Software Engineering I
CSCI 577a: Fall 2008
csci577@usc.edu
Client Resources


New!!! Presentation on Clients' meeting: August 22, 2008 (ppt)
New!!! Presentation on Clients' meeting: June 24, 2008 (ppt)
New!!! Project Proposal Form (doc)

How to be a client

To be a client, we request that not only should you have a software problem/project that would benefit from a systematic application of software engineering principles but also that someone in your organization (preferably yourself) be able to devote roughly 1-2 hours a week to engage with the team assigned to the project. It is essential that such a represerntative be a direct stakeholder in the project success and be empowered to make key decisions regarding the project (or at least be able to reach the concerned person & get decisions from such a person). Further, it is necessary that the client (or the client represerntative) be able to attend 2 project review meetings during the semester during which the project progress, team contribution & client feedback will be used as inputs for instructor feedback & guidance on the best way to continue the project.

Our experience indicates that the best clients (or client represerntatives) are: Collaborative (with the team), Representative (of their organization), Authorized (to make key decisions), Committed (to the project's success) & Knowledgable (of the desired software features, of the technology that could be used to execute the project, of the possible problems etc)

Client activites with respect to course schedule

Sep 9 - 11: Client's worksite visit/tour
Sep 10: Teams formed
Sep 12: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM WikiWinWin Training (Location: KOH 208)
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Lunch and Q&A session with staff (Location: RTH 306)
2:00 PM - 3:20 PM Projects selected, CS577a session with clients (project & team introduction), Client Interaction Lecture by Ann Majchrzak (Location: OHE 122)
Sep 22 - Oct 05: Client interviews, win-win negotiations support, prototype evaluation (Identification of other success-critical stakeholders)
Oct 22-24: FCR* ARB meetings (project progess meeting-1, attend only the one for your project)
Dec 01 - Dec 05: DCR** ARB meetings (project progess meeting-2, attend only the one for your project)
Dec 10: Project evaluation
* FCR = Foundations Commitment Review
** DCR = Development Commitment Review
Intermediate consultation, prototype reviews: scheduled weekly meetings with the team
 
All material available on website: http://greenbay.usc.edu/csci577/fall2008/site/index.html
 

Here's an example project executed for the Los Angeles County, during the academic year 2007-08:
Project website during Fall 2007, Spring 2008.
Project website as deployed at our test server.

 
You can find the description of the previous year's projects on the following link: http://greenbay.usc.edu/csci577/fall2007/site/projects/index.html
 

We invite you to read the following articles about ours course:
1. article in the USC Chronicle
2. Have Problem, Will Solve - USC News
3. Viterbi Computer Science Class Reaches Out to Serve Neighborhood Needs - USC Viterbi School of Engineering News

These articles should provide you with a high-level overview of what to expect & the manner in which the course is executed. If you have further questions, please contact Dr. Barry Boehm, Director of the Center for Systems and Software Engineering, at boehm@sunset.usc.edu, awbrown@usc.edu, koolmano@usc.edu