Introduction to MBASE (Model-Based [System] Architecting and Software Engineering)

Even when sophisticated software development process is used, e.g., the Stakeholder Win Win Risk-Driven Spiral Process, software development projects often fail. A prime reason for this failure is unresolved, often undetected, differences among stakeholders’ sets of assumptions—their “models”—of various aspects of the project. MBASE is an approach to identifying “model clashes” so that their risks can be dealt with. Although it was originally developed as an extension to plan-driven development processes like the Stakeholder Win Win Risk-Driven Spiral Process, it can be adapted for use with any type of development process from Agile to Plan-driven. We discuss the notion of a “model,” the various types of “model clashes” and their consequences, and the MBASE approach to dealing with them.