measurements. Methodology and Tools - Use of appropriate methodology and tools ensures that non-conformance's are identified, measured and responded to consistently. * Continuous Improvement - Companies should continuously work towards improving manufacturing and quality procedures. * Company Culture - The culture of the company should aim at developing employees ability to work together to improve quality. * Employee Involvement - Employees should be encouraged to be pro-active in identifying and addressing quality related problems. 1. 7 Is software engineering applicable when Weapon are built?

If so, how might it be modified to accommodate the unique characteristics of Weapon? Software has become deeply embedded in virtually every aspect of our lives. Software engineering is applicable when new programs are built, and when existing programs are updated -? including Weapon. Weapon are one Of a number of distinct software categories. And yet, it can be argued that Weapon are different. One of the main modifications that Weapon demand is availability. Users of popular Weapon often demand access on a 24/7/365 basis.

Another unique characteristic of Weapon is their continuous evolution. Unlike conventional application software that evolves over a series of planned, chronologically spaced releases, Web applications evolve continuously. When it comes to the software engineering applied to Weapon, many voices must be heard. The look and feel of a Webbed is an undeniable part of the appeal that will ultimately determine the APS' success. 1. 8 As software becomes more pervasive, risks to the public (due to faulty programs) become an increasingly significant concern.

Develop a doomsday but realistic scenario in which the failure of a computer program could do great harm (either

economic or human). One of the first tragic but realistic scenarios that comes to mind is the failure of specific programs on an airliner. The major computerized programs on airplanes have the same risk of failing as any other program, and can have catastrophic results. For example, the sensor that detects the altitude of an aircraft allows the pilot to know how many feet the aircraft is above the ground.

This program is particularly necessary when weather conditions could impair the pilots' visibility of the runway. Once an airliner begins its decent and prepares to land, the pilot uses these programs to guide the plane to a safe landing. If this program were to fail, and the weather hindered the pilots visibility, the pilot may not know how far above the ground he actually is. Plane crashes happen all the time, and hundreds of passengers die every year - mostly due to failed programs and instruments on the aircraft. 1. Describe a process framework in your own words.

When we say that framework activities are applicable to all projects, does this mean that the same work tasks are applied for all projects, regardless of size and complexity? Explain. The software engineering process doesn't just magically happen without some sort of order and organizational planning. A process framework creates the foundation for the engineering process by using a small number of activities that are applicable to all projects. The step-by-step algorithm for a process framework is comprised of five activities: communication, planning, doodling, construction, and deployment.

All programs, regardless of their size and complexity conform to these activities in that order. Although the details of the

software process will be quite different for each program, the tasks involved within the framework remain the same. 1. 10 Umbrella activities occur throughout the software process. Do you think they are applied evenly across the process, or are some concentrated in one or more framework activities. In general, umbrella activities are applied throughout a software project and help a software team manage and control progress, quality, change, and risk.

Since the software engineering process is not a rigid regimen that must be followed precisely by a software team, the process has a lot of room for adaptation. Although the umbrella activities that occur throughout the process are generally applied to all aspects of the process, the engineering should be agile and adaptable; specific to the problem, to the project, to the team, and to the organizational culture. Because of this, a process adopted for one project might be significantly different that a process adopted for another project, and some activities may be concentrated in one or more areas.