Risk Assessment Methodology for Software Supportability (RAMSS)

Concerns the Risk Assessment Methodology for Software Supportability (RAMSS), the overall approach being tested for use by the US Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center. Although the RAMSS is not a mature methodology, elements of the methodology have been used since 1979. The derived baseline database of maintenance actions across 80 systems and more than 300 block releases is being further developed, and evaluation metrics, techniques and procedures are being refined. Risk regression models have been derived for the estimated risk based on productivity factors and a historical maintenance database, and the evaluated risk based on supportability quality criteria and a historical evaluation database. The RAMSS has been derived for the Air Force, but the elements of the methodology apply to any software maintenance application which is based on the concept of version releases