Software Engineering

288
SECTION 3  
Stages of Software Engineering Application
testing can be conducted. Successful completion of product acceptance testing leads 
to the post-development stage, which involves software distribution, training, and 
sustainment. The post-development stage continues until the software product no 
longer requires sustainment. These life-cycle processes need to be developed con-
currently so they are ready to support product distribution and support.
Within each stage of the software life cycle the software engineering process is exe-
cuted, as necessary, to evolve the product from a concept to a complete, tested product. 
The software engineering process provides a basis for dealing with complexity, under-
standing the risks associated with design alternatives, while deriving a design approach 
that can be implemented within program cost and schedule objectives. Whenever the 
product is being designed during development, implementation, or support, the soft-
ware engineering process should be employed. The software engineering process pro-
vides the disciplined approach to understanding alternative design concepts, their risks, 
and the potential impacts on program objectives. This enables a software engineering 
team to make better decisions concerning the best architectural design configuration.
During this discussion of integrated product and process development the soft-
ware project hierarchy shown in 
Figure 2
 is used. It addresses an integrated product 
and process context view of the organizational roles and responsibilities.
Software:
 The integrated system that is comprised of the software product, its 
operational computing environment definition, and associated post-development 
software support processes.
Product:
 The software that is defined, designed, implemented, and tested to sat-
isfy stakeholder needs and expectations.
Computing environment:
 The computing hardware (mainframes, servers, work-
stations, desktop computing systems, etc.), operating systems, database manage-
ment systems, and other products, communication access, and networks that 
provide the operational environment for the product.
Post-development processes:
 The processes that must be established to distribute the 
software product to customers or consumers, supply training resources and mate-
rial, and support and evolve the software product throughout its useful life.
Replication:
 The process by which the software product and user documenta-
tion is reproduced for digital distribution. Replication is also responsible for