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Software Engineering Project - ELE00056H

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  • Department: Electronic Engineering
  • Credit value: 40 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module summary

In this group project you will work as part of a “company” to produce a major software application designed for desktop computer or tablet/phone. You will take on one role with specific responsibility within the company, e.g. project / software / marketing manager, and run the company as a small business. All student companies develop project specifications based on marketable ideas and use modern software engineering methods to design/implement/test that product. Each student company has to pitch initial product ideas to financial backers and business mentors and the final product is demonstrated in a presentation to staff acting as "customers".

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2022-23 to Summer Term 2022-23

Module aims

Subject content aims:

  • To gain understanding of design, implementation and testing methods in the context of software engineering
  • To develop an understanding of the role of prototyping in software development

Graduate skills aims:

  • To develop group working skills
  • To understand the role of project management
  • To provide a scenario of a small business environment to develop transferable skills such as presentation skills and time management

Module learning outcomes

Subject content learning outcomes

After successful completion of this module, students will:

  • Have experience of a variety of aspects of software engineering through the development of a large piece of software within a group
  • Appreciate the effective use of tools to support the software engineering process
  • Understand the basic operation of a small business

Graduate skills learning outcomes

After successful completion of this module, students will:

  • Have the ability to communicate technical concepts to their peers
  • Be able to work as an effective team member

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Groupwork 100

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

The group work is weighted at 35%, the remaining 65% is an individual mark.
There a several deadlines during the module when assignments are handed in and feedback is provided on each one, however no mark is awarded until the end of the project. They are more than formative assessments however: for example marks are awarded to the accuracy of the specification submitted early in the module based on how much of the specification was achieved.
Work is handed-in approximately every two weeks throughout the project, a typical schedule would be:
AuT Wk 6: Functional Specification Document
AuT Wk 8: QA Manual and Financial Business Plan
AuT Wk 10: Tender presentations and First Financial Report
SpT Wk 4: All contracts prepared and ready for signature
SpT Wk 6: Second Financial Report
SpT Wk 10: Final Test and Integration Plan
SuT Wk 3: Third Financial Report
SuT Wk 6: Final Financial Report
SuT Wk 8: Demonstration and Sales Presentation
SuT Wk 8: All deliverables (software and reports)

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Groupwork 100

Module feedback

'Feedback’ at a university level can be understood as any part of the learning process which is designed to guide your progress through your degree programme.  We aim to help you reflect on your own learning and help you feel more clear about your progress through clarifying what is expected of you in both formative and summative assessments.

A comprehensive guide to feedback and to forms of feedback is available in the Guide to Assessment Standards, Marking and Feedback.  This can be found at https://www.york.ac.uk/students/studying/assessment-and-examination/guide-to-assessment/

The Department of Electronic Engineering aims to provide some form of feedback on all formative and summative assessments that are carried out during the degree programme.  In general, feedback on any written work/assignments undertaken will be sufficient so as to indicate the nature of the changes needed in order to improve the work.  Students are provided with their examination results within 20 working days of the end of any given examination period.  The Department will also endeavour to return all coursework feedback within 20 working days of the submission deadline.  The Department would normally expect to adhere to the times given, however, it is possible that exceptional circumstances may delay feedback.  The Department will endeavour to keep such delays to a minimum.  Please note that any marks released are subject to ratification by the Board of Examiners and Senate.  Meetings at the start/end of each term provide you with an opportunity to discuss and reflect with your supervisor on your overall performance to date. 

Indicative reading

Notes and readings will be provided in class.



The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.