Executable behavioral modeling of system- and software-architecture specifications to inform resourcing decisions

Abstract

The size, cost, and slow rate of change of Department of Defense (DOD) Information Technology (IT) systems make introducing new capabilities challenging. Without considering the whole system and its environment, design decisions may result in unintended operational and financial impacts, often not visible until later testing. These complex systems and their interactions are not cheap to maintain, impacting intellectual, programmatic, and organizational resources. Precise behavioral modeling offers a way to assess architectural design decisions prior to, during, and after implementation to mitigate the impacts of complexity, but this modeling cannot estimate those design decisions' effort and cost. This research introduces a methodology to extract Unadjusted Function Point (UFP) counts from architectural behavioral models utilizing a framework called Monterey Phoenix (MP), lightweight formal methods, and high-level pseudocode for use in cost estimation models such as COCOMO II. Additionally, integration test estimates are informed by extracts of MP model event traces. These unambiguous, executable architecture models and their views can be inspected and revised in order to facilitate communication with stakeholders, reduce the potential for software failure, and lower implementation costs.