Rating the Suitability of Software Process Models

Software is an important economic factor. Software development is complex and expensive. To be able to man-age the complexity of software development projects better standard processes were developed which are usually called 'Software process model'. These are available for software development projects. Because the selection of an appropriate software process model for a specific project is difficult software process models are less often used as would be necessary. In the thesis at hand an approach for rating the suitability of software process mod-els (EVGM) is developed which concertedly respects the specific problems in a respectively given project. These Problem categories are derived from empirical studies and the respective domain literature. A semiformal mod-elling language is described which provides success factors for projects and software process models as well as their interrelationships. These factors crucial for success are derived with help of an ontology and sorted into a systematic which clarifies that significant aspects of software development projects and software process models are covered. The modelling language is based on the System Dynamics approach of Jay W. Forrester, as well as on a derivative of Peter Gomez and Gilbert Probst. With it cause-effect-diagrams can be developed which pres-ent important influences in the project and their interdependencies. Through this cross-linked modelling all sig-nificant problems of a project can be analysed in context and adequately addressed by a software process model. The EVGM provides a modular and systematic step-by-step approach that supports its users to select a software process model. These users need detailed knowledge of software projects in general and of their specific project but not of software process models. Project specific changes or enhancements of the model elements by the users are supported by the EVGM. The Applicability of the EVGM was evaluated with case studies. It is demonstrated by a case study with a virtual project. The EVGM was already used successful for project analysis in several industrial software process improvement projects. The usage of the EVGM is supported by a software tool