Software process model evolution in the SPADE environment

Software processes are long-lived entities. Careful design and thorough validation of software process models are necessary to ensure the quality of the process. They do not prevent, however, process models from undergoing change. Change requests may occur in the context of reuse, i.e. statically, in order to support software process model customization. They can also occur dynamically, while software process models are being executed, in order to support timely reaction as data are gathered from the field during process enactment. We discuss the mechanisms a process language should possess in order to support changes. We illustrate the solution adopted in the context of the SPADE environment and discuss how the proposed mechanisms can be used to model different policies for changing a software process model