LM15 (TEXT & PP) - 5 STARRED

It is well recognized that software projects are particularly prone to changes, in large part because there is a general belief that software can be easily ____________.

modified

T/F: Maleability in software is in fact both a strength and a weakness: Changes may be made in software, but must be implemented with care.

TRUE

Define Change Control Process

A sequence of activities used in the tracking and managing of a change request from its inception to its closure.

The worst situation occurs when changes are allowed without proper control. To prevent this type of “change control chaos,” the software project team should develop and follow a:

change control process.

Every change to the product or to the process should start with a _____________, which represents the first, formally defined version of a product or process, and go through a change control process.

baseline

Define Change Request Form

A formal method for submitting a change request, may be a paper-based form or part of an online system.

What should a change request form include?

• Requester’s name

• Request date

• Request description

• Request reason

• Request priority

• Preferred completion date

• Funding source

• Areas affected by change

Once the request form is filled out, it should be submitted to a “_______.”

catcher

Define change request catcher.

A handler designated to formally take charge of the request.

Who might serve as a change request catcher?

The software project manager, the Release Management Council, or a special change request administrator.

Define change impact analysis.

The list and description of affected items generated from the review and assessment of a change request submission.

The change impact analysis will list and describe the items that are affected, including the following areas of consideration:

Some changes help process product content and marketing strategies

• Schedule

• Cost

• Human resources

• Processes and tools

• Product content and size

• Product marketing strategy

Sometimes the change control process also needs to take into account how a change request affects the:

customers’ work flow and work environment.

T/F: Software impact analysis identifies the effects of a software change request.

TRUE

Why is a measurement scheme needed for change requests?

So each change request may be gauged in relation to other change requests.

How can one quantify the measurement of schedule impacts of a change request?

By designating a value range of 1 to 4, where:

• 1: means a schedule impact of 1-2 days

• 2: means 1-2 weeks

• 3: means an impact of 1-2 months

• 4: means an impact exceeding 2 months

How can one quantify the measurement of personnel impacts of a change request?

May also be designated with values ranging from 1 to 4, where:

• 1 means a slight assignment change to one person

• 2 means two to three people are involved in the change

• 3 means one-fourth of all team members are involved

• 4 means half or more of the team members are involved

How can one quantify the measurement of personnel cost impacts of a change request?

May be directly quantified, by using the schedule impact, the personnel impact, and the conversion of those impacts into dollars.

• A schedule impact of 1 and a personnel impact of 2 would convert to (2 days × 3 people) = 6 people-days of impact.

• 6 people-days × z $/person-day = 6z dollar of cost impact.

After each impacted area is quantified, the change requests can be compared by _____ and possibly _______.

area; ordered

Furthermore, each impacted area may be assigned a __________.

numerical weight

What should happen when a project manager decides to reject/deny a change request?

The rejection must be communicated back to the requestor, along with a reason for the rejection.

What should happen when a project manager decides to accept a change request?

Mark Form Schedule Perform Track Close

• Mark and assemble all affected items.

• Formulate a plan for performing the change.

• Schedule, perform, track the actual change activity.

• Close the change request upon completion, and notify the requestor.

What should happen when a project manager decides to accept a change request but is unable to accommodate it with the current release date or budget?

The change request is held for scheduling into a future release and the requestor is informed.

T/F: A small change in a software artifact can have huge ramifications for both the end product and the work effort required to develop that product.

TRUE

Complications come not necessarily from the initial change itself, but from the “_________”—the effect of related work that can dramatically affect both schedules and costs.

ripple effect

Another important aspect of change requests that the software project managers need to be aware of is the requests’ psychological effect on the team. Why?

• Constant flip-flopping leads project team to not perform any changes until the requestor can make up his or her mind.

• Changes concentrated to a specific functional area, can cause the project team to feel helpless and demoralized.

Who is responsible for shielding the project when a multitude of change requests keep coming?

The software project manager

What are the two types of change control processes?

Product changes, process changes

Explain product changes

Large products and lengthy development schedules almost always (force) experience changes:

• Technology improvements “forces” changes

• Competition “drives” changes

• Customers’ new demands “requires” changes

• Developers’ new views “leads” to changes

Technology improvements “_________” changes

forces

____________ “drives” changes.

Competition

Customers’ ___________ “requires” changes

new demands

Developers’ _________ “leads” to changes

new views

Explain process changes.

Product changes may lead to corresponding process changes:

• Users’ business process changes

• Development/support process changes

Changes must be _____________.

controlled

A set of ____________ needs to be maintained.

information; hence the change request form

A sequence of ___________ must be followed.

activities (process); hence the change request process

The information related to each change is kept in a three part “form”:

  (A)  Change request

  (B)  Change impact analysis

  (C)  Change status

Explain a change request.

To manage changes, information related to the change must be tracked, (as a Change Request Form - paper or electronic).

T/F: Before a change request is worked on, someone must analyze the request.

TRUE

What cautions should be had when conducting a change impact analysis?

• A development organization with a tight schedule will not automatically have resources to perform this analysis.

• A development organization may not have a change request process.

What does a change impact analysis typically include?

Impact of change: technical, resource, schedule, business

What does a change impact analysis often lead to?

• Reassessment in schedule, resource, cost

• Feature/Functionality Reassessment: (business flow or competitiveness)

T/F: The impacts of a change impact analysis may be assigned different weights and “rolled” into a single impact number.

TRUE

The impact analysis information for each change request may be attached to the change request form and include:

– Who conducted the impact analysis

– What: impact analysis information, results, recommendation

– When: start / end dates of impact analysis

Explain change status.

As the change request moves from requestor to analyst, and finally to implementation, the information must be tracked until the request comes to closure:

• Rejected:  rejection date and reason

• Accepted:  expected work start date

• In-Progress:  expected completion date and by whom

• Completed:  completion date and by whom

To _______ the Change Request, there must be a _______ that is followed.

control, process

___________ is a common occurrence if changes are not controlled.

Scope creep

Scope creep is a common occurrence if changes are not controlled resulting in:

•Missed schedule

•Cost overflow

•Low morale

What must be considered when implementing a change control process?

Whether you have the skilled human resources, tools, and financing to implement the change control process.