Doctoral Thesis by Angelika Mittelmann

Johannes Kepler University, Linz/Danube, Austria, March 1998

auf Deutsch

Using Methods of "Organizational Learning" in Software Lifecycle Processes

Abstract:

This work presents why and how to use methods of "Organizational Learning" (OL-methods) for improving the software lifecycle processes (SLP) and their products. For this purpose a well-known meta process model for software development consisting of the process, product and human levels is expanded by the purpose level and the OL-methods component is added to the human level. The OLSLP process model is derived from this meta model which implies a comprehensive proceeding during software development.

As organizations are very different in the way their members are learning as well as in their structure and culture a determination of the position of these OL factors is outlined. For completing this picture of the organization a way for determining the capability maturity of the software lifecycle processes is added. The result of this position determination enables the selection of the best suited set of OL-methods to be used in the SLP. A catalog of 29 methods is described in detail. Especially the estimation of which qualifications and resources are needed and which chances and risks can be proved by using the methods is discussed. The combination of OL-methods to sets for coping with typical problematic situations during software development completes this work.

Keywords:

Organizational Learning (OL), software lifecycle process, process model for software development, OL factors, OL methods catalogue, OL method sets