SE 101 Freshman Seminar

Week 4 - Development Processes and the XP Game

Class Plan:

1. Discussion of Process Readings (week 3 homework)
2. XP Game
3. Lifecycle Homework Assignment

Activity:

XP Game - Extreme Hour+

Homework for Next Week: 

The two scenarios below outline common (if simplified) software engineering problems. Working with one or two other class members, develop a 1-page response for each of the scenarios, using what you've learned from last week's readings, today's discussion and activities, and additional research. Deposit a copy of your written responses (as either a Word or PDF document) to the Homework - Week 4 dropbox by noon on next Wednesday.

While you will be working in small groups, each individual must submit his or her own version of the response document.

1. Your team of software engineering consultants has been called upon by the vice-president for finance of a corporation that manufactures sneakers. She wants your team to develop a product to monitor the company's stock of products, from the time raw materials arrive at the plant through manufacturing, assembly, and quality control, to the distribution to stores and sale to customers. What criteria would you use in selecting a life-cycle model for the project? Which development strategy would you use? Why is it appropriate for this project?
2. Your system is so successful that the organization decides to rework the system so that it can be sold to other manufacturers who wish to trace their products from raw materials to retail sales. As a consequence, the new system must  be portable (easily adapted to new hardware and/or operating systems). Would the life-cycle criteria or development strategy differ from those of the previous answer? If so, what life-cycle and development strategy would you use and why? If not, why are the original decisions still appropriate?