Fuzzy multi-criteria approach for component based software system under build-or-buy scheme

Abstract

With the rising awareness of advancements in Information technology amongst various industries, the predilection to selection of commercial-off the shelf (COTS) components have increased invariably. It provides the ability to reuse the software components, thereby, maximizing the reliability while reducing the developmental cost. The decision of whether to buy the component or build from scratch, is known as build-or-buy decision. In order to prevent the software from failure, redundant components have to be incorporated which can be ascertained using fault tolerant schemes. Further, the innovation in the field of Application Package Software (APS) has supplemented the industry with highly configurable, sophisticated applications. Through this paper, we shall discuss a framework concentrating upon whether to build or buy the software components while designing a fault-tolerant modular software system. The objective of the paper is to maximize the reliability of the software while minimizing the overall cost. Further, the components with comparatively less execution time are chosen over the ones which require more time for executing the software. Hence the objective of the paper shall further be elaborated upon minimizing the execution time with the aid of a case study on supplementing an APS for Airline Industry.