A hierarchical spiral model for the software process

• Authors: J Iivari
• Venue: ACM SIGSOFT Software Engineering Notes
• Year: 1987

Barry B. Boehm suggested an interesting spiral model for the software development process in the International Workshop on the Software Process and Software Environments last Year (Boe86). The model is particularly interesting to me, since it seems to be highly consistent with some of the basic ideas of the PIOCO model for the information systems (IS) design process (Iiv82, Iiv83a, IiKo86) and also with its application to the development of embedded software (IiKT86). For instance, he characterizes the spiral model as a risk-driven approach. In the PIOCO model we have chosen to use the term uncertainty instead of risk emphasiznig that the IS/SW process, particularly in its earlier phases, is information production for the steering committee deciding about the IS/SW product and process (Iiv83a, Iiv86). In Iiv83a and b we have also formalized this idea in terms of Information Economics (Mar74) leading to the conclusion that IS/SW elaboration should be directed to those aspects of the IS/SW process in which the uncertainty, and therefore the potential value of the new information, is greatest (cf. Boe86).