Developing Software Engineering Class Projects with an Internal Client Dr. Christelle Scharff Computer Science Department Internal Client: Michelle Perez Director Office of Housing & Residential Life Contact: Diana White Office of Housing & Residential Life Students: Asif Baksh, Sze-Man Chan, Brian Hernandez, Zulfikar Shameer, Denny Singh, Sonny Szeto

Outline Software EngineeringSoftware Engineering Software Engineering Class: CS 389Software Engineering Class: CS 389 Project RequirementsProject Requirements List of Projects for Spring 2004List of Projects for Spring 2004 Partnering with an Internal ClientPartnering with an Internal Client –How? Why? Impact? Assessment? Students InterviewsStudents Interviews DemonstrationDemonstration Conclusions and Future WorkConclusions and Future Work

Software Engineering Software = Computer Program + DocumentationSoftware = Computer Program + Documentation Software Engineering is a discipline, which is concerned by all aspects of building high-quality software from the early stages of software specification, development and validation, to the maintenance of the system after it has been deployedSoftware Engineering is a discipline, which is concerned by all aspects of building high-quality software from the early stages of software specification, development and validation, to the maintenance of the system after it has been deployed Quality depends on the methods, techniques and tools used during the software engineering processQuality depends on the methods, techniques and tools used during the software engineering process

Some Numbers In 2002, 34% of software products were completed on budget, and 17% were complete failure [Standish Group]In 2002, 34% of software products were completed on budget, and 17% were complete failure [Standish Group] Defective software cost companies more than $200 billions annually [Sustainable Computing Consortium]Defective software cost companies more than $200 billions annually [Sustainable Computing Consortium] It takes $10 to fix a bug during development, $100 to fix a bug during quality assurance, $1000 to fix a bug during beta test, and $10,000 to fix a bug post-deployment [Alan Zeichlick, SD Times]It takes $10 to fix a bug during development, $100 to fix a bug during quality assurance, $1000 to fix a bug during beta test, and $10,000 to fix a bug post-deployment [Alan Zeichlick, SD Times]

Software Engineering Course: CS 389 Core course of the Computer Science curriculum taken by junior and senior studentsCore course of the Computer Science curriculum taken by junior and senior students Main Topics:Main Topics: –Software Engineering Process Models –Requirements Engineering –Object-Oriented Design and UML –Programming and technologies –Testing Semester-long software development group projectSemester-long software development group project –Students choose their groups and projects –Students have the opportunity to work with an internal client

Two Important Questions Concerning the Project What software engineering process model to use?What software engineering process model to use? –Waterfall model How to best simulate the “real world” conditions?How to best simulate the “real world” conditions? –Type of project, group work, technologies, deliverables, deadlines and other constraints, client…

Projects – Spring 2004 Online Web Pages Builder 8 studentsOnline Web Pages Builder 8 students Online Wedding Planner SystemOnline Wedding Planner System Online Volunteers Management 7 studentsOnline Volunteers Management 7 students System for NYC 2012 Online Pace University Schedule BuilderOnline Pace University Schedule Builder Online Room Transfer Requests 6 studentsOnline Room Transfer Requests 6 studentsSystem Online Work Order Requests SystemOnline Work Order Requests System

Projects Requirements Communication skillsCommunication skills DocumentationDocumentation –Feasibility Study –Requirements Document –Design Document –Testing Document –Code Listing Professional experienceProfessional experience –Impact: Users Satisfaction Survey –Visibility (web page) ProgrammingProgramming –Learn at least one new technology –Practice with at least one CASE tool

Partnering with an Internal Client Steps:Steps: –First Contact with the Housing and Residential Life Office –Regular follow up with the client and the students –Invitations to presentations and demonstrations –Assessment

Survey Results: Why Some Students Did not Work with the H & RL? 15 students out of 2115 students out of 21 Proposed projects not challenging enoughProposed projects not challenging enough Scope and size of the proposed projects too largeScope and size of the proposed projects too large Decision of the teamDecision of the team Interest in their own software to be developedInterest in their own software to be developed Needed to be ensured that the H & RL will be committed and helpfulNeeded to be ensured that the H & RL will be committed and helpful Needed to be ensured that the software will be deployed and usedNeeded to be ensured that the software will be deployed and used Needed an extra-curriculum reward!Needed an extra-curriculum reward!

