In this module you will prepare a project proposal and complete the project after the proposal is approved. This would typically involve the following steps - gathering requirements, conducting primary and secondary research including a critical literature review, planning the project, which involves modelling, designing, creating, testing and documenting a well-engineered artefact that is a computer based solution to the problem set out in your proposal. This will also include writing a report documenting the project, including a critical reflection, and completing a presentation viva showing the artefact and a critical evaluation of the project outcomes.

1. IDENTIFY AND SPECIFY A SOFTWARE ENGINEERING PROJECT PROPOSAL AND PLAN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PROJECT.
Knowledge and Understanding, Enquiry

2. CREATE A WELL-ENGINEERED MODEL OF A SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM USING RECOGNISED SOFTWARE ENGINEERING TECHNIQUES
Analysis,
Communication,
Problem Solving

3. CREATE A WELL-ENGINEERED SOFTWARE ARTEFACT BY TRANSFORMING A MODEL USING RECOGNISED SOFTWARE ENGINEERING STANDARDS AND TECHNIQUES
Communication

4. TEST THE SOFTWARE ARTEFACT USING RECOGNISED SOFTWARE ENGINEERING TECHNIQUES
Analysis,
Reflection,
Application

5. CARRY OUT THE PROJECT, FULLY IN COMPLIANCE WITH PROFESSIONAL CODES OF CONDUCT, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ANY RELEVANT LEGAL, SOCIAL, RISK ASSESSMENT, SOFTWARE STANDARDS, CYBER SECURITY PRINCIPLES, AND ETHICAL ISSUES
Learning,

Application 6. WRITE A REPORT THAT DOCUMENTS AND CRITICALLY EVALUATES THE PROCESS AND RESULTS OF EACH STAGE OF THE PROJECT
Communication

An Assignment of three parts
Assignment 1: Final Year Project Proposal. (Learning Outcome 1).

Assignment 2: Final Year Project Report.
Model, create and document a software solution to the problem set out in your proposal. Write a report describing the technical aspects of the project’s model and artefact, the processes involved in the performance of the project, and critically reflect on the project’s findings and outcomes. The report should conform to prescribed standards of referencing (Learning Outcomes 2 to 5).

Assignment 3: A viva presentation and demonstration of the technical aspects of the project, including a demonstration of the artefact and a critical evaluation of the project outcomes (Learning Outcomes 2 to 5).

Project proposal specification planning.
Methods and skills of critical literature review.
Selecting and using appropriate technologies available (e.g. library, digital library, Internet facilities and other sources).
Gathering data from a range of primary sources, including experimental programming.
Techniques for testing project artefacts.
Techniques to analyse data and to present the results in a suitable format.
Requirements engineering
Incremental and iterative approach
Design using appropriate notation such as UML
Agile project management
Critical evaluation of project outcomes.
Critical reflection on one’s performance in the project.
Course-specific guidelines for the individual project.
Project planning and management.
Health and safety.
Legal, ethical, professional and social issues.
Aspects of cyber security and principles.
Organisation of study materials.
Techniques of research report writing.
The roles of the supervisor and the student.
Issues associated to software testing and robustness (including British Standards Institution PAS 754).
Consideration of computing in relation to public well-being.
Industry roles and industry relations.
Environment and sustainability issues.
Business, economics, environmental and sustainability issues.
Commercial issues and principles, and Intellectual Property.
Globalisation issues.
Disability and accessibility.
Health and Safety, and associated risk issues.

An important part of the learning strategy is direct one-to-one supervision of your project by a supervisor, which would typically be 20 minutes per week. Most of your time will be spent in self-managed learning. The independent learning for this module will include your keeping of a logbook, which will encourage you to reflect about the problems you are meeting and the ways in which you are solving them. You will prepare for and conduct business-like meetings with your supervisor and communicate clearly and effectively with him or her. An important part of your learning will take place in direct discussion with your supervisor.

Dawson, C. (2015) Projects in Computing and Information Systems: A Student's Guide. 3rd edition. Pearson Education. ISBN: 9781292073460

Schwalbe, K. (2018) Information Technology Project Management. 9th edition. Course Technology. ISBN: 9781285452340

Access to appropriate books and journals

None