An organizational maturity model of software product line engineering

Software product line engineering is an inter-disciplinary concept. It spans the dimensions of business, architecture, process, and the organization. Some of the potential benefits of this approach include cost reduction, improvements in product quality and a decrease in product development time. The increasing popularity of software product line engineering in the software industry necessitates a process maturity evaluation methodology. Accordingly, this paper presents an organizational maturity model of software product line engineering for evaluating the maturity of organizational dimension. The model assumes that organizational theories, behavior, and management play a critical role in the institutionalization of software product line engineering within an organization. Assessment questionnaires and a rating methodology comprise the framework of this model. The objective and design of the questionnaires are to collect information about the software product line engineering process from the dual perspectives of organizational behavior and management. Furthermore, we conducted two case studies and reported the assessment results using the organizational maturity model presented in this paper.     

An architecture process maturity model of software product line engineering

Software architecture has been a key research area in the software engineering community due to its significant role in creating high-quality software. The trend of developing product lines rather than single products has made the software product line a viable option in the industry. Software product line architecture (SPLA) is regarded as one of the crucial components in the product lines, since all of the resulting products share this common architecture. The increased popularity of software product lines demands a process maturity evaluation methodology. Consequently, this paper presents an architecture process maturity model for software product line engineering to evaluate the current maturity of the product line architecture development process in an organization. Assessment questionnaires and a rating methodology comprise the framework of this model. The objective of the questionnaires is to collect information about the SPLA development process. Thus, in general this work contributes towards the establishment of a comprehensive and unified strategy for the process maturity evaluation of software product line engineering. Furthermore, we conducted two case studies and reported the assessment results, which show the maturity of the architecture development process in two organizations.     

基于产品线体系结构的软件工程过程模型研究

在借鉴现代工业的组织体系、管理规范、生产流程的基础上,针对基于软件产品线体系结构的软件工程方法和开发过程进行了系统研究,提出了基于产品线体系结构而实现软件工程化生产的N-生命周期模型.该模型的建立,对研究基于软件产品线体系结构的集成化软件工程环境,进而实现软件产品的工业化生产是非常有益且重要的.     

The software product line architecture: An empirical investigation of key process activities

Software architecture has been a key area of concern in software industry due to its profound impact on the productivity and quality of software products. This is even more crucial in case of software product line, because it deals with the development of a line of products sharing common architecture and having controlled variability. The main contributions of this paper is to increase the understanding of the influence of key software product line architecture process activities on the overall performance of software product line by conducting a comprehensive empirical investigation covering a broad range of organizations currently involved in the business of software product lines. This is the first study to empirically investigate and demonstrate the relationships between some of the software product line architecture process activities and the overall software product line performance of an organization at the best of our knowledge. The results of this investigation provide empirical evidence that software product line architecture process activities play a significant role in successfully developing and managing a software product line.     

Fuzzy inference system for software product family process evaluation

When developing multiple products within a common application domain, systematic use of a software product family process can yield increased productivity in cost, quality, effort and schedule. Such a process provides the means for the reuse of software assets which can considerably reduce the development time and the cost of software products. A comprehensive strategy for the evaluating the maturity of a software product family process is needed due to growing popularity of this concept in the software industry. In this paper, we propose a five-level maturity scale for software product family process. We also present a fuzzy inference system for evaluating maturity of software product family process using the proposed maturity scale. This research is aimed at establishing a comprehensive and unified strategy for process evaluation of a software product family. Such a process evaluation strategy will enable an organization to discover and monitor the strengths and weaknesses of the various activities performed during development of multiple products within a common application domain.     

Evaluating and selecting software packages: A review

Evaluating and selecting software packages that meet an organization’s requirements is a difficult software engineering process. Selection of a wrong software package can turn out to be costly and adversely affect business processes. The aim of this paper is to provide a basis to improve the process of evaluation and selection of the software packages. This paper reports a systematic review of papers published in journals and conference proceedings. The review investigates methodologies for selecting software packages, software evaluation techniques, software evaluation criteria, and systems that support decision makers in evaluating software packages. The key findings of the review are: (1) analytic hierarchy process has been widely used for evaluation of the software packages, (2) there is lack of a common list of generic software evaluation criteria and its meaning, and (3) there is need to develop a framework comprising of software selection methodology, evaluation technique, evaluation criteria, and system to assist decision makers in software selection.     

Managing the business of software product line: An empirical investigation of key business factors

Business has been highlighted as a one of the critical dimensions of software product line engineering. This paper’s main contribution is to increase the understanding of the influence of key business factors by showing empirically that they play an imperative role in managing a successful software product line. A quantitative survey of software organizations currently involved in the business of developing software product lines over a wide range of operations, including consumer electronics, telecommunications, avionics, and information technology, was designed to test the conceptual model and hypotheses of the study. This is the first study to demonstrate the relationships between the key business factors and software product lines. The results provide evidence that organizations in the business of software product line development have to cope with multiple key business factors to improve the overall performance of the business, in addition to their efforts in software development. The conclusions of this investigation reinforce current perceptions of the significance of key business factors in successful software product line business.     

