Component Assembly Mechanisms and Relationship Intimacy in a Software Supply Network
Slinger Jansen, Sjaak Brinkkemper, Anthony Finkelstein · City Research Online (City University London) · 2008
Vendors of product software include software components, products, and services of others. These participants establish a range of different business relationships, from intimate relationships to practically disconnected relationships to arms-length purchasing. These product software vendors have also made architectural decisions about the integration of their software products. In this paper we explore the relationship between architectural integration methods and the different types of relationships between participants in a SSN. These relationships are uncovered by inventorying the relationships and architectural decisions for two specific integrated software products. Knowledge about these relationships and reuse methods enables development managers and software architects to make informed decisions on both the managerial and the architectural level, narrowing the gap between business requirements and design.