Software Project Management
605.403

Course Description
This course describes the techniques and tools required to manage a software project. It begins with the job description of a software manager and then addresses those topics germane to successful software development management including organizing the software development team; interfacing with other engineering organizations (systems engineering, quality assurance, configuration management, and test engineering); assessing development standards; selecting the best approach and tailoring the process model; estimating software cost and schedule; planning and documenting the plan; staffing the effort; managing software cost and schedule during development; risk engineering; and continuous process improvement. Personnel management topics, including performance evaluations, merit planning, skills building, and team building, are also covered. This course introduces software engineers aspiring to become technical team leaders or software project managers to the responsibilities of these roles. For those engineers who have advanced to a software development leadership position, this course offers formal training in software project management.

Syllabus

1. Software development organization and roles
2. Development process models
3. Software effort and schedule estimation
4. Software effort and schedule estimation
5. Planning a software development effort
6. Staffing the software team
7. Mid term
8. Software cost and schedule management
9. Risk engineering and metrics
10. Managing software life cycle support
11. Continuous process improvement
12. Performance evaluations and merit planning
13. Skills building
14. Final

Prerequisites
There are no specific prerequisites for this course.

Instructor
Allan Bowers is a Program Manager with Lockheed Martin Space Mission Systems division. He has over 25 years experience in software development including 15 years as a software engineering supervisor. Mr. Bowers has a B.S.E.E. degree from Johns Hopkins University and has completed considerable course work in computer science at the University of Colorado. Mr. Bowers joined Lockheed Martin by way of the merger process having previously worked for Ford Aerospace and Loral Corporation.

E-mail the instructor.

Computer Lab Requirements
No specific computer requirements are necessary for this course.

Textbook
No textbook. Class notes must be purchased.

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updated September 1997