CLASSIFICATION OF SUBJECT MATTER
by
R.W. Bemer, A.G. Fraser, A.E. Glennie, A. Opler, and H.R. Wiehle
Introduction
At this early stage in the discussion on software production methods it is desirable to find an appropriate way of classifying the subject matter. A working party was given the task of finding an appropriate classification method and its conclusions are given here.
As a by-product of its deliberations, the working party produced a list of production cost elements and this is appended.
Classification Method
It is convenient to identify two major divisions of the management function. These are identified here as Production Management and Technical Direction. The former is subdivided into the procedures that constitute the production process whereas the latter is conveniently identified by the technical components involved in the production task.
In the lists which follow, aspects of the subject which working group P consider to be especially important are marked with an asterisk.
Production Management
1. PREPARING A PRODUCTION CAPABILITY — HUMAN
1.1 Training — technology and methods
1.2 Indoctrination in conventions for coding, testing, documentation
1.3 Organization structure
Quality, types and background of programmers used
Project or product oriented
Group size
* Internal communications
1.4 Productivity
Evaluation
Methods of output increase
1.5 Support Services — Documentors, clerical, operators, etc.
2. PREPARING A PRODUCTION CAPABILITY — NONHUMAN
2.1 Support equipment and availability (real or paper)
Local/remote access
2.2 Physical facilities — offices, file storage, data preparation
* 2.3 Machine-controlled production environment
Software tools — job specific (simulators, etc.)
Software tools — general (high level languages, flow charters, text editors, indexers, etc.)