Abstract
Software development efforts are characterised by; project failures, runaway projects and integration and communication problems. Analysing why some projects finish on target while others lose track of their original objectives, constraints and milestones, can only be viewed as a long term investment The study of failures is a sensible approach for utilising past experience and advancing to the next level of maturity. This paper introduces the discipline of Forensic Engineering and frames it within the software development environment. The value of failure analysis is discussed from a number of viewpoints and the educational implications explored. Finally the paper calls for a new attitude towards failure, where in order to maximise potential learning, acceptance of failure is the new order of the day.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Anon: Benefits of software engineering methods and tools,A study for the Department of Trade and Industry. London, UK: PA Computers and Communication 1985
B. R. Blum: Software Engineering a holistic view. New York: Oxford University Press 1992
R. N. Charette: Software Engineering Risk Analysis and Management. New York:Mcgraw-Hill 1989
R. N. Charette: Application Strategies for Risk Analysis. New York: Mcgraw-Hill 1990
W. W. Cotterman, J. A. Senn: Challenges and Strategies for Research in Systems Development. New York:John Wiley & Sons. 1992
D. Dalcher: Total Project Management. To appear in: Proceedings of the 1993 PMI Annual Seminar/Symposium. Virginia: PMI Press
D. Dalcher: Forensic Engineering in practice. To appear in: Proceedings of the IEEE CBSE Task Force Proceedings. Kansas 1993
D. Dalcher: Dynamic Software Project Management. Maidenhead, England: McGraw-Hill. To appear 1994
J. Hihn & H. Habib-agahi: Cost Estimation of Software Intensive Projects: a Survey of Current Practices. in: Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Software Engineering, May 13–17 1991. Austin, Texas: IEEE Press
T. Peters: Thriving on Chaos, a Handbook for Management Revolution. New york: Alfred A. Knopf 1987
H. Petroski: To Engineer is Human. New York: St. Martin's Press 1982
S. Sitkin: Learning Through Failure; the strategy of Small Losses: Unpublished report. University of Texas 1990
S. White et al.: Improving the Practice in CBSE: State of Practice Working Group Special Report: IEEE Computer Society CBSE Task Force
A. Wildavsky: Searching for Safety. New Brunswick: Transaction publishers 1988
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1993 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Dalcher, D. (1993). Falling down is part of growing Up; the study of failure and the Software Engineering community. In: Díaz-Herrera, J.L. (eds) Software Engineering Education. CSEE 1994. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 750. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0017636
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0017636
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-57461-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-48191-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive