A Process Definition Language For Guiding Multiuser Design

University Of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst MA

Investigators

Abstract

Effective processes are of fundamental importance to manufacturing, government, engineering, and management. In all of these areas greater understanding and control of key processes can lead to improved effectiveness. For the past 15 years, it has also been recognized that processes are fundamental to software development, and that effective control of processes can lead to similar benefits, such as improved understanding, coordination, efficiency, and automation. It has been hoped that this would lead to reductions in software development cost, improvements in software product quality, and reductions in software development time. Our hypothesis is that progress towards these goals can be speeded by establishing a scientific basis upon which to build the process technologies that will support more effective software production. This research project will lead to the development of needed improvements to the Little-JIL process definition language, and the Juliette interpreter. These improvements will be validated by programming and running multiuser, iterative software design processes that are effective in integrating the activities of humans and computer automation. These processes should be of considerable value in themselves. Their development, moreover, will sharpen and validate the Little-JIL process language, resulting in clearer understandings of the underlying requirements for effective process definition languages.