Dependency-based impact analysis using multidimensional models of software offerings

1. A computer-implemented method for facilitating the maintenance and execution of a software offering, comprising:

obtaining, by computer, model data associated with a multidimensional model of the software offering;

using the model data to calculate, by computer, a set of dependency scores representing levels of dependency among a set of service components and a set of resources used by the software offering by:

calculating a set of centrality scores for a set of nodes in the multidimensional model, and

using the set of centrality scores as the set of dependency scores;

using the dependency scores to facilitate, by computer, management of the software offering by:

using the dependency scores to determine a set of recovery costs associated with the service components and the resources, and

using the dependency scores to determine a recovery sequence for the software offering, wherein the recovery sequence corresponds to a decreasing sequence of the dependency scores; and

presenting, by computer, the recovery sequence for the software offering to an administrator.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

obtaining an update to the multidimensional model; and

recalculating the dependency scores based on the update.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein calculating the set of centrality scores for the set of nodes in the multidimensional model involves:

obtaining an adjacency matrix for the set of nodes;

calculating an eigenvector associated with a greatest eigenvalue of the adjacency matrix; and

obtaining the centrality scores from a set of elements in the eigenvector.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the eigenvector is calculated using at least one of an iterative technique and an algebraic technique.

5. A system for facilitating the maintenance and execution of a software offering, comprising:

a memory;

a processor;

a dependency-analysis mechanism configured to:

obtain model data associated with a multidimensional model of the software offering; and

use the model data to calculate a set of dependency scores representing levels of dependency among a set of service components and a set of resources used by the software offering by:

calculating a set of centrality scores for a set of nodes in the multidimensional model, and

using the set of centrality scores as the set of dependency scores; and

a management apparatus configured to use the dependency scores to facilitate management of the software offering by:

using the dependency scores to determine a set of recovery costs associated with the service components and the resources,

using the dependency scores to determine a recovery sequence for the software offering, wherein the recovery sequence corresponds to a decreasing sequence of the dependency scores, and

presenting the recovery sequence for the software offering to an administrator.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the dependency-analysis mechanism is further configured to:

obtain an update to the multidimensional model; and

recalculate the dependency scores based on the update.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein calculating the set of centrality scores for the set of nodes in the multidimensional model involves:

obtaining an adjacency matrix for the set of nodes;

calculating an eigenvector associated with a greatest eigenvalue of the adjacency matrix; and

obtaining the centrality scores from a set of elements in the eigenvector.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the eigenvector is calculated using at least one of an iterative technique and an algebraic technique.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for facilitating the maintenance and execution of a software offering, the method comprising:

obtaining model data associated with a multidimensional model of the software offering;

using the model data to calculate a set of dependency scores representing levels of dependency among a set of service components and a set of resources used by the software offering by:

calculating a set of centrality scores for a set of nodes in the multidimensional model, and

using the set of centrality scores as the set of dependency scores; and

using the dependency scores to facilitate management of the software offering by:

using the dependency scores to determine a set of recovery costs associated with the service components and the resources, and

using the dependency scores to determine a recovery sequence for the software offering, wherein the recovery sequence corresponds to a decreasing sequence of the dependency scores; and

presenting the recovery sequence for the software offering to an administrator.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , the method further comprising:

obtaining an update to the multidimensional model; and

recalculating the dependency scores based on the update.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein calculating the set of centrality scores for the set of nodes in the multidimensional model involves:

obtaining an adjacency matrix for the set of nodes;

calculating an eigenvector associated with a greatest eigenvalue of the adjacency matrix; and

obtaining the centrality scores from a set of elements in the eigenvector.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the eigenvector is calculated using at least one of an iterative technique and an algebraic technique.