Network Protocols, SDLC, and ITSM: A Detailed Examination

This assignment delves into various aspects of network protocols, Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), and IT Service Management (ITSM). It begins by explaining the necessity of a 3-way handshake in Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and contrasting it with a 2-way handshake. The assignment then explores the Rapid Application Development (RAD) model, outlining its phases, advantages (reduced manual coding), and disadvantages (feature reduction). The Agile method is also discussed, highlighting its benefits such as enhanced interaction and continuous attention to technical success, alongside drawbacks like potential project failure due to unclear customer requirements and difficulties in effort assessment. The concept of scope creep in software development is addressed, with explanations of strategies to mitigate it, including signed functional specifications, impact analysis of new functionalities, and customer awareness of associated costs and timelines. Finally, the assignment touches upon the development of a Real-time Glucose Monitoring System, discussing three fact-finding techniques that would be employed: site visits and research, sampling of databases and existing documentation, and the administration of questionnaires.

Running head: NETWORK PROTOCOLS, SDLC & ITSM
Network Protocols, SDLC & ITSM
Student's Name
Institutional Affiliation

NETWORK PROTOCOLS, SDLC & ITSM
1. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is inferred to as a standard which gives a definition
of the establishment and maintenance of any conversation over a given network where
application can share and transmit data. A 3-way handshake is needed in TCP since both the
client and the server need to perform synchronization of the number of their sequence segment
that was used in their transmission. In this case, the client sends an SYN segment having a
sequence number that has been set to a value that is random to the server. This is mainly done to
request for a proof that the segment can get through.
It is then acknowledged by the server which then sends two packets having sequence numbers.
One packet is the ACK to show that the SYN got through and the other packet is the SYN for
requesting its ACK. When the two packets combine they form SYN-ACK packet. When the
ACK gets through successfully, the server will know that packets can be sent to the client. This
makes the 3-way handshake more convenient than a 2-way handshake.
2. Rapid Application Development (RAD) is a Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
model. It makes the adoption of waterfall model of the SDLC and it is aimed at software
development within a short period. The phases that make up the SDLC RAD model are Business
Modeling, Data modeling, Process Modeling, Application Generation and the last phase Testing
and Turnover.
Under the Business Modeling, product design is done. With Data Modeling, there is a
refinement of information gathered from the Business Model. In Process Modeling, information
flow for the business function is achieved after transforming data object from the Data Modeling
phase. At the Application Generation phase, there is conversion of data models and process to
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NETWORK PROTOCOLS, SDLC & ITSM
form prototypes and lastly, there is the Testing and Turnover phase where the overall testing in
RAD is reduced in each iteration of prototype testing.
One advantage that RAD has is that manual coding is reduced by far since code can easily be
reused and some code be generated using code generators. A disadvantage of RAD as a model is
that features are reduced because of time boxing whereby for a release to be finished within a
short period the features have to be pushed to the latest version.
3. Agile method is a practice which promotes iteration that is continuous of both the
development and testing throughout the SDLC of a given project. With the Agile method,
activities of software development and testing are carried out concurrently.
One advantage of the agile method is that there is an effective enhanced interaction among
parties involved in a particular project. Developers, testers of the project and customers greatly
interact with each other for the success of the project at hand rather than just the tools and the
process. This results in the satisfaction of the software by the customer and also the developers
will continuously make delivery of useful software. The second advantage of the agile method is
that there is uninterrupted attention to the technical success of the software and better design too.
With this, there is an even adaptation to the altering circumstances.
One disadvantage of the agile model is that the project can fail to attain the final and desired
outcome if the customer of the project is not clear about the result of the project. This may result
in so much time being used on a single project. Another disadvantage is the difficulty in
assessing the effort put in at the initial stages of the software development process in case of
large software delivery.
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NETWORK PROTOCOLS, SDLC & ITSM
4. Scope creep is a risk that is significant. With scope creep, a customer may have
discovered that there is an important aspect or functionality that the software needs that were not
initially given to the developer. Since the end date was already set, it will mean increased cost
and missed deadlines to include the added functionality to the project. This will result in
customer dissatisfaction because of late delivery.
To deal with scope creep, the functional specification has to be signed after being agreed
upon by the customer. The functional specification should have a statement of scope. This is
done mainly to show that only those functionalities given in the specification should be included
in the scope of the project.
Another way of dealing with scope creep is to identify and calculate the effects of the new
functionality development. There is a need to identify the impact of the new functionality on the
entire project duration, the additional efforts that will be needed and the extra costs that will be
brought upon the customer.
The third way of dealing with scope creep is that the customer must be aware of what the
project revision will imply in terms of cost and time. Additional functionality and changes must
be specified in written form including its own scope statement. The customer is then left to
decide if they are willing to accept the extended time and additional cost. If agreed upon, they
should sign a new specification to seal the deal.
5. The Real-time Glucose Monitoring System needs to provide information on changes in
blood glucose for the whole day which is then disclosed by the patient in real-time and helps
them to understand the kind of action they are supposed to take and which lifestyle to live.
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NETWORK PROTOCOLS, SDLC & ITSM
The fact-finding technique is referred to as the process whereby data and information are
collected founded on technique. This is usually done by system analysts who collect and use the
best fact-finding technique to develop a new system. Three fact-finding techniques that I would
use to collect the data required for the new system are site visits and research, Sampling of
database and other existing documentation and lastly, I will administer questionnaires.
With site visits and research, the analyst makes visits to hospitals and other organizations which
have ever encountered this problem and research in their case study and even reference books to
know the requirements which were used and to identify the most effective ones that need to be
added for designing the Real-time Glucose Monitoring System.
Another technique I would use is the sampling of databases and existing documentation. This is
the best way of analyzing an existing system. Reports documenting the area of the problem,
reviews of problem performance, various documentation programs, and reports.
I would also administer questionnaires to the diabetes patients so as to know how they manage
themselves with the existing system so that I can be able to know how to improve it for the
patients’ convenience.
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