02
  • Tutorial
  • Lab
  • This Tutorial is based on questions from the book Software Engineering 10 by Ian Sommerville and is based on the material covered in chapter 2.

    Week 2 Tutorial

    Software processes

    1. What are the fundamental activities that are common to all software processes?
    2. List the 3 generic process models that are used in software engineering?
    3. Why are iterations usually limited when the waterfall model is used?
    4. List three benefits of incremental development, compared to the waterfall model?
    5. What are the development stages in reuse-based development?
    6. Why is it increasingly irrelevant to distinguish between software development and evolution?
    7. What are the advantages of using incremental development and delivery?
    8. Giving reasons for your answer based on the type of system being developed, suggest the most appropriate generic software process model that might be used as a basis for managing the development of the following systems:
    A system to control anti-lock braking in a car
    A virtual reality system to support software maintenance
    A university accounting system that replaces an existing system
    An interactive travel planning system that helps users plan journeys with the lowest environmental impact
    9. Explain why change is inevitable in complex systems and give examples (apart from prototyping and incremental delivery) of software process activities that help predict changes and make the software being developed more resilient to change.

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  • Week 2 Lab Exercise

    Task 1

    The following BBC news article discusses some aspects of the recent emissions scandal that has affected the German car makers Volkswagen.

    Volkswagen: The Scandel Explained

    Read through this article and any other related articles on the BBC web site.

    Produce a short report outlining what the problem is and what the ethical issues that a software engineer employed by Volkswagen or one of its suppliers may have faced either when developing the flawed software or when it was released into production. Your report should be in the region of 1000 - 1250 words.

    Spend around an hour on this task.

    Task 2

    If you have not read the coursework assignment yet do so now. The coursework is available in the assignments area for this module on GCULearn.

    NOTE You are required to work on your assignment outside of the lab sessions.

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