Change impact analysis for evolving configuration decisions in product line use case models

Ines Hajri, Arda Goknil, Lionel C. Briand, Thierry Stephany

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Product Line Engineering is becoming a key practice in many software development environments where complex systems are developed for multiple customers with varying needs. In many business contexts, use cases are the main artifacts for communicating requirements among stakeholders. In such contexts, Product Line (PL) use cases capture variable and common requirements while use case-driven configuration generates Product Specific (PS) use cases for each new customer in a product family. In this paper, we propose, apply, and assess a change impact analysis approach for evolving configuration decisions in PL use case models. Our approach includes: (1) automated support to identify the impact of decision changes on prior and subsequent decisions in PL use case diagrams and (2) automated incremental regeneration of PS use case models from PL use case models and evolving configuration decisions. Our tool support is integrated with IBM Doors. Our approach has been evaluated in an industrial case study, which provides evidence that it is practical and beneficial to analyze the impact of decision changes and to incrementally regenerate PS use case models in industrial settings.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)211-237
Number of pages27
JournalJournal of Systems and Software
Volume139
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Change impact analysis
  • Evolving decisions
  • Incremental reconfiguration
  • Product line engineering
  • Use case configurator
  • Use case driven development

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