基于CMMI的软件过程度量

软件度量已经逐渐成为了软件工程领域中极其重要的一部分。该文提出了一种软件过程的度量模型。在该模型中定义了与实施软件过程度量有关的活动。并在此基础上,重点阐述和说明了数据收集、认证和分析的目标、任务以及方法。文中还给出了一个把该模型应用于大型软件公司的实例,以说明该模型能够有效地评估并改进软件过程。该文的研究结果对改进软件过程、增加组织的过程能力成熟度是很有帮助的。     

软件过程能力成熟度模型研究

首先论述了软件过程能力成熟度模型 ,然后讨论了软件过程改进 ,最后 ,通过一些软件组织实施软件过程能力成熟度模型认证的成功案例分析 ,给出中国大力发展软件产业的一些启示     

基于CMMI的软件过程度量

软件度量已经逐渐成为了软件工程领域中极其重要的一部分。该文提出了一种软件过程的度量模型。在该模型中定义了与实施软件过程度量有关的活动。并在此基础上,重点阐述和说明了数据收集、认证和分析的目标、任务以及方法。文中还给出了一个把该模型应用于大型软件公司的实例,以说明该模型能够有效地评估并改进软件过程。该文的研究结果对改进软件过程、增加组织的过程能力成熟度是很有帮助的。     

Tool support for disseminating and improving development practices

Knowledge management in software engineering and software process improvement activities pose challenges as initiatives are deployed. Most existing approaches are either too expensive to deploy or do not take an organization’s specific needs into consideration. There is thus a need for scalable improvement approaches that leverage knowledge already residing in the organizations. This paper presents tool support for an Experience Factory approach for disseminating and improving practices used in an organization. Experiences from using practices in development projects are captured in postmortems and provide iteratively improved decision support for identifying what practices work well and what needs improvement. An initial evaluation of using the tool for organizational improvement has been performed utilizing both academia and industry. The results from the evaluation indicate that organizational characteristics influence how practices and experiences can be used. Experiences collected in postmortems are estimated to have little effect on improvements to practices used throughout the organization. However, in organizations where different practices are used in different parts of the organization, making practices available together with experiences from use, as well as having context information, can influence decisions on what practices to use in projects.     

基于产品线N-生命周期模型的集成化软件工程环境研究

为实现软件的工业化生产,我们对日渐成熟的软件产品线体系结构、构件技术和产品线开发方法进行了分析和研究,并借鉴现代工业生产体系和自动化生产方式,提出了基于产品线体系结构的软件工程过程模型--N-生命周期模型。以此模型为基础,提出了基于产品线开发过程模型的集成化软件工程环境模型和构架,并对此环境模型和构架的实实现进行了系统的理论、技术和配置研究。文中的研究思想和成果对于基于产品线的集成化软件工程环境研究具有一定的参考和借鉴作用。     

软件生产线方法

与分析、设计和实现单个软件系统的传统软件工程方法不同 ,本文提出一种开发和维护系列软件系统的生产线方法 .该方法是一种领域特有的 ,以体系结构为中心的 ,过程驱动的 ,基于技术的系统化方法 .重点探讨方法论、生产线、工具和技术     

ICT capabilities for supporting collaborative work on business processes within the digital content industry

The digital content industry requires the integration of specialized information and communications technology (ICT) capabilities to support collaborative work for planning and executing its business processes. In particular, this knowledge-intensive industry lacks for adequate control on product documentation, inter and intra organizational resources management, and process monitoring which is required for supporting the high demand of projects typically constrained in time, costs, and quality. This paper presents a defined maturity model named DigiCoMM to assess collaboration and interoperability capabilities that are specific to pre-production, production, and post-production processes within the digital content industry. It also presents MONO, a computer-supported collaborative work (CSCW) software for supporting the incremental transition of companies through the different levels of the maturity model. MONO was developed in the context of the DAVID research project (Strategic Programme for the Research and Development of the Colombian Animation and Video Games Industry), during the period of 2012–2015. This model and software were used to assess and support the collaborative capabilities of several animation and video game companies in Colombia.     

Managing requirements specifications for product lines - An approach and industry case study

Software product line development has emerged as a leading approach for software reuse. This paper describes an approach to manage natural-language requirements specifications in a software product line context. Variability in such product line specifications is modeled and managed using a feature model. The proposed approach has been introduced in the Swedish defense industry. We present a multiple-case study covering two different product lines with in total eight product instances. These were compared to experiences from previous projects in the organization employing clone-and-own reuse. We conclude that the proposed product line approach performs better than clone-and-own reuse of requirements specifications in this particular industrial context.     

