SOFTENG 761 : Advanced Agile and Lean Software Development

Engineering

2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Advanced software engineering concepts focussing on Agile and Lean software development; including hands-on iterative and incremental software development, self-organising teamwork, project management, and an individual research component to explore challenging issues in this discipline.

Course Overview

This course covers key Agile Software Development methodologies like Scrum. In addition to teaching students the theory behind these commonly used methodologies, it also teaches students how to apply them. Students will work in teams of 7 students to develop a real software product using common agile practices. They will also reflect on their experiences by writing a reflective essay. 
This course may require that you learn new programming languages and technologies independently and quickly. There are weekly deliverables and expectations in this course, and students are required to meet weekly deadlines, participate in stand ups and other team activities on weekly basis. There might be mandatory attendance components as well. 

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: COMPSYS 302 or SOFTENG 306

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand and apply theoretical knowledge of agile/lean concepts to a real software project. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
  2. Demonstrate effective communication with stakeholders to comprehend and clarify requirements, communicate technical barriers, resolve differences, develop a project plan, and implement/deliver a software product. (Capability 6.1 and 7.1)
  3. Demonstrate and apply good project planning and management practices by eliciting and documenting requirements, creating a project plan, managing workload distribution, performing risk analysis, creating a risk assessment table, and implementing/delivering a software product. (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 5.1)
  4. Critically reflect on practical project experience and compare personal experiences with existing literature. (Capability 3.2)
  5. Understand agile and lean software development fundamental knowledge/theory (Capability 4.1 and 4.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Research 30% Individual Coursework
Project 70% Group & Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Research
Project

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures and 7 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation on average per week in the first part of the course; and, in the second part of the course, you can expect 9 hours of work on the project and 1 hour per week reflecting on existing literature.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Lectures will be available as recordings. 
The course may include live online events, including group discussions.
Attendance on campus is required for the project and sprint demos.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Course readings will be provided on Canvas.

Health & Safety

Students are expected to adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Health and Safety section of the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

According to the previous SET evaluation, the majority of  students were satisfied with the quality of the course, and this course usually scores above average faculty and university.  Students and class representatives are also encouraged to give feedback to the teaching team as soon as possible during the semester. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 02/11/2023 11:52 a.m.