Strategies for lifecycle concurrency and iteration - A system dynamics approach

Increasingly fierce commercial pressures necessitate the use of advanced so ftware lifecycle techniques to meet growing demands on both product time-to -market and business performance. Two significant methods of achieving such improved cycle-time capability are concurrent software engineering and sta ged-delivery. Concurrent software engineering exploits the potential for si multaneous performance of development activities between projects, product deliveries, development phases, and individual tasks. Staged-delivery enabl es lifecycle iteration to supply defined chunks of product functionality at pre-planned intervals. Used effectively, these techniques provide a powerf ul route to reduced cycle-times, increased product quality and, potentially , lower development costs. However, the degree and manner in which these te chniques should be applied remains an area for active research. This paper identifies some of the issues and open problems of incremental lifecycle ma nagement by reference to the development of aeroengine control systems with in Rolls-Royce pie. We explain why system dynamics is a promising technique for evaluating strategies for lifecycle concurrency and iteration. (C) 199 9 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.