Abstract:
The primary objective of this paper was to examine the
extent to which Gutman’s Means-End Chain Model can
be used to describe the influences given to the choice of
characteristics used in software evaluation. This
objective was accomplished by developing a theoretical
model for software evaluation based on Gutman’s Model,
and empirically testing the model with quantitative
techniques. The study utilized commercial Australian
companies and involved a survey of 403 subjects, which
were then analyzed quantitatively with bi-variate
analysis. Results of the quantitative analysis provided a
number of important insights and suggest several
conclusions. The quantitative study showed that strong
relationships between the characteristics and the values,
affected by the use of the software, exist. The study also
showed that desired consequences are related to both
characteristics and values.
The results provide a number of important insights
and suggest several conclusions. The study showed (1)
that there is support for applying Gutman’s Means-end
chain model in software evaluation; (2) that non-
ISO9126 characteristics are also important for software
evaluation; (3) that the characteristic, consequence, value
relationship can be valuable to benefit the Goal Question
Metric model.
