Assets
An asset is a collection of artifacts that provides a solution to a problem. The asset can have relationships
to other assets and is reusable in a context. The asset may have points of extension and variability.
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How do I identify and specify a potential asset?
Gain an understanding of the recurring problems and the recurring solutions to those problems. Then describe the
solution, the context for reuse, how it the asset should be used, and by whom. The asset should be specified and
implemented with the asset consumer in mind, always.
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What is the asset lifecycle?
This is a set of the key points in the life of an asset, typically represents by states. An asset may be in the
state of review, or the state of defected, and so on.
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How can assets mitigate complexity?
Well-formed assets can hide the details of the solution, allowing the asset consumer to focus on addressing
higher-level problems. These consumers include developer, architect, etc.
Standards
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What is the Reusable Asset Specification (RAS)?
This is a specification managed by the Object Management Group (OMG). RAS describes the structure of the metadata
for an asset.
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What is Ontology Web Language (OWL)?
OWL describes the structure and organization of ontologies, classification schemes, or taxonomies. The values from
these ontologies may be used to classify assets, simplifying the search activities.
Processes
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What is asset-based development and asset management?
Asset-based development is a development style focusing on reusing assets where applicable, throughout the
development lifecycle. Asset-based development crosses all software development disciplines and may be inserted at
any point. For example, during architectural design, assets may be reused to aid that activity. The kinds of assets
that are reused throughout the development lifecycle vary based on role, activity, domain, context and other
things.
Asset management is the set of activities for establishing the repository, ensuring the quality, and adherence of
policies for the assets. It includes asset measurement and reporting. The asset management activities are heavily
influenced by asset governance, not covered in this plugin.
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What is the process to specify and create an asset?
To specify an asset:
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Conduct recurring problem analysis
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Create an asset specification
To create an asset:
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Create or harvest artifacts, according to the specification
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Package the asset
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Categorize the asset
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Submit the asset
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What is the process to manage an asset?
Initially the repository needs to be configured and policies need to be determined such as, how will assets be
versioned. Other management activities include reporting on assets, removing assets from the repository, and
conducting review and approvals of assets before they are able to be used by others.
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What is the process to consume an asset?
To consume an asset:
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Search, browse, and evaluate an asset
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Use the asset
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Provide asset feedback
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What skills are required in my organization to do asset-based development and management?
Asset owners and producers
Tools
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What is Rational Asset Manager (RAM)?
Rational Asset Manager is a development-time asset repository. It provides support for asset production, asset
management, and asset consumption. RAM provides access control, measurement, review and approval, and custom
configuration capabilities.
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How are assets represented in Rational Asset Manager?
In RAM assets are described using RAS. Assets are first class citizens in the repository, allowing you to navigate
the asset relationships.
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