Hierarchical Holographic Modeling for Software Acquisition Risk Assessment and Management.

Software has come to play an increasingly dominant role in todays world. System design, quality, and risk are predicated, as never before, on the software component of the system. Unfortunately, this significant increase in our dependence on software, which in turn causes an increase in the amount of software required, has not been matched by a corresponding increase in our capability to manage its acquisition and development. Cases of software acquisition mismanagement that resulted in large cost overruns and schedule delays have been widely reported. Maturing the capabilities of the software acquisition community require the development of appropriate tools and methodologies for risk-based decision-making management.This dissertation addresses the assessment and management of risks associated with the software acquisition processes from a holistic perspective using hierarchical holographic modeling HHM. The multiple visions and perspectives within which the life cycle of software acquisition is stated and modeled, provide a comprehensive framework for risk assessment and management of software acquisition. In particular, widely used models in software acquisition such as the COCOMO model, can now be extended to incorporate probabilistic as well as dynamic dimensions. The ultimate contributions of this dissertation can be found in at least two major areas a in the theoretical and methodological domain of systems modeling in the quest of a more quantitative risk assessment and management framework, and b in advancing the state of practice in the assessment and management of software acquisition by extending highly used models in practice to incorporate more realistic probabilities and dynamic dimensions.