Software Development Consultation and Requirements

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is a key reason for continual consultation throughout the project lifecycle?

To schedule regular meetings with management

To identify problems early and ensure stakeholder input (correct)

To implement management’s preferences without feedback

To create a detailed project timeline

What should be included in the scope document when defining a project?

A list of functional and non-functional requirements

An analysis of the team’s emotional state

Explicitly listed 'in scope' and 'out of scope' items (correct)

A detailed marketing plan

When examining competing products, what is NOT typically focused on?

Idiosyncrasies of competing products

Fictional scenarios unrelated to the market (correct)

Weaknesses of the competing products

Strengths of the competing products

What is a non-functional requirement in a software project?

The reliability and performance standards of the software Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to consider international factors when developing software?

Different languages, time zones, and conventions can complicate software functionality Signup and view all the answers

What should teams do when presenting project outlines after role-playing?

Save them for future reference and development Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary goal of requirement specification in software projects?

To define who the stakeholders are and their roles Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is an example of a functional requirement?

The program should allow users to create accounts Signup and view all the answers

What is one limitation of the free plan offered by MockFlow?

Limited to 3 pages Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of an entity relationship diagram?

To document a relational database system Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not a consideration during the implementation phase?

Client feedback Signup and view all the answers

What does a 'perpetual license' mean in software purchasing?

Buying once and using forever Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors is a common concern when using cloud computing?

Data control and access Signup and view all the answers

What is a major trend noted in recent software distribution methods?

Growth of software as a service (SaaS) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a big player in cloud computing?

IBM Cloud Signup and view all the answers

What should be agreed upon in writing with clients before starting serious development?

Design of the project Signup and view all the answers

What is a crucial factor that must be evaluated when considering a cloud-based project?

Trust in the cloud provider Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a migration issue when moving customer data to a new system?

Evaluating network security Signup and view all the answers

Which method is suggested for managing updates to a tool effectively?

Automatic online updates Signup and view all the answers

What international issues should be considered when migrating data?

Language and time zones Signup and view all the answers

What example illustrates a potential system issue related to date handling?

Y2K issue Signup and view all the answers

What deployment method allows for immediate updates across all users?

Web-based deployment Signup and view all the answers

What process is used for detecting leaks in the pipeline system?

Sensors monitoring flow and pressure Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of automatic updates as seen in some software applications?

Updates can consume bandwidth unexpectedly Signup and view all the answers

What happens when a sensor value is detected outside of acceptable parameters?

An alarm sounds, and an email is sent to managers Signup and view all the answers

Which automatic update feature did Google Chrome implement effectively?

Background updates without user intervention Signup and view all the answers

In the context of a bookshop, what is primarily used to identify the price of a book?

Scanning device reading the barcode Signup and view all the answers

What component is NOT a part of the basic structure of programs as described?

Classes Signup and view all the answers

What purpose does wireframing serve in the design process?

To outline the arrangement of elements for discussion Signup and view all the answers

Which element is NOT considered part of a program's hierarchy as presented?

User interfaces Signup and view all the answers

When a barcode is scanned at the point of sale, what does the system do first?

Queries the central computer for the price Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of prototypes in product design?

To demonstrate the product in action through interactivity Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of beta testing?

To identify bugs before wide-scale deployment. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following backup strategies involves having duplicate cold backup systems?

Cold spares Signup and view all the answers

What is a key factor influencing the quality of user documentation?

The format preferred by users. Signup and view all the answers

Which backup approach follows the 3-2-1 rule?

3 copies in different locations. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of training is best for users who prefer in-person guidance?

Formal classes Signup and view all the answers

What could be a consequence of not having a strong data loss prevention strategy?

Loss of essential business records. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about automated backups is true?

They ensure backups are done consistently. Signup and view all the answers

What type of testing ensures that the software is acceptable to the client before final deployment?

User acceptance testing Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Consultation

Consultation should occur continually throughout the software development lifecycle to identify problems early.
Honest and frank information from stakeholders should be encouraged without fear of retribution.
Create an environment for extracting valuable insights.

Exercise: Identifying Scope, Stakeholders, and Requirements

Split into pairs, one customer, one developer.
Customer proposes an app/software project.
Developer must ask questions to define:
- Scope Document: Explicitly list in-scope and out-of-scope items.
- Stakeholders.
- Requirement specification: Functional and non-functional items.
Reverse roles.
Save project outlines for future use.

