The process cycle

TLDR

Software development has long relied on life‑cycle models, yet these models lack the detailed guidance needed for large projects, prompting the emergence of software process engineering. This paper examines recent developments in software process and introduces the concept of a process cycle that captures the engineering scope and evolution of software processes. The authors detail the process cycle by outlining how corporate goals, policies, and management drive the engineering, performance, and improvement of software processes, the transformation of process artifacts, the involvement of people, and the communication flows within the cycle.

Abstract

Historically, the process of software development has played an important role in the field of software engineering. A number of software life-cycle models have been developed in the last three decades. These models, although helpful is giving general guidance to software developers, do not expose myriad details that are critical in any large software development project. Recent development however, have unfolded many hidden aspects of the software process, giving rise to a new discipline that we call software process engineering. This paper depicts software process in the context of software environments, examines recent developments in the process field and proposes the concept of process cycle, which embodies the scope of engineering and evolution of software processes. The paper describes the details of the process cycle, including such issues as the role of corporate goals and policies in the engineering, management, performance and improvement of software processes; the transformation of the process artifacts through the process cycle; role of human beings in this (meta-) process; and communications in the cycle.