IT3345 (October 2019) Full Course

IT 3345 Software Architecture

Unit 1 Discussion 

Comparing Agile Methodologies

Review the CapraTek Overview found in the discussion Resources as required.

There are several different Agile methodologies that CapraTek might use for its new software development process. Briefly compare two Agile methodologies and provide arguments for the selection of one of them based upon your understanding of CapraTek’s requirements and needs.

Why might your choice be superior to a waterfall approach?

Response Guidelines

Comment on the post of at least two other learners. Offer insights, solutions, examples, or opinions that add depth and value to the conversation.

Note regarding discussions in this course: The content topic should determine the length of your post; however, a minimum of 150 words is recommended. Refer to the discussion participation scoring guide for posting expectations.

Make your initial posts by midweek to allow sufficient time for peers to respond. The expectation within the course discussions is to respond to at least two posts by the end of the unit, but it is highly recommended that you extend the dialogue further. Responding over multiple days will help stimulate a lively discussion.

Learning Components

This activity will help you achieve the following learning components:

Compare Agile methodologies with traditional methodologies of software architecture.

Explain the needs and requirements of CapraTek’s software development process.

 

 

IT 3345 Software Architecture

Unit 2 Discussion 

Agile and Staffing

Staffing can be a challenge when there are multiple development projects going on at the same time. Resource management is often one of the crucial factors in determining the success of a project.

Research and find two sample resource and scheduling samples for Agile development projects to share with the class. Explain how they relate to CapraTek based on the existing staffing. Based on your Agile methodology chosen, what would a typical breakdown of staffing look like?

Response Guidelines

Comment on the post of at least two other learners. Offer insights, solutions, examples, or opinions that add depth and value to the conversation.

 

Note regarding discussions in this course: The content topic should determine the length of your post; however, a minimum of 150 words is recommended. Refer to the discussion participation scoring guide for posting expectations.

Make your initial posts by midweek to allow sufficient time for peers to respond. The expectation within the course discussions is to respond to at least two posts by the end of the unit, but it is highly recommended that you extend the dialogue further. Responding over multiple days will help stimulate a lively discussion.

Learning Components

This activity will help you achieve the following learning components:

Describe how an Agile methodology specifies personnel deployment.

Describe how an Agile methodology specifies organization and scheduling operations.

 

IT 3345 Software Architecture

Unit 3 Discussion 

Technology Stack

Although many organizations prefer to use a single technology stack, it is not always viable because of various application needs. However, it is important to understand all the pieces of technology involved with certain technology stacks. The two most common are Microsoft .NET and Java-based technologies. In the selection of either, there are specific operating systems, databases, programming languages, development tools and servers that are used with each technology stack.

Research all the necessary technical standards for a technology stack and make recommendations of what must be included for an organization to use that technology stack for software development.

Response Guidelines

Comment on the post of at least two other learners. Offer insights, solutions, examples, or opinions that add depth and value to the conversation.

Note regarding discussions in this course: The content topic should determine the length of your post; however, a minimum of 150 words is recommended. Refer to the discussion participation scoring guide for posting expectations.

Make your initial posts by midweek to allow sufficient time for peers to respond. The expectation within the course discussions is to respond to at least two posts by the end of the unit, but it is highly recommended that you extend the dialogue further. Responding over multiple days will help stimulate a lively discussion.

Learning Components

This activity will help you achieve the following learning components:

Explain the hardware requirements for a business using an Agile methodology.

 

 

 

 

IT 3345 Software Architecture

Unit 4 Discussion 

Software Development Phases

The Guide to the Software Engineering Body of Knowledge (SWEBOK) describes accepted knowledge about software engineering and is an internationally accepted. The first four phases defined in the SWEBOK guide are the most commonly used phases across most software development projects. However, there can be differences based on the specific methodologies being used.

Based on the Agile methodology that you have selected, research and share resources that help define one of the software phases. How do those resources help define that phase for CapraTek?

Response Guidelines

Comment on the post of at least two other learners. Offer insights, solutions, examples, or opinions that add depth and value to the conversation.

Note regarding discussions in this course: The content topic should determine the length of your post; however, a minimum of 150 words is recommended. Refer to the discussion participation scoring guide for posting expectations.

Make your initial posts by midweek to allow sufficient time for peers to respond. The expectation within the course discussions is to respond to at least two posts by the end of the unit, but it is highly recommended that you extend the dialogue further. Responding over multiple days will help stimulate a lively discussion.

Learning Components

This activity will help you achieve the following learning components:

Identify steps in each software development phase.

 

IT 3345 Software Architecture

Unit 5 Discussion 

Application Maintenance

Discuss the following in your post:

Why software applications such as the ones developed by CapraTek need to be maintained.

Which part of the software maintenance process you believe is the most complex, and which is the most important. Explain your reasoning.

Response Guidelines

Comment on the post of at least two other learners. Offer insights, solutions, examples, or opinions that add depth and value to the conversation.

Note regarding discussions in this course: The content topic should determine the length of your post; however, a minimum of 150 words is recommended. Refer to the discussion participation scoring guide for posting expectations.

Make your initial posts by midweek to allow sufficient time for peers to respond. The expectation within the course discussions is to respond to at least two posts by the end of the unit, but it is highly recommended that you extend the dialogue further. Responding over multiple days will help stimulate a lively discussion.

 

IT 3345 Software Architecture

Unit 1 Assignment  

Agile Methodology

Overview

In this assignment you focus on the process methodology of Section 5, Standards and Procedures of your software development plan (SDP)—choosing, diagramming, explaining and finally applying your choice of Agile development methodology to CapraTek. The choices that you make here drive the rest of the SDP, so it is an appropriate starting point.

Preparation

Use the assignment Resources to complete the following:

View the CapraTek scenario in the CapraTek Overview document.

