Software Projects Versus Other Types of Project
Many of the techniques of general project management are applicable to software project management, but product of software projects have certain characteristics which make them different.
(i) Invisibility : when a physical artefact such as Hospital, School or road is being constructed, the programs being made can actually be seen. With software, progress is not immediately visible. One way of perceiving software project management is as the process of making visible that which is invisible.
(ii) Complexity : Software products contain more complexity than other engineered artefacts.
(iii) Conformity : The “Traditional” engineer is usually working with physical systems and physical materials like plastic, cement and steel etc. These physical systems can have some complexity, but are governed by physical laws that are consistent. Software developers have to conform to the requirements of human clients, it is not governed by physical laws.
It is not just that individual can be inconsistent, organizations, because of laps in collective memory, in internal communication or in effective decision making, can exhibit remarkable “organizational stupidity”, which developers have to cater for.
(iv) Flexibility : The easy which software can be changed in usually seen as one of its strengths. However this means that when the software system interfaces with a physical or organizational systems, it is expected that where necessary, the software will change to accommodate the other components rather than vice-versa.
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