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You may recall that software configuration management (SCM) is one of the five KPA required for an organization to be at CMM level 2. That means, according to SEI, effective project management is not possible without having a proper SCM function in place. The basic idea behind SCM is to manage and control change. As [...]

Software reviews are the filter for the software engineering process. They re applied at various different points and serve to uncover errors that can be removed and help to purify the software engineering activities. In this context it is useful to look at the “V-model” of software development. This model emphasizes that SQA is a [...]

Quality cannot be assured without first understanding its nature and characteristics. So the first question one has to ask is: what is quality? Software quality is defined as conformance to explicitly stated functional and non-functional requirements, explicitly documented development standards, and implicit characteristics that are expected of all professionally developed software. This definition emphasizes upon [...]

Let us now apply the principles studied above to develop a plan for a concept development project.  In this case the potential for new technology or new business idea is explored. Since it is a concept development project, the applicability is not certain but it appears to be useful and hence needs to be explored. [...]

A process model defines a task set which comprises of SE work tasks, milestones, and deliverables. This enable a software team to define, develop, and support the software. Therefore, each software process should define a collection of task sets, designed to meet the needs of different types of projects. To determine the set of tasks [...]

Software project planning is an activity carried out by the project manager to estimate and address the following points: Software scope estimation Resources requirements Time requirements Structural decomposition Risk analysis and planning Software scope estimation Software scope describes the data and control to be processed, function, performance, constraints, interfaces, and reliability. Determination of the software [...]

A Function Point count may be divided into the following types: 1.Development Count: A development function point count includes all functions impacted (built or customized) by the project activities. 2.Enhancement Count: An enhancement function point count includes all the functions being added, changed and deleted. The boundary of the application(s) impacted remains the same. The [...]

These steps are elaborated in the following subsections. The terms and definitions are the ones used by IFPUG and have been taken directly from the IFPUG Function Point Counting Practices Manual (CPM) Release 4.1. The following can therefore be treated as an abridged version of the IFPUG CPM Release 4.1. Determining the type of count [...]

A project manager is tasked to ensure the successful development of a product. Success cannot be attained without understanding the reasons for failure. The main reasons for the failure of software projects are: changing customer requirements ambiguous/incomplete requirements unrealistic deadline an honest underestimate of effort predictable and/or unpredictable risks technical difficulties miscommunication among project staff [...]

Object-oriented lifecycle models appreciate the need for iteration within and between phases. There are a number of these models. All of these models incorporate some form of iteration, parallelism, and incremental development. eXtreme Programming It is a somewhat controversial new approach. In this approach user requirements are captured through stories which are the scenarios presenting [...]

Rapid application development is another form of incremental model. It is a high speed adaptation of the linear sequential model in which fully functional system in a very short time (2-3 months). This model is only applicable in the projects where requirements are well understood and project scope is constrained. Because of this reason it [...]

Recalling from our first course, a software system passes through the following phases: Vision                          – focus on why Definition                   – focus on what Development            – focus on how Maintenance             – focus on change During these phases, a number of activities are performed. A lifecycle model is a series of steps through [...]

Let’s now look at software engineering activities from a different perspective. Software development activities could be performed in a cyclic and that cycle is called software development loop. The major stages of software development loop are described below. Problem Definition: In this stage we determine what is the problem against which we are going to [...]

The software development organization must have special focus on quality while performing the software engineering activities. Based on this commitment to quality by the organization, a software engineering framework is proposed that is shown in Figure 2. The major components of this framework are described below. Quality Focus: As we have said earlier, the given [...]

The construction activities are those that are directly related to the construction or development of the software. While the management activities are those that complement the process of construction in order to perform construction activities smoothly and effectively. A greater detail of the activities involved in the construction and management categories is presented below. Construction [...]

Caper Jones a renounced practitioner and researcher in the filed of Software Engineering, had made immense research in software team productivity, software quality, software cost factors and other fields relate to software engineering. He made a company named Software Productivity Research in which they analyzed many projects and published the results in the form of [...]

This course is a continuation of the first course on Software Engineering. In order to set the context of our discussion, let us first look at some of the definitions of software engineering. Software Engineering is the set of processes and tools to develop software. Software Engineering is the combination of all the tools, techniques, [...]

