SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT AND DECISION
MAKING PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS
TECHNOLOGY PREP QUESTIONS AND
ACCURATE ANSWERS GRADED A+
●● What are the two fundamental types of software products?
Answer: Generic products and Customized (bespoke) software products.
Generic refers to products made for anyone who would want to use them
usually made by an organization and sold on the open market.
Customized are made for a particular customer to suit a specific need. A
software contractor will design and implement the software especially
for that customer.
●● What is software engineering?
Answer: Software engineering is an engineering discipline that is
concerned with all aspects of software production from conception of
the idea to delivery, operation, and maintenance of the product.
●● What are the four fundamental activities in software processes?
Answer: Software Specification, Development, Validation, and
Evolution.
,Software Specification, customers and engineers define the software that
is to be produced and the constraints on its operation.
Software Development, software is designed and programmed.
Software Validation, where the software is checked to ensure that it is
what the customer requires.
Software Evolution, where the software is modified to reflect changing
customer and market requirements.
●● What is the distinction between computer science and software
engineering?
Answer: Computer Science focuses on theory and fundamentals, and
software engineering is concerned with the practicalities of developing
and delivering useful software.
●● What are the 4 general issues that affect many different types of
software?
Answer: Heterogeneity, Business and social change, Security and trust,
and Scale.
,Heterogeneity refers to the operation of software across multiple
devices. This includes distributed systems across networks that include
different types of computer and mobile devices, and the ability to run on
general purpose computers. It should also be able to run on mobile
phones and tablets as well.
Business and Social change refers to the rapid change within companies
and in society where there is a need to change their existing software and
to develop new software to meet new needs. Value delivery time needs
to be reduced.
Security and Trust refers to trusting the software we use. Especially for
remote software systems accessed through a web page or web service.
We must ensure malicious users cannot successfully attack our software
and that information security is maintained.
Scale refers to software having a wide range of scales from very small
embedded systems in portable or wearable devices through to internet-
scale, cloud-based systems that serve a global community.
●● List 5 different types of software application.
Answer: There are Stand-alone applications, Interactive transaction-
based applications, Embedded Control systems, Batch processing
systems, and entertainment systems.
, Stand-alone are applications that run on a PC or mobile device. Might
not need to be connected to a network and includes all functionality
necessary to run the application. Examples would be travel apps,
productivity apps, etc.
Interactive transaction-based are applications that execute on a remote
computer and that are accessed by users from their own computers,
phones, or tablets. These include web applications such as e-commerce
applications where you interact with a remote system to buy goods and
services.
Embedded control systems are software control systems that control and
manage hardware devices.
Batch processing systems are business systems that are designed to
process data in large batches. They process large numbers of individual
inputs to create corresponding outputs.
Entertainment Systems are systems for personal use that are intended to
entertain the user. It might include special purpose console hardware.
●● What software engineering fundamentals apply to all types of
software systems?
Answer: They should be developed using a managed and understood
development process. The organization developing the software should
plan the development process and have clear ideas of what will be
produced and when it will be completed. Of course, the specific process
MAKING PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS
TECHNOLOGY PREP QUESTIONS AND
ACCURATE ANSWERS GRADED A+
●● What are the two fundamental types of software products?
Answer: Generic products and Customized (bespoke) software products.
Generic refers to products made for anyone who would want to use them
usually made by an organization and sold on the open market.
Customized are made for a particular customer to suit a specific need. A
software contractor will design and implement the software especially
for that customer.
●● What is software engineering?
Answer: Software engineering is an engineering discipline that is
concerned with all aspects of software production from conception of
the idea to delivery, operation, and maintenance of the product.
●● What are the four fundamental activities in software processes?
Answer: Software Specification, Development, Validation, and
Evolution.
,Software Specification, customers and engineers define the software that
is to be produced and the constraints on its operation.
Software Development, software is designed and programmed.
Software Validation, where the software is checked to ensure that it is
what the customer requires.
Software Evolution, where the software is modified to reflect changing
customer and market requirements.
●● What is the distinction between computer science and software
engineering?
Answer: Computer Science focuses on theory and fundamentals, and
software engineering is concerned with the practicalities of developing
and delivering useful software.
●● What are the 4 general issues that affect many different types of
software?
Answer: Heterogeneity, Business and social change, Security and trust,
and Scale.
,Heterogeneity refers to the operation of software across multiple
devices. This includes distributed systems across networks that include
different types of computer and mobile devices, and the ability to run on
general purpose computers. It should also be able to run on mobile
phones and tablets as well.
Business and Social change refers to the rapid change within companies
and in society where there is a need to change their existing software and
to develop new software to meet new needs. Value delivery time needs
to be reduced.
Security and Trust refers to trusting the software we use. Especially for
remote software systems accessed through a web page or web service.
We must ensure malicious users cannot successfully attack our software
and that information security is maintained.
Scale refers to software having a wide range of scales from very small
embedded systems in portable or wearable devices through to internet-
scale, cloud-based systems that serve a global community.
●● List 5 different types of software application.
Answer: There are Stand-alone applications, Interactive transaction-
based applications, Embedded Control systems, Batch processing
systems, and entertainment systems.
, Stand-alone are applications that run on a PC or mobile device. Might
not need to be connected to a network and includes all functionality
necessary to run the application. Examples would be travel apps,
productivity apps, etc.
Interactive transaction-based are applications that execute on a remote
computer and that are accessed by users from their own computers,
phones, or tablets. These include web applications such as e-commerce
applications where you interact with a remote system to buy goods and
services.
Embedded control systems are software control systems that control and
manage hardware devices.
Batch processing systems are business systems that are designed to
process data in large batches. They process large numbers of individual
inputs to create corresponding outputs.
Entertainment Systems are systems for personal use that are intended to
entertain the user. It might include special purpose console hardware.
●● What software engineering fundamentals apply to all types of
software systems?
Answer: They should be developed using a managed and understood
development process. The organization developing the software should
plan the development process and have clear ideas of what will be
produced and when it will be completed. Of course, the specific process
