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What type of software consists of standalone programs that solve specific business needs?
What type of software consists of standalone programs that solve specific business needs?
Which of the following software types resides within a product to control its features and functions?
Which of the following software types resides within a product to control its features and functions?
According to the law of increasing complexity, what happens as an E-type system evolves?
According to the law of increasing complexity, what happens as an E-type system evolves?
What is the focus of the law of continuing growth in software evolution?
What is the focus of the law of continuing growth in software evolution?
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What does the law of declining quality suggest about E-type systems?
What does the law of declining quality suggest about E-type systems?
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Which software is specifically designed to solve problems using non-numerical algorithms?
Which software is specifically designed to solve problems using non-numerical algorithms?
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What is the primary characteristic of system software?
What is the primary characteristic of system software?
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Which law states that E-type systems must be continually adapted?
Which law states that E-type systems must be continually adapted?
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What is the first step in the process of system engineering?
What is the first step in the process of system engineering?
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Which of the following is a primary goal of product engineering?
Which of the following is a primary goal of product engineering?
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What components are encompassed within the architecture in product engineering?
What components are encompassed within the architecture in product engineering?
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What is the focus of business process re-engineering (BPR)?
What is the focus of business process re-engineering (BPR)?
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Which figure is responsible for driving architecture and infrastructure in product engineering?
Which figure is responsible for driving architecture and infrastructure in product engineering?
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Which aspect is typically NOT included in the analysis of a specific domain of interest during system engineering?
Which aspect is typically NOT included in the analysis of a specific domain of interest during system engineering?
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According to the system engineering hierarchy, the construction and integration of which element is essential?
According to the system engineering hierarchy, the construction and integration of which element is essential?
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What was the first platform to introduce the concept of business process re-engineering?
What was the first platform to introduce the concept of business process re-engineering?
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What is one of the key characteristics that makes software different from hardware?
What is one of the key characteristics that makes software different from hardware?
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What does the feedback system law emphasize for achieving significant improvement?
What does the feedback system law emphasize for achieving significant improvement?
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Which of the following is a misconception held by practitioners regarding software development?
Which of the following is a misconception held by practitioners regarding software development?
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What issue does the concept of legacy software primarily address?
What issue does the concept of legacy software primarily address?
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What assumption is commonly held by customers about the software development process?
What assumption is commonly held by customers about the software development process?
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What characterizes poor quality legacy software?
What characterizes poor quality legacy software?
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In the context of software engineering, which aspect is highlighted as a myth regarding management?
In the context of software engineering, which aspect is highlighted as a myth regarding management?
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Which statement accurately describes software characteristics in general?
Which statement accurately describes software characteristics in general?
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What is the primary goal of a computer-based system?
What is the primary goal of a computer-based system?
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What is a significant crisis issue mentioned in improving the feedback system?
What is a significant crisis issue mentioned in improving the feedback system?
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Which element is NOT considered part of a computer-based system?
Which element is NOT considered part of a computer-based system?
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What does effective documentation in a computer-based system provide?
What does effective documentation in a computer-based system provide?
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What is the initial phase of the classical life cycle?
What is the initial phase of the classical life cycle?
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What defines the procedure in a computer-based system?
What defines the procedure in a computer-based system?
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What is the primary purpose of having a clear context in system engineering?
What is the primary purpose of having a clear context in system engineering?
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Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of hardware in a computer-based system?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of hardware in a computer-based system?
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What does data architecture provide for a business?
What does data architecture provide for a business?
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What is a key aspect of a data object in data architecture?
What is a key aspect of a data object in data architecture?
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Which component of business process engineering transforms data objects for business purposes?
Which component of business process engineering transforms data objects for business purposes?
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Which of the following is included in technology infrastructure?
Which of the following is included in technology infrastructure?
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What is an important aspect of system modeling in the engineering process?
What is an important aspect of system modeling in the engineering process?
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Which factor should be considered by an engineer when constructing a system model?
Which factor should be considered by an engineer when constructing a system model?
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What is the primary purpose of data modeling in data processing applications?
What is the primary purpose of data modeling in data processing applications?
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What does the term 'constraints' refer to in system modeling?
What does the term 'constraints' refer to in system modeling?
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Study Notes
Software Categories
- System Software: A collection of programs designed to serve other programs; examples include compilers, editors, file management systems, operating systems, drivers, and network software.
- Application Software: Stands alone and solves specific business needs.
- Scientific Software: A collection of programs for scientific applications.
- Embedded Software: Resides within a product and provides features and functions for the end user; examples include keyboard control for ovens and digital functions in automobiles like fuel control.
- Product Line Software: Designed to provide specific capabilities for customers.
- Web Applications: Linked hypertext files.
- Artificial Intelligence Software: Employs non-numerical algorithms to solve problems like expert systems and playing games.
