Chapter 12 Case Study - Life on the Grid : iPhone Becomes iTrack

Question 1 : Why do cell phone manufacturers (Apple, Google, and Blackberry) want to track where their customers go?

Cell phone manufacturers want to track where their customers go because they want to allowed people to enable their mobile to give out details of their locations to trusted contacts. Google point out that users had to specifically choose to make their data available. Then, the Apple said users can check for themselves what location data the phone is retaining. The guardian has confirmed that 3G- enabled device including the iPad also retain the data and copy it to the owner’s computer.

If someone were to steal an iPhone and "jailbreak" it, giving them direct access to the files it contains, they could extract the location database directly. Alternatively, anyone with direct access to a user's computer could run the application and see a visualization of their movements. Encrypting data on the computer is one way to protect against it, though that still leaves the file on the phone. created a simple downloadable application to let Apple users check for themselves what location data the phone is retaining. The Guardian has confirmed that 3G-enabled devices including the iPad also retain the data and copy it to the owner's computer. 

Apple can legitimately claim that it has permission to collect the data: near the end of the 15,200-word terms and conditions for its iTunes program, used to synchronise with iPhones, iPods and iPads, is an 86-word paragraph about "location-based services". It says that Apple and our partners and licensees may collect, use, and share precise location data, including the real-time geographic location of your Apple computer or device. This location data is collected anonymously in a form that does not personally identify you and is used by Apple and our partners and licensees to provide and improve location-based products and services. For example, we may share geographic location with application providers when you opt in to their location services.Question 2 : Do you think cell phone customers should be able to turn tracking off? Should customers be informed when they are being tracked? Why or why not?

Turning the GPS off will turn off the tracking system, otherwise you've got no expectation of privacy, a federal magistrate said recently in a ruling. The ACLU calls the decision an "opinion straight from the Twilight Zone," as well as a violation of the Fourth Amendment's protections against illegal search-and-seizure. Data protection law only applies to information that qualifies as 'personal data'. The information these systems gather is unlikely to qualify as personal data when read on its own but could identify individuals when combined with information from other sources. However, if that company is able to combine that information with other information about that individual, via, for example, CCTV, Bluetooth locally-targeted advertising systems; Wi-Fi networks and Facebook location-login systems, this could constitute personal data. The company would then need to notify customers about the way in which and the purposes for which their personal data is being processed. Under current data protection rules processors of personal data must generally obtain "freely given, specific and informed" consent in order to do so.

Question 3 : Do you think cell phone tracking is a violation of a person’s privacy?

Yes, this is because data protection law only applies to information that qualifies as 'personal data'. The information these systems gather is unlikely to qualify as personal data when read on its own but could identify individuals when combined with information from other sources, according to Kathryn Wynn, an expert in data privacy at Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.com.

If the company is just tracking customers' movements on a single visit such as to a shopping centre and is not able to collect shopping habit information about individuals on a long term basis, it would appear that the information collected is more like geolocation data rather than technology. Under current data protection rules processors of personal data must generally obtain "freely given, specific and informed" consent in order to do so. 

Chapter 11 Case Study - DST Systems Scores with Scrum & Application Lifecycle Management

Question 1 : What were some of the problems with DST Systems’ old software development environment?

Some of the problems with DST Systems’ old software development environment were its processes often manual and time-consuming. The managers were unable to easily determine how resources were being allocated, which also the employees were working on certain projects and status of specific assets. Another problem was that the DST struggled to update its most important product, AWD in a timely fashion. Its development schedule was to release a new version once every two years. However, the competitors were releasing the versions faster.

Besides, the development group had used a mixture of tools processes and source code control systems without any unified repository for code or a standardized developer tool set. Different groups within the organization used very different tools for software development. Due to organization without used any unified repository, it was difficult to control. Hence, in our opinion, we think that DST must use new method and better than the old traditional.

Question 2 : How did Scrum development help solve some of those problems?

Scrum relies on self-organizing, cross-functional teams supported by a ScrumMaster and a product owner. The Scrum is exists software development tools and experienced strong results. Scrum development helped solve some of these problems by accelerating its software development cycle from 24 months to 6 months and developer productivity increased 20%. What the scrum development pretty much acted like was the coach for the team. This is how the Scrum development helped solve some of these problems.

Question 3 : What other adjustments did DST make to use Scrum more effectively in its software projects? What people, organization, and technology issues had to be addressed?

The other adjustments DST was able to make to use Scrum more effectively in its software projects were by setting up a project evaluation team to identify the right development environment. Another key adjustment was DST's adoption of CollabNet's products. This adjustment allowed DST to complete all of their work within the ALM platform. The management issue being addressed was production being slowed down. The organization issue was the lack of organization so processes were breaking down. Finally, the technology issue being addressed was the problem occurring with the software so production was taking a major hit.

For the part of management, organization and technology issues had to be addressed, Jerry Tubbs, the systems development manager at DST systems, says DST was successful in attempts to revamp the software group because some factors.

1.  Looked for simplicity rather than complicated

2.  Much cheaper than some of the alternatives

3. Involved developers in the decision making process to ensure that change to be greeted enthusiastically

4. Allow for the developers to adopt ALM software on their own.

The company was successful because they selected the right development framework as well as the right software to make that change a reality and skillfully managed the change process.