IT Professional Practices: Semester Project Guide
Professional Practices in a Software House/IT Organization
Project Overview
This semester-long project simulates the experience of working in a
professional IT environment, incorporating all major aspects of the course
curriculum. Students will form teams to create a mock software house or
IT organization, developing both technical and professional skills.
Project Objectives
1. Apply ethical decision-making in real-world scenarios
2. Understand and implement professional codes of conduct
3. Develop practical experience in software development processes
4. Learn organizational communication and management
5. Practice legal compliance and intellectual property protection
6. Prepare for IT careers through hands-on experience
Implementation Steps
Phase 1: Organization Setup
1. Team Formation & Role Assignment
- Form teams of 3-5 students
- Assign roles: Project Manager, Developers, Quality Assurance, Business
Analyst
- Create an organizational structure document
2. Company Foundation
- Choose a company name and develop a mission statement
- Define the type of IT services/products your company will offer
- Create a basic business plan
Phase 2: Project Planning
1. Project Selection
- Choose a software project to develop
- Conduct market research and feasibility study
- Document project requirements
2. Ethical Framework Development
- Create a company code of ethics based on ACM and IEEE guidelines
- Develop an ethical decision-making framework
- Document potential ethical challenges and mitigation strategies
Phase 3: Development Process
1. Software Development Lifecycle
- Choose and document your development methodology (Agile,
Waterfall, etc.)
- Create a project timeline and milestones
- Begin development with focus on ethical considerations
2. Documentation & Communication
- Implement communication protocols
- Create technical documentation
- Hold regular team meetings and document minutes
Phase 4: Legal & Professional Aspects
1. Legal Compliance
- Research relevant computer laws and regulations
- Create intellectual property protection strategies
- Develop sample computer contracts
2. Professional Development
- Create professional resumes for team members
- Conduct mock job interviews within teams
- Document lessons learned
Phase 5: Business & Management
1. Revenue Model Development
- Create a detailed business model
- Develop pricing strategies for services/products
- Identify potential clients and market segments
2. Change Management Plan
- Develop strategies for virtual team management
- Create change management protocols
- Document potential challenges and solutions
Phase 6: Final Presentation & Documentation
1. Project Completion
- Finalize all deliverables
- Prepare presentation materials
- Complete comprehensive project documentation
2. Presentation Preparation
- Create professional presentation slides
- Practice presentation delivery
- Prepare for Q&A
Deliverables
1. Company profile and organizational structure
2. Project documentation including ethical considerations
3. Software development lifecycle documentation
4. Legal compliance documentation
5. Professional resumes and interview reports
6. Business model and revenue strategies
7. Final presentation
8. Comprehensive project report
Evaluation Criteria
- Ethical consideration and implementation (15%)
- Professional documentation and communication (15%)
- Technical execution and software development process (15%)
- Business model and legal compliance (15%)
- Team collaboration and management (15%)
- Final presentation (25%)
Tips for Success
1. Regular Meetings: Hold weekly team meetings to track progress
2. Documentation: Maintain detailed documentation throughout the
project
3. Time Management: Follow the phase timeline closely
4. Professional Conduct: Treat the project as a real-world experience
5. Ethical Considerations: Incorporate ethical decision-making in all
phases
Resources Needed
1. Development tools and environments
2. Project management software
3. Documentation templates
4. Access to ACM and IEEE ethical guidelines
5. Legal reference materials
Potential Challenges and Solutions
1. Time Management
- Solution: Use project management tools and set internal deadlines
2. Team Conflicts
- Solution: Establish clear communication channels and conflict
resolution procedures
3. Technical Difficulties
- Solution: Seek help from instructors and online resources
4. Ethical Dilemmas
- Solution: Use the ethical decision-making framework and consult with
instructors
Final Notes
This project is designed to give you hands-on experience in professional IT
practices. Treat it as a real-world scenario and use it as an opportunity to
develop both technical and professional skills that will be valuable in your
future career.
