Measuring Software Development Value Using Fuzzy Logic

Abstract

Software development is an inherently uncertain activity. To deal with the uncertainty and vagueness from humans’ subjective perception and experience in decision process, this chapter proposes a disciplined evaluation approach to improve the quality of decision-making in the software development project under uncertain conditions. We first present an evaluation concept and the necessary evaluation models and techniques that help the evaluators to reduce their risks under uncertainty in software development process. Next, we propose a methodology based on the extended fuzzy analytic hierarchy process modeling to assess the adequate economic (tangible) and quality (intangible) balance. Two key factors of economic and quality are evaluated separately by fuzzy approaches and both factors’ estimates are combined to obtain the preference degree associated with each software development project strategy alternatives for selecting the most appropriate one. Using the proposed approach, the ambiguities involved in the assessment data can be effectively represented and processed to assure a more convincing and effective decision-making process.