OEP - Object Engineering Process

Structure of the OEP

The main structure of the Object Engineering Process (OEP) consists of the following elements of description:

Phases
represent a temporary structure of the development process. Each phase has a defined intention and leads to defined results, modeled as mile stones.

Iterations
All phases are subdivided into short iterations, mainly the construction and elaboration phase. The duration of an iteration are 3 – 8 weeks, each iteration represents a time box. At least at the end of each iteration a release should be realized, i.e. an incomplete but running version of the new system. At the beginning of an iteration realistic release objectives are defined and specified. At the end of an iteration a systematic valuation of the objective achievement is done.

Milestones
are the associations between defined results and a specific time, mostly the end of a phase.

Activities
describe, who when what have to do in the project and what conditions, results, dependencies exist. The granularity of the activities is (with exceptions) chosen that one or more results can be reached with a useful and defined interim-state or final-state. The responsibility for the results have to be defined clearly and the tasks are temporary coherent.

Disciplines
represent the structure of the development activities. They are differed in main-disciplines (system development, architecture etc.) which contribute directly the development of the system and supporting disciplines (project management, quality assurance etc.) which contribute indirectly.

Actors (Worker)
are descriptions of involved roles, their responsibilities, their necessary and sensible qualifications and if necessary, their organisational background.

Results
describe the main structure and properties of the project results that have to be developed (artifacts). Sensible temporary results and interim-results are described as well.

The following figure (englisch version comming soon) shows a first overview. The painted graph give a rough rate of the intensity of the relevant disciplines in the separate phases/iterations.

The elaboration and construction phases are subdivided in a set of iterations. The number of iterations is individual (depending on the project). Use the figure only as a model for better understanding. All other phases can also be subdivided into more iterations.

	Phases represent a temporary structure of the development process. Each phase has a defined intention and leads to defined results, modeled as mile stones.
	Iterations All phases are subdivided into short iterations, mainly the construction and elaboration phase. The duration of an iteration are 3 – 8 weeks, each iteration represents a time box. At least at the end of each iteration a release should be realized, i.e. an incomplete but running version of the new system. At the beginning of an iteration realistic release objectives are defined and specified. At the end of an iteration a systematic valuation of the objective achievement is done.
	Milestones are the associations between defined results and a specific time, mostly the end of a phase.
	Activities describe, who when what have to do in the project and what conditions, results, dependencies exist. The granularity of the activities is (with exceptions) chosen that one or more results can be reached with a useful and defined interim-state or final-state. The responsibility for the results have to be defined clearly and the tasks are temporary coherent.
	Disciplines represent the structure of the development activities. They are differed in main-disciplines (system development, architecture etc.) which contribute directly the development of the system and supporting disciplines (project management, quality assurance etc.) which contribute indirectly.
	Actors (Worker) are descriptions of involved roles, their responsibilities, their necessary and sensible qualifications and if necessary, their organisational background.
	Results describe the main structure and properties of the project results that have to be developed (artifacts). Sensible temporary results and interim-results are described as well.