A Student Simulation of a Professional Software Development Group
David Banh, Chris Bengtson, Bryan Flemming, Kurt Gallagher, Curtis Kobelski and Sarah Wise

Abstract
The primary purpose of our Computer Systems Research project is to investigate 
the feasibility and consequences of establishing a student workgroup based on 
a classical development lifecycle model. We modeled our project on the Waterfall
Development Model, otherwise known as the Systems Development Lifecycle Model 
(SDLC). The Waterfall Development Model is a popular system of software and 
module development that focuses on a tiered or layered approach for writing 
and testing programs.
Our First Assignment Junior Techlab Selection Process

2004-2005

Process

All the major components of a typical business situation are present in our 
simulation, albeit in somewhat altered states. These are the development team 
itself, the team manager, the company administration and the clients. The 
students working on their research laboratories in this project group represent 
the development team. Mr. Strong represents the team manager. The school 
administration, including the department chairs and the guidance department 
represent the corporate administration and the client population in this 
situation is the general student body at Thomas Jefferson High School. One of 
our team's primary goals is to understand and meet the demands set forth by the 
management on a timely manner. The management's directives towards our project 
group were usually vague requests for improvements on existing services provided
by the school. More specifically, we were to design and build modules that could
handle efficiently and electronically what had previously been done in a difficult
and cumbersome paper manner. As with any professional software or module
development community, our team had to work within the logistical, legal and 
financial constraints of the school and its clients. Expenses had to be kept 
minimal and usability was a high priority.

The Waterfall Development Model