автореферат диссертации по информатике, вычислительной технике и управлению, 05.13.16, диссертация на тему:Математические модели для исследования возможностей и совместимости ресурсов производства программного продукта

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ИНСТИТУТ ИНФОРМАЦИОННЫХ ТЕХНОЛОГИЙ и ПРИКЛАДНОЙ МАТЕМАТИКИ СИБИРСКОГО ОТДЕЛЕНИЯ РОССИЙСКОЙ АКАДЕМИИ НАУК

Плеханова Валентина Михайловна

Математические модели для исследования возможностей и совместимости ресурсов производства программного продукта

05.13.16 - применение вычислительной техники, математического моделирования и математических методов в научных исследованиях

На правах рукописи

ДИССЕРТАЦИЯ на соискание ученой степени кандидата технических наук

Научный руководитель Профессор, д. ф-м.н. Топчий В.А.

Омск - 1999

Institute of Information Technologies and Applied Mathematics Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch

Valentina Plekhanova

A Capability and Compatibility-based Approach to Software Process Modelling

05.13.16 - Application of Computer Technology, Mathematical Modelling and Mathematical Methods in Scientific Research

DISSERTATION for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Candidate of Technical Sciences)

Supervisor:

Professor, Dr. Topchij Valentin Alekseevich

Omsk - 1999

Contents

Contents..............................................................................................................................3

Declaration of Originality..................................................................................................8

Acknowledgements.............................................................................................................9

Introduction......................................................................................................................10

Milestones..................................................................................................................................15

Thesis Outline............................................................................................................................21

Chapter 1...........................................................................................................................24

A Profile Theory...............................................................................................................24

1.1 Profile Definition.................................................................................................................25

1.1.1 N-Dimensional Profile Factors....................................................................................................29

1.1.2 Available and Required Profiles..................................................................................................30

1.1.3 Homogeneous and Heterogeneous profiles..................................................................................30

1.1.4 Profile Superposition...................................................................................................................31

1.2 Profile Characteristics........................................................................................................33

1.3 Mathematical Modelling of a Profile Capability..............................................................34

1.3.1 Formal Definition of Factor Capability........................................................................................35

1.3.2 Non-Dimensional Value..............................................................................................................36

1.3.3 Determination of Factor Capability and Profile Capability.........................................................37

1.3.4 Notes on Comparison of the Required and Available Profile Factors.........................................41

1.4 ProfileComparison: A Quantitative Approach................................................................43

1.4.1 Operations of Comparison..........................................................................................................44

1.5 Profile Factor Compatibility Measures............................................................................45

1.6 Profile Compatibility Measures.........................................................................................47

1.6.1 Compatibility-length and Compatibility-weight..........................................................................48

1.6.2 Degree of Profile Compatibility...................................................................................................50

1.6.3 Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Compatibility Measures........................................................50

1.6.3.1 Homogeneous Compatibility Measures....................................................................................50

1.6.3.2 Heterogeneous Compatibility Measures...................................................................................52

1.7 Basic Set-Theoretic Operations on the Profiles................................................................54

1.7.1 Intersection...................................................................................................................................55

1.7.2 Union...........................................................................................................................................56

1.7.3 Complement.................................................................................................................................57

1.7.4 Example.......................................................................................................................................59

1.7.5 Convex Profiles with Respect to Capability Criterion.................................................................60

1.8 A Capability/Compatibility-based Approach to the System Integration......................61

1.8.1 Topological Space of the Available Profiles................................................................................62

1.8.2 Metric Space of the Available Profiles........................................................................................63

1.9 Profile Interconnections: Relational Data Definition......................................................66

1.9.1 Structure Function........................................................................................................................66

1.9.2 Equivalent Profile........................................................................................................................69

1.9.3 Series Relational Structure...........................................................................................................70

1.9.4 Parallel Relational Structure........................................................................................................72

1.9.5 Discretionary Relational Structure...............................................................................................74

1.9.6 Structure with Compatibility-weight............................................................................................74

1.10 A Fuzzy-Set-Theoretic Approach to Profile Modelling.................................................75

1.10.1 Convex Fuzzy Profiles...............................................................................................................77

