BCS THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE FOR IT BCS HIGHER EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS BCS Level 6 Professional Graduate Diploma in IT SOFTWARE ENGINEERING 2 Thursday 27th March 2014 - Morning Answer any THREE questions out of FIVE. All questions carry equal marks. Time: THREE hours Answer any Section A questions you attempt in Answer Book A Answer any Section B questions you attempt in Answer Book B The marks given in brackets are indicative of the weight given to each part of the question.

Calculators are NOT allowed in this examination. Section A Answer Section A questions in Answer Book A A1.

[Socio-Technical Systems, System Design and Risk Management] a) Explain the key features of and differences between a “Technical computerbased system” and a “Socio-technical system”. Your explanation should include examples of each. (5 marks) b) Define what is meant by an emergent property of a software system and distinguish between non-functional emergent properties and functional emergent properties. (5 marks) c) The following strategies which may be used in system design to manage risks of an accident or incident occurring when a critical system is in operation to ensure its dependability. Explain each strategy with suitable examples and discuss any problems associated with each strategy: i) Damage Limitation, ii) Risk Detection and Removal, and iii) Risk Avoidance. (15 marks)

A2.

[Component Based Software Engineering and Software Product Lines] a) Explain what is meant by Component-Based Software Engineering (CBSE) and discuss the impact of Open Source Software Engineering projects, available from the internet, on the practice of CBSE. (5 marks) b) In the context of Software Engineering, explain what is meant by a Software Product Line. Discuss how and why a software house may wish to develop its own Software Product Line. Your answer should include appropriate examples. (15 marks) Turn Over]

c)

A3.

Outline the advantages and disadvantages of using externally acquired Components-Off-The-Shelf and externally sourced web services in a software development project. (5 marks) [Agile Development and Testing]

a) Discuss four key features or practices of Agile Development and explain the rationale for each. (8 marks) b) Compare ordering of software processes in the V-model of the Software Life Cycle with ordering of software processes in the Agile approach to software development and testing. (12 marks) c) Discuss the differences between Model-Driven Development and Test-Driven Development and indicate under which conditions it is appropriate to use each. (5 marks)

Section B Answer Section B questions in Answer Book B

B4.

[Software Maintenance] a) Define the term software maintenance and distinguish between corrective, adaptive, perfective, and preventive maintenance activities. (10 marks) b) Discuss how the mechanisms available for evaluating, controlling, and making changes to software have impacted on the percentage of time spent correcting mistakes. Your answer should include appropriate examples. (15 marks)

B5.

[Software Management] a) You have been appointed as a project manager for a small company trying to develop the next generation of web technologies for a very competitive retail market. Discuss your approach to team selection and structures, and the mechanisms you would choose to control and deliver project success for this organisation. (16 marks) b) Discuss the view that managing the software projects of today is no different from managing projects in other business sectors. (9 marks)