Because labor cost makes up such a large part of total software project costs, software projects need to focus more on optimizing project goals than other kinds of engineering do. Each software project must strike a balance among various project and product goals. Most people would agree that these projects are an appropriate domain for full-up software engineering. Other projects need to deliver their software with adequate reliability but with low costs and short schedules. Lots of software projects today are doing for a dollar what any good software engineer could do for a dime.
Economical development is also the domain of software engineering.
The Right Questions Software development as it's commonly practiced today doesn't look much like engineering, but it could. Microsoft Press Online can accept orders from and ship orders to customers in Canada and the 50 United States and Washington, D.C., only. For purchases outside North America, contact the Microsoft Press Worldwide sites . All rights reserved.