Literature Review on the Theory of Constraints Applied in the Software Development Process

Abstract

This work is the result of a systematic mapping on the application of Theory of Constraints in the software development process. The objective of the research is to identify in the literature relevant primary studies published on the Theory of Constraints related to the software production process and its execution environment. The search principle was based on works that used the concepts of the Theory of Constraints (TOC), originally proposed by Israeli physicist Eliyahu Moshe Goldratt in the 1980s. In this research, we also sought to explore works that applied to TOC (Theory of Constraints) in other productive environments in an attempt to visualize possible applications that can be adapted to the software development process. The idea is to select jobs with examples and applications that can be extended and applied in the software development process. Thus, works with approaches in process optimization, process improvement, and process scheduling was also observed and cataloged in the mapping performed. The gaps found showed some research opportunities theoretical and practical on the application of TOC in the software process, improvement of the software process, identification and treatment of bottlenecks in software process and optimization of the software process, using heuristics, metaheuristics, mathematical models And Job Shop scheduling. As a result, this secondary study presents potential research areas relating TOC to PDS in the hope of contributing researchers and developers with an interest in this broader research front.