Software Engineering II
CSCI 577b: Spring 2007
csci577@usc.edu
Client Resources

How to be a client

Update: Class Overview presentation for Clients
http://greenbay.usc.edu/csci577/fall2006/site/clients/Overview of CSCI577a For Clients.ppt

 

Dr. Boehm's presentation of the CS 577a course to prospective clients can be found on the following link: http://greenbay.usc.edu/csci577/fall2006/site/clients/USC e-Services Software Engineering Projects-08-22-06.ppt

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

Sept 6: Teams formed, projects selected, CS577a session with clients (project & team introduction)
Sept 11: Client Interaction Lecture by Ann Majchrzak
Sep 18-27: Client interviews, win-win negotiations support, prototype evaluation (Identification of other success-critical stakeholders)
Oct 16-20: LCO ARB meetings (project progess meeting-1, attend only the one for your project)
Nov 27 - Dec 01: LCA ARB meetings (project progess meeting-2, attend only the one for your project)
Dec 6: Project evaluation
Intermediate consultation, prototype reviews: scheduled weekly meetings with the team
 
All material available on website: http://greenbay.usc.edu/csci577/fall2006/site/index.html
 

Here's an example project executed for the Wilson Dental Library, during the year 2003-04:
Project website during Fall 2003, Spring 2004.
Project website as deployed at client site.
 
You can find the description of the previous year's projects on the following link: http://greenbay.usc.edu/csci577/fall2005/site/projects/index.html
 
You are welcome to read through our 2005-06 Project Client Prospectus for the upcoming year.
We invite you to read an article in the USC Chronicle about our CS577 course. It should provide you with a high-level overview of what to expect & the manner in which the course if executed. If you have further questions, please contact Dr Barry Boehm, Director, Center for Software Engineering at boehm@sunset.usc.edu