CT203 Software Analysis and Design: FAQ Practical

If the group allocations have been published and you are not in a group or are not in the group you requested, please contact Spiros Denaxas (S.Denaxas@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk) immediately.

How can I find out more about working as a group?

See the Course unit web page on working as a group. The page contains information about choosing your group and a PowerPoint presentation on working as a group.

How are students assigned to project groups?

During the first lecture of the Course unit, students will be offered a group nomination form. This form will allow you to nominate group members subject to certain rules. The practical organiser will then use this information to formulate groups. We cannot guarantee to assign the requested members to a group, but we will endeavour to do so where possible and subject to academic regulations and good educational practice.

In order to maximise the chances of getting the requested members in a group, you should complete the nomination form exactly as specified.

What if I do not know anybody on the course and cannot find a group to join?

If your name does not appear on a group nomination form, it is not a problem. You will automatically be assigned to a group.

Can I change my project group?

Once members have been assigned to a project group, it is not normally possible to change groups. The only exception will be where there is a reciprocal swap, i.e. two people exchange groups. This is only possible during the 1st week of the practical. Use the on-line form to change groups.

Do I have to redo the project if I am a repeating student?

If you are a student who has to repeat the whole year IN ATTENDANCE, you must repeat the practical assignment for this Course unit.

If you are a student who has to repeat the whole year WITHOUT ATTENDANCE, you may not be required to repeat the practical assignment for this Course unit. You should check with the examinations office about the terms of your repeat.

How can my group share filestore on a departmental server?

Each group will be allocated a common filestore area to share project files soon after you start working on the project, by the School's computer support group. Please refer to them with any queries.

My group members cannot agree on the facts of the case study?

The case study used for this practical project is designed to be very broad and open to a range of interpretations. It is therefore not surprising that group members will have different views and interpretations. There will not necessarily be a correct or perfect interpretation. What is important is that you (a) come to an agreement of some sort and (b) you can develop a justification for the selected interpretation. Agreeing an interpretation may be difficult and it is suggested that you first agree a mechanism for coming to a conclusion- for example, if after 20 minutes of discussion you cannot reach agreement, you should agree to take a majority vote.

What happens if a member of my group is not carrying out their assigned work?

In the first instance, a member of a group not working is a problem for the group itself. The CN2003 practical project is not just about your ability to deliver the technical work, but also the ability of a group to organise itself, plan its work and deal with the problems that will inevitably arise.

Start by checking that:

the group member has not been asked to do something unrealistic- e.g. they don't have the skills or talent to do the work; that the work is achievable in the time available
the group member is not dependent upon others in the group who have not yet delivered their work
the group member knows what they are supposed to be doing- e.g. did they attend the last meeting or the meeting the work was assigned
there are no personality clashes between the group member and other members- if so, have a discrete word with the group member and try and work round the problem
the group member does not have some other external pressure which is impacting their work (you may need them to discuss such matters with your tutor).

Next, revisit the assigned work and break it down in to small, manageable pieces- work which has a definite start and end and a measurable outcome, i.e. it is clear what the work is and easy to say when it is completed.

If the group member continues to fail to deliver, you may need to have a special meeting to discuss the problem; although this should not become a 'witch hunt'.

Finally, advise your tutor of the situation and follow their guidance.

Do I need to wear a suit to the group presentation?

Many students ask this question! Think what your own answer would be first, before reading this.

It is up to you whether you wear a suit. You will not be marked on your appearance. However some students find it helpful to 'dress up' when making a presentation.

My tutor is giving my group advice about the case study which is different to that given my another to other groups- who is correct?

The case study used for this practical project is designed to be very broad and open to a range of interpretations. If your tutor gives you advice about the case study, it may well be different to that given by another tutor to other groups. The important thing to remember is that it will be your tutor who marks your project.

How do you ensure that tutors all mark to the same standard?

Each tutor marks his or her own groups' projects. When this has been completed, the results are collated and reviewed to ensure that each tutor marks are within an acceptable band. Where a tutor's mark for a particular group is significantly out of line with the overall class average, they will be expected to justify the mark (e.g. the group might be very good or very bad) or the mark will be adjusted to fall into the acceptable range.

This procedure allows for the different experiences and backgrounds of tutors on the Course Unit .

All marks and projects are reviewed by the Course Unit leader to ensure standards and consistency of approach, but taking due account of each groups' structure, tutor and other relevant factors.

Finally, all work is available for inspection by external examiners.

What are the arrangements for making the group's presentation?

A separate page gives an outline of the group presentation arrangements, together with assistance in making presentations.

How do I setup or change the setup of the AFW tool?

Advise on setup of AFW can be found on the AFW download page.

Will I be able to have a breakdown of my group's marks?

We do not give out an individual breakdown of group marks. However each group will receive a feedback sheet which indicates their performance in a number of categories, as indicated by a grade letter. This feedback sheet will be available in semester 2. An announcement will be made when the feedback sheet is available.

How can we prioritise user requirements without interviewing real users?

It is not possible to interview real users to determine requirements priorities; however in this project group members can 'vote' on behalf of users, using their own judgement as to the relative importance of each requirement.

Can we use our own PC laptop for the presentation?

Yes you can use your own pc laptop for making your group's presentation or you can use the pc provided in the presentation room. If you use your own laptop, you must have it electrically tested before the presentation. Please book a testing appointment with Mark Stone (MSS/J14) or email HelpDesk@co.umist.ac.uk.

Quick Tips

Look carefully at this page to see if your question appears. If not, contact the Course Unit tutors for further information.

Details correct as on 3rd October 2005
(c) P.J. Layzell, C. Tjortjis 2001-2005

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