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There are currently no fully validated estimation approaches that can accurately predict the effort needed for developing a software system (Kitchenham, et al, 1995). Information gathered at the early stages of system development is not enough to provide precise effort estimates, even though similar software systems may have been developed in the past. Where similar systems have been developed, there are often inherent differences in the features of these systems and in the development process used. These differences are often sufficient to significantly reduce estimation accuracy. Historically, cost estimation focuses on project effort and duration. There are many estimation techniques, but none is consistently ‘best’ (Shepperd, 2003). Software project management has become a crucial field of research due to the increasing role of software in today’s world. Improving the functions of project management is a main concern in software development organisation. The purpose of this thesis is to develop a new model which incorporates cultural and leadership factors in the cost estimation model, and is based on Case-Based Reasoning. The thesis defines a new knowledge representation “ontology” to provide a common understanding of project parameters. The associated system uses a statistically simulated bootstrap method, which helps in tuning the analogy approach before application to real projects. This research also introduces a new application of Profile Theory, which takes a formal approach to the measurement of leadership capabilities. A pilot study was performed in order to understand the approaches used for cost estimation in the Gulf region. Based on this initial study, a questionnaire was further refined and tested. Consequently, further surveys were conducted in the United Arab Emirates. It was noticed that most of the software development projects failed in terms of cost estimate. This was due to the lack of a precise software estimation model. These studies also highlighted the importance of leadership and culture in software cost estimation. Effort was estimated using regression and analogy. The Bootstrap method was used to refine the estimate of effort based on analogy, with correction for bias. Due to the very different nature of the core and support systems, a separate model was developed for each of them. As a result of the study, a new model for identifying and analysing was developed. The model was then evaluated, and conclusions were drawn. These show the importance of the model and the factors of organisational culture and leadership in software project development and in cost estimation. Potential areas for future research were identified.

This practice-led research project investigates the key characteristics of the use and process of programming code when applied to a creative design environment. The research is motivated by personal practice and a desire to move beyond the boundaries of software, and is set against a contemporary background of designers exploring code as a key part of their creative work. The initial contextual study considers design practice in the context of contemporary digital technology, and identifies computational design as a distinct area, apart from software-centred design. Although not a formal term or grouping, the thesis highlights 'computational design' as an area of practice which has emerged out of dissatisfaction with the 'limitations' of software tools. The research establishes links between a range of contemporary design practitioners, whose work is motivated by a desire to understand and engage directly with the process and the 'material' of the computational environment. Using the Arts and Crafts movement as a case study, the contextual review discusses the ethos, process and material of software-centred and computational design alongside those of traditional design values. The research identifies the process and usage of computation as a distinct area of study for creative design which applies a traditional concern for the material and process of 'making' within the immaterial environment of the digital arena. The identification of computation as a type of raw ‘material’ for creative practice provides the focus for the rest of the research. Based on the findings of the contextual review, the practice explores the detail of the process of ‘making’ using code, by creating two major pieces of computationally generated work, based on the botanical, decorative aesthetic of William Morris wallpaper prints. Each key stage of the work is outlined using the headings 'code', 'visuals' and 'process', providing a Truth to Material: Moving from Software to Programming Code as a New Material for Digital Design Practice. 3 detailed account of the developing process and relationship between the designer and the computational material. The study reveals that key to the use of computation is an understanding and development of structural and visual flexibility, which is inbuilt into the architecture of the work as part of the design process. The research identifies three core phases, or ‘layers’ within the process: ‘concept’, ‘data structure’ and ‘data detail’, each of which contribute important elements to the flexibility and fluidity of the structure and visuals. The research adds to the understanding of the process and practice of computational work within a creative context, increasing knowledge regarding the use and application of the formal elements of code within a creative design workflow.

