Software Process Models are Software Too: A Domain Class Model for Software Process Models

Abstract

A software process model describes a set of partially-ordered sequences of activities that are carried out in order to accomplish certain goals. While numerous process modeling approaches have been proposed over the years, it seems that none of them have yet addressed the full range of concepts described in this definition. Most focus on activities and activity ordering; few, if any, focus on representing organizational goals and process improvement. Most provide concrete implementation approaches; few, if any, describe the general model(s) upon which these implementations are built. This paper suggests a new approach for developing software process modeling systems. If “Software Processes are Software Too,” as suggested by Osterweil (1987), then so are software process models, and hence there may be processes and models that are used in regular software development that may be useful in the process modeling domain as well. The paper focuses on the domain class model as an example of one type of model that might be produced if an approach such as the Unified Process were used in the process modeling domain. Such a process, and the set of models produced by it, if used, may be helpful in moving the process modeling field forward. While identifying the conceptual needs of process modeling systems, these models leave totally open the choice of how to formalize and implement actual solutions. A domain class model for process models is developed as an example of one of these models.