Abstract—This paper evaluates the impact of nonessential minimum marketable features modules (NMMF) and nonessential architectural elements (NAEs) on software projects; shows that the value-creation path of these selfcontained software units may be quite different from that of essential software units; and discusses the impact of early NMMF and NAE identification on the value of software projects to business and the deployment of business strategy. Moreover, the paper demonstrates that the existence of flexible precedence relations among MMFs and AEs may also be exploited to further increase the value of software development initiatives.

Index Terms—Value-based software engineering, nonessential software units, minimum marketable feature modules, economics of software engineering.

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Cite: Antonio Juarez Alencar, Rafael Alcemar do Nascimento, Eber Assis Schmitz, Alexandre Luis Correa, Ang´elica F. S. Dias, "Unleashing the Potential Impact of Nonessential Self-contained Software Units and Flexible Precedence Relations upon the Value of Software," Journal of Software vol. 6, no. 12, pp. 2500-2507, 2011.