Project Research

Examine the current system your project will replace: strengths, weaknesses, idiosyncrasies.
Examine competing products: strengths, weaknesses, idiosyncrasies.
Examine your capabilities: what can you produce? What expertise can you afford to recruit?
Examine relevant literature: how are others addressing the problem?
Account for international factors:
- Time zones
- Languages
- Date formats

Requirements Planning

Turn your project scope into a detailed set of requirements for your engineering team.
Requirements are split into:
- Functional: What will the program actually do?
- Non-functional: Performance, security, usability, etc.

Example Functional Requirements

Book Shop System:
- Customer buys a book.
- Salesperson scans a barcode.
- Barcode is sent to the central computer.
- Price is retrieved from the database.
- Price is sent back to the point of sale computer.
- Calculations are performed.
- Transaction details are stored locally.
- Receipt is printed.
Subsea Oil and Gas Leak Detection:
- Sensors continuously monitor pipeline flow and pressure.
- Data is processed on a computer.
- If sensor values exceed acceptable parameters:
  - An alarm sounds on the computer.
  - An email is sent to managers.
  - Staff can configure the system.

Structure Charts

Top-down approach to explain program organization.
Programs are composed of modules.
Modules consist of subroutines and functions.
Subroutines and functions are built with algorithms.
Algorithms are composed of lines of code.
Lines of code are made up of statements and data.

Wireframing & Prototyping

Wireframe: outlines arrangement of textual and media elements.
Wireframing tools allow designers and clients to discuss and comment on sketches.
Prototype: shows your website or product in action. It's clickable.
Tools:
- Adobe XD
- Mockflow
- Moqups
- Lucidchart
- Balsamiq

Entity Relationship Diagrams

Used for documenting relational database systems.
Not a required diagram for the course, but recommended for Internal Assessment if creating a database.

Client Sign-Off

Sign off on scope document AND design before starting serious development.

Implementation

Aim: Build the software compliant with the design.
Considerations:
- Technology stack
- Migration issues
- Deployment issues
- Implementation issues

Technology Stack

Perpetual License: buy once, use forever.
Rent (SaaS - Software as a service): Eg: Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office 365
SaaS Model is becoming popular.
Cloud Computing:
- AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure.
- Concerns:
  - Control over data location.
  - Access to data.
  - Trust in cloud provider.
- Elements to evaluate:
  - Security
  - Encryption
  - Privacy laws
  - Backups
  - Cost
  - Reliability

Migration Issues

Maintaining compatibility of customer data during system migration.
Considerations:
- International issues: languages, dates, currency, time zones
- System issues: data types and limits (Eg: Y2K, Year 2038 problem)
- Converting file formats
- Validating data accuracy after conversion.

Deployment Issues

Methods of software distribution:
- App store
- Website download and install
- CD/DVD/USB
- Cloud
Update management:
- Online self-updating
- Download and manually install
- Distributing disks (less common nowadays)
Web based products update automatically (Facebook's downfall).

Implementation Issues

Implementation/conversion methods.
Testing:
- Software testing
- User documentation testing
- User training testing
- Backup regime and restoration procedure testing

Software Testing

Debugging: Testing as you code.
Automated testing: Software based automated testing.
Beta testing: Volunteers test software before widespread deployment.
User acceptance testing (UAT): Client accepts product as fit for purpose.

User Documentation

Influences system implementation and success.
Options:
- Textbook style user manuals
- Help files
- Online support (chat, forums)
- Videos

User Training

Options:
- Self-instruction
- Formal classes
- Online courses
- 1:1 coaching

Backups

Data can be lost through:
- Malicious activity
- Natural disasters
- Human error
- Disk deterioration

Data Loss Prevention

Determine the impact of a worst-case scenario on your business.
Strategies:
- Failover systems
- Redundancy
- Removable media
- Offsite/online storage

Backup Strategies

3-2-1 rule:
- At least 3 copies
- At least 2 different forms
- At least 1 copy offsite
Other considerations:
- Automated vs. manual backups
- Full vs. differential backups

The Cloud and Backups

Cloud is debatable as a backup.
Always live and available is a positive and negative.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz focuses on the importance of continual consultation throughout the software development lifecycle, emphasizing the role of honest stakeholder communication. Participants will learn to identify project scope, stakeholders, and requirements through interactive exercises, while also examining existing systems and competing products.