Achieving Industrial Relevance with Academic Excellence; How Computing Students Should Be Taught Spi

The main objective of Software Engineering as a discipline [11] is the production of error-free, reliable software that meets user’s requirements effectively and that it is delivered on time and within budget. To support this objective introduces the idea of Software Process Improvement, which is a combination of appropriate software engineering techniques and principles geared towards improving software production. In order for these techniques to be engaged, they first have to be taught. This paper shall discuss the reason why SPI should be taught at undergraduate level and also look at the way it should be taught in an attempt to get the full potential of the SPI into the minds of undergraduate students as to equip them with new technical focuses. In this paper I shall analyze and discuss ways to improve the module and how to make it more interactive and produce a better learning environment for students and lecturers alike.

Software process improvement (SPI) is an essential topic in any computing curriculum. Students can be trained in the principles of SPI; later in industry this improves their chances [10] of implementing good software processes which in turn will be successfully defined and improved. [8] Discusses how all aspects of the computing field have had rapid, continuous change. As a result, university-level computing degrees curricula require frequent updating and review to remain effective and attractive for potential students, also to become more lucrative for industry as they need up-to-date graduates coming into the workforce. They [8] stress the point that there is no lessening in demand for IS knowledge and ability in organizations. Every discipline is experiencing growth in computer use and students who enrich there is knowledge is at a career advantage.

For this paper to achieve success in improving the quality of the SPI module there needs to be first, a general consensus for the modules objectives. The module must meet the needs of... [continues]

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