Theory of Value-Based Systems and Software Engineering
Jan 12, 2016
Theory of Value-BasedSystems and Software Engineering
Context and Definitions – Value-Based SSE
Definition “the explicit concern with value (financial and
non-financial) in the application of science and mathematics by which the properties of computer systems and software are made useful to people”
Practicing VBSSE “integrating stakeholder value considerations
into the full range of systems and software development principles and practices”
Context and Definitions – Value
Origin from Latin “valere” – to be worth
Definition (Webster) relative worth, utility or importance
Financial or non-financial (Maslow, Kaplan and Norton)
Key non-financial corporate value drivers (Forbes.com with Wharton and E&Y)
Innovation, ability to attract talented employees, alliances, quality of major processes, products, or services, environmental performance
Key Observations from Literature
1. Organizations are social units – people-centric
2. Assume bounded rationality (Simon)3. No silver-bullets, not one-size-fits-all (Brooks)4. Stakeholder values are financial and non-
financial (Maslow, Forbes-E&Y)5. Timeless theories of physics will not apply
(from 1-4)6. Organizational systems affect the bottom
line (Burton and Obel)7. Engineering theories must take the
organization in context (from 4 and 6)
Successful Project? Multi-Contingency Organizational Context (Burton and Obel)
ORGANIZATION’L STRUCTURE
GOALS, MISSION
BOUNDARY
SIZE TECHNOLOGYENVIRONMENTMANAGEMENT
STYLESTRATEGY CLIMATE
Key Observations from Literature (contd.)8. Management theories usually take at least a decade for conclusive evidence9. Problem and solution space is huge, balance on breadth and depth (T-shaped)Therefore: Avoid reinventing the wheel, capitalize on existing research
What is a Theory? 1960s : System of general laws
Spatially and temporally unrestricted; nonaccidental
Does not work for systems and software
1994 : System for explaining a set of phenomena Specifies key concepts, laws relating concepts Not spatially and temporally unrestricted Better for people-intensive activities
“Your enterprise will succeed if and only if
it makes winners of your success-critical stakeholders” Proof of “if”:
Everyone that counts is a winner…(i) Nobody significant is left to complain…(ii)
Proof of “only if”: Nobody wants to lose…(iii) Prospective losers will refuse to participate, or will
counterattack…(iv) The usual result is lose-lose…(v)
Theory W – Enterprise Success Theorem
Making winners of your success-critical stakeholders requires
Identifying all of the success-critical stakeholders (and the contingencies they “bring-in”) (SCSs)…(i)
Understanding how the SCSs want to win …(ii)
Having the SCSs negotiate a win-win set of product and process plans…(iii)
Controlling progress toward SCS win-win realization, including adaptation to change…(iv)
Theory W – WinWin Achievement Theorem
Utility Theory
Theory W:SCS Win-Win
Decision Theory
Contingency Theory
Control Theory
How do contingencies affect value realization?
How to adapt to change and control value realization?
How do values determine decision choices?
How important are the values?
What values are important?How is success assured?
VBSSE Theory – 4+1 Model
Provides insights into various organizational and project contingencies
“What the best way to do x?” “It depends.” Spans socio-political, environment, cultural, technical
dimensions
Component theories include Benefits Chain, Model Clashes, Network Analysis
Primary contributions include Helps identify contingent success-critical variables Applies to whole (socio-technical) system Appeals to intuition that systems fail because of
mismatches.
Supporting Theories – Contingency
Environment – Framework (Porter, Burton and Obel)
Systems & Software Project Implications Process System Architecture System Capabilities
Uncertainty Equivocality Complexity Hostility
Buyers’ Bargaining Power
HIGH HIGH LOW LOW
Suppliers’ Bargaining Power
LOW HIGH HIGH HIGH
Threat of Substitutes
PROACTIVE REACTIVE PROACTIVE REACTIVE
Threat of New Entrants
LONG SHORT LONG SHORT
Inter-firm Rivalry
HIGH LOW HIGH LOW
INSPIRATION CONTROL INSPIRATION CONTROL
Environment – Propositions
Propositions for organization structure “If the environment has low equivocality, low
complexity and low uncertainty then formalization should be high, organization complexity should be medium and centralization should be low” (i)
“If the environment has low equivocality, high complexity and low uncertainty then formalization should be high, organization complexity should be medium and centralization should be medium” (ii)
“If hostility is extreme, then formalization should be low, and centralization should be very high” (iii)
…
Management and Leadership Style – Frameworks (Burton and Obel)
Systems & Software Project Implications Staffing Process
Leader Producer Entrepreneur Manager
Preference for Delegation
HIGH HIGH LOW LOW
Level of Detail in Decision-Making
LOW HIGH HIGH HIGH
Reactive/Proactive Decision-Making
PROACTIVE REACTIVE PROACTIVE REACTIVE
Decision-Making Time Horizon
LONG SHORT LONG SHORT
RiskPreference
HIGH LOW HIGH LOW
Motivation and Control
INSPIRATION CONTROL INSPIRATION CONTROL
Management and Leadership Style – Propositions Propositions for project structure
“If an individual is a leader, then “Centralization should be low (i) “Formalization should be low (ii) “Complexity should be medium (iii) “Incentives should be results based (iv) “Coordination and control should be loose” (v)
“If an individual is a manager, then “Centralization should be high (vi) “Formalization should be high (vii) “Complexity should be high (viii) “Incentives should be procedure based (ix) “Coordination and control should be tight” (x)
“If an individual is a producer, entrepreneur…
Technology – Frameworks (Perrow)
Systems & Software Project Implications Staffing Process System Architecture
CRAFT NONROUTINE
ROUTINE ENGINEERING
ILL-DEFINED
WELL-DEFINED
PR
OB
LE
M
AN
AL
YZ
AB
ILIT
Y
FEW EXCEPTIONS
MANY EXCEPTIONS
TASK VARIABILITY
Technology – Propositions vs. Strategy
“Nonroutine technology is a misfit with a defender strategy” (i).
