University of Management and Technology
School of System & Technology
BS (CS, SE, IT)
Professional Practices
Spring 2025
Assignment 2
Name: ______________________________ Roll No. _________
Assignment 1: Case Study Analysis of a Software House's Organizational Structure
Course Title: Professional Practices
Program: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Assignment Number: 1
Due Date: 17/04/2025
Objective
The objective of this assignment is to help students understand the organizational structure of a
typical software house and the key roles and responsibilities of professionals in such an
environment. By analyzing the responsibilities of different designations, students will learn how the
structure supports effective software development and the importance of teamwork and
collaboration in a professional setting.
Instructions
You will read the provided case study of a software house, focusing on its organizational chart and
the roles of three renowned designations within the company. After reading the case study, answer
the following questions based on your understanding.
Case Study: Organizational Structure of "TechWave Software House"
Overview
TechWave Software House is a mid-sized technology company that specializes in software
development, web design, and IT consultancy. The company employs around 150 people and is
structured to facilitate both software development and customer relations.
The organizational chart includes the following key designations:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Software Development Manager
Lead Software Engineer
UI/UX Designer
Quality Assurance (QA) Lead
Project Manager
Support Engineer
The CEO is at the top of the organizational hierarchy, followed by various departmental heads (such
as the Software Development Manager, UI/UX Designer, and Project Manager). The company
promotes a collaborative environment where roles and responsibilities often overlap to achieve
timely delivery of high-quality software products.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
1. Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
The CEO oversees the overall direction of the company and ensures that the business strategies
align with long-term goals. The CEO is responsible for maintaining relationships with major clients
and stakeholders and driving the company's growth.
2. Software Development Manager
The Software Development Manager leads a team of developers, sets timelines for product
releases, ensures code quality, and maintains the development workflow. This role also involves
interacting with other departments to ensure smooth operations across the board.
3. Lead Software Engineer
The Lead Software Engineer takes a hands-on role in coding and leads a small team of developers.
They are responsible for creating software architecture, writing code, debugging, and mentoring
junior engineers. They report directly to the Software Development Manager.
4. UI/UX Designer
The UI/UX Designer is in charge of the user interface and experience design for the software
products. They ensure that the product is not only functional but also visually appealing and easy to
use.
5. Quality Assurance (QA) Lead
The QA Lead manages the testing team to ensure that the software is free from defects and meets
the required specifications. The role involves writing test cases, conducting functional and
regression testing, and ensuring the product meets the client's quality standards.
6. Project Manager
The Project Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and delivering software projects on
time and within budget. They track progress, manage client expectations, and communicate with all
stakeholders to keep everyone aligned.
7. Support Engineer
The Support Engineer provides after-sales support and resolves any issues customers may face with
the software. They work closely with the development team to ensure bugs and issues are fixed
promptly.
Assignment Questions
i. From the organizational chart, identify the three key positions you would consider as most
critical to the success of TechWave Software House and explain why.
ii. Describe how the Software Development Manager, Lead Software Engineer, and Project
Manager might collaborate on a typical software development project. How do their roles
complement each other, and how do they ensure that the project moves forward
smoothly?
iii. How do you think the UI/UX Designer and Quality Assurance (QA) Lead work together in the
development process? Provide an example of how their collaboration could impact the final
product’s success or failure.
iv. Based on the information provided in the case study, do you think the organizational
structure of TechWave Software House is effective for a mid-sized company? Justify your
answer with reasons related to role clarity, communication, and efficiency.
v. Imagine you are the Lead Software Engineer at TechWave. Describe how you would handle
a situation where your team is facing a tight deadline, and the project manager asks you to
prioritize delivering features that are important to the client, but not necessarily aligned
with best practices. How would you approach the situation while maintaining professional
integrity and delivering a quality product?
vi. What are the potential career progression opportunities for someone starting as a Support
Engineer in a software house like TechWave? Describe the responsibilities they could
expect to take on as they advance in the company. What skills would be important for their
development?
vii. Consider a situation where the CEO of TechWave asks the Project Manager to overlook
some minor security issues in order to meet a critical deadline. Discuss how the Project
Manager should respond in this scenario, taking into account ethical considerations,
company values, and professional responsibility.
viii. TechWave promotes a collaborative environment where roles often overlap. How can this
overlapping of responsibilities create both advantages and challenges in the development
process? Provide specific examples where this approach could either enhance or hinder the
workflow.
Formatting Requirements:
Your assignment should be typed and double-spaced.
Use a readable font (e.g., Times New Roman, Arial) in size 12.
Include a title page with your name, student number, and the course title.
Provide citations for any references used in APA or IEEE format (if applicable).
Submit your assignment as a single document (Word or PDF).
Assessment Criteria
Understanding of organizational structure and role responsibilities (30%)
Depth of analysis in answering the questions (30%)
Clarity of writing and structure (20%)
Application of ethical principles and professional integrity (10%)
Critical thinking and reflection on real-world scenarios (10%)
Additional Notes
Make sure to base your answers on the information provided in the case study and use your
understanding of software development practices to support your responses.
Where applicable, use real-world examples to strengthen your answers.
This assignment aims to assess your understanding of professional roles within the software
development lifecycle and your ability to analyze and evaluate a typical organizational
structure in the tech industry.
