On the expected synergies between component-based software engineering and best practices in product integration

The expectations for a well working integration process are described in the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI). Often during the integration process, weaknesses of the entire development process become visible. This is usually too late and too costly. Particular development processes and use of particular technologies may help to improve the performance of the integration process by providing proper input to it. For example, by the use of a component-based approach, the development process changes. Some of these changes may help in performing according to the process expectations. In This work, examples of problems that have been observed in the integration process are described. Through a case study we describe a number of practical problems in current development projects. Based on this case study, we analyze how a component-based approach could help and lead to a more effective integration process.