Modeling, Analyzing and Simulating Software Acquisition Process Architectures

In this paper, we describe our efforts in the development of an environment that supports the modeling, analysis and simulation of processes associated with software system acquisition activities. Software acquisition is generally a large, multi-organization endeavor concerned with the funding, management, engineering, system integration, deployment and long-term support of large software systems. These systems are primarily intended for use by government agencies in defense, transportation, and other areas of public administration. The acquisition of large software systems, especially those for use in the military and commercial aviation (e.g., for air traffic control) take years of effort, often at a cost in the range of hundreds of million dollars, or more. Unfortunately, software acquisition processes are often unsuccessful or problematic in realizing their objectives and goals, in a timely and cost effective manner [GAO 1997]. Rectifying these problems through modeling, simulation and redesign of these processes is thus a motivation for research [Boehm and Scacchi 1996, Nissen, Snider, Lamb 1998, Scacchi and Boehm 1998].