Toward metrics for process validation

To a great extent, the usefulness of a formal model of a software process lies in its ability to accurately predict the behavior of the executing process. Similarly, the usefulness of an executing process lies largely in its ability to fulfil the requirements embodied in a formal model of the process. When process models and process executions diverge, something significant is happening. We are developing techniques for uncovering discrepancies between models and executions under the rubric of process validation. Further, we are developing metrics for process validation that give engineers a feel for the severity of the discrepancy. We view the metrics presented here as a first step toward a suite of useful metrics for process validation.<>