2. Software Engineering provides for project planning techniques. The duration that is estimated for a project has a realistic base. It puts “gut feel” estimates in a tight corner.

2. Software Engineering brings into play software cost estimation techniques. Cost of developing a piece of software can be estimated based on lines of code or functions of a system or experience of experts.

Treating the process of software development as a project, provides focus on other cost issues that would exist with another project-cost of recruitment, cost of delay in schedule, cost of putting more people on a project, cost of machinery etc.

With effective automated tools available for estimating costs, it is now possible to break these down to the smallest component like per day cost of Development or even hourly cost of development.

1. While cost estimation techniques make for accurate estimates, software project management practices provide for review and rework, through the project life cycle.

2. Software quality assurance techniques, coupled with quality standards that are being built into the procedures of software development are placing new demands on the software professionals to ensure that software that is developed is of a certain quality.

3. Project reviews, status meetings that assess whether or not major project milestones have been met are very useful in monitoring a project. Project control techniques are employed by software project managers to provide for and administer project resources and deal with problems of the project as and when they arise.

4. The entire process of software development as presented through the software engineering spectrum is aimed at easing out one activity-maintenance. Maintenance is difficult, tedious and traditionally looked down upon by programmers who are constantly yearning to write new code. Once a piece of software is written in a structured manner, properly documented and is easily traceable in the system where it belongs, maintenance will no longer remain a messy affair.

Role of a Software Engineer

In today’s IT world there is a need for a new type of engineer, who understands both the fundamental concepts of computing, as imparted by computer science, as well as the skill and ability to apply these concepts to the creation of useful, cost-effective software System.

Apart from being a good programmer, a software engineer must be familiar with various design approaches, be able to translate user requirements into specifications, as well as able to interact with the users on various areas of an application.

During interaction with the user, a software engineer must be able to the users’ choice with regard to the tradeoffs that are likely to be faced with each model. A software engineer should also possess good communicational and interpersonal skills. It is important for him to be able to work efficiently with team members.

Therefore a software engineer should be able to move with equal ease through the different stages of a project- such as determination of system requirements, detailed coding levels, implementation and signoff. Beside his technical capabilities he is also expected to sharpen his managerial skills so that he can participate in the project in a wholesome manner.

But, this should not give the impression that a software engineer on the project is a ‘jack of trades’. So where are the specialists? Of course, there are specialists on a project- analysts for conducting analysis, design specialists for designing a system, but every member should have an all round perspective of the project.

Defining a Software Engineer

“A Software Engineer is a person who applies software engineering principles to the process of software development”.

As Software Engineering is applicable to all the phases of software development, a software engineer can be an analyst, a designer, a programmer, tester or a project manager.