This work presents a conceptual structure for the behaviors of artificial intelligence agents, with emphasis on creating teamwork through individual behaviors. The goal is to set up a framework which enables teams of simulation agents to behave more realistically. Better team behavior can lend a higher fidelity of human behavior representation in a simulation, as well as provide opportunities to experiment with the factors that create teamwork. The framework divides agent behaviors into three categories: leadership, individual, and team-enabling. Leadership behaviors consist of planning, decision-making, and delegating. Individual behaviors consist of moving, shooting, environment-monitoring, and self-monitoring. Team-enabling behaviors consist of communicating, synchronizing actions, and team member monitoring. These team-enabling behaviors augment the leadership and individual behaviors at all phases of an agent's thought process, and create aggregate team behavior that is a hybrid of emergent and hierarchical teamwork. The net effect creates, for each agent, options and courses of action which are sub-optimal from the individual agent's standpoint, but which leverage the power of the team to accomplish objectives. The individual behaviors synergistically combine to create teamwork, allowing a group of agents to act in such a manner that their overall effectiveness is greater than the sum of their individual contributions. / US Army (USA) author.

Since the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) published the Capability Maturity Method Integration (CMMI) in 2003, many software firms have implemented it to enhance the software quality assurance and international collaboration. The CMMI is now considered to be the price for entry to run a software business. However, implementing the CMMI is complex and necessitates an implementation methodology. In Taiwan, most of the software firms implement the CMMI with the help from the consultants. It is expensive especially for a small and midsize firm. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop a feasible CMMI ML 2 implementation methodology based on two cases that have successfully implemented the CMMI ML 2. This study utilizes the systems development research method to investigate the CMMI ML 2 implementation methodology including, the implementation procedure, the stakeholders and the needed training and the needed documentations for each implementation phase. Finally, a case study is used to validate our results. With this methodology, the small and midsize firms can more easily and systematically implement the CMMI ML2, thereby reducing the cost and risk in implementing CMMI.

Thesis (M.S. in Software Engineering)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2009. / Thesis Advisor(s): Shing, Man-Tak; Michael, Bret. "December 2009." Description based on title screen as viewed on January 26, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: SOA, web services, open architecture, command and control, sensor management. Includes bibliographical references (p. 76-78). Also available in print.

Thesis (M.S.)--Florida State University, 2003. / Advisor: Dr. David Whalley, Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Computer Science. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Apr. 9,2004). Includes bibliographical references.

Our modern information society has produced many sophisticated requirements for the development of information systems. A new challenge is the study of hybrid information systems that combine traditional information systems with knowledge-based systems. This new generation information system is considerably more powerful than a simple extrapolation of existing system concepts. It is easy to imagine the advantages of powerful knowledge-based systems with efficient access to several large databases, and of large traditional information systems with added intelligence. Due to the complex nature of hybrid information systems, it is umealistic to expect that they can be developed using one standard method. The use of several independently developed methods has a number of drawbacks, such as inconsistency, redundancy, amount of effort required and possible loss of information. In an attempt to provide at least a partial solution to this problem. this thesis describes a new integrated methodology for developing hybrid information systems. This methodology combines the method for developing traditional information systems with the method for developing knowledge-based systems. The new methodology provides a hybrid lifecycle process model to combine the conventional waterfall process with rapid prototyping and model-based approaches. The proposed methodology integrates four eXlstmg methods using two integration approaches: intra-process and inter-process. In the requirements analysis phase. a structured method is applied to function analysis, an information modelling method is applied to data analysis, and a knowledge acquisition method is applied to knowledge analysis. An intraprocess approach is then used to integrate these techniques using consistency rules. In the design phase. the new methodology uses an inter-process approach to transform requirements analysis to object-oriented design by a transformation algorithm. Finally, an object-oriented method is applied to the design and implementation of hybrid information systems. Using the new methodology, a hybrid medical information system for dizziness (HMISD) was developed, which combines components of traditional medical information systems with components of medical expert systems. The construction and development of this software are described in detail. The system can support activities in hospitals including registration, diagnosis, investigations, drug management and clinical research. It provides assistance to hospital doctors and general practitioners. The performance of HMISD is evaluated by testing ninety three real patient cases and taking two investigations from medical staff and patients. The evaluation results show that HMISD is of good quality and that most of its users are satisfied. Three approaches are used to evaluate the proposed methodology: analysis of the development of HMISD, comparison with existing methodologies using CMD and expert evaluations. The evaluation conclusions indicate that this new integrated methodology can take advantage of the four existing methods and also remove some of the limitations of each individual method. It is applicable to the development of traditional information systems, knowledge-based systems, and large and complex hybrid information systems.