A Process Research Framework - Software Engineering Institute ...

2. These advances will be followed by the need to understandhow to confirm achievement of quality requirements (the fourthresearch node, Verification and Validation of Product Qualities).3. Knowledge gained from research activity associated with thesethree nodes can then be used to construct models of productquality/processrelationships which can be employed as supporttools during process selection (the third research node, ModelingProduct Quality-Process Relationships).4. The fifth research node in this theme is concerned with how toselect processes that sustain and evolve desired product qualitiesthroughout the full product life cycle (Sustaining ProductQualities).2The relationship between an end-product quality and a process is importantbecause process selection and general adoption by systems andsoftware engineering companies requires staff to understand the achievablebenefits. People will only adopt and follow processes that provideproven benefits. Those benefits may be in terms of (a) creating a betterend product (or service), (b) making things happen faster, or (c) makingpeople’s jobs easier. Point (a) is covered throughout this researchtheme, notably in Node Q.2 (Establishing Process—Product QualityRelationships). Point (b) is addressed by research Node E.2 (OrganizingProcesses for Reuse) in the Process Engineering theme. Point (c) iscovered by research Node P.1 (Motivate Process Use) in the ProcessDeployment theme. Hence, Figure 3 shows linkages among those nodesand themes.2.3.2 Research Theme E: Process EngineeringThis research theme provides the process perspective. It is concernedwith how to define and build processes and understand their performance.The research nodes for this theme consequently follow an operationalprogression of how to1. specify processes with adequate empirical evidence of theirperformance or performance impact in light of requirements2. engineer, assemble, combine, and reuse process components tomeet required performance targets3. determine the infrastructure needed to best support this processengineering environmentThis theme naturally draws upon knowledge and understanding developedin the first theme, since all processes are enacted in supportof some product or service. Likewise, this second theme draws uponknowledge and understanding from the Process Deployment theme;after all, there is no point in making processes that people cannot or willnot use.IPRC Framework | Architecture of the Research Themes 15