Formulation of consumables management models. Development approach for the mission planning processor working model

The mission planning processor is a user oriented tool for consumables management and is part of the total consumables subsystem management concept. The approach to be used in developing a working model of the mission planning processor is documented. The approach includes top-down design, structured programming techniques, and application of NASA approved software development standards. This development approach: (1) promotes cost effective software development, (2) enhances the quality and reliability of the working model, (3) encourages the sharing of the working model through a standard approach, and (4) promotes portability of the working model to other computer systems

Estimation of Defect proneness Using Design complexity Measurements in Object- Oriented Software

Software engineering is continuously facing the challenges of growing complexity of software packages and increased level of data on defects and drawbacks from software production process. This makes a clarion call for inventions and methods which can enable a more reusable, reliable, easily maintainable and high quality software systems with deeper control on software generation process. Quality and productivity are indeed the two most important parameters for controlling any industrial process. Implementation of a successful control system requires some means of measurement. Software metrics play an important role in the management aspects of the software development process such as better planning, assessment of improvements, resource allocation and reduction of unpredictability. The process involving early detection of potential problems, productivity evaluation and evaluating external quality factors such as reusability, maintainability, defect proneness and complexity are of utmost importance. Here we discuss the application of CK metrics and estimation model to predict the external quality parameters for optimizing the design process and production process for desired levels of quality. Estimation of defect-proneness in object-oriented system at design level is developed using a novel methodology where models of relationship between CK metrics and defect-proneness index is achieved. A multifunctional estimation approach captures the correlation between CK metrics and defect proneness level of software modules.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur

QPLAN: Decision support for evaluating planning quality in software development projects

Decisions about whether or not to approve a project plan for execution are critical. A decision to continue with a bad plan may lead to a failed project, whereas requesting unnecessary additional planning for an already high-quality plan may be counterproductive. However, these decisions can be influenced by psychological biases, such as the endowment effect, optimism bias and ambiguity effect, which are enhanced when uncertainty is substantial and information incomplete. As a result, a non-biased model for evaluating the quality of project planning is important to improve planning approval decisions and resource allocation. This paper introduces a novel artifact (QPLAN) that evaluates and improves planning quality, and a case study to demonstrate its effectiveness within a business environment

Some Long-Standing Quality Practices in Software Development

The desire to build quality software systems has been the focus of most software developers and researchers for decades. This has culminated in the design of practices that promote quality in the designed software. Originating from the inception of the traditional software development life cycle (SDLC), through to the object-oriented methods, Iterative development, and now the agile methods, these practices have persisted through different periods. Such practices play the same quality role regardless of the perspective of the software development process they are part of. In this paper we review three software development methods representative of the software development history, with the aim of i) identifying key quality practices, ii) identifying the quality role played by the practice in the method, and iii) noting those quality practices that have persisted through the software development history. The identified quality practices that have persisted throughout the history of the software development processes include prototyping, iterative development, incremental development, risk-driven development, phase planning, and phase retrospection. These results would be useful to method engineers who seek to design high-quality software development methods as these practices serve as candidates for inclusion in their development processes. Software development practitioners seeking to design quality software would also benefit from adopting these practices in developing their software.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figur

Analysis of prostate intensity- and volumetric-modulated arc radiation therapy planning quality with PlanIQTM

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of treatment planning using the PlanIQTM software and to investigate whether it is possible to improve the quality of treatment planning using the “Feasibility dose-volume histogram (DVH)TM” implemented in the PlanIQTM software. Methods: Using the PlanIQTM software, we retrospectively analyzed the learning curve regarding the quality of the treatment plans for 148 patients of prostate intensity-modulated radiation therapy and volumetric-modulated radiation therapy performed at our institution over the past eight years. We also sought to examine the possibility of improving treatment planning quality by re-planning in 47 patients where the quality of the target dose and the dose limits for organs at risk (OARs) were inadequate. The re-planning treatment plans referred to the Feasibility DVHTM implemented in the PlanIQTM software and modified the treatment planning system based on the target dose and OAR constraints. Results: Analysis of the learning curve of the treatment plans quality using PlanIQTM software retrospectively showed a trend of improvement in the treatment plan quality from year to year. The improvement in the treatment plans quality was more influenced by dose reduction in the OARs than by target coverage. In all cases where re-planning was performed, the improvement in the treatment plan's quality resulted in a better treatment plan than the one adopted for delivery to patients in the clinical plan. Conclusions: The PlanIQTM provided insights into the quality of the treatment plans at our institution and identified problems and areas for improvement in the treatment plans, allowing for the development of appropriate treatment plans for specific patients

Evaluating the quality of planning in new product development projects

The research and development industry shifts significant resources, from physical products to software. This is triggered by the need to stay competitive in a tough market. However, the poor performance of new product development in the field of software development may restrict this trend. Following a research stream that focuses on NPD planning, we introduce the quality of planning evaluation model (QPEM) and a knowledge base for improving the quality of planning evaluation. QPEM suggests planning quality should be evaluated using two distinct and complementary approaches of top-down and bottom-up for enhancing the accuracy of planning: a) an established measure that assesses 16 planning products and b) a novel measure that assesses 55 factors that affect project performance. This second measure uses cognitive maps, which is a methodology based on expert knowledge that graphically describes the behaviour of a system, and represents the project manager’s know-how and R&D Management Conference 2017, 1 - 5 July 2017, Leuven, Belgium characteristics, technological expertise, top management support, enterprise environmental factors, and the quality of methods and tools in a form that corresponds closely with humans’ perceptions. The alignment between these two approaches is demonstrated through multiple case studies

Evaluating the quality of planning in new product development projects

The research and development industry shifts significant resources, from physical products to software. This is triggered by the need to stay competitive in a tough market. However, the poor performance of new product development in the field of software development may restrict this trend. Following a research stream that focuses on NPD planning, we introduce the quality of planning evaluation model (QPEM) and a knowledge base for improving the quality of planning evaluation. QPEM suggests planning quality should be evaluated using two distinct and complementary approaches of top-down and bottom-up for enhancing the accuracy of planning: a) an established measure that assesses 16 planning products and b) a novel measure that assesses 55 factors that affect project performance. This second measure uses cognitive maps, which is a methodology based on expert knowledge that graphically describes the behaviour of a system, and represents the project manager’s know-how and R&D Management Conference 2017, 1 - 5 July 2017, Leuven, Belgium characteristics, technological expertise, top management support, enterprise environmental factors, and the quality of methods and tools in a form that corresponds closely with humans’ perceptions. The alignment between these two approaches is demonstrated through multiple case studies