Software Engineering Project Failure Essays

Software Engineering Project Failure Essays Software Engineering Project Failure Paper Software Engineering Project Failure Paper This report is about software engineering project failures. In this report, I will first examine the importance of a good software engineering manager to a project. Then, I will identify major reasons for software engineering project fails within the software industry. At last, some suggestion about reducing project failure rates according to the knowledge and best practices will be provided. Manager is essential to software engineering project There are nine project management knowledge areas: integration, scope, time, cost, quality, risk, communication, procurement, and human resource management (see A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, Project Management Inst. , 2000). Failing to address any of these areas will result in repeatedly diminishing a project’s outcome. This stresses the importance of a good manager to a successful software engineering project. In Mohammad’s individual case, the reasons of the failure of the project were almost caused by the manager’s failing in good performance. (Rob, 2003) Then, what characteristics should a good manager has? First, he should be responsible and have a good leading ability to manage his team to work well together. Second, he should have strong communication ability which will help him to work well with his team as well as his clients. Third, the technique skill is very important with which he will have a broad view. Forth, he should have a critical mind which will make him have a strong problem solving ability. Reasons that cause software engineering project failures As software engineering project failures cannot be totally avoided, examining the reason why it happens help us to reduce failures. Lack of project study Project study is very important to any software engineering project, as it helps team members to have a clear understanding about the project. Without project study, team members may not know what they are doing. This could have bad effect on the project. There are five factors (TELOS) should be included in the project study, which are technical, economic, legal, operational, schedule (Keyes, 2008). And the primary performance objectives for the software deliverable should also be established. Lack of communication The communication both among a project team and between a team and the client is very important. Communication among a team not only makes team members to work better, but also helps senior management to get the information about the work so that senior management could make timely decision. Communication between a team and client help the team to get a better understanding about the client’s requirement, thus their work is improved. Lack of communication will be a disaster of a team. They may not be well organized. Work finished by team members may not be fitted to each others. And the finished work may not fulfill client’s requirement. Thus, software engineering project failure may happen. Using new or unfamiliar contractors: New contractors are not familiar with the project’s personalities and systems design complexities. Changing contractor will cause this problem and is also a waste. So, choosing a good contractor who has an ongoing business relationship with a project group and avoid long-distance and out-of-country subcontracts which will make it difficult to form closer communication is very important. (Rob, 2003) Suggestion on reducing software engineering project failure 1. The manager should conduct a good project study within the team at the beginning of a project. Practitioners should establish the primary performance objectives for the software deliverable, as these will greatly drive the type of development model and mix of practices they should use (Maccormack, Kemerer, Cusumano amp; Crandall, 2003). 2. The manager should conduct enough, efficient and effective communication. Face-to-face meetings, discussions, temporal collocation, and exchange visits should be organized to figure out where they are and check if the work is going as expected (Smite amp; Wholin, 2011). . Avoid changing contractors, as new contractors are not familiar with the project’s personalities and systems design complexities. Choose a contractor who has an ongoing business relationship with a project group and avoid long-distance and out-of-country subcontracts which will make it difficult to form closer communication (Rob, 2003). 4. Reliable infrastructure, including a centralized repository, common configuration management tools, and rich communication media should be invested in, which will help the team to work better (Smite amp; Wholin, 2011). . The manager should choose useful team members. A team member chosen by manager should have a strong ability to work and communicate with other team members. And also, he should be well educated and have good technique skills. 6. To achieve all the point above, a perfect manager is indispensable. So, a perfect is very essential to a software engineering project. Reference: Rob, M. A. ; , Project failures in small companies, Software, IEEE , vol. 20, no. 6, pp. 94- 95, Nov. -Dec. 2003 MacCormack, A. ; Kemerer, C. F. ; Cusumano, M. Crandall, B. ; , Trade-offs between productivity and quality in selecting software development practices, Software, IEEE , vol. 20, no. 5, pp. 78- 85, Sept. Oct. 2003 El Emam, K. ; Koru, A. G. ; , A Replicated Survey of IT Software Project Failures, Software, IEEE , vol. 25, no. 5, pp. 84-90, Sept. -Oct. 2008 Keyes, in  Leading IT Projects: The IT Managers Guide,, CRC Press, Aug. 2008. Smite, D. ; Wohlin, C. ; , A Whisper of Evidence in Global Software Engineering, Software, IEEE , vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 15-18, July-Aug. 2011

