Unit outline for Software Quality and Measurement (CITS4220).

6 points / Semester 1
Location: UWA (Crawley)

Handbook description

This unit is taken in a student's final year, and pulls together the theories of software development with the practicalities of working in a group on large and complex systems under tight time and cost constraints. Emphasis is placed on strategies to improve processes and the client relationship through software metrics. The major project involves the development of an industrial-strength estimation tool. Topics include software development paradigms and models; estimation and planning; system specification; validation, design, verification, implementation and testing; quality assurance; ISO 9001, and CMMI, standards; configuration management; process modelling; usability; complexity and process metrics, project and risk management; reliability modelling; and organisation capability measurement.

Prerequisites: CITS2220 Software Engineering: Design

Unit aims

Students understand software development as a process, with its management, measurement and improvement, as well as specific issues such as estimation, planning and quality assurance; develop skills in validation, verification and testing, the use of ISO standards, user contact, configuration management, the design and use of metrics, reliability modelling and risk management; and gain an awareness of the human and professional issues (such as privacy) regarding the impact of new systems on organisations and society at large.

Teaching staff

Unit Co-ordinator: Associate Professor Terry Woodings

Contact hours

50 (lectures: 26 hrs; tutorials/labs: 24 hrs)

Assessment

This comprises two assignments and a final examination. The first assignment on project estimation is designed to demonstrate skills in system development scheduling, and the second (in two parts), in documenting procedures together with designing and implementing software quality metrics. As in industry, there are rewards for the early production of work. Students are expected to maintain a practical work folder in which they keep notes of the techniques they have developed in tutorial work and a log of software engineering papers read. There is an examination that focuses on a student's ability to explain and develop concepts covered in the unit. Supplementary assessment is not available in this unit except in the case of a bachelor's pass degree student who has obtained a mark of 45 to 49 and is currently enrolled in this unit, and it is the only remaining unit that the student must pass in order to complete the course.

Unsatisfactory progress

Any student who does not demonstrate satisfactory progress in this unit, as defined in the Faculty's policies on assessment practices and procedures, may be refused admission to the final examinations. The final deadline for notification of unsatisfactory progress is the last day of Week 10.

Penalties

The School of Computer Science and Software Engineering has adopted a policy on minimum penalties for late items of assessment. This is the default policy of all units unless indicated otherwise, in writing, by the specific unit coordinator.

This policy shall apply to all items of continuous assessment, whether submitted either physically or electronically. Immediately after the submission deadline for an item of continuous assessment, a penalty of 20 percent will be applied PER DAY or PART THEREOF. The minimum mark possible for late submission is zero. The percentage is based on the item´s total contribution to the unit´s assessment. For example, a project contributing 40% to the unit´s assessment will incur a penalty of 8 marks for each day late until it is submitted or a mark of zero results.

A more detailed description is given in this School´s policy on late submission. The Faculty does have an appeals procedure, the details of which can found at the policy for appeals.

Special consideration

Applications for consideration, deferral of tests or exams or extensions of time for assignments on medical, personal or other grounds must be lodged with the faculty office no later than three working days after the due date for the assessment in question. This rule will apply to all students, except in exceptional circumstances.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is broadly defined to be when any portion of the work presented for assessment, can be attributed to another party. The student making the submission should acknowledge what aspects of the presented work is not directly derived by them. For the purposes of plagiarism it is irrelevant that you have been given permission by someone to copy their work and present it as your own.

You are directed to the Faculty's policy on plagiarism.

Academic misconduct

The University of Western Australia strongly supports teaching and learning that promotes academic literacy and ethical scholarship for all students. As part of this commitment, UWA has recently developed new guidelines relating to Academic Misconduct (including plagiarism). It is also developing a range of resources for students and staff to further strengthen academic literacy and ethical scholarship at UWA. Further information is available on the Teaching and Learning website.

Academic Conduct Essentials (ACE)

All students who have not previously been enrolled at UWA are required to complete a short compulsory online module called Academic Conduct Essentials (ACE) within the first 10 weeks of semester. ACE introduces students to essential knowledge regarding ethical scholarship, helps prepare them for the expectations of their university career and informs them of correct academic conduct.

The unit can be accessed via WebCT. The final unit quiz must be completed with a mark of 80% or greater. Students may attempt the quiz as many times as they wish to gain the required pass mark. Completion of the unit will be recorded as an Ungraded Pass (UP) on students’ academic records. Non-completion (NC) within the required timeframe will also be documented on formal academic records.

Faculty Marks Adjustment Policy

Final assessment is subject to the Faculty's scaling policy.

Supplementary Examinations

Supplementary examinations will be awarded in accordance with the Faculty policy on supplementary assessment.

Student rights

Consult the University's Charter of Student Rights and Responsibilities.