Download the Software Development Plan Template. Save it as “CapraTek_SDP_u1” and use it to complete and submit your assignments for this course.

Directions

Consider the CapraTek scenario and address the items below in Section 5 of the CapraTek SDP document.

Select an Agile methodology and briefly justify why your chosen Agile methodology is appropriate for CapraTek.

Create a Unified Modeling Language (UML) activity diagram that illustrates the process methodology life cycle.

Describe each of the phases depicted in the process methodology diagram with relation to the software development process. Keep your descriptions generic—the point is to explain the processes involved in each phase to illustrate the concept.

Partial Example: Scrum initial requirements steps: “During the initial requirements steps, the product owner examines the product backlog and gets feedback from the customer and other stakeholders. The product owner then informs the development team of the items from the product backlog . . .”

Select two of the phases and describe how each would manifest itself in the context of CapraTek. Consider CapraTek’s requirements, resources, time constraints, et cetera.

 

 

 

 

 

IT 3345 Software Architecture

Unit 2 Assignment 

Resources, Scheduling, Organization, and Staffing

Overview

A proper SDP document must consider the organization’s capabilities and constraints. This assignment focuses on the first three sections of the SDP:

Section 1: Introduction: Scope, Purpose, and Business Challenges.

Section 2: Resources and Scheduling.

Section 3: Organization and Staffing.

Considering the following questions may help guide you in this assignment:

Why is there a need for the software development plan?

What are CapraTek’s motivations to create the new architecture?

What are the consequences of not adopting a new architecture?

What business problem will the new architecture solve?

What resources and scheduling would be required for each development project?

What roles need to be filled within the Agile methodology that you have selected?

Preparation

Review the CapraTek scenario found in the assignment Resources as required.

Save a new version of your SDP document using this unit number and use it to complete the assignment.

Directions

Consider the CapraTek scenario and address the items below in sections 1–3 of the CapraTek SDP document:

Introduction (SDP Section 1): Complete the following sections:

Scope.

Purpose.

Business challenges: Identify and prioritize the challenges facing CapraTek.

Resources and Staffing (SDP Section 2): Specify the project roles and responsibilities based on your Agile process methodology. Assume three concurrent and similarly scoped projects.

Organization and Scheduling (SDP Section 3): Specify the project allocation breakdown based on the required resources for anticipated projects. As CapraTek does plan to run three software development projects simultaneously, resources may need to be shared between projects. Note: You will need to make, and state, general assumptions regarding and based on the approximate size of each project.

 

IT 3345 Software Architecture

Unit 3 Assignment 

Technical Standards

Overview

Technical standards are important to ensure that all development staff utilize the same technologies for consistency, maintenance, and support. By ensuring that all individuals follow a specific set of standards, development processes can be efficiently completed by many different individuals rather than having the dependency on a few.

In this assignment you complete SDP Section 6, Technical Standards, which is intended to provide developers a high-level view of technologies to be used.

Preparation

Review the CapraTek Overview found in the assignment Resources as required.

Save a new version of your SDP document using this unit number and use it to complete the assignment.

Directions

Consider the CapraTek scenario and address the items below in Section 6 of the CapraTek SDP document:

Create a technology stack component diagram showing where each technical operation is performed.

Describe the following components and justify why each is important for solving the identified technical challenges:

Servers: Describe the various types of servers that are appropriate for integration with the identified applications.

Development Software: Identify four development and support tools needed for software development that both address identified technical challenges and that interoperate with Java and .NET operations. Justify your choices.

 

IT 3345 Software Architecture

Unit 4 Assignment 

Software Phases

Overview

By adhering to the key software development phases defined in the SWEBOK, CapraTek has signaled its commitment to creating consistent software projects.

In this assignment you complete SDP Section 7, Software Phases.

Preparation

Review the CapraTek Overview found in the assignment Resources as needed.

Save a new version of your SDP document using this unit number and use it to complete the assignment.

Optional Resource

You may refer to the SWEBOK V3 available in the assignment Resources.

Directions

Consider the CapraTek scenario and address the items below in Section 7 of the CapraTek SDP document:

Create activity diagrams depicting the steps involved in each of the following software development phases:

Phase 1: Software Requirements.

Phase 2: Software Design.

Phase 3: Software Construction.

Phase 4: Software Testing.

Describe the high level steps involved with each phase. Note: Phase 3 has already completed this portion as an example.

Explain how your chosen Agile methodology affects the process flow of each software development phase.

 

IT 3345 Software Architecture

Unit 5 Assignment 

Verification, Validation, and Maintenance

Overview

Once a software development project is completed at CapraTek, it is also important that there is a plan in place to have the system verified and validated to assure it is the right system and is developed correctly. The SDP needs to spell out how independent verification and validation is to be conducted.

Software is rarely completely done at the end of a project. There may be bugs that are uncovered or additional criteria that must be implemented. Planning out a process for the maintenance of the software is crucial. A large part of the software maintenance is to preserve its integrity as changes are made. Any changes should be logged and tracked. There needs to also be criteria put in place when certain software needs to be retired or migrated.

In this assignment you will complete SDP Section 8, Validation and Verification, and Section 9, Maintenance Process.

Preparation

Review the CapraTek Overview found in the assignment Resources.

Save a new version of your SDP document using this unit number and use it to complete the assignment.

Directions

Consider the CapraTek scenario and address the items below in Section 8 and Section 9 of the CapraTek SDP document:

Create a plan for the independent verification and validation of software based upon your chosen Agile methodology per SWEBOK standards (SDP Section 8). It should be one page or less.

Create an activity diagram demonstrating the software maintenance process (SDP Section 9).

Create a maintenance plan that specifies how to maintain deployed software per SWEBOK standards (SDP Section 9). It should be one page or less.