SOFTWARE REUSE: ISSUES AND RESEARCH DIRECTIONS

Software reuse has been considered as a means to help solve the software development crisis. This paper surveys recent work based on the broad framework of software reusability research, and suggests directions for future research. We address general, technical, and non-technical issues of software reuse, and conclude that reuse needs to be viewed in the context of a total systems approach. We also envision a software system or reuse support system(RSS) that helps document and elucidate existing application systems so that the ideas and design decisions involved in their creation can be reused either in the context of maintenance or when building new systems.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

A MODEL FOR PEFORMANCE EVALUATION OF INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS

We describe a quantitative model for the performance evaluation of interactive computer systems. The approach involves the development of an "interaction graph" or state transition diagram to describe the user-machine interaction. Given numerical data on transition times and probabilities, the model can be used to perform sensitivity analyses of changes in system parameters and user behavior. To illustrate the model, we use empirical data from field and laboratory experiments designed to compare a prototype natural language query system with a formal (relational) query system. The general approach is applicable in a broad range of other contexts including bibliographic retrieval and the analysis of web-log data. It should be of interest to both system developers and potential users of these systems.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

SOFTWARE REUSE: SURVEY AND RESEARCH DIRECTIONS

Software reuse is the use of software resources from all stages of the software development process in new applications. Given the high cost and difficulty of developing high quality software, the idea of capitalizing on previous software investments is appealing. However, software reuse has not been as effective as expected and has not been very broadly or systematically used in industry. This paper surveys recent software reuse research using a framework that helps identify and organize the many factors that must be considered to achieve the benefits of software reuse in practice. We argue that software reuse needs to be viewed in the context of a total systems approach that addresses a broad range of technical, economic, managerial, organizational and legal issues and conclude with a summary of the major research issues in each of these areas.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

An Update on the IS/IT Skills Gap

Information systems (IS) curriculums have been the subject of debate and discussion, as to their proper planning, design, and implementation. Despite all of the work which has been done in this area to date, there are still arguments whether skills gaps exist between what is being taught in IS curriculums, and what is really needed in the industry. This study examines IS/IT skills gaps from three perspectives: end-users, academia, and IS/IT employers. The goal is to see whether skills gaps exist, and to make specific recommendations in order to alleviate these skills gaps. A survey was administered in the northeastern U.S. to investigate the perceived importance of IS courses, information technologies, and critical IS/IT issues. The survey was analyzed and the results were compared with IS course offerings by AACSB-accredited business schools in the northeastern U.S. and IT staffing surveys and reports. One interesting finding is that project management is a subject area which is not being adequately covered in IS program curriculums, however is considered a highly important skill area by both IS and nonIS industry professionals. In terms of technologies, the most basic and widely used technologies (personal productivity and desktop operating systems) were given high importance. Results related to IS/IT issues showed that security is an issue which should be given greater emphasis in any consideration of IS curriculums. ERP, end-user computing, and the integration of soft skills have also been indicated as being important technologies, skills, and issues based on our findings

SOFTWARE REUSE: SURVEY AND RESEARCH DIRECTIONS

Software reuse is the use of software resources from all stages of the software development process in new applications. Given the high cost and difficulty of developing high quality software, the idea of capitalizing on previous software investments is appealing. However, software reuse has not been as effective as expected and has not been very broadly or systematically used in industry. This paper surveys recent software reuse research using a framework that helps identify and organize the many factors that must be considered to achieve the benefits of software reuse in practice. We argue that software reuse needs to be viewed in the context of a total systems approach that addresses a broad range of technical, economic, managerial, organizational and legal issues and conclude with a summary of the major research issues in each of these areas.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

A MODEL FOR PEFORMANCE EVALUATION OF INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS

We describe a quantitative model for the performance evaluation of interactive computer systems. The approach involves the development of an "interaction graph" or state transition diagram to describe the user-machine interaction. Given numerical data on transition times and probabilities, the model can be used to perform sensitivity analyses of changes in system parameters and user behavior. To illustrate the model, we use empirical data from field and laboratory experiments designed to compare a prototype natural language query system with a formal (relational) query system. The general approach is applicable in a broad range of other contexts including bibliographic retrieval and the analysis of web-log data. It should be of interest to both system developers and potential users of these systems.Information Systems Working Papers Serie