TOOLS FOR SELECTING A SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT METHODOLOGY TAKING INTO ACCOUNT PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS

Abstract

Context. In the software development process, the choice of a software development methodology is one of the important stages that significantly affects the success/failure of the project. The choice of the optimal development methodology depends on many factors and is a time-consuming and nontrivial task. 
 Objective. Therefore, there is a need to develop an effective and flexible software tool for selecting the best software development methodology that would automate this process and take into account the key characteristics of the project. 
 Method. This article presents an algorithm for selecting a software development methodology using methods of multi-criteria analysis and expert evaluation, which provides for gathering of the expert evaluation and implements the process of selecting the methodology using such methods as AHP, TOPSIS and Weighted Sum.
 Results. Using the above-mentioned algorithm, a software system was developed for selecting the best software development methodology depending on the characteristics of the project, where the criteria weights provided by experts were taken into account and the AHP method was applied to determine user priorities regarding the criteria for the methodology comparison. The TOPSIS and Weighted Sum method were chosen to calculate the estimates of the methodology selection. The software tool provides for the output of useful details of the selection results, namely, an expert evaluation of the specified parameter values in relation to all methodologies, and it can be used to improve the efficiency of the software development process in terms of automating the provision of recommendations to IT project managers. 
 Conclusions. The algorithm for selecting a software development methodology was developed, which, unlike the existing ones, provided for gathering of expert evaluation, taking into account the values of the criteria set by a user independently, and implemented the process of selecting the methodologies using such methods of multi-criteria analysis as AHP, TOPSIS and weighted sum. Using the above algorithm, a software system was developed for selecting the best software development methodology, depending on the characteristics of the project, where the criteria weights provided by experts were taken into account, and the AHP method was applied to determine user priorities for methodology comparison criteria. TOPSIS and weighted sum methods and were chosen to calculate the scores of methodology choice. The software tool provides for the output of useful details about the selection results, namely, an expert evaluation of the set parameter values regarding all methodologies.