Ian Sommerville Software Engineering Quizzes and Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of software products?

Building software projects for personal use

Supporting a range of customers' needs (correct)

Creating software for large businesses only

Developing one-off, custom software systems

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

The developer

The contractor

The software company

The external client (correct)

Which type of software systems are still important for large businesses and government organizations?

Personal software products

Games like Suduko

Custom software systems (correct)

Simple mobile phone apps

What is the role of a contractor in project-based software engineering?

Designing and implementing the software system Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes software product engineering methods from traditional software engineering techniques?

Evolution from supporting custom systems to generic products Signup and view all the answers

Which element helps in project-based software engineering by setting out what functionality the software system should deliver?

'Software requirements' Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of iLearn compared to Virtual Learning Environments like Moodle?

Learning process Signup and view all the answers

Who are the primary target customers for the iLearn system?

Schools and universities Signup and view all the answers

What role do Product Managers (PMs) play in software product management?

Overall responsibility for the product Signup and view all the answers

What is a key task that Product Managers are responsible for?

Planning Signup and view all the answers

Where should Product Managers focus their attention according to the text?

Customers and potential customers Signup and view all the answers

How does iLearn aim to reduce costs in progress tracking and reporting?

By collecting and processing learner analytics Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary responsibility of a product manager regarding the product vision?

Assessing and evaluating proposed changes against the existing product vision Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a key concern for a product manager according to the text?

Product pricing Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of the product manager in relation to user stories and scenarios?

Developing the user stories and scenarios Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a key responsibility of the product manager regarding product backlog management?

Prioritizing and sequencing the items in the product backlog Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of the product manager in relation to acceptance testing?

Defining the acceptance criteria for testing Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a key technical interaction of the product manager according to the text?

Pricing strategy development Signup and view all the answers

What is the key feature of software product development?

There is no external customer that generates requirements and pays for the software. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a type of software development that is comparable to software product development?

Student projects where students develop software as part of their course. Signup and view all the answers

What is the starting point for software product development?

A 'product vision' that defines the essence of the product to be developed. Signup and view all the answers

In the 'software as a service' execution model, where is the product functionality located?

On the vendor's servers. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an example of a type of software development that is comparable to software product development?

Custom software development for a specific client. Signup and view all the answers

In the 'hybrid execution' model, where is the user data stored?

On both the user's computer and the vendor's servers. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of product managers in user interface design?

To act as surrogate users and evaluate the complexity of UI features Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of product prototyping?

To convince stakeholders and users of the product's potential Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the role of prototypes in software development?

Prototypes allow users to provide feedback and suggest new features Signup and view all the answers

What should be the first step in developing a software product?

Building a prototype to demonstrate key features Signup and view all the answers

How should the initial prototype be treated after the development process?

The prototype should be discarded and the software re-implemented Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a feasibility demonstration in two-stage prototyping?

To demonstrate the new ideas and concepts of the product Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Software Products

Software products are generic software systems that provide functionality to a range of customers.
Examples of software products include large-scale business systems (e.g. MS Excel), personal products (e.g. Evernote), and simple mobile phone apps and games (e.g. Sudoku).

Project-based Software Engineering

The starting point for software development is a set of software requirements owned by an external client.
The software is developed by a software company (the contractor) to meet the client's requirements.
The software development process involves designing and implementing a system that delivers functionality to meet the requirements.

iLearn Software Product

iLearn is a virtual learning environment that focuses on the learning process rather than the administration and management of materials, assessments, and coursework.
The product enables teachers to create subject and age-specific environments for their students using any web-based resources.
The target customers are schools and universities, and the product aims to improve the learning experience of students at a relatively low cost.
The product collects and processes learner analytics, reducing the costs of progress tracking and reporting.

Software Product Management

Software product management is a business activity that focuses on the software products developed and sold by a business.
Product managers (PMs) take overall responsibility for the product and are involved in planning, development, and product marketing.
PMs are the interface between the organization, its customers, and the software development team.
PMs must look outward to customers and potential customers, understanding their needs and expectations.

Product Management Concerns

Business needs: PMs ensure that the software meets the business goals of the software development company.
Technology constraints: PMs must consider technology issues that are important to customers.
Customer experience: PMs should be in regular contact with customers and potential customers to understand their needs and expectations.

Technical Interactions of Product Managers

Product vision management: PMs develop and manage the product vision.
Product backlog management: PMs prioritize and manage the product backlog.
User stories and scenarios: PMs develop and refine user stories and scenarios.
Acceptance testing: PMs ensure that the product meets the customer's requirements.
Customer testing: PMs involve customers in testing the product.
User interface design: PMs ensure that the user interface is intuitive and meets the customer's needs.

Software Execution Models

Stand-alone execution: The product is installed and executed on the user's computer.
Hybrid execution: The product is executed partially on the user's computer and partially on the vendor's servers.
Software as a service: The product is executed on the vendor's servers, and the user interacts with the product through a user interface.

Comparable Software Development

Student projects: Individuals or student groups develop software as part of their course.
Research software: Researchers develop software to support their research.
Internal tool development: Software developers develop tools to support their work.

The Product Vision

The product vision is a simple statement that defines the essence of the product to be developed.
The product vision is the starting point for software product development.

Product Prototyping

Product prototyping is the process of developing an early version of a product to test ideas and convince stakeholders of the product's potential.
The aim of prototyping is to have a working version of the software that demonstrates its key features.
Prototyping helps identify fundamental software components or services and tests technology.
The prototype should be thrown away after development, and the software should be re-implemented, taking account of issues such as security and reliability.

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Description

Explore introductory information about software products and generic software systems, including the different types of products available from large-scale business systems to simple mobile phone apps and games. Learn about software product engineering methods.

Software Products © Ian Sommerville 2018 Overview

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