Distributed Computing Environment Software Maintenance: Problems of Measurement and Research

Historically, the largest single life cycle computer vstem cost has been for maintaining information system software. More recently, the computing world has begun to undergo a significant transformation porn centralized computer architectures to non-centralized or distributed computer architectures. This paper discusses a new area of research on sojiivare maintenance (and development in generat), focusing on the issue of whether and to what extent the emerging technology of distributed computer operating environments directly affects software maintenance. Based on trade journal articles, the issue appears to depend on two diametrics of information system architectures: component simplicity and system complexity. The smaller (but more numerous) the vstem components, the easier they are to deal with individually (i.e., lower software maintenance costs) but the more d+ult it is to deal with the overall system (i.e., higher software maintenance costs). This research was based on a new conceptual model for information systems complexity based on component number and variety, interaction number and variety, and the overall rate of change. By applying this complexity model to distributed computing environments, this research sought empirical data j?om to determine whether the complexity of a distributed computer system has a greater effect on sojtware maintenance than component simplicity, and what the related explanatory factors are. Secondary source data such as accounting cost data on distributed sojtware maintenance was unattainable for reasons discussed in this paper; a$eld study was performed of IS system and application software analysts, designers, programmers, testers, and customer service representatives. The field study indicated (among other things) that the overall complexity of the studied distributed systems overwhelmed the ease-of-use and simplicity of their components--thus increasing the overall diflculty of software maintenance in distributed environments. Implications were discussed for IS managers to lower the cost of distributed computing environment software maintenance costs by adjusting the level of system distribution and minimizing component and system dif$culties. Finally, this paper oglers a perspective on measuring and researching the emerging technology of distributed computing, including recommended areas of specific research needed based on the conclusions and implicationsjrom the authors’ research.