Measuring reuse of SAP requirements: a model-based approach

Reusing SAP R/3 business requirements has been recognized as the most promising strategy to shorten the time-to-production and increase the quality of the conceptual design in R/3 implementation projects. However, very little research has been conducted to actually quantify and really estimate the results from SAP R/3 requirement reuse the customers have achieved. This paper deals with the identification and the measurement of reuse in the requirements conceptualization phase of the SAP R/3 component configuration cycle. We present a systematic approach based on standard functional size measurement practices. We introduce two key concepts: SAP requirements reuse levels and reuse indicators. The reuse levels serve to classify SAP requirements based on the extent to which the requirements are reused in a R/3 implementation project. The reuse indicators are then built to quantify the requirement reuse the company has achieved. An experimental case study illustrates the applicability of the approach. Finally, some validation issues are addressed.