8,869 research outputs found
Software development: A paradigm for the future
A new paradigm for software development that treats software development as an experimental activity is presented. It provides built-in mechanisms for learning how to develop software better and reusing previous experience in the forms of knowledge, processes, and products. It uses models and measures to aid in the tasks of characterization, evaluation and motivation. An organization scheme is proposed for separating the project-specific focus from the organization's learning and reuse focuses of software development. The implications of this approach for corporations, research and education are discussed and some research activities currently underway at the University of Maryland that support this approach are presented
A conceptual framework for SPI evaluation
Software Process Improvement (SPI) encompasses the analysis and modification
of the processes within software development, aimed at improving key areas that
contribute to the organizations' goals. The task of evaluating whether the
selected improvement path meets these goals is challenging. On the basis of the
results of a systematic literature review on SPI measurement and evaluation
practices, we developed a framework (SPI Measurement and Evaluation Framework
(SPI-MEF)) that supports the planning and implementation of SPI evaluations.
SPI-MEF guides the practitioner in scoping the evaluation, determining
measures, and performing the assessment. SPI-MEF does not assume a specific
approach to process improvement and can be integrated in existing measurement
programs, refocusing the assessment on evaluating the improvement initiative's
outcome. Sixteen industry and academic experts evaluated the framework's
usability and capability to support practitioners, providing additional
insights that were integrated in the application guidelines of the framework
Semi-Annual Report to Congress for the Period of April 1, 2011 to September 30, 2011
[Excerpt] I am pleased to submit this Semiannual Report to Congress, which highlights the most significant activities and accomplishments of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the six-month period ending September 30, 2011. During this reporting period, our investigative work led to 226 indictments, 172 convictions, and 677.1 million in funds be put to better use.
OIG audits and investigations continue to assess the effectiveness, efficiency, economy, and integrity of DOL’s programs and operations. We also continue to investigate the influence of labor racketeering and/or organized crime with respect to internal union affairs, employee benefit plans, and labor-management relations.
In the employment and training area, an OIG audit of Recovery Act funds spent on green jobs found that with 61 percent of the training grant periods having elapsed, grantees have achieved just 10 percent of their job placement goals. We recommended that the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) evaluate the program and obtain estimates of the need for the remaining 165 million in funds could be put to better use by ensuring only eligible students are enrolled. Another audit estimated that up to 2.8 million as a result of their roles in an H-1B visa fraud conspiracy. Another investigation resulted in the owner of a medical practice group being sentenced to serve more than a year in prison and ordered to pay more than 5.7 million for receiving prohibited payments from contractors to allow the underpayment of contributions to the union-sponsored benefit plans, resulting in financial harm to union members. Another OIG investigation led to a former Plumbers Union worker being sentenced to three and one-half years in prison, among other things, after pleading guilty to charges of theft from an employee benefit plan and embezzlement of approximately $412,000 in union dues.
The OIG remains committed to promoting the integrity, effectiveness, and efficiency of DOL. I would like to express my gratitude to the professional and dedicated OIG staff for their significant achievements during this reporting period. I look forward to continuing to work with the Department to ensure the integrity of programs and that the rights and benefits of worker and retirees are protected
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The use of Bayesian networks to determine software inspection process efficiency
Adherence to a defined process or standards is necessary to achieve satisfactory software quality. However, in order to judge whether practices are effective at achieving the required integrity of a software product, a measurement-based approach to the correctness of the software development is required. A defined and measurable process is a requirement for producing safe software productively. In this study the contribution of quality assurance to the software development process, and in particular the contribution that software inspections make to produce satisfactory software products, is addressed.
I have defined a new model of software inspection effectiveness, which uses a Bayesian Belief Network to combine both subjective and objective data to evaluate the probability of an effective software inspection. Its performance shows an improvement over the existing published models of inspection effectiveness. These previous models made questionable assumptions over the distribution of errors and were essentially static. They could not make use of experience both in terms of process improvement and the increased experience of the inspectors.
A sensitivity analysis of my model showed that it is consistent with the attributes which were thought important by Michael Fagan in his research into the software inspection method. The performance of my model show that it is an improvement over published models and over a multiple logistic regression model, which was formed using the same calibration data.
By applying my model of software inspection effectiveness before the inspection takes place, project managers will be able to make better use of inspection resource available. Applying the model using data collected during the inspection will help in estimation of residual errors in a product. Decisions can then be made if further investigations are required to identify errors. The modelling process has been used successfully in an industrial application
Software component testing : a standard and the effectiveness of techniques
This portfolio comprises two projects linked by the theme of software component testing, which is also
often referred to as module or unit testing. One project covers its standardisation, while the other
considers the analysis and evaluation of the application of selected testing techniques to an existing
avionics system. The evaluation is based on empirical data obtained from fault reports relating to the
avionics system.
The standardisation project is based on the development of the BC BSI Software Component Testing
Standard and the BCS/BSI Glossary of terms used in software testing, which are both included in the
portfolio. The papers included for this project consider both those issues concerned with the adopted
development process and the resolution of technical matters concerning the definition of the testing
techniques and their associated measures.
The test effectiveness project documents a retrospective analysis of an operational avionics system to
determine the relative effectiveness of several software component testing techniques. The methodology
differs from that used in other test effectiveness experiments in that it considers every possible set of
inputs that are required to satisfy a testing technique rather than arbitrarily chosen values from within
this set. The three papers present the experimental methodology used, intermediate results from a failure
analysis of the studied system, and the test effectiveness results for ten testing techniques, definitions for
which were taken from the BCS BSI Software Component Testing Standard.
The creation of the two standards has filled a gap in both the national and international software testing
standards arenas. Their production required an in-depth knowledge of software component testing
techniques, the identification and use of a development process, and the negotiation of the
standardisation process at a national level. The knowledge gained during this process has been
disseminated by the author in the papers included as part of this portfolio. The investigation of test
effectiveness has introduced a new methodology for determining the test effectiveness of software
component testing techniques by means of a retrospective analysis and so provided a new set of data that
can be added to the body of empirical data on software component testing effectiveness
Exploring the Software Verification and Validation Process with Focus on Efficient Fault Detection
Quality is an aspect of high importance in software development projects. The software organizations have to ensure that the quality of their developed products is what the customers expect. Thus, the organizations have to verify that the product is functioning as expected and validate that the product is what the customers expect. Empirical studies have shown that in many software development projects as much as half of the projected schedule is spent on the verification and validation activities. The research in this thesis focuses on exploring the state of practice of the verification and validation process and investigating methods for achieving efficient fault detection during the software development. The thesis aims at increasing the understanding of the activities conducted to verify and validate the software products, by the means of empirical research in the software engineering domain. A survey of eleven Swedish software development organizations investigates the current state of practice of the verification and validation activities, and how these activities are managed today. The need for communicating and visualising the verification and validation process was expressed during the survey. Therefore the usefulness of process simulations was evaluated in the thesis. The simulations increased the understanding of the relationships between different activities among the involved participants. In addition, an experiment was conducted to compare the performance of the two verification and validation activities, inspection and testing. In the future work, empirical research, including experiment results, will be used for calibration and validation of simulation models, with focus on using simulation as a method for decision support in the verification and validation process
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