Software Project Management - Syllabus

Course Overview and Structure

Embark on a profound academic exploration as you delve into the Software Project Management course (SPM) within the distinguished Tribhuvan university's CSIT department. Aligned with the 2074 Syllabus, this course (CSC415) seamlessly merges theoretical frameworks with practical sessions, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the subject. Rigorous assessment based on a 60 + 20 + 20 marks system, coupled with a challenging passing threshold of , propels students to strive for excellence, fostering a deeper grasp of the course content.

This 3 credit-hour journey unfolds as a holistic learning experience, bridging theory and application. Beyond theoretical comprehension, students actively engage in practical sessions, acquiring valuable skills for real-world scenarios. Immerse yourself in this well-structured course, where each element, from the course description to interactive sessions, is meticulously crafted to shape a well-rounded and insightful academic experience.


Course Description:

This course familiarizes students with different concepts of software project management mainly focusing on project analysis, scheduling, resource allocation, risk analysis, monitoring, control and software configuration management.

Course Objectives:

The main objective of this course is to provide knowledge of different concepts of software project management so that students will be able to understand and handle various projects including very high risky and innovative projects using different project management skills.

Units

Key Topics

  • Introduction to E-commerce
    IN-1

    Overview of E-commerce and its significance in the digital age.

  • E-business vs E-commerce
    IN-2

    Understanding the differences between E-business and E-commerce.

  • Features of E-commerce
    IN-3

    Key characteristics and benefits of E-commerce.

  • Pure vs Partial E-commerce
    IN-4

    Types of E-commerce models and their applications.

  • History of E-commerce
    IN-5

    Evolution and development of E-commerce over time.

  • E-commerce Framework
    IN-6

    Understanding the components of E-commerce framework including People, Public Policy, Marketing and Advertisement, Support Services, and Business Partnerships.

  • Types of E-commerce
    IN-7

    Overview of different types of E-commerce including B2C, B2B, C2B, C2C, M-Commerce, U-commerce, Social-Ecommerce, and Local E-commerce.

  • Challenges in E-commerce
    IN-8

    Common obstacles and difficulties faced in E-commerce.

Key Topics

  • Project Management Techniques
    PR-1

    This topic covers various project management techniques used to plan, organize, and control projects. It includes developing project management plans and implementing, monitoring, and controlling projects.

  • Collaborative Development Environment
    PR-2

    This topic focuses on creating an environment that fosters collaboration and teamwork. It includes communications planning, organizing and conducting effective meetings, and other collaborative development strategies.

  • Inter Process Communication
    PR-3

    Methods of communication between processes, including race conditions and critical sections.

  • Implementing Mutual Exclusion
    PR-4

    Techniques for achieving mutual exclusion, including busy waiting, sleep and wakeup, semaphores, monitors, and message passing.

  • Classical IPC Problems
    PR-5

    Solutions to classic inter-process communication problems, including producer-consumer, sleeping barber, and dining philosopher problems.

  • Process Scheduling
    PR-6

    Goals and techniques for scheduling processes, including batch, interactive, and real-time systems.

  • Deadlock Prevention
    PR-7

    This topic covers deadlock prevention techniques, which ensure that deadlocks cannot occur by preventing one of the necessary conditions for deadlock.

  • Deadlock Avoidance
    PR-8

    This topic discusses deadlock avoidance techniques, which ensure that the system will never enter a deadlock state.

  • Deadlock Detection
    PR-9

    This topic explains deadlock detection algorithms, which are used to detect when a deadlock has occurred in a system.

  • Recovery from Deadlock
    PR-10

    This topic covers recovery techniques for deadlocks, including preemption and rollback.

  • Comparison of Mutually Exclusive Alternatives
    PR-11

    Evaluating and comparing multiple project alternatives.

Objectives of activity planning, Work breakdown structure, Bar chart, Network planning model: Critical path method (CPM), Program evaluation and review technique (PERT), Precedence diagramming method (PDM), Shortening project duration, Identifying critical activities.


Key Topics

  • Introduction to Risk Management
    RI-1

    Overview of risk management in software project management, importance and objectives.

  • Nature of Risk
    RI-2

    Understanding the nature of risk, types of risks, and risk characteristics.

  • Risk Identification
    RI-3

    Techniques and methods for identifying risks in software projects.

  • Risk Analysis
    RI-4

    Qualitative and quantitative risk analysis, risk assessment, and prioritization.

  • Evaluating Risk Impact on Schedule using Z-values
    RI-5

    Using Z-values to evaluate the impact of risks on project schedules.

Identifying resource requirements, resource allocation, resource smoothening and resource balancing.


Key Topics

  • Introduction to E-Governance Models
    MO-1

    Overview of E-Governance models and their significance in digital governance.

  • Broadcasting / Wider Dissemination Model
    MO-2

    A model of E-Governance that focuses on disseminating information to citizens through various channels.

  • Critical Flow Model
    MO-3

    A model that emphasizes the critical flow of information and services between government and citizens.

  • Comparative Analysis Model
    MO-4

    A model that involves comparative analysis of different E-Governance initiatives and their outcomes.

  • Mobilization and Lobbying Model
    MO-5

    A model that focuses on mobilizing citizens and lobbying for their rights through E-Governance initiatives.

  • Interactive – Service Model / Government-to-Citizen-to-Government Model (G2C2G)
    MO-6

    A model that enables interactive services between government, citizens, and other stakeholders.

Introduction, types of contract, stages in contract, placement, typical terms of a contract, contract management, acceptance, Managing people and organizing terms: Introduction, understanding behavior, organizational behavior: a back ground, selecting the right person for the job, instruction in the best methods, motivation, working in groups, becoming a team, decision making, leadership, organizational structures, conclusion, further exercises.


Testing principles and objectives, test plan, types and levels of testing, test strategies, program verification and validation, software quality, SEI-CMM,SQA activities, QA organization structure, SQA plan.

Key Topics

  • Errors in Numerical Calculations
    SO-1

    This topic covers the sources of errors in numerical calculations, propagation of errors, and a review of Taylor's Theorem.

  • Trial and Error Method
    SO-2

    This topic explains the trial and error method for solving non-linear equations, including its convergence.

  • Half-Interval Method
    SO-3

    This topic covers the half-interval method for solving non-linear equations, including its convergence.

  • Newton's Method
    SO-4

    This topic explains Newton's method for solving non-linear equations, including its convergence and application to calculating multiple roots.

  • Secant Method
    SO-5

    This topic covers the secant method for solving non-linear equations, including its convergence.

  • Fixed Point Iteration
    SO-6

    This topic explains the fixed point iteration method for solving non-linear equations, including its convergence.

Lab works

Laboratory / Project Work:

Students should prepare a project report using different concepts of software project management. The project can be done in groups with at most four members in each group. Each group can select a case study and apply the concepts of software project management focusing on project analysis, scheduling, risk analysis, resource allocation, testing.