A software process simulator for software product and process improvement

Software process improvement can benefit from the application of software process quality models with dynamic estimation capabilities. In order to guarantee the dynamic estimation capability, and to deal with the complexity of the modelling problem, this paper proposes the combination of three conventional modelling methods (analytical, continuous and discrete-event) into a unique hybrid multi-level new model, called Dynamic Capability Model (DCM). DCM is applied to a waterfall-based software process to study the effects of three different quality assurance management policies on given process quality attributes, as effort, delivery time, productivity, rework percentage, and product quality. DCM simulation results can stimulate debate, and provide both qualitative and quantitative suggestions on the ways to change the software process to improve its quality, or the ways to achieve specific organisation's needs.