SOFTWARE AND ENGINEERING - SYNERGISM POSSIBLE - INFORMATION - THE MISSING LINK - EDUCATIONAL-IMPLICATIONS

Despite periodic criticisms, Software Engineering attempts to work towards optimal problem solutions through the systematic development of effective software - based on the adoption of application oriented 'engineering principles'. But an in-depth analysis of the origins and purpose of engineering principles indicates that such an adoption has numerous problems. Besides, software engineering itself is going through a period of introspection - for example, compromising on the change from the emphasis on structured systems to object orientation, not exactly a 'compatible' paradigm. However the fact that computers are essentially `information machines' seems to be almost totally ignored, despite the advent of the Information Age, and the new awakening to the importance of information per se. The theme of this paper is on giving information its rightful role in the software developmental process, and the educational implications of this approach.