Unit 7: Software Development Life Cycles

Assignment Brief

Student Name/
ID Number

Unit Number Unit 7: Software Development Lifecycles

and Title

Academic Year 2022-2023

Unit Tutor Ryda Simon

Assignment The Software Development Lifecycle
Title
Issue Date 21-02-2023

Submission Date 23-03-2023

Submission Format

The submission is in the form of the following.

A written report that reviews and assesses the different software development
lifecycle methodologies, and also exploring and assessing the importance of impact
feasibility studies in software development projects.
You are required to make use of headings, paragraphs and subsections as
appropriate, and all work must be supported with research and referenced using the
Harvard referencing system.
You are required to make use of headings, paragraphs and subsections as appropriate, and all work
must be supported with research and referenced using the Harvard referencing system. You are
required to make use of headings, paragraphs and subsections as appropriate, and all work must be
supported with research and referenced using the Harvard referencing system. You are required to
make use of headings, paragraphs and subsections as appropriate, and all work must be supported

Note:
with research and referenced using the Harvard referencing system.

The Assignment must be your

own work, and not copied by or
from another student or from
books etc. If you use ideas,
quotes or data (such as diagrams)
from books, journals or other
sources, you
must reference your sources,
using the Harvard style. Make
sure that you know how to
reference properly,
and that understand the
guidelines on plagiarism.
You are required to make use of headings, paragraphs and subsections as appropriate,
and all work must be supported with research and referenced using the Harvard
referencing system.
The individual Assignment must be your own work, and not copied by or from another
student. If you use ideas, quotes or data (such as diagrams) from books, journals or
other sources, you must reference your sources, using the Harvard style. Make sure that
you understand and follow the guidelines to avoid plagiarism. Failure to comply this
requirement will result in a failed assignment.

Unit Learning Outcomes

LO1 Describe different software development lifecycles

LO2 Explain the importance of a feasibility study

Transferable skills and competencies developed

Computing-related cognitive skills
● Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, principles
and theories relating to computing and computer applications
● Use such knowledge and understanding in the modelling and design of computer-
based systems for the purposes of comprehension, communication, prediction and the
understanding of trade-offs
● Recognize and analyze criteria and specifications appropriate to specific problems,
and plan strategies for their solutions
● Analyze the extent to which a computer-based system meets the criteria defined for
its current use and future development
● Deploy appropriate theory, practices and tools for the design, implementation
and evaluation of computer-based systems.
Computing-related practical skills
● The ability to evaluate systems in terms of quality attributes and possible trade-
offs, presented within the given problem
● The ability to plan and manage projects to deliver computing systems within
constraints of requirements, timescale and budget
● The ability to recognize any risks and safety aspects that may be involved in
the deployment of computing systems within a given context
● The ability to deploy effectively the tools used for the construction and
documentation of computer applications, with particular emphasis on understanding
the whole process involved in the effective deployment of computers to solve
practical problems
● The ability to critically evaluate and analyze complex problems, including those
with incomplete information, and devise appropriate solutions, within the
constraints of a budget.

Generic skills for employability

● Intellectual skills: critical thinking; making a case; numeracy and literacy
● Self-management: self-awareness and reflection; goal setting and action
planning, independence and adaptability; acting on initiative; innovation and
creativity
Contextual awareness, e.g. the ability to understand and meet the needs of
individuals, business and the community, and to understand how workplaces and
organizations are governed.

Vocational scenario
You work as a Junior Systems Analyst at Future InfoTech, an independent
software development company that specializes in designing and creating bespoke
computer systems to meet individual client requirements.
BestFit is an organization in the education sector that provides a new series of CPD
(Continuous Professional Development) courses aimed at business people who are
looking to enhance their skills in IT domain.
BestFit has recently seen an increase in demand for its services and is expanding to
meet this demand. They would like a new system to support both staff and clients.
The Project Client – the BestFit Chief Technical Officer – has asked Future InfoTech
if they would be interested in designing and implementing the new system. The
CEO has asked you carry out a preliminary software investigation on the new
system to be developed prior to taking on the project.
The requirements of the BestFit project are as follows and it contains further
information about the application you are required to investigate. Ensure that you
read the information carefully before you attempt this assignment.
You have been appointed to develop a comprehensive employer and employee
attendance management system, which includes both a web interface and a mobile
application. This system needs to allow employers and employees access to
information when they are not in the office.
Employees should be able to:
• Request an absence
• Check their current holiday entitlements
• View their absence history
• Check upcoming training/workshop details
• View project deadline dates

Managers should be able to:

• Approve or reject absence requests
• View past and future absences
• View employee contact details such as phone, email and staff ID numbers
• Check employee's time in/time out details
• View employee's performance report and incident report

The system must have both a user-friendly web interface and a mobile application
with a modern, intuitive design. Security is of utmost importance, so the system
must be designed with security measures such as user authentication and data
encryption. The system should also have the ability to send notifications for pending
actions. As the lead developer, it is important to keep your line manager appraised
of progress. To ensure team members without a computing background can
understand the system, it is recommended to include explanations and diagrams
where necessary. The CEO has asked you carry out a preliminary software
investigation on the new system to be developed prior to taking on the project.
You are to identify the appropriate software methodology to be used should Future
InfoTech agree to take on the project. You have also been asked to carry out a
basic investigation into the project to determine scope, requirements, constraints
and to identify core system processes.

Assignment activity and guidance

Task 1
Write a report that reviews the different software development lifecycle models.
Your research paper should include the following.
● An overview of different lifecycle models that could be applied to solving the
problem. Your overview should contain, as a minimum, coverage of two iterative and
two sequential software lifecycle models
● A consideration of different risks to this software project and to software lifecycle
models in general, and how these risks can be managed
● A recommendation of an appropriate SDLC model that could be implemented,
supported by:
o a discussion of the benefits and drawbacks of your chosen SDLC mode

o judgements as to the appropriateness of your chosen SDLC model for the

BestFit project.
● A supported assessment of the merits of using the Waterfall lifecycle model on
large-scale projects, such as the BestFit project
● You should support the points you make in the paper with well-chosen examples
from the functional requirements, and other relevant examples from any research
you have carried out on related sectors or projects.
Task 2
Write an evaluative report that explores the importance of feasibility studies in large-
scale computer projects.
Your report should include the following.
 Consideration of the contents and purpose of a feasibility report, which
includes:
o an explanation of the purpose of a feasibility study

o an overview of how different technical solutions, for an identified set of

problems, can be compared
o a discussion of the different components of a feasibility report.
● An assessment of the impact that a feasibility study would have on the BestFit
project, with reference to specific identified feasibility criteria.
You should support the points you make in the report with well-chosen examples from
the BestFit requirements, and other relevant examples from any research you have
carried out on related sectors or projects.
Recommended resources
Please note that the resources listed are examples for you to use as a starting point in your
research – the list is not definitive.
Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Pass Merit Distinction

LO1 Describe different software development lifecycles D1 Assess the merits of applying
the Waterfall lifecycle model to a
P1 Describe two iterative large software development
and two sequential M1 Discuss using an project.
software lifecycle models example, why a particular
lifecycle model is selected
P2 Explain how risk is for a development
managed in software environment.
lifecycle models.

LO2 Explain the importance of a feasibility study D2 Assess the impact of different
feasibility criteria on a software
P3 Explain the purpose of a M2 Discuss the components investigation.
feasibility report. of a feasibility report.

P4 Describe how technical

solutions can be compared.