1.11 Evolution Characteristics—.....................-------.................................................................78

1.11.1 Evolution Power.........................................................................................................................81

1.11.2 Compatibility of Evolution Power.............................................................................................82

1.11.3 Factor Level Evolution Characteristics......................................................................................82

1.11.4 Applications: Learning Capability Characteristics.....................................................................83

1.12 Object Integration Management.....................................................................................84

1.13 Summary of Chapter 1.....................................................................................................85

1.14 Further Directions of the Profile Theory Development................................................86

Chapter 2...........................................................................................................................87

A Synergistic Approach to Process Modelling................................................................87

2.1 Modelling Terminology......................................................................................................88

2.2 An Integrated Process Modelling Environment...............................................................92

2.3 Synergism in Process Modelling........................................................................................96

2.4 Process System Integration: Capability and Compatibility Factors............................101

2.5 Summary of Chapter 2.....................................................................................................102

Chapter 3.........................................................................................................................104

A Framework for Capability-based Approach to a Modelling of Project Resources ..104

3.1 A Formal Description of Human Resources...................................................................107

3.2 Human Resource Modelling: Human-Software Environment.....................................Ill

3.2.1 Basic Notions of Human-Software Environment.......................................................................111

3.2.2 HSE Characteristics...................................................................................................................112

3.2.3 Outlines of the Techniques for Obtaining Knowledge/Skill Profiles.........................................113

3.3 Human Resource Analysis...............................................................................................114

3.3.1 A Set-Theoretic Approach to Human Resource Analysis: An Illustrative Example..................115

3.3.2 A Quantitative Approach to Human Resource Analysis............................................................118

3.4 HSE Modelling..................................................................................................................123

3.4.1 Team Modelling: The HSE as a Topological Space..................................................................123

3.4.2 Team Modelling: The HSE as a Metric Space...........................................................................124

3.5 On the Ream Relational Data..........................................................................................127

3.5.1 Series Relational Structure of the HSE......................................................................................129

3.5.2 Parallel Relational Structure of the HSE....................................................................................130

3.5.3 Discretionary Relational Structure of the HSE..........................................................................131

3.6 Performance Constraints Determination on the Structure..........................................131

3.7 Project resource Integration management in Software Process Improvement..........134

3.8 Compatibility of Project Resources: A Problem of Project Resource Integration Management.....i......................................................................................................................135

3.8.1 Compatibility Problem: Project Requirements with CASE Tools - An Example......................135

3.8.2 Human Resource Compatibility with CASE Tools - An Example............................................137

3.9 Compatibility of Project Management Tools with Software Project Management: A

Descriptive Approach.............................................................................................................139

3.10 A Formal Approach to the Integration of CASE Tools...............................................140

3.11 On the Scheduling Process in Software Projects.........................................................145

3.11.1 Characteristics of the Scheduling Process................................................................................145

3.11.2 Schedule Evaluation.................................................................................................................147

3.11.3 Schedule Types........................................................................................................................148

3.12 Scheduling Tasks on Software Projects........................................................................149

3.12.1 Critical Path and Software Critical Tasks................................................................................149

3.12.2 Resource Analysis and Matching.............................................................................................150

3.12.3 Assignment Problem................................................................................................................150

3.12.4 Resource Allocation.................................................................................................................151

3.13 Resource Scheduling Optimisation Problems..............................................................152

3.13.1 A Problem of Capability-based Assignment Problem: PI.......................................................153

3.13.2 The Greedy Method.................................................................................................................154

3.13.3 Distribution Problem: P2.........................................................................................................155

3.13.4 Minimisation Problem: P3.......................................................................................................156

3.13.5 Minimisation Problem: P4.......................................................................................................157

3.13.6 Minimisation Problem: P5 - Heterogeneous Criterion.............................................................159

3.13.7 Sort Problem: P6......................................................................................................................160

3.13.8 Sort Problem: P7......................................................................................................................161

3.13.9 A Capability-based Approach to Assignment Problem: P8- The Transportation Problem......162

3.14 Algorithm for Critical Resource Allocation Problem..................................................164

3.14.1 Schedule Generation Technique for Software Projects............................................................165

