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CORNELL CS 501 - Feasibility Studies

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CS 501: Software EngineeringAdministrationSlide 3Feasibility StudySlide 5Example: Library of Congress (Poor Process)Chronology (Bad)Bad Discoveries During PrototypeMistakesRepository: Research During PrototypeExample: NSDL (Long Process)Why are Feasibility Studies Difficult?Techniques for Feasibility StudiesCS 501: ClientScopePotential BenefitsResourcesObstaclesHow to Minimize Risk?Feasibility ReportDiscussion of Pfleeger, Chapter 2Question 1: Steps in the Waterfall ProcessThe Waterfall ModelQuestion 2: RiskQuestion 3: Acceptance TestingQuestion 4: Prototype and Phased Development1CS 501 Spring 2002CS 501: Software EngineeringLecture 3Feasibility Studies2CS 501 Spring 2002AdministrationNews group: nntp://newsstand.cit.cornell.edu/cornell.class.cs501Wednesday evening section this week:Project team formation and discussionsToday:AnnouncementsLecture on Feasibility StudiesDiscussion of Pfleeger, Chapter 23CS 501 Spring 2002AdministrationProject teams: • If you have definitely chosen a project, please notify the Teaching Assistants with the names of your team members• If you do not have a team you can meet after class• Wednesday's recitations session will be to help the people who do not have projects form teams• We may ask teams to add extra members• A Teaching Assistant will be added to each team.4CS 501 Spring 2002Feasibility StudyBefore beginning a project, a (usually) short, low-cost study to identify: • Client• Scope• Potential benefits• Resources needed:staff, time, equipment, etc.• Potential obstaclesWhere are the risks? How can they be minimized?5CS 501 Spring 2002Feasibility StudyA feasibility study leads to a decision:go aheaddo not go aheadthink againIn production projects, the feasibility study often leads to a budget request.In research, a feasibility study is often in the form of a proposal.6CS 501 Spring 2002Example: Library of Congress(Poor Process)Outline DescriptionThe Library of Congress required a repository system to store and make accessible very large amounts of highly varied material over long periods of time.7CS 501 Spring 2002Chronology (Bad)1993-94 CNRI carried out research on architectures for digital libraries.1995-97 CNRI developed prototype repository for Library of Congress.1998 CNRI and Library of Congress realized that the project was going in the wrong direction.8CS 501 Spring 2002Bad Discoveries During Prototype• Resistance to change within Library of Congress• Technical weakness of Library of Congress• Gaps in CNRI architecture9CS 501 Spring 2002Mistakes• Confusion of objectives (research and implementation)• Failure to involve all stakeholders• Over-ambitious (no proper feasibility study)10CS 501 Spring 2002Repository: Research During Prototype1. CORBA implementation of repository access protocol.2. Integration of persistent naming through handle system.3. Use of structural metadata to describe complex objects, elementary typology.4. Access management framework and implementation.5. Applet-based middleware for user interfaces.6. Information visualization program to view the structure of large collections.As research this was excellent, but it did not help the client build a production system.11CS 501 Spring 2002Example: NSDL (Long Process)1996 Vision articulated by NSF's Division of Undergraduate Education1997 National Research Council workshop1998 SMETE-Lib workshop 1999 NSDL solicitation 2000 6 demonstration projects (core system)2001 1 large core integration system funded12CS 501 Spring 2002Why are Feasibility Studies Difficult?Benefits are usually very hard to quantify.Approach is usually ill-defined. Estimates of resources needed and timetable are very rough.(e.g., eCornell)Organizational changes may be needed.(e.g., British auto licensing center.)Therefore, feasibility studies rely heavily on the judgment of experienced people.Mistakes made at the beginning are the most difficult to correct.13CS 501 Spring 2002Techniques for Feasibility StudiesGive client appreciation of system:demonstrationmock-upwalk throughOutline budget:n people for m months at $x per monthequipment, buildings, etc.Phases/milestones:deliverables at approximate date14CS 501 Spring 2002CS 501: ClientIn CS 501, you have two clients:• The client for the project• The professor for the courseCan you satisfy them both?15CS 501 Spring 2002ScopeWhat are the boundaries of the project?CS 501 Examples (Fall 2000):• Static web pages with open access on the Web [Web Profiler]• Used by the general public [Digital Collections]• Varying data formats [Legal Information]• Thousands of sensors [Data mining]• Support for Windows, Mac, Unix [SALSA]16CS 501 Spring 2002Potential BenefitsWhy are you doing this project? Can you price the benefits?Examples • Create a marketable product• Improve the efficiency of an organization (e.g., save staff)• Control a system that is too complex to control manually• New or improved service (e.g., faster response to customers)• Safety or security• Get a good grade on CS 50117CS 501 Spring 2002ResourcesExamples: CS 501Staff: 5 to 7 students, with some help. How many hours per week? What skills do people have?Time: Must be completed by end of semester, including operational system, documentation, presentationEquipment and software: What special needs are there?Client: Will the client be sufficiently available and helpful?18CS 501 Spring 2002ObstaclesCS 501 projectsStart-up time. Creating a team, scheduling meetings, acquiring software, learning new systems, ...Business considerations. Licenses, trade-secrets, ...Too ambitious. Nothing to show at the end of the semester...Changing circumstances. Client leaves the university, ...What else?19CS 501 Spring 2002How to Minimize Risk?CS 501 Projects• Several target levels of functionality: required, desirable, optional phases• Visible software process: intermediate deliverables• Good communication within team and with Teaching AssistantGood processes lead to good softwareGood processes reduce risk20CS 501 Spring 2002Feasibility ReportA written document• For a general audience: client, financial management, technical management, etc.• Short enough that everybody reads it.• Long enough that no important topics are skipped.In CS 501, I am looking for a well written, well presented document.21CS 501 Spring


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CORNELL CS 501 - Feasibility Studies

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