Fuzzy multi-objective build-or-buy approach for component selection of fault tolerant software system under consensus recovery block scheme with mandatory redundancy in critical modules

Abstract

During the last two decades, there has been a growing interest in component-based software engineering CBSE both in academia and industry. In component-based system development, it is common to identify software modules first. Once they are identified, we need to select appropriate software components for each module. These components can either be bought as commercial off-the-shelf COTS components and probably adapted to work in the software system or can be developed in-house. This is a 'build-or-buy' decision. This paper discusses a framework that helps a developer to decide whether to buy or to build software components while designing a fault-tolerant modular software system. This paper proposes optimisation models for optimal component selection for a fault-tolerant modular software system under the consensus recovery block scheme. It is necessary to identify critical modules in the design of a fault-tolerant modular software system and also to develop a system with a built in redundancy for critical modules. Therefore, the first optimisation model is developed for optimal component selection with the dual objective of reliability maximisation and cost minimisation of the overall system under the constraints on the delivery time and criticality of modules. The second optimisation model is an extension of the first optimisation model and discusses the issue of compatibility of components of modules. In practice, it is not possible for management to obtain precise value of reliability, cost, delivery time, etc., therefore both the models are formulated as fuzzy multi-objective optimisation models. A case study of developing a manufacturing system for medium-size enterprise is used to illustrate the proposed methodology.