A Reward-based Economic Model for Component Reuse

Given today's stringent cost, time-to-market, and quality constraints, it is imperative that development teams evaluate the potential for system components to be implemented with previously designed components. A methodology and system for encouraging reuse as a design principle and rewarding both the design of reusable components and the subsequent reuse of such components is presented. If a decision is made to forego previously designed components, the design team is encouraged to incorporate reusability into the component design by a reward or compensation structure that rewards both the individual members of a team as well as the corporate entity to which the design team is assigned. The reward structure also encourages teams to use existing designs wherever possible by rewarding a team that reuses an existing component. An administrator may adjust the relative rewards to modulate a preference for innovation in selected areas.