Value-based decision model for renewal processes in software maintenance

This work is based on a retrospective analysis of a renewal process applied to a very aged, highly degraded software system. Some parts of the results are generalized to define a method for determining the technical and econo mic qualities of software system components. The work also presents a decis ion model for identifying the most suitable renewal process to be applied, based on the quality of the components and the aims of the renewal process. With the model presented, decision-making on the renewal process is specia lized to each component of the software system, thus ensuring greater benef its from the process as a whole. The same model can be used to monitor soft ware system quality decay and thus avoid the need to use the most costly re newal processes.