Software Process Definition and Management - Hardcover

Münch, Jürgen; Armbrust, Ove; Kowalczyk, Martin; Soto, Martín

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 3642242901 ISBN 13: 9783642242908

Publisher: Springer, 2012

Synopsis

* First book that gives a comprehensive introduction into software process definition and management

 

* It enables readers to develop useful process models that are suitable for their own purposes

 

* Special chapters on measurement and determination of the effectiveness of processes

 

The concept of processes is at the heart of software and systems engineering. Software process models integrate software engineering methods and techniques and are the basis for managing large-scale software and IT projects. High product quality routinely results from high process quality. 

 

Software process management deals with getting and maintaining control over processes and their evolution. Becoming acquainted with existing software process models is not enough, though. It is important to understand how to select, define, manage, deploy, evaluate, and systematically evolve software process models so that they suitably address the problems, applications, and environments to which they are applied. Providing basic knowledge for these important tasks is the main goal of this textbook. 

  

Münch and his co-authors aim at providing knowledge that enables readers to develop useful process models that are suitable for their own purposes. They start with the basic concepts. Subsequently, existing representative process models are introduced, followed by a description of how to create individual models and the necessary means for doing so (i.e., notations and tools). Lastly, different possible usage scenarios for process management are highlighted (e.g. process improvement and software process simulation). 

 

Their book is aimed at students and researchers working on software project management, software quality assurance, and software measurement; and at practitioners who are interested in process definition and management for developing, maintaining, and operating software-intensive systems and services.

About this title

About the Author

Jürgen Münch is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Helsinki. His research centers on the measurement and quantitative analysis of software processes and systems, on software process modeling and management, cloud-based software engineering, global software development, and empirical software engineering. Prof. Dr. Münch has been awarded the Distinguished Professor Award (FiDiPro), the IFIP TC2 Manfred Paul Award for Excellence in Software Theory and Practice, several best paper awards, and a technology innovation award. 

Ove Armbrust is Software Engineering Process Group Lead at Alpine Electronics Research of America. In this position, he is responsible for all software development processes of Alpine's U.S. R&D operations, including product development, customer interaction, and standards compliance. In 2010, he received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Kaiserslautern, Germany. Dr. Armbrust has provided consultation services to a wide range of organizations from the automotive, aerospace, and finance domains regarding process improvement issues. 

 

Martin Kowalczyk is researcher at the Technische Universität Darmstadt. He graduated from the University of Karlsruhe, Germany, with a Diplom degree in Industrial Engineering in 2009. In the context of industrial projects, he has worked for several organizations from the aerospace, finance, and services domains on topics from the area of process improvement and measurement.

 

Martín Soto was born in Bogotá, Colombia, where he received his master's degree in Computer Science in 1995 from the Universidad de los Andes. In 2009, he received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Kaiserslautern, Germany. His research interests concentrate on change management for process models. Since 2010, Dr. Soto has been Senior Developer at eleven GmbH.

From the Back Cover

Whereas software engineering has been a growing area in the field of computer science for many years, systems engineering has its roots in traditional engineering. On the one hand, we still see many challenges in both disciplines. On the other hand, we can observe a trend to build systems that combine software, microelectronic components, and mechanical parts. The integration of information systems and embedded systems leads to so-called cyber-physical systems.

Software and systems engineering comprise many aspects and views. From a technical standpoint, they are concerned with individual techniques, methods, and tools, as well as with integrated development processes, architectural issues, quality management and improvement, and certification. In addition, they are also concerned with organizational, business, and human views. Software and systems engineering treat development activities as steps in a continuous evolution over time and space.

Software and systems are developed by humans, so the effects of applying techniques, methods, and tools cannot be determined independent of context. A thorough understanding of their effects in different organizational and technical contexts is essential if these effects are to be predictable and repeatable under varying conditions. Such process-product effects are best determined empirically. Empirical engineering develops the basic methodology for conducting empirical studies, and uses it to advance the understanding for the effects of various engineering approaches.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3642242901
• ISBN 13: 9783642242908
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256