Software Engineering: A Practitioner’s Approach,
6/e
Chapter 32
The Road Ahead copyright © 1996, 2001, 2005
R.S. Pressman & Associates, Inc.
For University Use Only
May be reproduced ONLY for student use at the university level
when used in conjunction with Software Engineering: A Practitioner's Approach.
Any other reproduction or use is expressly prohibited.
These courseware materials are to be used in conjunction with Software Engineering: A Practitioner’s Approach, 6/e and are provided with
permission by R.S. Pressman & Associates, Inc., copyright © 1996, 2001, 2005 1
Importance of Software-Revisited
In Chapter 1, software was characterized as a differentiator.
The function delivered by software differentiates products, systems,
and services and provides competitive advantage in the marketplace.
But software is more that a differentiator.
The programs, documents, and data that are software help to
generate the most important commodity that any individual,
business, or government can acquire—information.
These courseware materials are to be used in conjunction with Software Engineering: A Practitioner’s Approach, 6/e and are provided with
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The Scope of Change
Software connected technologies will impact
communications, energy, healthcare, transportation,
entertainment, economics, manufacturing, and warfare, to
name only a few
Some technologies to watch:
Carbon nanotubes
Biosensors
OLED displays
Grid Computing
Cognitive machines
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permission by R.S. Pressman & Associates, Inc., copyright © 1996, 2001, 2005 3
People - Building Systems
Communication is changing
e.g., video conferencing
Work patterns are changing
e.g., intelligent agents
Knowledge acquisition is changing
e.g., data mining, the Web
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The “New” SE Process
Agile
the process and the people must be adaptable
Incremental
Delivery occurs in increments
All software engineering activities are iterative
Object-oriented
Classes are defined
Responsibilities are identified
Collaboration is described
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An Information
Spectrum
data:
no associativity information:
associativity within
one context
knowledge:
associativity within
multiple contexts
wisdom:
creation of generalized
principles based on
existing knowledge
from different sources
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permission by R.S. Pressman & Associates, Inc., copyright © 1996, 2001, 2005 6
Technology Trends
Combination technologies. When two important technologies are merged, the
impact of the merged result is often greater that sum of the impact of each taken
separately.
Data fusion. The more data we acquire, the more data we need. More importantly,
the more data we acquire, the more difficult it is to extract useful information.
Technology Push. Today, some technologies evolve as solutions looking for
problems.
Networking and serendipity. In this context networking implies connections
between people or between people and information.
Information overload. A vast sea of information is accessible by anyone with an
Internet connection.
These courseware materials are to be used in conjunction with Software Engineering: A Practitioner’s Approach, 6/e and are provided with
permission by R.S. Pressman & Associates, Inc., copyright © 1996, 2001, 2005 7
Software Engineering Ethics-I
An ACM/IEEE-CS Joint Task Force has produced a Software
Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practices
(Version 5.1). The code [ACM98] states:
Software engineers shall commit themselves to making the analysis,
specification, design, development, testing and maintenance of software
a beneficial and respected profession. In accordance with their
commitment to the health, safety and welfare of the public, software
engineers shall adhere to the following Eight Principles:
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Software Engineering Ethics-I
1. PUBLIC - Software engineers shall act consistently with the public interest.
2. CLIENT AND EMPLOYER - Software engineers shall act in a manner that is in the best
interests of their client and employer consistent with the public interest.
3. PRODUCT - Software engineers shall ensure that their products and related modifications
meet the highest professional standards possible.
4. JUDGMENT - Software engineers shall maintain integrity and independence in their
professional judgment.
5. MANAGEMENT - Software engineering managers and leaders shall subscribe to and promote
an ethical approach to the management of software development and maintenance.
6. PROFESSION - Software engineers shall advance the integrity and reputation of the profession
consistent with the public interest.
7. COLLEAGUES - Software engineers shall be fair to and supportive of their colleagues.
8. SELF - Software engineers shall participate in lifelong learning regarding the practice of their
profession and shall promote an ethical approach to the practice of the profession.
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permission by R.S. Pressman & Associates, Inc., copyright © 1996, 2001, 2005 9
Ethics-On a Personal level
Never steal data for personal gain.
Never distribute or sell proprietary information obtained as part of
your work on a software project.
Never maliciously destroy or modify another person’s programs,
files, or data.
Never violate the privacy of an individual, a group, or an
organization.
Never hack into a system for sport or profit.
Never create or promulgate a computer virus or worm.
Never use computing technology to facilitate discrimination or
harassment.
These courseware materials are to be used in conjunction with Software Engineering: A Practitioner’s Approach, 6/e and are provided with
permission by R.S. Pressman & Associates, Inc., copyright © 1996, 2001, 2005 10
