(SEM VI) THEORY EXAMINATION 2023-24 SOFTWARE PROJECT MANAGEMENT

SOFTWARE PROJECT MANAGEMENT – KOE068

Section-wise Important Questions & Ready Answers

SECTION A

(Attempt all questions in brief – 2 marks each)

(a) Project – Definition with Example

A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result within a defined scope, time, and budget.
For example, developing a mobile banking application for a bank within six months is a software project.

(b) Types of Projects

Projects can be classified as engineering projects, research projects, software development projects, maintenance projects, and organizational change projects. Software projects focus on developing, enhancing, or maintaining software systems.

(c) Limitations of the Waterfall Model

The waterfall model does not easily accommodate changing requirements, provides late visibility of working software, and involves high risk if errors are discovered at later stages.

(d) Parametric Model for Effort Estimation

The parametric model estimates effort using mathematical equations based on historical data and project size, such as Lines of Code (LOC) or Function Points. COCOMO is a commonly used parametric model.

(e) Critical Path in Software Project Development

The critical path is the longest sequence of dependent activities in a project network that determines the minimum project duration. Any delay in critical path activities delays the entire project.

(f) Structure of an Activity Node in Activity Network

An activity node contains activity name, duration, earliest start time, earliest finish time, latest start time, latest finish time, and slack. It helps in project scheduling and control.

(g) Activities under Software Configuration Management (SCM)

SCM activities include configuration identification, version control, change control, configuration auditing, and status reporting to maintain software integrity.

(h) Steps in Change Control Process

Change control involves change request submission, impact analysis, approval or rejection by change control board, implementation of approved changes, and documentation update.

(i) Job Enlargement

Job enlargement is the process of increasing the number of tasks performed by an employee at the same level to reduce monotony and increase job satisfaction.

(j) Organizational Behavior

Organizational behavior studies how individuals and groups behave within organizations and how this behavior affects performance, motivation, and productivity.

SECTION B

(Attempt any three – 10 marks each)

2(a) Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) vs Net Profit and ROI

Discounted cash flow is a better project selection technique because it considers the time value of money. Unlike net profit or ROI, DCF accounts for when cash flows occur, making it more realistic for long-term software projects where benefits are realized over time.

2(b) Function Point Calculation (Numerical)

Using the given data (page-1):

External Inputs = 30 × 10 = 300

External Outputs = 42 × 7 = 294

External Enquiries = 8 × 4 = 32

Internal Logical Files = 7 × 5 = 35

External Interface Files = 6 × 4 = 24

Unadjusted Function Points (UFP) = 685

Assuming all complexity adjustment values are moderate, the final function point value is calculated using standard FP adjustment factor.

2(c) Project Scheduling and Schedule Activities

Project scheduling involves identifying tasks, defining dependencies, estimating durations, and allocating resources. Techniques such as Gantt charts, PERT, and CPM help monitor progress and manage deadlines effectively.

2(d) Software Configuration Management

SCM ensures controlled evolution of software products. It manages changes, tracks versions, supports team collaboration, and ensures product integrity throughout the software lifecycle.

2(e) Role of Organizational Behavior in SPM

Organizational behavior affects team motivation, leadership effectiveness, communication, conflict resolution, and productivity. Understanding OB helps project managers build cohesive teams and improve project outcomes.

SECTION C

(Attempt any one part – 10 marks)

3(a) Best Use of Extra Time and Budget (Management Decision)

Among the given options (page-2), the best choice is to use the extra time and budget for additional testing. This reduces residual defects, improves reliability, and increases customer satisfaction. Software quality is critical, and early release or excessive documentation may compromise product robustness.

3(b) Cash Flow Analysis (NP, PP, ROI, NPV)

Using the table provided on page-2, Net Profit is calculated as total inflow minus initial investment.
Payback Period is the time required to recover initial investment.
ROI measures profitability percentage, while NPV discounts future cash flows at 10% to assess real project value.