Abbreviations for Common Business Degrees

Abbreviations for Common Business Degrees Business degree abbreviations sometimes vary from school to school, but most educational institutions use a standard format. The problem is that there are a lot of different abbreviations- so many that it can be hard to figure out what they all stand for. It can also be confusing when two business degree abbreviations are very similar, such as the EMS (Executive Master of Science)  and EMSM (Executive Master of Science in Management). Bachelor Degrees Bachelor degrees are undergraduate degrees. The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree has more of a broad focus on liberal arts, while the Bachelor of Science (BS) has more of a tightly focused curriculum. The most common business-related bachelor degrees include: BA: Bachelor of ArtsBBA: Bachelor of Business Administration  BPA: Bachelor of Public AdministrationBS: Bachelor of ScienceBSB: Bachelor of Science in BusinessBSBA: Bachelor of Science in Business AdministrationBSc CIS: Bachelor of Computer Information Systems ExecutiveDegrees In the business field, executive degree programs are commonly designed for  working business professionals who want to advance their knowledge in general business (business administration) or in a particular area of business such as public administration, management, or taxation. Although many students in executive degree programs are actual executives, not all students work in a supervisory capacity; some students simply have executive potential.  The most common executive degrees include: EMBA: Executive MBAEMIB: Executive Master if International BusinessEMPA: Executive Master of Public AdministrationEMS: Executive Master of ScienceEMSM: Executive Master of Science in ManagementEMSMOT: Executive Master of Science in Management of TechnologyEMST: Executive Master of Science in TaxationGEMBA: Global Executive Master of Business Administration Master's Degrees A masters degree is a graduate-level degree that is earned after completing undergraduate-level education. There are many specialized masters degrees in the business field. The most common include: IMBA: International MBAMAcc: Master of AccountancyMAIS: Master of Accounting and Information SystemsMBA: Master of Business Administration  MBE: Master of Business EducationMBI: Master of Business InformaticsMBS: Master of Business StudiesMFA: Master of Fine ArtsMHR: Master of Human ResourcesMHRM: Master of Human Resources ManagementMIA: Master of International AffairsMIAS: Master of International and Area StudiesMIB: Master of International BusinessMIM: Master of International ManagementMIS: Master of Information SystemsMISM: Master of Information Systems ManagementMMIS: Master of Management Information SystemsMMR: Master of Marketing ResearchMMS: Master of Management ScienceMNO: Master of Nonprofit OrganizationsMOD: Master of Science in Organizational DevelopmentMPA: Master of Public AdministrationMPAcc: Master of Professional AccountingMPIA: Master of Public and International AffairsMPL: Master of PlanningMPP: Master of Public PolicyMRED: Master of Real Estate DevelopmentMTAX: M aster of Taxation Master of Science Degrees Master of Science degrees, also known as MS degrees, are graduate-level degrees with a tightly focused track of study in a particular area such as accounting, finance, management, taxation, or real estate. The most common Master of Science degrees in the business field include: MSA: Master of Science in Accountancy (or Accounting)MSAIS: Master of Science in Accountancy Information SystemsMSAT: Master of Science in Accountancy, TaxationMSB: Master of Science in BusinessMSBA: Master of Science in Business AdministrationMSF: Master of Science in FinanceMSFA: Master of Science in Financial AnalysisMSFS: Master of Science in Foreign ServicesMSGFA: Master of Science in Global Financial AnalysisMSIB: Master of Science in International BusinessMSIM:  Master of Science in Industrial ManagementMSIS: Master of Science in Information SystemsMSITM: Master of Science in Information Technology ManagementMSM: Master of Science in ManagementMSMOT: Master of Science in Management of TechnologyMSOD: Master of Science in Organization DevelopmentMSRE: Master of Science in Real EstateMST: Master of Science in Taxation Exceptions to Standard Degree Abbreviations Although most business schools use the abbreviations above, there are some exceptions. For example, Harvard University follows the tradition of Latin degree names  for some of their undergraduate and graduate degrees, which means that the  degree abbreviations look backward compared to what many of us are used to seeing in the U.S. Here are a few examples: AB: This is the name for the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. AB stands for artium baccalaureus.SB:  This is the name for the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree.  SB stands for scientiae baccalaureus.AM: This is the equivalent of the Master of Arts (MA) degree. AM stands for artium magister.SM: This is the equivalent of the  Master of Science (MS) degree. SM stands for scientiae magister.