COMP8170: Software Process Improvement Techniques

(6 units)

First Semester

30 one-hour lectures and 6 two-hour Laboratory sesions

Lecturer: Clive Boughton et al

Prerequisites

Enrolment in the MSE program is required.

It will be assumed that the student has at least the mathematical maturity that is normally expected of any engineering graduate. It will be assumed that student has the sort of exposure to software projects that would come from two years of industrial experience as a graduate.

Co-requisites

There are no corequisites.

Syllabus

Software process improvement applies to any person or organisation undertaking software developments as their basic business. Software improvement strategies will be described and discussed in context with developmental size, organizational capability, return on investment and practicality. The SEI's Capability Maturity Model - Integrated (CMMI) will be described together with SPICE and ISO 9000. Assessments will be described as will their purpose, applicability, tailorability and effectiveness in making software process improvements. Software metrics will also be described and their applicability for identifying and monitoring process improvements will be discussed. This part of the course could also include the sort of metrics required to monitor development progress on systems/software projects.

Assessment

There will be an approximately even split of marks between a final exam and individual assignments.

Recommended Reading

• S. Shlaer and S. Mellor. Object Lifecycles -- Modelling the World in States. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1992.