Understanding software processes through system dynamics simulation: a case study

This paper presents a study with the intent to examine the opportunities provided by creating and using simulation models of software development processes. A model of one software development project was created through means of system dynamics, with data collected from documents, interviews and observations. The model was simulated in a commercial simulation tool. The simulation runs indicate that increasing the effort spent on the requirements phase, to a certain extent, will decrease the lead time and increase the quality in similar projects. The simulation model visualizes relations in the software process, and can be used by project managers when planning future projects. The study indicates that this type of simulation is a feasible way of modelling the process dynamically although the study calls for further investigations as to how project or process managers can benefit the most from using system dynamics simulations