A survey of discrete reliability-growth models

This paper focuses on discrete reliability-growth models (DRGM), for which the relevant data comprise sequences of dichotomous success-failure outcomes from successive system configurations or stages. It presents a comprehensive compilation of model descriptions and characterizations, as well as discussions of related statistical methodologies for parameter estimation and confidence interval (or Bayes interval limit) construction. The emphasis is on the interrelationships between various models and the assumptions that underlie their development. Specific methodological enhancements that are either lacking from or have not been fully integrated into typical DRGM applications are specified.