Towards Information Systems for Software Producers

Aarne H. Ylä-Rotiala
Nokia Telecommunications
P.O. Box 33
FIN-02601 Espoo, FINLAND
Tel: (358) 0-511 6542
Email: aarne.yla-rotiala@ntc.nokia.com

Abstract:

Software producers need a defined information base to operate on. A software production process cannot be properly defined without giving meaning to the products and raw materials of the process. The information flow is the essence of a software process, and therefore the need for well-defined software information models is evident.

A realistic software engineering information system that takes into account the relations between input and output information would be a powerful aid in software production. Software processes have been much discussed, but the attention to the information in these processes has not been adequate. A process cannot exist without an information system, implicit or explicit. If the software information is explicitly modeled, a better process with enchanced reuse and reusability will follow.



Keywords: Reuse, information system, software engineering environments, software production process.



Workshop Goals: Communication, exchange of ideas and new idea creation.



Working Groups: Reuse process models, Reuse maturity models, Tools and environments, Reuse management and economics

I would like to propose something along the lines of ``Reuse in the software life cycle'' or (perhaps better formulation) ``How to fit reuse in actual software production''. I hope this is what the ``Reuse process models'' working group is about.