CM602: Effective Systems Development Exam Preparation Slide 1 Exam Preparation Preparing for the CM602 Examination D.Miller J. Horton

CM602: Effective Systems Development Exam Preparation Slide 2 Examination Paper Instructions or Rubric (Rubric – org. ME English “referring to something written in red” for emphasis. Source: Concise Oxford Dictionary). Rubric for this exam is: Three questions set. Answer any two questions. If you attempt more than two questions, the first two questions only will be marked. You should score through any work that you do not wish the tutors to mark. Each question is marked out of thirty. The marks available for each part-question are indicated in the question. This examination is worth 50% of the total marks for the module. There is a scenario (1 page) on which two questions are based.

CM602: Effective Systems Development Exam Preparation Slide 3 What is assessed? This examination contributes to the assessment of the following learning outcomes: 1.Choose and apply appropriate user-centred approaches to the development and implementation of information systems. 3.Apply and evaluate the principles and techniques of UML in relation to the testing and implementation of systems. 4.Analyse the impact of development methods on the management of projects and the requirements for a professional approach in effective systems development.

CM602: Effective Systems Development Exam Preparation Slide 4 Possible Topics All topics not covered by the assignments, including –Systems ideas; SSM; SSM & IS –Reuse, design patterns, components –USDP –Metrics –Testing –Implementation issues, implementation strategies –Application of principles No whole questions on Dave’s topics, but user issues & risks of failure may be relevant to questions on other topics. NOT topics covered by the assignments –DSDM –XP –Apprenticing –London Ambulance System

CM602: Effective Systems Development Exam Preparation Slide 5 In the Exam Read the whole paper Work out how much time to allocate to each question and part. Plan your answer. Think before you write. Make sure your writing is readable. Make sure you indicate which question and part you are attempting.

CM602: Effective Systems Development Exam Preparation Slide 6 Don’t Panic if at first it seems you can’t answer enough 40% bare pass 50% 2.2 performance 60% 2.1 performance 70% 1 st class performance 60 marks available –For 40% I need 24 marks –For 50% I need 30 marks –For 60% I need 36 marks –For 70% I need 42 marks Figure out where you are most likely to be able to get the most marks from.

CM602: Effective Systems Development Exam Preparation Slide 7 Map out answers before you write them up For each question you plan to tackle, sketch out and list relevant: –Facts –Issues –Arguments –Evidence. Put this in your exam script, strike a line through it after you have written out the answer.

CM602: Effective Systems Development Exam Preparation Slide 8 In the Exam Answer the question. –Read it carefully. »Make sure you are seeing what is actually there, not what you hoped would be there. –Think about what the person who set it had in mind. »Sometimes it is a good idea to state your assumptions about a question. –If the question is similar to, but not quite the same as one you prepared for then »Think carefully about these differences. Evaluate, discuss, justify, argue… –These are not the same! –See what the question requires and do it. –At least part of each question asks you to do more than recall your notes. –Some parts may be practical tasks –Good answers are not purely descriptive –Answers which simply reproduce lecture material or set reading do not attract high marks

CM602: Effective Systems Development Exam Preparation Slide 9 In the Exam First, convince the examiner you know the basics –but keep it relevant – long descriptions usually aren’t what’s needed. –Only then introduce the more complex issues or perspectives. –Questions may be structured in parts that first ask you to display knowledge, then to apply, analyse, evaluate etc. Don’t put your personal opinions before knowledge of the subject –E.g. you might think that emphasis on user-centred design is not the right way to go about I.S. development. But in answering exam questions »First you have to demonstrate that you fully understand the arguments and evidence for and against user-centred design within the academic and practitioner communities »Then, if you wish, you can show that you hold other views, and explain why.

CM602: Effective Systems Development Exam Preparation Slide 10 What about notes and literature? Don’t try to reproduce lecture notes etc. exactly –Yes, some people can do this. Your own thoughts are important. If appropriate, give brief quotes & references to support the arguments you are making. Use literature and experience wisely –Evidence of wider reading usually attracts credit in written questions – but always indicate the source. –We don’t expect full references, but at least give the author’s name, or name and year. –Relevant examples from your experience or the literature also usually attract credit – if they contribute to answering the question set. They aren’t a substitute for answering the question.

CM602: Effective Systems Development Exam Preparation Slide 11 Prepare Effectively Don’t just read: summarise, organise, review, question. Revise by condensing down the material into one page for major topic Then condense those down to one page for the whole module. Attempt practice questions, and invent your own. Don’t stay up too late the night before!

CM602: Effective Systems Development Exam Preparation Slide 12 Remember: Make sure you can write about the major themes and the relationships between them. Questions will assess the learning outcomes Seminar material is as important as lecture material. Your own reading is also important. Doing practice questions is helpful.

CM602: Effective Systems Development Exam Preparation Slide 13 And finally… Good Luck!