Supported by: Joint MSc curriculum in software engineering European Union TEMPUS Project CD_JEP A report on development and implementation of the ISDP (master) course D. Todorić-Vukašin, M. Ivanović, Z. Budimac Department of Mathematics and Informatics, Faculty of Science, Novi Sad

Supported by: Joint MSc curriculum in software engineering European Union TEMPUS Project CD_JEP  This presentation is based on paper : Ivanović, M., Todorić-Vukašin, D., Budimac, Z, “INFORMATION SYSTEM TOPICS FOR STUDIES IN SOFTWARE ENGINEERING”, Proceedings of International Conference on COMPUTER SYSTEMS and TECHNOLOGIES CompSysTech’09, ACM International Conference Proceeding Series, (in print)

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process AGENDA 1.Introduction 2.ISDP Course Characteristics 3.Something About Project Management 4.The Delivery of the Course 5.The Team Project 6.Conclusions

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process 1. Introduction Characteristics of the course  It is developed under the project “Joint MSc Curriculum in Software Engineering”  The course established a regional wide master’s software engineering curriculum with international recognition  The ISDP master course is realized jointly by staff from two countries

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process 1. Introduction The course approach  The proposed approach takes into account circumstances in Serbia in education and market  Industry and academia have recognized the need for adjustment in IS and SE education, to effectively train the future IT professionals  History: different courses were introduced at master studies courses give students only a general knowledge in different modern ICT topics  Today: master studies focus on appropriate technologies, methodologies and tools in particular domain

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process 1. Introduction Don’t forget:  Integration trends in European area  Intensive international student mobility  Orientation to European-wide labour market for ICT graduates

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process AGENDA 1.Introduction 2.ISDP Course Characteristics 3.Something About Project Management 4.The Delivery of the Course 5.The Team Project 6.Conclusions

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process 2. ISDP Course Characteristics Curricula development  Difficult and complicated task was to decide what is to be taught and how it will be taught considering teaching and assessment methods  Many aspects should be taken into account including labour market needs and career tracks  Available university staff with adequate experience is very important  Acceptable solution under the project was to accumulate resources of the partners and implement the courses jointly using some kind of students’ and teachers’ mobility

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process 2. ISDP Course Characteristics ISDP master course  Master course is was designed to cover advanced IS topics  It covers a few important aspects of information system development: the selection of methodology the evaluation of methodology the management of the systems development process

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process 2. ISDP Course Characteristics Master course topics  Information System Development (ISD): review of major concepts; lifecycles; definition of a ‘methodology’; the factors influencing methodology use;  A variety of ISD paradigms and methodologies: object-oriented methodologies (Rational) Unified Process structured methodologies (SSADM) ‘soft’ methodologies e.g. Soft system methodology participative approaches e.g. DSDM, ETHICS integrated approaches e.g. Multiview

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process 2. ISDP Course Characteristics Master course topics  Specialist applications and their methodology requirements e.g. Web information systems  Issues concerning the introduction of and use of methodologies  Framework for methodology evaluation  Ethical aspects of ISD

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process AGENDA 1.Introduction 2.ISDP Course Characteristics 3.Something About Project Management 4.The Delivery of the Course 5.The Team Project 6.Conclusions

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process 3. Something About Project Management Students learn that:  Successful deliver of a computer-based information system to a customer requires proper planning: an analysis of the project; its potential as an investment; the benefits; the risks;  The manager should be convinced that: the project will succeed; the project is controllable; resources will be forthcoming; should carry out planning.

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process 3. Something about project management What else students learn?  Success of a project depends on: more than just technical issues; commitment from the users; ‘ownership’ of the system; effective communications; clear identification of benefits; managing the delivery.  Various project management approaches are examined and critically evaluated in the context of methodological approach: SSADM; PRINCE; Agile development.

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process AGENDA 1.Introduction 2.ISDP Course Characteristics 3.Something About Project Management 4.The Delivery of the Course 5.The Team Project 6.Conclusions

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process 4. The Delivery of the Course Upon successful completion of the course students will be able to:  Discuss the merits and drawback of a variety of ISD methodologies;  Justify the selection of a methodology appropriate for a given ISD project;  Identify the major planning and stuffing issues;  Recommend appropriate techniques and methods for a given project;  Discuss the need for awareness and sensitivity in managing organizational relationships;  Discuss the importance of reporting structures and communication;  Recommend appropriate ways in which the benefits of a system can be evaluated.

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process 4. The Delivery of the Course The realization of the course  In the last three years course was realized jointly by staff from two countries  The professors and assistants from both countries divide the course topics based on their expertise, professional and research orientation  The lectures were delivered in English and Serbian languages using the.ppt presentations in English

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process 4. The Delivery of the Course Practical part of the course  Examples from real environments were discussed  The suitable tools for the concrete methodologies and project management were presented during the practical classes  Students became familiar the advantages and disadvantages of the tools and learn how to use them

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process 4. The Delivery of the Course Final mark:  40% was obtained through the team project  30% was formed on the basis of individual work within the team  30% was obtained for individual achievements during oral examination

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process AGENDA 1.Introduction 2.ISDP Course Characteristics 3.Something About Project Management 4.The Delivery of the Course 5.The Team Project 6.Conclusions

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process 5. The Team Project Characteristics of team project  It concerns the experiences which the students have gained while working on projects during the studies or during the work in their companies  Projects were solicited in advance from on- campus and off-campus customers  Students were expected to develop a particular information system

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process 5. The Team Project The organization of the project team  The teaching team selects team leader based on: project characteristics; student’s experience (resume); academic standing (transcript).  The team leader selects the team members together with a teaching team  Some of the team members can be from other country (Serbia, and FYR Macedonia)

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process 5. The Team Project Realization of the project  The development methodology can be selected: by team members; by teaching assistant.  The teaching team takes the role of the customer  Special classes were organized for defending team work projects

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process 5. The Team Project Good sides of the team project  Students learned about the compromise between time and quality  They learned how to adapt and deal with unexpected situations  The team project provide students with the opportunity for integration and reflection on value of knowledge and skills acquired in previous courses  This approach makes students more active and prepare them for future working environment

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process 5. The Team Project Evaluation process  Students were required to address the following issues: team dynamics; tools and methodologies used; risks; issues and challenges faced by the team; lessons learned.  The evaluation was conducted: through monitoring of student teams in laboratory; meeting with the teams; through examination of artifacts produced by the team.  Exam questions will ask only the topics covered in the lectures

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process AGENDA 1.Introduction 2.ISDP Course Characteristics 3.Something About Project Management 4.The Delivery of the Course 5.The Team Project 6.Conclusions

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process 6. Conclusions Good sides of the course  Good experiences in the delivering of the master course: students had a possibility to cooperate in teams; they had a possibility to work with colleagues from a different country; the team mates communicate using foreign language (English); they experienced many of the CASE and project management tools for the first time.  Communication between the teaching team and the students based on functioned very well

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process 6. Conclusions Problems and repairing possibilities for the course  Main problems of the course: small number of classes (only during weekends); students did not have enough time and opportunity to work with real customers.  There are some local software companies that are interested in participation in these projects in next school year  Some interviews will be developed as part of the course improvement process  The feedback of students participating in course in the last two years will be used for adjusting the course to the student’s needs

ISDP-C-06 – IS Development Process A report on development and implementation of the ISDP (master) course D. Todorić-Vukašin, M. Ivanović, Z. Budimac Department of Mathematics and Informatics, Faculty of Science, Novi Sad