3.15 Summary of Chapter 3...................................................................................................166

3.16 Further Directions..........................................................................................................168

3.16.1 Risk as a Human Resource Capability Aspect.........................................................................168

3.16.2 Moreover,...............................................................................................................................169

Chapter 4.........................................................................................................................170

Project Resource Integration Management..................................................................170

4.1 On the Integration of Project Resources........................................................................171

4.1.1 Assumptions...............................................................................................................................172

4.2 Approximate Design and Resource Allocation Strategy...............................................173

4.2.1 Example.....................................................................................................................................174

4.3 An Optimal Resource Allocation: A Stochastic Approach...........................................175

4.3.1 General Statement of Optimal tasks in Project Resource Allocation Problems.........................178

4.4 Allocation of an Individual Performer............................................................................180

4.4.1 Example.....................................................................................................................................187

4.5 Team Allocation................................................................................................................191

4.6 Selection of Optimal Allocation Strategies.....................................................................193

4.6.1 Unified Criteria of Optimal Strategies.......................................................................................194

4.6.2 Basic Optimisation Criteria........................................................................................................196

4.7 Basic Properties of Optimisation Criteria......................................................................199

4.7.1 Explicit Representation of Functional........................................................................................202

4.8 Formulation of Optimisation Problems..........................................................................204

4.8.1 Basic Formulation of Optimisation Problem.............................................................................205

4.8.2 Example.....................................................................................................................................207

4.8.3 Determination of Profile Prioritisation for Project or Tasks......................................................208

4.8.4 Formulation of Optimisation Problems Using the Unified Criteria...........................................208

4.9 Maximisation of the Performance Reliability of Project Resource System.................209

4.9.1 Determination of a Number of Project Participants...................................................................209

4.9.2 Maximisation of the Performance Reliability of Project Resource System Subject to Constraints on Their Weights................................................................................................................................211

4.9.2.1 Deterministic Case...........................................................................;..................................211

4.9.2.2 Stochastic Case...................................................................................................................213

4.10 Mathematical Model of Selection of the Best Resource Allocation Strategy.............213

4.10.1 General Statement....................................................................................................................213

4.10.2 Mathematical Formulation.......................................................................................................214

4.11 Project Resource Integration Problem.........................................................................215

4.11.1 Integration Strategy..................................................................................................................215

4.11.2 Fuzzy Allocation Strategy........................................................................................................216

4.11.3 Formulation of the Integration Problem...................................................................................217

4.11.1 An Integration Procedure.........................................................................................................218

4.12 Summary of Chapter 4...................................................................................................219

4.13 Further Work..................................................................................................................221

Chapter 5.........................................................................................................................222

A Capability-based Approach to Software Process Modelling: An Integration of , Process Simulation and System Dynamic Modelling....................................................222

5.1 On Project Schedule Simulation......................................................................................223

5.1.1 Simulation the Scheduling.........................................................................................................226

5.2 Example.............................................................................................................................227

5.3 A Framework for Dynamic process Modelling.....____________________________________________.............236

5.3.1 A System Dynamic Approach to Software Development process where Human resources are a Critical Variable..................................................................................................................................238

5.3.2 Diagram Description..................................................................................................................240

5.4 Summary of Chapter 5.....................................................................................................246

5.5 Further Work....................................................................................................................248

Conclusions.....................................................................................................................249

Summary of Chapters............................................................................................................249

Basic Research Results...........................................................................................................252

Outlined Conclusions..............................................................................................................254

Summary of Contributions....................................................................................................255

Research Novelties.............................................................................................................................255

Contributions......................................................................................................................................256

Philosophical...................................................................................................................................256

Theoretical......................................................................................................................................258

Computational.................................................................................................................................259

Practical..........................................................................................................................................259

Distinctness of the Capability-based Approach................................................. 261

Applications of the Capability-based Approach..................................................................262

References.......................................................................................................................264

Appendix A......................................................................................................................280

Appendix B......................................................................................................................287

Appendix C......................................................................................................................297

Appendix D.....................................................................................................................301

Declaration of Originality

I hereby declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief and unless otherwise stated, the work reported in this dissertation has been performed by me. The thesis has also been composed entirely by myself and has not been submitted for any other application for a degree.

