CS3007A Software Project Management

Problem Sheet 1

Lecturer: Dr Robert Macredie

E-mail: Robert.Macredie@brunel.ac.uk,

Introduction

In the first session we talked broadly about software projects, considering why we would want to study SPM. We looked at the key similarities and differences between classical engineering projects and projects which involved the development of software systems. This problem sheet encourages you to reflect on these issues. You should also develop your understanding, suggesting differences that we did not consider in the session, both through discussion in groups and through considering relevant literature.

You should also think about the implications that these differences have to the management of the project and find real examples of problems in SPM.

Learning Outcomes

The learning outcomes for the problem sheet are as follows:

(i)     you should be able to explain why you are studying SPM, 
        showing an understanding of its relevance to you.  

(ii)    you should be able to list and critically discuss similarities 
        and differences between software projects and other types of project.  

(iii)   you should be able to justify why these differences arise and 
        what implication they might have on SPM.  

(iv)    you should be able to locate relevant examples of software 
        project which raise issues in SPM.

Questions

(i)     Why is software project management a relevant subject for 
        you to study as part of your degree programme?

(ii)    In what ways are software projects different from non-software 
        projects?  Make a list of differences.  It is important that you 
        provide clear and coherent reasons to support the differences 
        that you suggest.  

(iii)   Justify why these differences arise and explain the possible 
        implications that they may have on the management 
        of software project.  

(iv)    Find one (or more) example(s) of real software projects where 
        there seem to have been problems in the management of the 
        project and find out what type of problems were encountered.  
        You might look in the broadsheet press for current examples, in 
        the trade press (such as Computer Weekly), and/or in relevant 
        journals or books.

I would encourage you to work in groups of around five for this and subsequent exercises.

Robert Macredie

28 September 1998