Strategy-;driven reuse: Bringing reuse from the Engineering Department to the Executive Boardroom

Organizations have predominantly utilized reuse in Engineering Departments for the purposes of reducing the cost and improving the quality of the software they develop. While these strategies have been successful, we believe that the full potential of reuse can only be tapped when reuse is brought to the Executive Boardroom as well. We propose that organizations tap reuse not only for cutting costs, but also for strategic and wide-;ranging business initiatives such as entering new markets, increasing agility in response to a dynamic marketplace, and competitive positioning and advantage. In order to do so effectively, organizations must harness the potential of reuse by migrating reuse into the company's business and product-;line planning processes. We present a framework for analyzing and changing reuse business practices. Such practices include cost-;reduction reuse, when the organization utilizes reuse for cost savings purposes; reuse-;enabled business, when the organization uses reuse to create new business opportunities; and strategy-;driven reuse, when the organization incorporates reuse in the formulation of its business and product-;line strategy for the purposes of obtaining competitive positioning and advantage. To determine whether or not reuse is the proper software development strategy to pursue, we utilize concepts in competitive software engineering, an integrated approach to software development that is attuned to the competitive demands of the marketplace. First, a framework is established by identifying and analyzing the organization's goals, strengths, and limitations, its market and its competitive environment. Based on these analyses, possible business or product strategies are formulated and one or more are chosen that help achieve the organization's goals. Finally, a development strategy is chosen. Following this choice, each step of the decision cycle should be re-;evaluated to ensure that it is consistent with the chosen development strategy.     

Fuzzy Logic Based Group Maturity Rating for Software Performance Prediction

Driven by market requirements,software services organizations have adopted various software engineering process models (such as capability maturity model (CMM),capability maturity model integration (CMMI),ISO 9001:2000,etc.) and practice of the project management concepts defined in the project management body of knowledge.While this has definitely helped organizations to bring some methods into the software development madness,there always exists a demand for comparing various groups within the organization in terms of the practice of these defined process models.Even though there exist many metrics for comparison,considering the variety of projects in terms of technology,life cycle,etc.,finding a single metric that caters to this is a difficult task.This paper proposes a model for arriving at a rating on group maturity within the organization.Considering the linguistic or imprecise and uncertain nature of software measurements,fuzzy logic approach is used for the proposed model.Without the barriers like technology or life cycle difference,the proposed model helps the organization to compare different groups within it with reasonable precision.     

基于工业物联网的汽车工业敏捷规划轻量级仿真模型

针对改进汽车工业的规划和流程分析方法进行了研究。为解决传统工业工程分析方法和仿真工具在规划任务中实施周期长,投入代价大,不能快速有效地支撑规划项目的问题,提出了一种基于DEVS（discrete event system specification）理论的EVA（efficiency validate analysis）仿真框架模型,并结合工业物联网技术,组合建立了一种敏捷的生产线规划分析方法。通过在发动机平衡轴生产线升级规划任务中实践检验,与传统的规划工作方法进行了比较,实践结果证明了新方法能显著提高建模和仿真工作的效率,并更有效地支持汽车工业中的规划工作。同时为实现实体物理世界和虚拟信息世界的快速有效互动,推动物联网技术和数字化技术与工业生产更深度地结合,带来了有价值的启发。     

面向大规模定制的软件开发模式

在领域工程、基于构件的软件工程和并行工程的基础上，提出了面向大规模定制的软件开发模式。该模式以大规模开发标准软件的效益满足用户的个性化需求。介绍了面向大规模定制的软件开发过程，面向大规模定制的软件产品族体系结构，以及面向大模型定制软件开发的产品集成过程模型。最后介绍了一种面向大规模定制的敏捷软件开发组织。     

Dynamic decision models for staged software product line configuration

Software product line engineering practices offer desirable characteristics such as rapid product development, reduced time-to-market, and more affordable development costs as a result of systematic representation of the variabilities of a domain of discourse that leads to methodical reuse of software assets. The development lifecycle of a product line consists of two main phases: domain engineering, which deals with the understanding and formally modeling of the target domain, and application engineering that is concerned with the configuration of a product line into one concrete product based on the preferences and requirements of the stakeholders. The work presented in this paper focuses on the application engineering phase and builds both the theoretical and technological tools to assist the stakeholders in (a) understanding the complex interactions of the features of a product line; (b) eliciting the utility of each feature for the stakeholders and hence exposing the stakeholders’ otherwise implicit preferences in a way that they can more easily make decisions; and (c) dynamically building a decision model through interaction with the stakeholders and by considering the structural characteristics of software product line feature models, which will guide the stakeholders through the product configuration process. Initial exploratory empirical experiments that we have performed show that our proposed approach for helping stakeholders understand their feature preferences and its associated staged feature model configuration process is able to positively impact the quality of the end results of the application engineering process within the context of the limited number of participants. In addition, it has been observed that the offered tooling support is able to ease the staged feature model configuration process.