Quality Management and Software Process Improvement

Code:

MESW0011

Acronym:

GQMPS

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
CNAEF	Informatics Sciences

Instance: 2020/2021 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Informatics Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Software Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MESW	4	Syllabus since 2016/17	1	-	6	42	162

Teaching language

English

Objectives

This course unit aims to provide students with the skills and abilities to take on leadership roles related to quality management, quality assurance, process improvement and quality certifications in software development organizations.

Learning outcomes and competences

At the end of this curricular unit, it is intended that students:

1. Recognize the importance of quality of software products, processes and services and of their management;
2. Know and be able to apply reference models, methods and standards  for the evaluation, improvement and certification of software development processes in organizations, such as CMMI-DEV, and ITmark;
3. Know and be able to apply methods and standards for software process modeling, and process performance measurement and analysis, such as SPEM and ISO/IEC 12207;
4. Know and be able to apply reference models, methods and standards for the evaluation, improvement and certification of service management processes in organizations, such as CMMI-SVC and ISO 20000;
5. Know and be able to apply reference models, methods and standards for the evaluation, improvement and certification of information security management processes in organizations, such as ISO 27001 and GDPR;
6. Know and be able to apply best practices, methods and standards for software product quality measurement, such as ISO 25023;
7. Know and be able to apply quality standards for specific domains, such as the IEC 62304 standard for "Software as a Medical Device". 

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

General software engineering knowledge.

Program

1. Current status and importance of quality of software products, processes and software and of their management;


2. Reference models, methods and standards for the evaluation, improvement and certification of software development processes in organizations, such as CMMI-DEV, SCAMPI and ITmark;


3. Reference models, methods and standards for software process modeling and process performance measurement and analysis, such as SPEM and ISO/IEC 12207;


4. Reference models , methods and standards for the evaluation, improvement and certification of service managament processes in organizations, such as CMMI-SVC and ISO 20000;


5. Reference models, methods and standards for the evaluation, improvement and certification of information security managament processes in organizations, such as ISO 27001 and RGPD;


6. Methods and standards for software product quality measurement, such as ISO 25023;


7. Quality standards for specific domains, such as the IEC 62304 standard for "Software as a Medical Device".

Mandatory literature

Sommerville Ian; Software engineering. ISBN: 978-0-13-705346-9
Chrissis, M. B., Konrad, M., Shrum, S.; CMMI for Development: Guidelines for Process Integration and Product Improvement (3rd ed.), Addison-Wesley Professional, 2011. ISBN: 978-0321711502

Complementary Bibliography

Forrester, E., Buteau, B., Shrum, S.; CMMI for Services: Guidelines for Superior Service (2nd ed.), Addison Wesley Professional, 2011. ISBN: 978-0321711526
Jones, E.; Quality Management for Organizations Using Lean Six Sigma Techniques, CRC Press, 2014. ISBN: 9781439897829
Jones Capers; Software engineering best practices. ISBN: 978-0-07-162161-8
Humphrey, W., Over, J.; Leadership, Teamwork, and Trust: Building a Competitive Software Capability, Addison Wesley Professional, 2011. ISBN: 978-0321624505
Humphrey Watts S. 1927-; PSP. ISBN: 978-0-321-30549-7

Teaching methods and learning activities

TEACHING

The classes will comprise two components: (i) presentation and discussion of topics and case studies; (ii) development of practical exercises, and analysis of practical cases and elaboration of recommendations for concrete organizations by the students.

 

EVALUATION

1) Presentation of selected topics of the international models and standards studied in the course (10% of the final grade);

2) Practical work of gap analysis in a software development organization (35% of the final grade);

3) Researching and presenting a topic related with the course syllabus (15% of the final grade);

4) Final exam (individual; 40% of the final grade).

Software

Appraisal Assistant

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	40,00
Trabalho de campo	35,00
Trabalho escrito	25,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	52,00
Frequência das aulas	52,00
Trabalho de campo	20,00
Trabalho de investigação	8,00
Total:	132,00

Eligibility for exams

Having concluded successfully the distributed evaluation assignments.

Calculation formula of final grade

EVALUATION

1) Presentation of selected topics of the international models and standards studied in the course (10% of the final grade);

2) Practical work of gap analysis in a software development organization (35% of the final grade);

3) Researching and presenting a topic related with the course syllabus (15% of the final grade);

4) Final exam (individual; 40% of the final grade).

 

Observations

Important dates:

• Presentation of selected topics from the models and international standards covered: week from 24 to 26 / Feb;


• Practical "gap analysis" work in a software development organization: April 30;


• Research work and presentation of a topic related to the course: week of May 19 and 21.