Transferring Software Development Best Known Methods between Generational Product Lines

Launching a new product line is a difficult and time-consuming task under the best circumstances. While working on a new project can be refreshing, difficulties arise in allocating sufficient resources to create and tune the new product development processes. Modifying the processes or Best-Known Methods (BKMs) of the past is one technique employed to allocate time and resources more effectively. Transferring BKMs from an earlier product line into the current one can bring about its own set of challenges which include: defining the BKMs, producing repeatable BKMs to be deployed in varied environments, implementing techniques to log the BKMs, and placing the BKMs in a central location. This paper discusses one approach to transfer software BKMs between generational product lines. The topics addressed include: defining the project's mission and goals; creating definitions and processes to support the BKM transference; encountering and solving issues while implementing the processes.