System design and the cost of architectural complexity
Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013.
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | eng |
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2013
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/79551 |
| _version_ | 1826253199751774208 |
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| author | Sturtevant, Daniel Joseph |
| author2 | Alan D. MacCormack. |
| author_facet | Alan D. MacCormack. Sturtevant, Daniel Joseph |
| author_sort | Sturtevant, Daniel Joseph |
| collection | MIT |
| description | Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T16:37:57Z |
| format | Thesis |
| id | mit-1721.1/79551 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T16:37:57Z |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| publisher | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/795512019-04-11T00:02:10Z System design and the cost of architectural complexity Sturtevant, Daniel Joseph Alan D. MacCormack. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division. Engineering Systems Division. Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references (p. 159-166). Many modern systems are so large that no one truly understands how they work. It is well known in the engineering community that architectural patterns (including hierarchies, modules, and abstraction layers) should be used in design because they play an important role in controlling complexity. These patterns make a system easier to evolve and keep its separate portions within the bounds of human understanding so that distributed teams can operate independently while jointly fashioning a coherent whole. This study set out to measure the link between architectural complexity (the complexity that arises within a system due to a lack or breakdown of hierarchy or modularity) and a variety of costs incurred by a development organization. A study was conducted within a successful software firm. Measures of architectural complexity were taken from eight versions of their product using techniques recently developed by MacCormack, Baldwin, and Rusnak. Significant cost drivers including defect density, developer productivity, and staff turnover were measured as well. The link between cost and complexity was explored using a variety of statistical techniques. Within this research setting, we found that differences in architectural complexity could account for 50% drops in productivity, three-fold increases in defect density, and order-of-magnitude increases in staff turnover. Using the techniques developed in this thesis, it should be possible for firms to estimate the financial cost of their complexity by assigning a monetary value to the decreased productivity, increased defect density, and increased turnover it causes. As a result, it should be possible for firms to more accurately estimate the potential dollar-value of refactoring efforts aimed at improving architecture. by Daniel J. Sturtevant. Ph.D. 2013-07-10T14:53:58Z 2013-07-10T14:53:58Z 2013 2013 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/79551 851391798 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 166 p. application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| spellingShingle | Engineering Systems Division. Sturtevant, Daniel Joseph System design and the cost of architectural complexity |
| title | System design and the cost of architectural complexity |
| title_full | System design and the cost of architectural complexity |
| title_fullStr | System design and the cost of architectural complexity |
| title_full_unstemmed | System design and the cost of architectural complexity |
| title_short | System design and the cost of architectural complexity |
| title_sort | system design and the cost of architectural complexity |
| topic | Engineering Systems Division. |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/79551 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sturtevantdanieljoseph systemdesignandthecostofarchitecturalcomplexity |