Designing User Interfaces Spring 1999

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SE 746-NT Embedded Software Systems
Development Robert Oshana Lecture
37 For more information, please
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2
Managing Embedded Projects
Jack Ganssle
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Engineering maturity

• Pure Techie
• Supervision
• Lead on small projects
• Lead on large projects
• Project or product manager
• Business/Unit manager

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Why move to management?

• Fun
• Respect
• Personal growth
• Money

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Change often fails

• Do nothing
• Dictate change from the top
• Push from the bottom

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Getting products out faster

• User clever technical ideas
• Start testing from day 1
• Manage features to ship on time
• Stamp out bugs aggressively
• Create an efficient development environment

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Three kinds

• Motivators
• Rewards/punishment
• Understanding

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Qualities of useful measurements

• Can be done easily
• Give insight into the product and the processes
• Support effective change making

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Definition quality

• The quality of any product is exactly what the
  customer says it is !

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Quality

• Quality is nice, as long as it does not cost
  anything

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Forget about the design specs

• System design specs are a detail a critically
  important detail but are only parts to a means
  to an end

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Whats the end ?

• End in a capitalistic economy, in a for profit
  corporation Profit !
• The Netscape alternative Profit be damned grow
  like hell

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A profit motivation implies..

• Think product line, not product
• So
• Invent reusable hardware and software

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A profit motivation implies..

• Think product line, not product
• So
• Conserve your technology

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A profit motivation implies..

• Think product line, not product
• So
• Build tools and expertise for the future

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Typical project goals

• Technology goals
• Develop maintainable hardware and software
• Code and design company-reusable modules
• Create an extensible design for later feature
  improvements

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Typical project goals

• People goals
• Improve standard skill set
• Master new tools and techniques
• Master new technologies
• Develop supervisory skills
• Increase fun level

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Profit and NRE vs Recurring

• NRE non-recurring engineering
• Cost of goods recurring costs

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NRE vs Recurring The Math

• New car design costs typically one billion
  dollars in tooling and engineering
• If one million units sold, then theres 1000 of
  real cost for engineering in the sell price
• BUT saving one dollar in costs is worth 500,000
  of NRE

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Typical project goals

• Product goals
• Meet time to market objectives
• Dont exceed budget
• Produce a reasonably bug free product

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Goals The Hard Questions

• Ship or quality ?
• Ship or include kitchen sink ?
• Ship or meet COGS
• Be honest !

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SE 746-NT Embedded Software Systems
Development Robert Oshana 10 minute
break For more information, please
contact NTU Tape Orders NTU Media
Services [phone]
oshana_at_airmail.net
tapeorders_at_ntu.edu