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Group 2 Assignment 1

Students’ Names: Edwin Murithi

Christine Makena

Micah Kutoto

Elvis Kariuki

Technical University of Kenya

EEGR 4121: Software Engineering

Mr. Omondi Fred

4th November 2022

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Software Engineering Assignment

Question 2: Explain the following UML diagrams: Use Case diagram, class diagram, object-
interaction diagram, package deployment diagram, and state transition diagram. Explain them
using examples and drawings.

a. Use case diagram: This diagram shows the users and potential users of the end system in
order to ascertain the scope and utility functions integrated into the system. As such,
software engineers can craft the system according to the roles of the users.
For instance, the users of a stocks trading system include the traders, account managers,
and market data providers who use the system to advance the ultimate goal of trading
through a series of roles such as generating conversations, news and information or
scouring the internet for similar information that will turn a profit.

b. Class diagram: It highlights simple and complex attributes of entities within a system
and the various relationships between the entities themselves or attributes. These
relationships are denoted by use of arrows.
In a banking system, an account holder is in possession of a unique account and the
diagram below illustrates the attributes of the sub entity (BankAccount) which is
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identified by a unique string and with a balance. Below the attribute section, the only
operations available to the sub entity are highlighted.

c. Object-interaction diagram: These diagrams are an in-depth analysis of class diagrams

because they show individualized interactions between systems, subsystems, and
processes. To facilitate this core function, the progression of innate processes is explored
and demonstrated in detail.
For example, in an email system, emails are primarily stored on the server while the
client alters their utility and storage. Through embedded functions on the client software,
the user can send, delete or download emails. The following diagram highlights how
these commands are achieved and in a specified sequence.

d. Package deployment diagram: This diagram is used as a basis for contingency

planning, preparedness and meeting the designed roles of a system by indicating the
relationships between other interdependent systems such as hardware systems, backups
and quality assurance.
For instance, the system for an insurance brokerage firm would have a deployment that
includes specifications for client-server interactions, storage and processing for entities
such as new and renewed policies as well as a DBMS to store all pertinent data.
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e. State transition diagram: The state chart visualizes the progression of a system from its
initialization within the target environment up until a replacement has been established or
once it has ceased its utility. The diagram also highlights how events influence the
progression of the process.
For example, a series of independent and interdependent processes must take place within
an ATM in order for cardholders to transact their money. The states in question include
ON, OFF, READY and OUT OF SERVICE while events include shutting down, card
insertion and failures.
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Question 6:

a. What is a precedence network? Can you give two examples of precedence networks?
What is the most important information that must be included in any precedence
network? [4 Marks]

It is a method of constructing a project schedule network diagram that uses boxes/nodes

to represent activities and connects them with arrows that show the dependencies.

Examples of precedence network.

i. Finish-to-Start (FS): In this case, task B cannot start until task A has been completed.
ii. Start-to-Start (SS): In this case, task B cannot start until task A starts.
iii. Finish-to-Finish (FF): In this case task A cannot be completed until task B is completed.
iii. Start-to-Finish (SF): In this case, task B cannot be completed until task A starts.

Every Precedence network must include activities, duration and dates.

b. What do you understand by a critical path as used in Program Evaluation Review

Technique (PERT)? Use a simple example with three of four activities to explain the
critical path.
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The critical path is the longest task sequence of a project. PERT charts are used to determine
the critical path of a project to estimate its duration.

c. What are the advantages and disadvantages of PERT? Use a fictitious case to
demonstrate each advantage and/or disadvantages.

The advantages of PERT:

1. It provides a graphical display of project activities that helps the users understand the
relationships among the activities.
2. It is the ideal technique for tactical level planning and operational level control of projects.
3. It is effective in planning single project activities in any type of industry.
4. It allows project managers to do 'what if' analysis on project activities.

The disadvantages that limit the use of PERT are:

1. It cannot effectively handle situations in which two or more projects share available
resources.
2. It fails when there is a change in the precedence and sequential relationships of project
activities.
3. It requires a lot of information as input to generate an effective plan. This may prove too
expensive.

d. Give any three types of task dependency relationships as used in precedence networks
using a schedule planning example.

1. Finish-to-Start (FS): In this case, task B cannot start until task A has been completed.
2. Start-to-Start (SS): In this case, task B cannot start until task A starts.
3. Finish-to-Finish (FF): In this case task A cannot be completed until task B is completed.
4. Start-to-Finish (SF): In this case, task B cannot be completed until task A starts.
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e. What do you understand by earned value in project implementation? Can you

demonstrate with aid of a diagram how earned value helps monitor progress for any
planned project?

Earned value is a way to measure and monitor the level of work completed on a project
against the plan. Simply put, it’s a quick way to tell if you’re behind schedule or over budget
on your project.

Earned value analysis based on the performance measurement baseline is how you can
compare your project plan to your project execution. This allows project managers to answer
three questions: where were we, where are we now and where are we going?