Software Evolution
- Software constantly evolves regardless of its application domain size or complexity.
- Common reasons for software evolution include error correction, adaptation to new environments, and incorporating customer-requested features and functions.
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Manny Lehman developed a unified theory for software evolution:
- The Law of Continuing Change (1974): E-Type systems require continuous adaptation to maintain their effectiveness.
- The Law of Increasing Complexity (1974): As an E-Type system evolves, its complexity increases, making maintenance more difficult.
- The Law of Self-Regulation (1974): The evolution process of E-Type systems is self-regulating, with product and process measures tending towards a normal distribution.
- The Law of Continuing Growth (1980): E-Type systems need continuous functional expansion to satisfy user expectations over their lifespan.
- The Law of Declining Quality (1996): E-Type system quality declines unless they are maintained and adapted to environmental changes.
- The Feedback System Law (1996): E-Type evolution involves multi-level feedback systems and must be treated as such to achieve significant improvements.
Software Characteristics
- Software is a logical system, not a physical one.
- Software is developed or engineered, not manufactured in the traditional sense.
- Software does not wear out in the same way hardware does.
- Most software is custom-built, although component-based assembly is becoming more prevalent.
Software Myths
- Software development is often surrounded by misconceptions.
- Management Myths: Standard procedures and documentation can provide everything needed to build software.
- Customer Myths: General objectives are enough to start programming, with details filled in later. Requirements change constantly, but software's flexibility allows for easy adaptation.
- Practitioner Myths: Once a program is working, the developers' job is done. The only deliverable for a successful project is a working program.
Legacy Software
- Legacy software refers to older programs that have been continuously modified to meet changing business needs and computing platforms.
- They remain crucial in supporting business functions.
- Legacy software can have negative qualities including:
- Inflexible design
- Poor or lacking documentation
- Complex code
- Untracked test cases and results
- Poorly managed change history
The Classical Life Cycle
- A systematic, sequential approach to software development.
- Begins with defining customer requirements and progresses through planning, modeling, construction, deployment, and ongoing support.
Computer-Based System
- A unified set or arrangement of components designed to achieve a specific goal through information processing.
- The goal might be to support business functions or develop a product for revenue generation.
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Key Elements of a Computer-Based System:
- Software: Computer programs, data structures, and related artifacts that define the system's logical methods and procedures.
- Hardware: Electronic devices providing computational capabilities and interconnectivity (networks, switches, telecommunications devices enabling data flow, electromechanical devices).
- People: Users and operators of the hardware and software.
- Database: A large, organized information collection accessed through software.
- Documentation: Descriptive information explaining the system's use and operation.
- Procedures: Steps defining how each system component is used.
The System Engineering Hierarchy
- Focuses on understanding the context and gradually narrowing the scope to define technical details.
- Begins with a "world view" of the business or product domain.
- Refines the view to focus on specific domains of interest.
- Identifies necessary system elements (data, software, hardware, people) within a specific domain.
- Initiates analysis, design, and construction of targeted system elements.
Product Engineering
- Focuses on translating customer needs into a working product.
- Drives architecture and infrastructure.
- Architecture comprises distinct system components (software, hardware, databases, people).
- Support infrastructure includes technologies to bind components together and documentation for support.
Business Process Engineering
- Involves analyzing and redesigning workflows within and between enterprises to optimize processes and automate non-value-added tasks.
- Introduced by Michael Hammer in 1990.
- Three key architectures to be considered:
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Data architecture: Provides a framework for a business's information needs.
- Data objects represent business elements with specific attributes.
- Relationships between data objects define how they are connected.
- Application architecture: Defines elements that transform data objects within the data architecture for specific business purposes.
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Technology infrastructure: Provides support for data and application architectures.
- Includes hardware and software like computers, operating systems, networks, storage, and telecommunications technologies.
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Data architecture: Provides a framework for a business's information needs.
System Modeling
- A crucial aspect of system engineering.
- Involves creating models that define processes representing the system's behavior.
- Models capture assumptions governing the behavior and relationships within the system.
- Engineers consider various factors when constructing models:
- Assumptions: Simplify the system by reducing possible permutations.
- Simplifications: Make model creation efficient.
- Limitations: Define the system's boundaries.
- Constraints: Guide the modeling process and implementation.
- Preferences: Indicate preferred architecture for data, functions, and technology.
Data Modeling
- Addresses questions related to any data-processing application:
- What are the primary objects processed by the system?
- What are the components and attributes of each data object?
- Where are these objects currently located?
- What are the relationships between each object and others?
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Description
Explore the different types of software, including system, application, and scientific software, as well as embedded and AI software. Understand how software evolves to meet business and user needs across various domains. This quiz will test your knowledge about the characteristics and purposes of these software categories.