1.15. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
| Q1 | Do I need to understand both process and modeling before I can apply quality to them? |
| A1 | Yes, your understanding of process should be developed independent of your understanding of models. Once a good understanding of both process and models is developed, quality can be applied to them. |
| Q2 | If my project is running late, which of the three checks (syntax, semantics, or aesthetics) should I drop? |
| A2 | Syntax checks will be relatively easy to execute. This is because most CASE tools help you draw syntactically correct UML diagrams. Therefore, you should not skip the semantic checks of all models. |
| Q3 | Is the separation of the three modeling spaces important? |
| A3 | Yes, it is important to understand modeling in problem, solution, and background spaces. What is more important is to keep in mind that eventually these models will be intertwined with one another and that there is no need to specifically work towards keeping these models separate. The division of modeling work in these three spaces ensures that the roles working in these modeling spaces have a clear understanding of what they should be focusing on. |
| Q4 | Is UML a process or a methodology? |
| A4 | No, UML is an industry-standard set of modeling techniques, which need a process around them. A process (also commonly known as a methodology) may differ in its approach, but can still use UML as a common set of communication mechanisms. |
| Q5 | How do I handle a project that is extremely large, and beyond the description of large projects discussed here? |
| A5 | Large projects are discussed here to show how their usage of the UML differs from medium and small projects. Extremely large projects will need the application of the concepts discussed here, many times over. The actual concepts of how the UML should be applied do not change. |
| Q6 | How does quality management relate to project management? |
| A6 | Quality management is, in a way, managing a “subproject” within a full software development project that is specifically focused on the quality aspect of the project. Thus, quality management uses almost all concepts of project management in terms of people, planning, and execution, but is focused on quality assurance and quality control of the processes and deliverables in the project. These issues are further discussed in greater detail in Chapter 2. |
| Q7 | You discuss the three dimensions of a process as “what,” “how,” and “who.” What about “when?” |
| A7 | The three dimensions provide the core of a process. Additional dimensions will arise and will be relevant to practical projects. However, incorporating them in a process becomes easy if the basic three dimensions are defined. |
| Q8 | We have an old legacy system. We have to replace it. How can modeling help? |
| A8 | Modeling can help by enabling you to create a good understanding of the existing system. This will involve limited modeling of what exists. This will be followed by models related to conversion of data and reengineering of business processes. Modeling will of course play a major role in creating new business processes. |
| Q9 | I am a process consultant. Do I need to understand UML metamodels? |
| A9 |
Yes, any process person who customizes and implements processes needs to understand metamodels. However, project managers who are merely “users” of a process may not want to spend too much time understanding the metamodels of the UML.[18]
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| Q10 | Despite working hard on the usability aspect of our software, it is not getting recognized as such. |
| A10 | Consider including the users more than you have been in modeling requirements and conducting usability studies. Consider cross-cultural issues, particularly if the software is developed in a different country from its users. Ask the users to prioritize their usability concerns and address the most important ones first. Create prototypes (even if they are nonexecutable prototypes or create storyboards or mind maps). |
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