Considering the increasing complexity and scale of modern software systems, how does the discipline of software engineering contribute to the development of reliable, maintainable, and efficient software? Discuss the relevance of software engineering principles such as modularity, abstraction, and software lifecycle management in ensuring software projects' long-term success and sustainability.

Consider including an open-ended question (requires more than a yes/no response), related to this week's topics and readings, for your classmates to respond to.