Improving Software Development Processes with Multicriteria Methods

TL;DR

This paper proposes a scientifically grounded approach using multicriteria methods to improve decision-making in software development processes, addressing the limitations of intuitive and hazardous choices.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of multicriteria decision methods to guide software engineers in tactical choices within development processes.

Findings

Enhanced decision quality in software development

Successful application in risks, use cases, and tools

Provides a structured decision-making framework

Abstract

All software development processes include steps where several alternatives induce a choice, a decision-making. Sometimes, methodologies offer a way to make decisions. However, in a lot of cases, the arguments to carry out the decision are very poor and the choice is made in an intuitive and hazardous way. The aim of our work is to offer a scientifically founded way to guide the engineer through tactical choices with the application of multicriteria methods in software development processes. This approach is illustrated with three cases: risks, use cases and tools within Rational Unified Process.