Software Product Engineering Overview

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Questions and Answers

What characterizes software products in comparison to custom software?

They provide functionality useful to a broad range of customers. (correct)

They are less costly to develop.

They are tailored specifically for a single customer.

They require more extensive documentation.

What is the typical lifetime of custom software systems?

Around 3 years

Less than 5 years

Indefinite with no support needed

10 years or more (correct)

In project-based software engineering, who owns the software requirements?

An external client (correct)

The business processes

The software company

The software engineer

How do customers typically interact with the requirements of custom software?

They can change the requirements at any time. Signup and view all the answers

What are software products generally developed to support?

The functionality useful to a range of customers. Signup and view all the answers

What type of software engineering methods have evolved specifically for product-based software?

Software execution models Signup and view all the answers

Which type of software product is categorized under large-scale business systems?

MS Excel Signup and view all the answers

What is a key aspect of custom software development in relation to its longevity?

It requires ongoing support and updates over its lifetime. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key responsibility of product managers during the software's lifecycle?

Planning, development, and product marketing Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is NOT typically a concern for product managers?

Technical coding of the software Signup and view all the answers

What must product managers do to stay aligned with customer expectations?

Regularly contact customers and potential customers Signup and view all the answers

What is the product manager's role in product vision management?

To manage and assess proposed changes against the product vision Signup and view all the answers

How do product managers address technology issues?

By communicating important constraints to developers Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the primary focus of product managers?

Customer and market needs Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of a product's lifecycle do product managers NOT oversee?

In-depth end-user training Signup and view all the answers

What type of products do researchers typically develop?

Software to answer relevant research questions Signup and view all the answers

What should be your primary aim when building a prototype for a software product?

To demonstrate key features of the software Signup and view all the answers

What is the end goal of the two-stage prototyping process?

To confirm ideas work and to showcase product advantages Signup and view all the answers

What should occur after developing a prototype?

Throw it away and re-implement the software Signup and view all the answers

Which responsibility is NOT typically associated with product managers?

Conducting user studies Signup and view all the answers

What type of software products are generally developed to serve a wide range of customers?

Software systems with general functionality Signup and view all the answers

In the context of software development, what does 'feasibility demonstration' primarily focus on?

Demonstrating that new ideas can be realized Signup and view all the answers

When developing an existing prototype into one for customer demonstration, what is necessary before proceeding?

User studies and understanding potential users Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes service-based systems in software products?

They provide services via the internet Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of a product roadmap?

To create a plan for development, release, and marketing Signup and view all the answers

Who should lead the development of user stories and scenarios?

The product manager Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the product manager in the acceptance testing process?

To develop tests reflecting customer use of the product Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus during customer testing?

To extract feedback on features, usability, and business Signup and view all the answers

What does product prototyping aim to demonstrate?

The potential market demand for the product Signup and view all the answers

What is a product backlog primarily used for?

To prioritize tasks essential for product development Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of the product manager?

Manufacturing the final product Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'vision drift' in product management?

A misalignment between product goals and user needs Signup and view all the answers

What initiates the process of product development in software engineering?

A business opportunity Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary responsibility of the software development company during product development?

To decide on the development timescale and features Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a software product line?

A set of software products sharing a common core Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes a platform in software engineering?

A combination of software and hardware that supports new application development Signup and view all the answers

What is a notable feature of comparable software development mentioned in the content?

The software is developed without specified requirements Signup and view all the answers

How does rapid delivery of software products impact the market?

It allows capturing market opportunities effectively Signup and view all the answers

In the context of software product development, what is NOT considered a responsibility of the development company?

Deciding on software product pricing Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a platform that allows for extra functionality?

Social media applications like Instagram Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Software Products

Software products are generic systems offering functionalities useful to various customers.
Examples range from large-scale business systems (e.g., MS Excel) to personal software (e.g., Evernote), simple mobile apps, and games (e.g., Sudoku).
Software product engineering evolved from methods supporting one-off custom software.
Custom software remains essential for large businesses and public bodies, developed through dedicated projects.

Project-Based Software Engineering

Starts with a set of software requirements outlined by an external client, defining the system's tasks.
A software company (contractor) develops the system per these requirements.
Clientele frequently change requirements in response to business changes.
Contractors must adapt the software to reflect these adjustments.
Custom software projects typically have extended lifecycles (10+ years) requiring ongoing support.

Product Software Engineering

Starts with a recognized business opportunity.
A company creates a software product to leverage this opportunity for customer sale.
The software company designs and develops features.
The software development company decides the project timeline, what features to include, and when changes are needed.
Rapid product delivery is critical for market capture.

Software Product Lines and Platforms

A product line comprises software products sharing core functionality.
Each product in a line has customer-specific additions and adaptations.
Software product lines facilitate fulfilling custom needs not met by a generic product.
A platform is a software (sometimes combined with hardware) product enabling new applications' creation.
Real-world examples include Facebook, offering extensive functionality and support for creating apps.

Software Execution Models

Stand-alone execution: software runs on the user's computer, with all functionality and data residing there.
Hybrid execution: a blend of stand-alone and service-based execution, with some functions and parts of the data stored on the user's computer and others on the vendor's server.
Software as a service: software functionality runs on the vendor's servers, with users accessing it through a user interface. Data is managed on vendor servers; updates and changes are managed by the vendor,

Comparable Software Development

Product development lacks an external customer providing requirements.
This characteristic also applies to student projects (for a course), research software (analyzing research questions), and internal tools (for company use).

Software Product Management

It is a business activity focused on software products developed and sold by a business.
Product managers (PMs) control overall responsibility.
This role incorporates planning, development, and product marketing.
PMs serve as the interface between the business, customers, and the development team.
PMs manage the product lifecycle from inception to withdrawal from the market, ensuring alignment with business goals and customer needs.

Product Management Concerns

PMs ensure products align with business goals.
Effective communication of technology concerns to the development team.
Sustaining regular communication with customers and prospective customers to understand their needs and requirements.

Technical Interactions of Product Managers

Product vision management: establishing and maintaining consistency in the product's vision.
Product roadmap development: defines the development, release, and marketing strategies.
User story and scenario development: PMs define how customers interact with the product.
Product backlog creation and management: prioritize tasks for software development.
Acceptance testing: verifies software aligns with goals and functionality.
Customer testing: gathers feedback on product operation and usability.

Product Prototyping

Product prototyping: creating an initial version to test ideas and secure funding.
Essential for visually demonstrating product functionalities for potential customers.
Two-stage prototyping (feasibility, customer demonstration) allows a structured approach.

Key Points 1 and 2

Software products comprise widely applicable functionalities.
In product engineering: the same organization handles product feature definition and development.
Software products may exist as stand-alone, hybrid, or service-based systems.
Key product management responsibilities include product vision, roadmap, user stories, backlog, and testing; PMs facilitate communication amongst stakeholders.

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Description

Explore the essentials of software product engineering, which encompasses both project-based and product-focused development paradigms. Learn about the different types of software products, the importance of custom software for businesses, and the challenges contractors face when adapting to changing requirements. This quiz will help enhance your understanding of software engineering in various contexts.