Problem 1
Explain why the rapid delivery and deployment of new systems is often more important to businesses than the detailed functionality of these systems.
Problem 2
Explain how the principles underlying agile methods lead to the accelerated development and deployment of software.
Problem 4
Extreme programming expresses user requirements as stories, with each story written on a card. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this approach to requirements description.
Problem 5
Explain why test-first development helps the programmer develop a better understanding of the system requirements. What are the potential difficulties with test-first development?
Problem 6
Suggest four reasons why the productivity rate of programmers working as a pair is roughly the same as two programmers working individually.
Problem 7
You have been asked to investigate the feasibility of prototyping in the software development process in your organisation. Write a report for your manager discussing the classes of project for which prototyping should be used, and setting out the expected costs and benefits of prototyping.
Problem 8
A software manager is involved in the project development of a software design support system that supports the translation of software requirements to a formal software specification. Comment on the advantages and disadvantages of the following development strategies: a. Develop a throw-away prototype, evaluate, it then review the system requirements. Develop the final system using C. b. Develop the system from the existing requirements using Java, then modify it to adapt to any changed user requirements. c. Develop the system using incremental development with a user involved in the development team.
Problem 9
A charity has asked you to prototype a system that keeps track of all donations they have received. This system has to maintain the names and addresses of donors, their particular interests, the amount donated and when the donation was made. If the donation is over a certain amount, the donor may attach conditions to the donation (e.g., it must be spent on a particular project), and the system must keep track of these and how the donation was spent. Discuss how you would prototype this system, bearing in mind that the charity has a mixture of paid workers and volunteers. Many of the volunteers are retirees who have had little or no computer experience.
Problem 10
You have developed a throw-away prototype system for a client who is very happy with it. However, she suggests that there is no need to develop another system but that you should deliver the prototype, and she offers you an excellent price for the system. You know that there may be future problems with maintaining the system. Discuss how you might respond to this customer.
