iStar 2019 has been a success

I'm really happy because organizing the workshop held in conjunction with the 38th International Conference on Conceptual Modelling (ER 2019) has been a success.

We have a total of 16 papers presented and a really interesting keynote speech given by Professor Professor Matthias Jarke (RWTH Aachen University, Germany), joint to MREBA workshop. All together in a 1-day workshop, it has been a real challenge.

Here you have a short compilation video of the workshop:

My first SMS in the IST (IF 2018: 2.921 - Q1 in SE)

A bunch of letters and numbers only understandable for some of us :D

For the researchers conducting Systematic Mapping Studies (SMS) and Systematic Literature Reviews (SLR), they understand the work behind an SMS or SLR publication. Nine researchers from three institutions working during almost three years conducting the study and preparing the paper. After all this time, our paper is already in press (since November 12th) in the Information and Software Technology journal (IF 2018: 2.921).

Management of quality requirements in agile and rapid software development: A systematic mapping study

Woubshet Behutiye, Pertti Karhapää, Lidia López, Xavier Burgués, Silverio Martínez-Fernández, Anna MariaVollmer, Pilar Rodríguez, Xavier Franch, and Markku Oivo

Abstract. Context. Quality requirements (QRs) describe the desired quality of software, and they play an important role in the success of software projects. In agile software development (ASD), QRs are often ill-defined and not well addressed due to the focus on quickly delivering functionality. Rapid software development (RSD) approaches (e.g., continuous delivery and continuous deployment), which shorten delivery times, are more prone to neglect QRs. Despite the significance of QRs in both ASD and RSD, there is limited synthesized knowledge on their management in those approaches. Objective. This study aims to synthesize state-of-the-art knowledge about QR management in ASD and RSD, focusing on three aspects: bibliometric, strategies, and challenges. Research method. Using a systematic mapping study with a snowballing search strategy, we identified and structured the literature on QR management in ASD and RSD. Results. We found 156 primary studies: 106 are empirical studies, 16 are experience reports, and 34 are theoretical studies. Security and performance were the most commonly reported QR types. We identified various QR management strategies: 74 practices, 43 methods, 13 models, 12 frameworks, 11 advices, 10 tools, and 7 guidelines. Additionally, we identified 18 categories and 4 non-recurring challenges of managing QRs. The limited ability of ASD to handle QRs, time constraints due to short iteration cycles, limitations regarding the testing of QRs and neglect of QRs were the top categories of challenges. Conclusion. Management of QRs is significant in ASD and is becoming important in RSD. This study identified research gaps, such as the need for more tools and guidelines, lightweight QR management strategies that fit short iteration cycles, investigations of the link between QRs challenges and technical debt, and extension of empirical validation of existing strategies to a wider context. It also synthesizes QR management strategies and challenges, which may be useful for practitioners.

The last paper of my PhD thesis (6 years after my defense) published in a JCR Q1 (IF 2018: 4.098 - Q1)

Specialization in the iStar2.0 Language

The paper summarising my PhD thesis proposal has been published officialy today, six years and five months after my thesis defense. 

"Nunca es tarde si la dicha es buena" (Spanish saying for "never is too late if it is something good")

 

Link to the Open Access paper

Paper accepted at the 13th International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement (ESEM 2019)

Practical experiences and value of applying software analytics for managing quality

Anna Maria Vollmer, Silverio Martínez-Fernández, Alessandra Bagnato, Jari Partanen, Pilar Rodriguez Gonzalez and Lidia Lopez

Abstract. Background: Despite the growth of usage of software analytics platforms in industry, little empirical evidence is available about the challenges that practitioners face and the value that these platforms give. Aim: The goal of this research is to explore the benefits from using a software analytics platform for practitioners managing quality. Method: In a technology transfer project, a software analytics platform was incrementally developed between academic and industrial partners to address their software quality problems. This platform was used in two pilot projects. This paper focuses on exploring the value provided by a software analytics platform in these pilot projects. Results: Practitioners have emphasized main benefits including the semiautomated functionality of creating quality requirements, the improvement of product quality and process performance, and an

increased awareness of product readiness. They have especially perceived the semi-automated functionality of creating quality requirements out of the software analytics platform as the

benefit with the highest impact and most novel value for them. Conclusions: Practice can benefit from modern software analytics platforms, especially if they have time to adopt it carefully and

integrate it into their quality assurance activities.

My first PhD examination panel

Quality Assurance methodology for system requirement definition

by Karla Gomez Sotelo

On July 5th, I'm going to participate in my first PhD examination panel in the Laboratoire d'Analyse et d'Architecture des Systèmes (Tolouse, France).

Paper published in the IEEE Access journal (JCR 201: 4.098 - Q1)

Continuously assessing and improving software quality with software analytics tools: a case study

Silverio Martínez-Fernández, Anna Maria Vollmer, Andreas Jedlitschka, Xavier Franch, Lidia López, Prabhat Ram, Pilar Rodríguez, Sanja Aaramaa, Alessandra Bagnato, Michał Choraś and Jari Partanen 

Abstract. In the last decade, modern data analytics technologies have enabled the creation of software analytics tools offering real-time visualization of various aspects related to software development and usage. These tools seem to be particularly attractive for companies doing agile software development. However, the information provided by the available tools is neither aggregated nor connected to higher quality goals. At the same time, assessing and improving software quality has also been a key target for the software engineering community, yielding several proposals for standards and software quality models. Integrating such quality models into software analytics tools could close the gap by providing the connection to higher quality goals. This study aims at understanding whether the integration of quality models into software analytics tools provides understandable, reliable, useful, and relevant information at the right level of detail about the quality of a process or product, and whether practitioners intend to use it. Over the course of more than one year, the four companies involved in this case study deployed such a tool to assess and improve software quality in several projects. We used standardized measurement instruments to elicit the perception of 22 practitioners regarding their use of the tool. We complemented the findings with debriefing sessions held at the companies. In addition, we discussed challenges and lessons learned with four practitioners leading the use of the tool. Quantitative and qualitative analyses provided positive results; i.e., the practitioners’ perception with regard to the tool’s understandability, reliability, usefulness, and relevance was positive. Individual statements support the statistical findings and constructive feedback can be used for future improvements. We conclude that potential for future adoption of quality models within software analytics tools definitely exists and encourage other practitioners to use the presented seven challenges and seven lessons learned and adopt them in their companies.

 

Link to the Open Access paper

iStar Workshop accepted at ER 2019

This year I'm organising the International Workshop of i* jointly to Joao Pimentel and Juan Pablo Carvallo. You can find the workshop details at iStar18 website.

This is the first time the workshop will be co-located to the  The International Conference on Conceptual Modeling (ER'19).