vs. Management Style “Nonroutine technology is a misfit with a manager
leadership style, except in small organizations” (ii) vs. Organizational Climate
“Nonroutine technology is a misfit with an internal process climate” (iii)
vs. Organizational Environment “Nonroutine technology is a misfit with a high
equivocality environment” (iv) …
Technology – Frameworks (Al-Said, Boehm)
Systems & Software Project Implications Staffing Process System Architecture
Technology – Propositions Maintainer vs. Developer
Ease of transition is a misfit with freedom of COTS (i) User vs. Acquirer
High levels of service is a misfit with freedom of COTS (ii) User vs. Acquirer
Application compatibility is a misfit with freedom of COTS (iii)
…
Supporting Theories – Utility Provides a rich theoretical method to infer
subjective stakeholder value over a set of choices
Component theories include Maslow, Simon, Multiple attribute utility theory
Primary contributions include Helps determine Pareto optimality Works well with subjective preferences Provides rich fodder (stakeholder utility functions) for
other theories
Supporting Theories – Decision Provides a plethora of techniques and models to
enable decision making
Component theories include Game theory, options theory, statistical decision
theory
Primary contributions include Helps determine risks and opportunities Works well with uncertainty Not wedded to a particular decision theory, such as
bounded rationality, economic man, etc. Provides rich fodder (competing investment options)
for other theories
Supporting Theories – Control Provides theory augmented models for state
measurement
Component theories include BSCs, BTOPP, Risk management
Primary contributions include Helps determine necessary conditions for enabling
control Works well in situations requiring stability AND
adaptability Provides rich fodder (risks and opportunities) for other
supporting theories
VBSSE Theory – 6-Step Process
Utility Theory
Theory W:SCS Win-Win
Decision Theory
Contingency Theory
Control Theory
5a, 6c. State measurement, prediction, correction; Milestone synchronization
4b. Investment analysis, Risk analysis
1. Protagonist goals3a. Solution exploration6. Risk, opportunity, change management
4b, 6b. Prototyping
2a. Results Chains3b, 4b, 6b. Cost/schedule/performance tradeoffs
2. Identify SCSs
3b, 6a. Solution Analysis
4b, 6b. Option, solution development & analysis
4a. SCS expectations management
3. SCS Value Propositions(Win conditions)
SCS: Success-Critical Stakeholder
5, 6c. Refine, Execute, Monitor & Control Plans
4. SCS Win-Win Negotiation
The Incremental Commitment Model (ICM)
VBSSE – Phase Configuration
UTILITY θ CONTINGENCY θ θ W DECISION θ CONTROL θ
ProtagonistGoals
SCS (Market, Sociopolitical,Technical, Economic, People)
Dependencies
Solution Analysis
Cost, Schedule,Performance Tradeoffs
Stakeholder Value Propositions
ExpectationsManagement
Market, Sociopolitical,Technical, Economic
Dependencies
Stakeholder Value Propositions
Cost, Schedule,Performance Tradeoffs
Investment, RiskAnalyses
SolutionAnalysis
Cost, Schedule,Performance Tradeoffs
Cost, Schedule,Performance Tradeoffs
Stakeholder Value Satisfaction
Stakeholder Value Satisfaction
Prototypes
A
EXPLORATION
Risks, Capabilities
Plans, Control Variables
A
B
Conclusion
It provides a unifying theory for practicing VBSSE that is: Entirely theory-based
“There is nothing as practical as a good theory” – Karl Lewin
Built on existing research Empirically validated (TBD) Simple
Derived from simple rules, provides step-by-step guidance