Process-Based Software Risk Assessment

Analyzing software process models to predict the behavior of software processes helps in planning and enacting software projects. Since software process models can capture the key information that is necessary to assess process-related risks, this paper discusses how approaches for software process analysis may be applied to software risk assessment. A characterization scheme for process analysis approaches is stated based on a set of necessary risk assessment requirements. Existing analysis approaches are evaluated with respect to the characterization scheme. Proceeding from this evaluation, an approach to software process analysis is proposed that is specifically tailored to software risk assessment. This analysis approach takes advantage of a wide range of information by integrating empirically validated models. It is also shown how this approach fits into the context of the MVP (multi-view processes) project at the University of Kaiserslautern.