CS3SPM Assessment Material 1 PDF

CS3SPM ASSESSMENT MATERIAL There are, strictly speaking, no past papers for this module. The reason for this is that the format and structure of previous years' exams is quite different to this year. For example, section A (the compulsory section) used to consist of 35 marks, all written. This year...

CS3SPM ASSESSMENT MATERIAL There are, strictly speaking, no past papers for this module. The reason for this is that the format and structure of previous years' exams is quite different to this year. For example, section A (the compulsory section) used to consist of 35 marks, all written. This year, it consists of 20 marks, all multiple choice. As such, some questions are presented here, to indicate the types of question you're likely to see, rather than an entire past paper. Note the following about the exam that you'll be sitting: It carries 100 marks, with a time of 2 hours Section A (20 marks) is compulsory Section B contains three 40-mark questions, and you can answer any two Multiple Choice Questions Expect to see questions where there is a single correct answer, as well as questions where there are multiple correct answer. For example: Which one of the following is not a characteristic of agile development Work is organised into sprints Each phase is thoroughly documented Change is viewed as positive Teams of any size can work in an agile way Here is an example of a question with multiple correct answers: Which of the following are examples of nominal data? Check all that apply The number of people on a team The language used on a project Defects per SLOC The duration of a project as a % of the duration of another project The phase of the current project These questions would carry 2 marks each. The best way to prepare for multiple choice quizzes is to write your own. Practicing questions like this is not all that useful when they can be on anything in the module (and they can), but creating them forces you to look through the material, actively seeking out misconceptions. Remember, a good multiple choice question's incorrect answers should be wrong, obviously, but plausible. This is particularly effective if you study as part of a group. Skill-based Questions You may, depending on exam questions, as well as your choice in section B, be required to perform critical path analysis, calculate estimations and measurements, perform PERT analysis, construct Gantt charts or timelines, or carry out any activity for which you've seen a walkthrough. The following is an example of a critical path analysis question. The following table defines a project's tasks, prerequisites, and durations: Task Prerequisites Duration in Days A Requirements elicitation N/A 10 B Architecture design A 8 C Database design A 6 D Backend development B, C 12 E Frontend development B 14 F API integration D, E 10 G Unit testing D 8 H System testing F, G 12 I User training H 6 J Deployment H 5 K Monitoring J 7 1. Create an activity network to represent this project. Each activity should include earliest and latest start times, earliest and latest finish times, and float. [12 marks] 2. Identify the duration of the whole project, and the critical path. [2 marks] 3. Describe a delay in a task that would change the critical path. [2 marks] When practicing tasks such as this, your best source of input is the tutorial material. For the vast majority, you can simply change a few things (such as durations here, or the order of tasks), and you have a new question. Again, group work is beneficial here. If you're part of a group of five, for every question that you create, you get four bonus questions. As with the multiple choice questions, writing the questions yourself is of far more value than answering them, and you have the tutorial content to use as a template. Answers are overleaf.  A perfect answer would receive all 12 marks, with an error subtracting 1 Any error that has a knock-on effect would lose no more than 2 marks The 'start' and 'stop' circles are not necessary, as long at the order is clear The duration of this project is 66 days [1 mark, even without 'days'], and the critical path is A-B-E-F-H-J-K [1 mark]. These marks would be awarded even if the diagram were incorrect, provided that it is read correctly for these answers. To change the critical path, task D could be extended [1 mark] by three days [1 mark]. There are many correct answers to this, and as long as an answer is specific as to which node would change and by how much (and is correct), it would get both marks. Evaluative questions As well as knowing how to perform a task (such as the one above), you should know the purpose, shortcomings, etc. of having performed the task. Some tasks are more applicable in certain situations than in others. An example of a question is as follows: Discuss the shortcomings of using critical path analysis on the project above. [8 marks] There is an assumption that time estimates are accurate [1 mark]. Given that a delay of a single day would put the project behind, this harms the reliability of any estimates [1 mark]. There is also an assumption that all resources are available at all times [1 mark]. For example, in the project above, tasks B and C run in parallel, but they might both require access to a single key employee, who can only work on one task at a time [1 mark]. A common problem in critical path analysis is the overlooking of non-critical tasks [1 mark], but a delay on a non-critical task could delay the project [1 mark]. Finally, there is no accounting for flexibility [1 mark]. In real-world projects, the order of tasks, and their durations might change, rendering an activity network less useful [1 mark]. Each point gets a mark, but then each development also gets a mark. Were this answer to consist of 8 listed points though, it would not receive full marks, because there would be no discussion. Such an answer would typically be limited to 4 marks. A single point with more detailed developments might be worth 3 marks instead of 2. The formulae You're not expected to memorise all formulae, as you are given a list on the last page(s) of the exam. You should not assume that a formula being present on this list means that there will be a question on the relevant topic – the same list is used for each exams. Nevertheless, expect to have access to the following: Calculations for PERT analysis: o Expected activity duration (Delphi average) o Activity variance o Calculation of z-score o A z-score table OR a z-score chart Calculations for measurement and estimation: o Calculating effort (E) from size (S) and EpS o Calculating effort (E) from size (S) and SpE o Calculating cost (C) from size (S) and CpS o Calculating cost (C) from effort (E) and CpE You are permitted, and should have with you, a calculator from the list approved by the Exams Office. It is also advisable to have these formulae practiced and committed to memory before the exam, even though you don't really need them. You should not commit precious exam time to seeing these formulae as though for the first time.