I would challenge anyone to find a complex system being developed these days that does not include a software component. Even civil engineering projects often include sensors, cameras, maintenance tracking, etc. The value of a Software Systems Engineering class is that it exposes the student to the different aspects of requirements, modeling, development processes, and validation of software systems. What I personally took away from the class was the generation of use cases, and how they translated to specific examples of the different types of UML constructs. It was instructive on how these models go together to specify the requirements of a software project.
One measure of success of a business is on how efficiently it can deliver its product to market. If a manufacturing facility cannot efficiently and reliably manufacture its product, it is not going to be around long. Similarly, the same concept applies to software development. Software companies must be able to efficiently develop, measure effort, and deliver code. One important component of a successful business is tracking metrics and problems and acting on them to continuously get better. The Orthogonal Defect Classification (ODC) process, where the class spent the last few weeks, can be a powerful tool in that regard.
The class was a good overview of end to end software development, and I believe software systems knowledge would be valuable to any systems engineer. Regarding the instructor, Professor Chillarege’s teaching style is very approachable and collaborative. He clearly is very knowledgeable in ‘real life’ software development. The instructor adapted the course material to the class’s makeup and experience in real time to maximize the impact and was consistently supportive to the students during the semester.
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John Schneider, 3 Nov 2020