Friday, October 03, 2003

Meeting Topic:

COTS-Based Systems:
Lessons Learned from Experiences with COTS Software Use on Space Systems

Presenter: Suellen Eslinger

Abstract

The incorporation of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software into software-intensive systems brings promises of reduced cost and schedule and higher reliability and maintainability by using “proven” software. However, the reality of using COTS software can be very different!

This presentation describes the results of an in-depth study of actual COTS-Based System (CBS) development and sustainment experiences on USAF Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) programs. The use of COTS software has been found to pose major risks, as well as to bring significant benefits, to the acquisition and sustainment of SMC and NRO software-intensive systems. The purpose of this study was to assist in mitigating the inherent risks involving the use of COTS software and to share COTS software lessons learned across SMC and NRO programs. The study determined six major lessons learned concerning CBS development and sustainment. The presentation will describe these six lessons learned in detail, will provide a comprehensive set of COTS software evaluation criteria based on the lessons learned, and will provide recommendations for improving the acquisition of COTS-based systems.

Meeting Coordinator: Karen L. Owens, Karen.L.Owens@aero.org

Your Presenter: Suellen Eslinger is a Distinguished Engineer at The Aerospace Corporation, currently responsible for leading the Software Acquisition and Process Office of the Software Engineering Subdivision. She has over 30 years experience in software engineering and acquisition. Prior to her 19 years at Aerospace, she worked at Computer Sciences Corporation and General Research Corporation, where she developed software and managed software development projects for DoD and NASA software-intensive systems.

Ms. Eslinger presented a paper at the Software Technology Conference in 2001 on COTS software lessons learned and is a co-author of a CrossTalk article on this topic. She has a B.A degree from Goucher College and a M.S. degree from the University of Arizona, both in mathematics.

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