Plekhanova Valentina Michailovna July 1999

Acknowledgements

I would like to express my gratitude towards my supervisors. Professor Ray Offen got me off to a good start in the first year, squeezing productive supervision meetings into the tiniest gaps in his schedule. Professor Valentin Topchij took over his duties during the final stages of my PhD research, with lots of support and kind encouragement. I am very grateful to them for their unceasing help and advice.

My work has benefited greatly from discussions with Kit Dampney, Vjacheslav Filimonov, Barry Jay, Mike Johnson, Victor Iliev, Brian Lederer, Mehmet Orgun, Victor Potapov, David Raffo, Sergey Zykin; I would like to thank all of them. Special thanks are due to Jenny Edwards for her support at the validation stage.

Thanks are due to everyone in the Institute of Information Technologies and Applied Mathematics, Russian Academy of Sciences; I very much enjoyed the collaborative and productive relaxed work environment.

I wish to thank Bill Mather, William Salsbury, Tanja Pozdeev and Rassell Carrington for help improving the language of my work, which hopefully has made the thesis easier to read.

Finally, I am very grateful to my family for unflagging moral and financial support, kind encouragement, patience, and understanding. And last but no means least, I would like to thank all my friends and colleagues, be they in Australia, Russia, England, Canada, America, Italy, Germany or elsewhere, for their support, encouragement, questions and comments.

Introduction

Resurgence in the value of both people and resource management in the project workforce has resulted from increased economic pressures on the modern industrialised world. Linked to increased competition and business complexity, these economic pressures demand new approaches to modern processes and their management, in particular, where human resource capabilities and compatibilities have a major influence on project performance and output quality.

Finding better ways to produce software products of high quality, and within budget, has occupied considerable research; aimed not only at improving an organisation's ability to plan, forecast, manage, implement, and control project activities, but also at analysing the resource capabilities. Improving the quality of human resources has become critical in the past three decades, in response to a need for people who are capable of overseeing and completing cognitively driven tasks. Nevertheless, there is general recognition, both in academia and practice [Dowson 1993; Sachs 1995; Sommerville and Rodden, 1996], that the existing software process models have had little practical effect on the design and effectiveness of software processes where human resource is a critical variable. Little research [Boehm 1981; Abdel-Hamid and Madnick, 1991] exists to support people experiences. Human resources are not sufficiently represented by most software process models and conventional project management approaches.

In fact, software process performance may be predicted, defined and improved by individual, rather than project or model, capability. However, there are several benefits that have been suggested for utilising process modelling [Kellner and Hansen 1989; White, 1992]. The main ones are (but not limited to): facilitating reasoning and communication

about the process; analysing, studying, controlling and managing the process; and determining ways in which the process may be improved. Existing process models [Royce 1989; Boehm 1988; Basili 1975] represent various projects goal(s) and this defines an ordering of project (tasks) activities. It is acknowledged that software projects have to be conceived under very tight technological, cost, time, human resource, and many other constraints, that define the limiting conditions of process development. Despite general recognition that human resources are a critical variable for software processes, the vast majority of research into the software processes and process support has had a technical focus [Mills, 1979; Sommerville 1989]. Contemporary process models ignore the impact of human, organisational, social and other aspects on software development and describe observable activities (for software creation and evolution) in ideal conditions. This is a primary limitation of current software process research for industrial practice [Sommerville and Rodden, 1996], and particularly restricts software process improvement [Curtis, 1981; Sommerville and Rodden, 1996]. Common problems identified with software process modelling are how to represent human aspects within modelling frameworks; and how to provide a modelling flexibility which permits one to represent a fine-granularity of the process components [Kellner and Hansen 1989; Kellner and Rombach, 1991; Rombach and Verlage, 1995].

In contrast with software process models, project management deals with resources. Moreover, it is used as a means to provide planning, organisation, direction and control of resources in order to meet an organisation's objectives by a specific date and within budget. Project management in