Assigned: September 17, 2002

Due: October 1, 2002

[see submission requirements below]

1. Based on your experiences with software products, how would you interpret Fred Brooks’ observation that the essence of software engineering is determined by inherent software complexity, conformity, changeability, and invisibility? How would you explain these four factors? How software engineering is different from traditional engineering, such as civil or mechanical engineering? [Maciaszek – Chapt.1-R1].

2. Recall the definition of a stakeholder. Is a software vendor or a technical support person a stakeholder? Explain. [Maciaszek – Chapt.1-R4]

3. Which CMM level of maturity is needed for the organization to be able to respond successfully to a crisis situation? Explain. [Maciaszek – Chapt.1-R5]

4. Explain the difference between the requirements and the specification phase. Explain the relationship of the two design phases (architectural design and detailed design) to the first two phases of the lifecycle – the requirements phase and the specification phase. [Maciaszek – Chapt.1-R11-12]

5. Software process and system planning and are inherently correlated with software metrics. Explain his supposition. [Maciaszek – Chapt.1-R14 modified]

6. Here are three process models: the "waterfall" process model; the "evolutionary prototyping" process model; and the "transformational" process model. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages to each.

7. [620 only] Discuss what new software engineering issues arise in each of the following: Dependable Systems; COTS integration; Middleware; and Safety Critical Systems. First define the domain of application by providing attributes and qualities; second identify the issues.

Submitting Homework, you may:

email your homework to Ryan Phillips (drp@cs.umass.edu) or me (adrion@cs.umass.edu) in text, MSWord, PDF or some other format that we can print. Homework submitted via email must have a postmark before 4 pm on the date the homework is due. Unless you have obtained prior approval for an extension, 5 pts/day (or part thereof) will be deducted from your score.
turn in written/printed solutions to the CMPSCI front office on or before 4 pm on the due date to Pauline Hollister, the receptionist. The same restriction on prior approval for late submissions applies. Do not drop off homework in my or Ryan Phillip’s mailbox nor at our or Wendy Cooper’s office. We cannot guarantee receipt if you do not email the solutions or drop them off with Pauline.
FAX your homework (definitely not recommended) to 413-545-3729 before 4 pm on the due date.