INF9181 – Process improvement and agile methods in systems development

Course content

  • Introduction to History and Concepts of Software Process Improvement
  • Software Development Processes and Methods
  • Agile Methods
  • Research Methods
  • Problem Solving and Improvement – by Individuals, Groups and Organizations
  • Measurement-based Improvement
  • Goal-oriented Measurement
  • Learning from Experience
  • Process Assessment
  • Process Improvement Frameworks

Learning outcome

At the end of the course, the participants will know characteristics and effects of various development processes, including agile methods. The participants will understand challenges related to improving processes in systems development organizations. During the course, the participants will study and apply basic methods and techniques for problem analysis and for process improvement planning and implementation.

Admission

PhD candidates from the University of Oslo should apply for classes and register for examinations through Studentweb.

If a course has limited intake capacity, priority will be given to PhD candidates who follow an individual education plan where this particular course is included. Some national researchers’ schools may have specific rules for ranking applicants for courses with limited intake capacity.

PhD candidates who have been admitted to another higher education institution must apply for a position as a visiting student within a given deadline.

Prerequisites

Recommended previous knowledge

Teaching

The teaching is dialogue-oriented and with a practical approach (few "correct" answers). 3 hours tuition per week. Discussion of project tasks. This project task is a document that describes a specific improvement plan for a hypothetical or actual business.

The phd-version has more curriculum than the master-version of this course (INF5181).

Examination

The project assignment is an independent, individual work to be delivered two times - and one voluntary hand-in. Project assignment counts about 80%. Oral exam counts about 20 %.

Examination support material

No examination support material is allowed.

Language of examination

The project assignment must be written in English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Explanations and appeals

Resit an examination

Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.

Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass the original examination.

Withdrawal from an examination

It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.

It will also be counted as one of your three attempts to sit the exam for this course, if you sit the exam for one of the following courses: INF5180, INF5181 and INF9980.

Other

It is strongly recommended to attend the first lecture since it will be given important information.

Facts about this course

Credits
10
Level
PhD
Teaching
Every autumn

Last time autumn 2017.

Examination
Every autumn
Teaching language
English