Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
improve performance as required by the client. These steps are repeated
throughout the life of the software product. They will be discussed further in later
chapters, but for now it is important to understand that maintenance is integral to
the success of a product.
1.4 Software Engineering is Not Limited to Programming
We have made this point a number of times before, and by now it must seem
redundant. Good. It is crucial for anyone interested in the field to understand that
software engineering is much more than just programming. This is a very common
misconception, when, in fact, programming is just one part of the entire process
[only accounting for about 10 % of the overall work (Schach
2008
)]. The vast field
of software engineering covers a wide range of professions, from business to graphic
design, and from public relations to computer science. In this section, we will discuss
some of these fields and their relation to the profession of software engineering.
1.4.1 Computer Science Related
The most obvious profession involved in a software engineering project is, of course,
computer science. Theories and approaches from the field are used in the software
development process, and thus software engineers must have a working knowledge
of the concepts of computer science. Theories such as object-oriented design and
abstraction are frequently utilized in the development of a software product. These
theories, however, cannot always be practically applied. Thus, it is the job of a
software engineer to understand the ideas and fundamental concepts behind these
theories, rather than simply place them directly into use. The goal is not to under-
stand the inner workings of a computer, but to produce quality software (Som-
merville
2004
). Software engineering is not a study in the specifics of computer
programming or the use of a certain programming language. Rather, it is the prac-
tical application of these concepts that leads to the proper development of software.
1.4.2 Business Related
Though computer science may be the first thing that comes to the minds of those
unfamiliar with the field, those involved in software engineering understand that it
is as much a practice in business theory as anything else. Proper business practices,
such as good project management and the efficient organization of workers, can
make or break a project. A few of the important business related fields of software
engineering
are
as
follows:
software
product
business;
distributed
product
