Assessing Aspect Modularizations Using Design Stru

Authors: Cristina Videira Lopes Sushil Krishna Bajracharya

Publish Date: 2006

Volume: , Issue: , Pages: 1-35

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Abstract

The design structure matrix DSM methodology and the net option value NOV model have been used before to show how aspects can add value to a design Following an indepth analysis of that study this paper demonstrates how aspects can be beneficial as well as detrimental The structural transformations involved in aspect modularizations are carefully analyzed in the context of DSMs This analysis exposes the unique reversion effect on dependencies that aspect modules are known for To capture that effect within the NOV model we extend its original set of six modular operators with an additional reversion operator Using a design case study its NOV worksheet and NOV experiments’ curves are presented to show a simulation of the evolutionary patterns of modules including aspect modules These patterns show how subtle dependencies or the lack of them bring down or up the value of an existing design Based on the observations made in this case study preliminary design guidelines for aspects are formulated

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