Maximizing student software engineer productivity in hybrid commercial-educational environments

Abstract

Software engineering has advanced for procedurally in the last few decades, reaping tremendous benefits in terms of technology, quality, and productivity. In order to remain competitive, companies require reduced training schedules while simultaneously raising quality standards and productivity. Hybrid commercial-educational facilities face the additional challenge to provide a quality education with the intention of providing students with experiences and knowledge applicable in their post graduation careers. In an educational-comercial production environment with yearly workforce turnover, rapid training and reduced learning curved are essential. This study describes a new approach that simultaneously addresses software engineer training and process maturity called the CETAP "see-tap" (commercial-educational training and process) method. Staff training and development has traditionally yielded significant results in technology related fields. The CETAP method is an example of this, specifically focused on software development in a commercial-education al environment. Research for the CETAP method involved the production of several important learning modules including: Graphical user interface design, Data storage and retrieval. Coding style. These modules in conjunction with implemented process reform were tested for their overall effectiveness. Analysis reveals both significant improvements in quality and reduction in development times. A substantial contributor to quality and productivity has been the maturity of the software development process. Quite often on a software project, expectations are unstated and unmet, quality suffers, and many man-hours are spent on rework, clarification of process, and responding to customer dissatisfaction. This study shows that implementation of quality control procedures, standardization of the development process, and the use of style guides have resulted in dramatic reductions in training time and development.