Specifying the Global Execution Context of Computer-Mediated Tasks: A Visual Notation and a Supporting Tool

This paper presents the notion of the global execution context of a task as a representational construct for analysing complexity in software evolution. Based on this notion a visual notation and a supporting tool are presented to support specification of a system’s global execution context. A system’s global execution context is conceived as an evolving network of use scenarios depicted by nodes and links designating semantic relationships between scenarios. A node represents either a base or a growth scenario. Directed links characterize the transition from one node to another by means of semantic scenario relationships. Each growth scenario is generated following a critique (or screening) of one or more base or reference scenarios. Subsequently, representative growth scenarios are compiled and consolidated in the global execution context graph. The paper describes the stages of this process, presents the tool designed to facilitate the construction of the global execution context graph and elaborates on recent practice and experience.