Advantages of Partnering with an Internal Client 1 Real world experienceReal world experience Understand clients’ needs and changes in requirementsUnderstand clients’ needs and changes in requirements Project management experienceProject management experience Development of communication and negotiation skillsDevelopment of communication and negotiation skills Acquire experience and diverse skills valuable on the market placeAcquire experience and diverse skills valuable on the market place

Advantages to Partnering with an Internal Client 2 Experiential learning to support students’ academic, ethical, and social developmentExperiential learning to support students’ academic, ethical, and social development Developing software that will directly benefit a large number of students’ peersDeveloping software that will directly benefit a large number of students’ peers Intimate understanding of various policies and proceduresIntimate understanding of various policies and procedures An opportunity to directly impact the quality of services students’ receiveAn opportunity to directly impact the quality of services students’ receive Inspires students’ to become involved and active citizens of the residential communityInspires students’ to become involved and active citizens of the residential community

Experience as a Client Initial ContactInitial Contact The process:The process: –Time investment to meet the students –Attendance to demonstrations and presentations Interest: Customized software developed to meet the specific needs of the residential communityInterest: Customized software developed to meet the specific needs of the residential community Significant needs of customized software for the residential communitySignificant needs of customized software for the residential community

Survey Results: Students who worked with H & RL Why did they choose to work with a client?Why did they choose to work with a client? –Challenge, gain experience, resume, participating in the community, time management and follow-up Experience with the clientExperience with the client –Very proactive, helpful, committed and understanding client –Changes in the requirements were introduced smoothly because of the regular meetings and discussions All of the students would repeat the experienceAll of the students would repeat the experience

Students Interview How much time did you spend on the project? What required the most time?How much time did you spend on the project? What required the most time? How would you describe your experience with the internal client?How would you describe your experience with the internal client? Was the scope and size of the project well-defined from the beginning?Was the scope and size of the project well-defined from the beginning? Would you like to see partnerships like this one in other Computer Science classes?Would you like to see partnerships like this one in other Computer Science classes? What do you believe are the impacts of this experience on your career?What do you believe are the impacts of this experience on your career?

The OLWOR System OnLine Work Order Request System Asif, Damian, Denny Client: Michelle Perez, Director of Housing & Residential Life Supervisor of the project: Diana White. H & RL

OLWOR Stakeholders and Main Features All users of the system (Residents, H & RL Staff and Direction) have a profile in OLWORAll users of the system (Residents, H & RL Staff and Direction) have a profile in OLWOR Residents can submit work order requests onlineResidents can submit work order requests online –DoIt, B&G, S&S, CoinMac Confirmation s sent to the staff and residents about all requests and updatesConfirmation s sent to the staff and residents about all requests and updates Residents keep track of the status of their work order requests (submitted, in progress, closed)Residents keep track of the status of their work order requests (submitted, in progress, closed) Staff and Director of H & RL have access to all work order requests (using different criteria)Staff and Director of H & RL have access to all work order requests (using different criteria)

OLWOR Demonstration

Conclusions and Future Work Problems and questionsProblems and questions –Server? Support for the Server? –Financial support? –Availability and willingness of the students to finish the project? –Maintenance of the system afterward?

Conclusions and Future Work Success story: Deployment of the OLWOR systemSuccess story: Deployment of the OLWOR system –Internship offered by the Office of Housing and Residential Life –Summer I 2004: Deployment –Summer II 2004: Use of the system by the RAs in Maria’s Tower, and assessment –Fall 2004: Use of the system by the students in Maria’s Tower, and assessment On the road for Fall 2004 and Spring 2005…On the road for Fall 2004 and Spring 2005…

Questions & Answers