Software Project Management

Software is Instructions that when executed provide desired features, functions and performance. Documents that describe the operation and use of the programs. Computer software or just software is a general term used to describe a collection of computer programs, procedures and documentation that perform some tasks on a computer system.

Software

Characteristics of software

Software is developed or engineered; it is not manufactured in the classical sense.

Quality can be achieved through good design. Quality problems in manufacturing phase can be easily solved. Dependent on people. Require the construction of a product. Software costs are concentrated in engineering.

Software Project Management

It involves the planning, monitoring and control of the people, process, and events that occur as software evolves from a preliminary concept to an operational implementation. Must understand the four Ps People Product

Process
Project

People contd..
The stakeholders are categorized into 5 constituencies. Senior manager Project (technical) managers Practitioners

Customers
End users. The project team must be organized in a way that maximizes each persons skills and abilities. Its done by the team leader.

People
Defines key practice areas for software people:
Recruiting Selection Performance management Training Compensation Career development etc

Product
Before planning a project,
product objectives and scope should be established. Alternative solutions should be considered. Technical and management constraints should be identified.

The first software project management activity is the determination of software scope.
Context Information objective. Function and performance.

Process
Provides the framework from which a complete plan for software development can be established.

1)

Includes some framework activities and umbrella activities.

The project manager must decide which process model is most appropriate for
The customers and end-users. The characteristics of the product itself.

The project environment in which the software team works.

Process contd
Defines a preliminary project plan based on the set

of process framework activities melding the

product and the process.

Perform process decomposition

Problem Decomposition
Sometimes called partitioning or problem

elaboration.
Applied in 2 major area:

The functionality that must be delivered.

The process that will be used to deliver it.

Project
A project in business and science is a collaborative enterprise, frequently involving research or design, that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim. Some of the reasons for project failure are:
Poor understanding customers needs.

Product scope is poorly defined.

Changes are poorly managed. The chosen technology changes. Business needs changes. Lack of skilled people Etc.

Project contd
Five-part common-sense approach to software projects:
Start on the right foot. Maintain momentum Track progress. Make smart decisions. Conduct a postmortem analysis.