Software Quality Decision Support System

This research is aimed at producing a software quality decision support system to assist managers in making programmatic and technical decisions concerning software projects. Phase I is proposed in three tasks. In Task 1, we will identify important factors in a decision support system. This will involve three types of inquiry: characterization of the decision setting, identification of software metrics, and identification of the sources of expert opinion. In task 2, we will develop a methodology to be incorporated in the decision system. The method will likely incorporate key features of the techniques of multiattribute utility analysis, computer graphics, expert systems, and case-based reasoning. In Task 3, we will specify the requirements and design of a prototype software quality decision support system to implement the analytical methodology developed in Task 2. This will include a plan of approach that will address risk and technical alternatives.