New Features in this Version TuneUpUtilities stands out thanks to its intuitive ease of use. During development, major emphasis was placed on enabling Windows users of every level of expertise to optimize their computer efficiently and, above all, thoroughly. Below is an overview of the most important new features: The new TuneUp Turbo Mode The [...]

Standards “A standard provides a model for development that makes it possible for a product to work regardless of the individual manufacturer|” Ü A great deal of coordination and cooperation is required by the devices to communicate Ü A device prepared by a specific manufacturer may not be compatible with the devices prepared by other [...]

INTRODUCTION TO DATA COMMUNICATION DEFINITION OF DATA COMMUNICATION “Data Communication is the exchange of Information from one entity to the other using a Transmission Medium”. DEFINITION OF DATA COMMUNICATION (Cont’d) As you can clearly notice, the definition of Data Communication although Simple leaves many questions unanswered: Ü Exchange?????? Ü Information????? Ü Entities??????? Ü Transmission???? Ü [...]

Intangible Assets IAS 38 & Investment in Associates Disclosure Requirements • The financial statements should disclose the following for each class of intangible assets, distinguishing between internally generated assets and other intangible assets: The useful lives or the amortization rates used. The amortization method used. The gross carrying amount and the accumulated amortization at the [...]

Intangible Assets – Companies Ordinance 1984 Classification Fourth Schedule • Classification of intangible assets: Goodwill Patent, Copyrights, Trademarks and Designs Others (to be specified) Disclosure Requirements Fourth Schedule • Original cost or the amount of valuation • Additions thereto and deductions there from since the previous balance sheet date • Aggregate amount written off, or [...]

Background Technology – the application of science to the everyday Physical World – has, on the whole, changed our lives greatly for the better, particularly since the time of Industrial Revolution. Manufacturing industry, which supplies us with and at the same time creates the wealth, which enables other services to exist, owes its existence to [...]

HISTORICAL COMPARATIVE RESEARCH History has several meanings; one of which could refer to ‘the events of the past.’ Historiography is the method of doing historical research or of gathering and analyzing historical evidence. Historical-comparative research is a collection of techniques and approaches. It is a distinct type of research that puts historical time and /or [...]

REVIEW OF LITERATURE A literature review is based on the assumption that knowledge accumulates and that we learn from and build on what others have done. Scientific research is a collective effort of many researchers who share their results with one another and who pursue knowledge as a community. Today’s studies build on those of [...]

THEORY AND RESEARCH The purpose of science concerns the expansion ofknowledge, the discoveryof truth and to make predictions. Theory building is the means by whichthe basic researchers hope to achieve this purpose. A scientist poses questions like: Whatproduces inflation? Does student-teacher interaction influence students’performance? In both these questions there is the element of prediction i.e. [...]

Higher Order Brain functions Objectives: The students would be familiarized with the role of higher order brain functioning. This is the role of the highly evolved areas of the brain, the cerebral cortex. Brain correlates a) Language Speech Production Comprehensions, Aphasias b) Visuospatial, The man who mistook his wife for a hat? c) Apraxias.( Neuropsychological [...]

DEVELOPMENT OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM Objectives: These lessons would familiarize the students with The stages of development of the brain and the changes which takes place Various stages of neuronal development. Development of the brain: from the fertilization to the various developmental stages in-utero, and postnatally. Cell differtiation, determination, migration, (inside-out), cell competition, Cell death, [...]

DEVELOPMENT OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM Objective To familiarize the students with: Various stages of neuronal development. Development of the brain: from the fertilization to the various developmental stages in-utero, and postnatally. Cell differtiation, determination migration, (inside-out), cell competition, Cell death, growth Cones, Nerve growth Factor and its role, Influences in growth and development of the [...]

RESEARCH METHODS AND TECHNIQUES OF ASSESSMENT OF BRAIN FUNCTION Objectives: To familiarize the students with The various techniques used to study the brain and its function and structures. Invasive vs. Non- Invasive methods, Stereotaxic surgery. Stereotaxic Atlas used for brain surgery and manipulation, Hislotogical and cytological methods for Cell staining, Radio labelling, Flourescence, autoradiography, Lesioning [...]