CA447 Module Specification

Module Aims:

The goal of this module is to provide a broad systematic study of the software development process with an emphasis on the intrinsic link between the quality of a software product and the quality of the process used to develop it. This module will expose students to the principles of software process, software software process improvement (SPI), agile methodologies and current methods standards involved in SPI from a practical industry implementation perspective. The specific objectives of the module are:

  • Understand SPI, its current models, methods and approaches
  • Establish a process-focused software development organisation
  • Design and implement procedures for developing software quality
  • Benchmark organisations against industry standards for software process

Learning Outcomes:

The student will have a sound understanding of the key issues surrounding the areas of software process and software process improvement. In particular, they will have a good understanding of management activities of software projects from a process perspective and will be able to actively participate in an SPI activity within an organisational context. After successfully completing this course students will:

  • be able to explain and summarise software processes and process improvement
  • summarise important historical and current literature addressing SPI
  • understand the factors that are important in building the capability or maturity of a software development organization
  • evaluate the concepts embodied in the most prevalent software process improvement techniques and methods, including knowledge of their advantages and disadvantages, and when it may be appropriate to use each approach
  • explain and evaluate the factors that are important in implementation an SPI programme in a software development organization and
  • be able to plan and implement a software process improvement activity be able to assess the maturity level of a software development organization
  • explain the principles behind software process standards and its implementation in software development organization
  • summarise the main agile approach to software process
  • evaluate alternatives between plan and agile approaches to software process

Syllabus:

  • Software Process
    • Overview Software process lifecycles
    • Software process models
    • Process quality
    • Process Improvement Frameworks
  • Process Discipline & Environment
    • Process Focused Organisations
    • Process culture
    • Process Guides
  • Process benchmarking
    • Process Measurement
    • Process Assessment
  • SPI Implementation
    • Creating an SPI programme
    • SPI Improvement Plans
    • Implementing SPI Plans
  • Benefits
    • Measuring SPI benefits Business
    • Benefits
    • Case studies
  • Agile methods
    • Plan Vs Agile
    • Agile methodologies
    • Extreme programming (XP)
    • Scrum
  • SPI standards and certification
    • Certification
    • ISO 9000
    • ISO 29110
    • ISO 15504
    • CMMI
    • And other relevant quality standards

Assessment:

  • Continuous Assessment 25%
  • End of module exam 75%
  • No repeat assessment