In this assignment, you will identify various design constraints to recommend solutions to address a specific problem to a client, using a software design template to communicate this information.

Learning Goal: I’m working on a computer science writing question and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.

Overview

In order to be successful when working with other organizations or even departments within your own organization, you will be required to communicate what is being built to business leaders, partners, and customers in a way that is understandable. Keep in mind that the audience many not be fellow Java programmers, but rather end-user department managers. They understand the business processes and constraints better than you do.

In this assignment, you will identify various design constraints to recommend solutions to address a specific problem to a client, using a software design template to communicate this information.

Prompt

You are working as a junior software developer and your manager has come to you with a project for you to work on while they are out of the office this week. Two clients have requested your assistance with meeting their technology requirements. Your manager has asked you to select one client to work with this week. Choose one of the clients below and a colleague of yours will work with the other.

CHAT AWAY

This social media company has a successful website and is now seeking to develop a mobile app. To market their product to a larger customer base and increase revenue, the app should be available in app stores for iPhone and Android smartphones. The client has reached out to your consultant firm and aims to outsource the project in hopes of staying within their budget.

PARK STATION MANUFACTURING

This manufacturing company wants to start producing video clips on how customers can use their products for training and educational purposes. They would like to use high-quality video editing software that is only available for Mac, because Macs have better desktop publishing capabilities. The challenge is that the company uses Windows exclusively at this time.

You will translate the client’s software requirements into design constraints by summarizing your client’s problem. Use the Software Design Template Word Document provided to prepare a software design document for your client. It is typical for junior developers to work on specific sections of these templates. Specifically, you must address the following:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• Summarize the client’s problem in 2 to 3 sentences. Be sure to provide all relevant background information, including the name of your client in the software design template.
• In your summary, identify each of the client’s business and technical requirements in a clear and concise manner.

DESIGN CONSTRAINTS

• Translate your client’s requirements into at least three design constraints. Ask yourself:
  • What is the problem your client is trying to solve?
  • Are your client’s requirements possible to address? If so, how would you solve the problem and address the client’s requirements?
  • What are the needs to help the client address their problem? For example, consider the hardware and software, development tools and environments, programming languages, skills sets, and business processes needed. How might each of these constrain your design and development?
• Explain your rationale for each design constraint you’ve identified and how it relates to the requirements provided to you by the client. Consider the following:
  • How does each requirement you identified translate into the design constraint?
  • Why are these considered constraints for design and development?
  • Are they business or technical constraints, or both?
• Document the key constraints that inform and influence your design and development by completing the relevant sections of the software design template provided. Be sure to demonstrate best practices when writing the software design document to your client.

Guidelines for Submission

Complete the Executive Summary and Design Constraints sections of the software design template. These sections of the software design document must be submitted as a Microsoft Word document.