Engineering software for interoperability through use of enterprise architecture techniques

Abstract : There are many efforts underway that are focused on resolving the system and software interoperability problems within the Department of Defense (DoD). While several of these efforts are attempting to attack this issue using new technologies and standardization, experience suggests most of these interoperability problems are caused by deficiencies in the way interoperability requirements are defined and captured within DoD's acquisition processes and policies. To affect real progress towards department-wide interoperability, it will be necessary to change the methods by which interoperability is considered in the acquisition process. This thesis proposes a new structured methodology for incorporating the use of enterprise architecture techniques into the DoD software acquisition process to provide a means by which interoperability requirements can be captured, defined, and levied at the appropriate time in a system's development. It discusses the necessary components of these architectural models, how these models capture DoD's interoperability needs, and how these interoperability needs form the basis for meaningful dialogue between the DoD's acquisition and planning communities. While this methodology is applicable to many domains and functional areas, for the purposes of this thesis, the focus will be solely on software systems (including systems with embedded software) within the DoD. (29 tables, 15 figures, 17 refs.)