Analysis of Software-Intensive System Acquisition Using Hybrid Software Process Simulation

Abstract

Many sources have reported that the technical and managerial maturity of the acquirer is the essential key to success of Software- Intensive System Acquisition (SISA) and recommended to adopt the best practices. However, DoD is inactive to implement the SISA practices because DoD doesn’t fully understand how and why the SISA practices affect the performance of software-intensive system development. In this research, we analyze the effects of SISA practices on acquirer and developer using hybrid software process simulation modeling. Our approach represents the dynamic characteristics (e.g., the interactions of acquisition organization and development organization and the effects of several SISA practices) and discrete characteristics (e.g., specific characteristics of discrete phase, etc.) of SISA programs. This research will contribute to reveal how the acquirer’s activities influence the performance of the developer’s process.