The OPEN software engineering process architecture: from activities to techniques

The 1997 OPEN process metamodel was the first fully documented software engineering process architecture for object-oriented projects, predating the Catalysis method, Select Perspective and the still emerging Rational Unified Process by a number of years. The OPEN process metamodel is based on a three-tier architecture, in which process Activities are broken down into a number of distinct Tasks; and each Task may be achieved through the application of a number of approved Techniques. This paper describes the relationships between the three layers of the OPEN process metamodel and shows how OPEN's Techniques contribute to a particular tailored process. As an exemplar, we describe Techniques relevant to late design and coding.