Adding Value through Software Product Line Engineering: The Evolution of the FISCAN Software Product Lines

Abstract

The concept of value can be formalized as the ratio of benefits to costs. The value is realized if total benefits outweigh total costs, while value-adding consists of delivering higher benefit at lower cost. Software Product Line Engineering (SPLE) has shown its power to bring benefits and reduce costs for practitioners in various domains, however, systematic value-adding analysis is rare and adding value through SPLE is a dynamic process. FISCAN, a leading manufacturer of security inspection systems in China, continues to explore the value-adding process through SPLE during the evolution of its software product lines in the security inspection domain. This paper discusses the value-adding effect of the "invisible hand" of the market. We identify economic, technical and organizational factors for value-adding through SPLE based on the SPLE practices at FISCAN. We describe the influence of the FISCAN product lines on FISCAN itself, the market and other stakeholders, and suggest what the future may bring in value-adding through SPLE.