Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 17
Conclusion
We hope this topic helps the reader reflect on many issues that concern
the building of a functional, reliable system. Some of these issues are
about the creative aspects of software, and others are about the managerial
aspects of its creation. Both are important for successful delivery.
It is the nature of software development that there is no single process
that will work all the time. Software development is a creative process
and, as in writing a topic or creating a song, the creative process that lies
at the core of what is created is often difficult to explain and has many
subjective elements to it. And although the core may not be tractable, a
lot of activities around it are. Creative acts require organization, discipline,
processes for trials and revisions, management of logistics and physical
delivery, as well as marketing of the delivered creations. As software
organizations have been building good and commercially successful soft-
ware for years now, some of these management processes are better
understood today.
We have proposed a simple framework for software design, develop-
ment, and its management called SEE (Solution-Engineering-Execution).
As clarified throughout the topic, this is not yet another process or
methodology that will ensure good software. It is an organizing influence
for the way one approaches the problems in the field. Solution in SEE
refers to the thinking behind the solution. What are the various solution
choices? Why are we choosing this particular solution among them? There
is often a jump into
engineering
without spending enough effort on the
aspect. Engineering in SEE covers activities such as architecture,
design, technology selection, management approach, plans, and controls.
solution
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