Understanding the interplay between the technical and business aspects of software obsolescence : The development of a software obsolescence management framework

Background: Software is becoming a more critical part of society and organizations. The increasing pace and competitiveness of the market also increases the rate of software obsolescence, costing organizations as much as $750 million annually. Existing software obsolescence management frameworks favor technical aspects, often disregarding the business aspects. Objectives: The objectives of the thesis were to investigate the interplay between technical and business aspects of software obsolescence, and create a framework to assist decision-making regarding software obsolescence management by estimating the point at which a software product will reach its half-life. Methods: A systematic literature review, and interviews at NKT were conducted to identify the key elements of software obsolescence and current management methods. The key elements were then syntactically and semantically analyzed, before being grouped into aspects and integrated into the BASTA (Business Aspects Software Obsolescence Technical Aspects) framework. All groups were then weighted and assigned values accordingly, resulting in a prediction of its half-life. The framework was then validated through simulations, and static validation at NKT. Results: 410 elements were identified, which later became 72 business elements grouped into 15 aspects, and 163 technical elements grouped to 26 aspects. Simulation and static validation indicate that the BASTA framework is both usable and accurate in a real-world setting, although some identified improvements could be made to further enhance the usability. Conclusions: In conclusion, 410 elements were identified, and the interplay between the technical and business aspects was investigated. A framework consisting of 41 aspects was developed, and proven to be usable and accurate. However, further research is needed to further validate and improve the BASTA framework.