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- Newsgroups: comp.software-eng
- Path: sparky!uunet!wupost!sdd.hp.com!usc!venice!gumby.dsd.trw.com!deneva!pooh.sdd.trw.com!adams
- From: adams@pooh.sdd.trw.com (allen Adams)
- Subject: Re: What is Software Engineering
- Message-ID: <2A9163BA.45F4@deneva.sdd.trw.com>
- Sender: news@deneva.sdd.trw.com
- Organization: TRW Inc., Redondo Beach, CA
- References: <1992Aug3.225335.13213@projtech.com> <1992Aug6.114743@iti.gov.sg> <1992Aug9.181448.22302@hubcap.clemson.edu> <10079@cg-atla.UUCP>
- Date: Tue, 18 Aug 92 20:55:21 GMT
- Lines: 48
-
- bradlee@cg-atla.UUCP (Rob Bradlee) writes:
-
- >In article <1992Aug9.181448.22302@hubcap.clemson.edu> ofut@hubcap.clemson.edu (A. Jeff Offutt) writes:
- >>
- >>Here is my perception of what the above list is for the software industry:
- >>
- >>MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
- >>______________________ ____________________
- >> 1. Safety 1. Delivery date
- >> 2. Quality 2. Cost
- >> 3. Cost 3. Use latest "whiz-bang" technique (OO)
- >> 4. Delivery date ...
- >> n. Quality
- >>
- >Here at my company the list is this:
-
- >SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
- >--------------------
- >1. Delivery Date
- >2. Delivery Date
- >3. Delivery Date
- >4. Cost
-
- >And cost really means "do it with the available bodies unless you can make it
- >look like a crisis and then we'll pull some people off one of the other crises
- >so that you can meet your first three priorities." The obvious reply is
- >"Well your company doesn't do Software Engineering". I agree.
-
- Well if your company is like mine and considers every electronic message
- you work on as company property, they will be unhappy with the above
- statement (good luck on you job search :) ).
-
- As an aside, last week I went on a job interview at SEI Information
- Technology, which provides consulting in the 'commercial' arena. Since my
- work background involves the defense area, one of the two consultants who
- was interviewing me wanted to know what I could provide to commercial
- businesses. When I proposed that I could not only develop software and the
- same time as engineer it, he was surprised. He indicated that most
- commercial companies consider software engineering an unnecessary expense and
- that for me to do that might offend the companies I would consult. I
- certainly would like to get out of the defense industry, but at what cost!!
- I guess if I get layed off, maybe my tune would change.
-
- Allen Adams
-
- Please do not be confused - The above opinions are certainly not those of
- TRW Inc. or any one associated with them.
-
-