cse3mqr metrics, quality
METRICS, QUALITY AND RELIABILITY
CSE3MQR
2015
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
This subject examines the different attributes of the quality of a piece of software, the techniques of measuring them and the means of developing quality software. The topics covered include measurement techniques, empirical relations, representation conditions, measurement types and scales, direct and indirect measurements, measurement prediction, meaningfulness in measurement, software quality attributes, software metrics, different types of metrics, software complexity, size estimation, software productivity, GQM, management by metrics, software reliability concepts, reliability model, reliability estimation, testing issues in the real world, test suite design, testing techniques, management issues in testing, software release policies, fault and failure, fault report, and fault and failure analysis.
SchoolSchool Engineering&Mathematical Sciences
Credit points15
Subject Co-ordinatorRichard Lai
Available to Study Abroad StudentsYes
Subject year levelYear Level 3 - UG
Exchange StudentsYes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites CSE2DES or CSE3SDM
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjects CSE41FSM or CSE3SMM or CSE5MQR
Equivalent subjectsN/A
Special conditionsN/A
Learning resources
Readings
| Resource Type | Title | Resource Requirement | Author and Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readings | Software Metrics: A Practical and Rigorous Approach | Recommended | Norman Fenton | A COPY IS AVAILABLE IN THE LIBRARY |
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Be able to compare the different measurement methods and explain how measurement is used for understanding, controlling and improving a project.
- Activities:
- Students are taught the concepts of software metrics, measurement methods and measurement data, and how measurement enables a project to be understood, controlled and improved. Case studies are employed to demonstrate how it is done.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Discipline-specific GCs(Discipline-specific GCs)
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
02. Be able to construct the important test cases and a test suite for testing a software system more adequately and effectively
- Activities:
- Students are taught how poor quality software could affect many aspects of lives. For instance, a poor quality software affects the performance of an organisation and jeopardises human lives when it is used in a safety-critical system. Students are required to construct test cases that have a good coverage of the specification so that it is well tested before being shipped to a customer.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
- Ethical Awareness(Ethical Awareness)
03. Be able to justify how some of the software metrics and framework (eg Halstead complexity metrics, McCabe Cyclometric metrics, Function Point and GQM) are used for measuring certain attributes of a software system.
- Activities:
- Students are taught the techniques of devising software metrics in relation to software goals and the goals of a company. The Halstead complexity metrics, McCabe Cycolmetric metrices, Function Point, Goal-Question-Metrics (GQM) framework are explained as to how they are used for measuring the certain attributes of a software system. Case studies are employed to demonstrate how they are put into practice.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
- Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
04. Be able to explain the causes of software faults and relate them to software reliability and software reliability modelling
- Activities:
- Students are taught software reliability, software reliability modelling and how to analyse software faults. A case study on a past faulty safety critical system will be presented. Students are to discuss and to analyse faults during tutorial and laboratory classes.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
Subject options
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Melbourne, 2015, Semester 2, Day
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorRichard Lai
Class requirements
TutorialWeek: 32 - 43
One 2.0 hours tutorial per week on weekdays during the day from week 32 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
LectureWeek: 31 - 43
Two 1.0 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam (2 hours) | 30 | 01, 02, 03, 04 | |
| Problem Solving Tasks | 2000 words | 22 | 01, 02, 03, 04 |
| Reflective Learning Tasks | 1000 words | 12 | 01, 02, 03, 04 |
| Laboratory submissions | 1200 words | 14 | 01, 02, 03, 04 |
| Tutorial exercises | 1200 words | 14 | 01, 02, 03, 04 |
| Quizzes | Ten quizzes each of 15 minutes | 8 | 01, 02, 03, 04 |