Causal Networks Based Process Improvement

This paper includes a causal-based modelling of software process models in order to analyse the correct relationships between the different (key) process areas of these models. A first short description of causal network approaches shows the identified problems and possible benefits using these formal techniques in the software engineering area. The definition and extension of the causal modelling using causal networks helps to understand the relationships between the different software process artefacts and their causalities. Our causal network based process model (CNPM) concept describes the considered objects outside and inside the software processes or functions and their causalities expressed as roles. The description of first applications of the CNPM approach for the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) demonstrates the meaningfulness of this approach.