A model for assessing and re-assessing the value of software reuse
2017 (English)In: Journal of Software: Evolution and Process, ISSN 2047-7473, E-ISSN 2047-7481, Vol. 29, no 4Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Background: Software reuse is often seen as a cost avoidance rather than a gained value. This results in a rather one-sided debate where issues such a resource control, release schedule, quality, or reuse in more than one release are neglected. Aims: We propose a reuse value assessment framework, intended to provide a more nuanced view of the value and costs associated with different reuse candidates. Method: This framework is constructed based on findings from an interview study at a large software development company. Results: The framework considers the functionality, compliance to standards, provided quality, and provided support of a reuse candidate, thus enabling an informed comparison between different reuse candidates. Furthermore, the framework provides means for tracking the value of the reused asset throughout subsequent releases. Conclusions: The reuse value assessment framework is a tool to assist in the selection between different reuse candidates. The framework also provides a means to assess the current value of a reusable asset in a product, which can be used to indicate where maintenance efforts would increase the utilized potential of the reusable asset.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
John Wiley & Sons, 2017. Vol. 29, no 4
Keywords [en]
Assessment, Software reuse, Value, Regulatory compliance, Software design, Cost avoidances, Interview study, Maintenance efforts, Resource control, Reusable assets, Value assessment, Computer software reusability
National Category
Software Engineering
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:bth-13494DOI: 10.1002/smr.1806ISI: 000398680400006Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-84994850635OAI: oai:DiVA.org:bth-13494DiVA, id: diva2:1049332
2016-11-242016-11-232018-01-13Bibliographically approved