International Journal of Software Process: Improvement
and Practice
Special Issue on: Software Process Simulation and Modeling
Co-Editors:
Walt Scacchi, University of California, Irvine, USA
David Raffo, Portland State University, USA
Motivation
and Goals for the Special Issue
Today, the software industry faces greater challenges than ever before. Customers are demanding more complex, fully functioned software that is easier to use. At the same time, customers want this software to be delivered more quickly and with higher levels of quality. These demands are set in a dynamic project environment of frequently changing technologies, short staffed projects and globally distributed development teams. At the same time, competition at home and abroad is forcing companies that develop software to cut cost significantly in order to compete.
Amid these pressures, new software development lifecycle process alternatives have emerged -from rough and ready extreme programming to well-planned product line development. Open source software development is ramping up. At the same time, many projects are being contracted out, either in whole or in part, and the software may be developed in multiple locations around the world resulting in a greater need for good communication and co-ordination. Security also is an issue that is getting increased attention.
What process structures are most appropriate to address the dynamic environment and significant challenges faced by industry? These issues pose important questions relating to how to organize and improve these processes. Where does software process modeling and simulation have a role? How can they make a useful impact?
Software process simulation is increasingly being used to address a variety of issues from the strategic management of software development, to supporting process improvements, to software project management training. The scope of software process simulation applications ranges from narrow focused portions of the life cycle to longer-term product evolutionary models with broad organizational impacts.
Special
Issue Themes and Topics of Interest
The focus of this Special Issue is on both the application of software process simulation research in addressing real-world problems, as well as advances being made which will provide the foundation for Software Process and Software Process Simulation and Modeling in the future.
We invite papers in all areas related to software process modeling and simulation, and using all applicable techniques and representations (including discrete event, System Dynamics, knowledge-based systems, State-based modeling, petri-nets, and other approaches. Preference will be given to efforts that facilitate, or results that demonstrate, both modeling and simulation. An initial set of topics have been identified and include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Processes or models dealing with globally distributed development of internal as well as contracted development teams
- Processes or models dealing with emerging problem areas like open source development, security process issues, software project simulation, or Web services
- Advances in software process simulation modeling representations and methods
- Applications of software process modeling and simulation approaches in industry, for example to improve business processes and/or to support financial and business case analyses
- Use of software process modeling and simulation in promoting understanding and knowledge of software and business processes
- Practical benefits of modeling and simulation
- Generalized and adaptable process simulation models.
- Feasibility of validating standard “plug and play” process model components, patterns or archetypes.
- Approaches/environments for supporting the integration of process representation, guidance, simulation, and execution capabilities for models of software processes
Information
for Authors
Authors are requested to submit an abstract indicating interest by September 15, 2002. Full papers (approximately 5,000 - 7,500 words) are due October 16, 2002. Other key dates are listed below. Authors should note that this special issue is on a fast track with a scheduled publication date of Spring 2003. Please send questions to: David Raffo at the email below or Walt Scacchi at wscacchi@ics.uci.edu. The format for submissions is the typical IEEE publication format with double spaced text. Figures and tables should be included on separate pages at the end of the manuscript. More information will be posted later in early September.
Detailed Submission Guidelines
Deadlines:
September, 2002 -- Abstract
Due
October 16, 2002 -- Full Paper
Due
December 1, 2002 -- Comments from Referees
sent to authors
January 15, 2003 -- Final Versions
of Papers are due
Spring 2003 -- Publication of
Special Issue
Please send papers via email MS Word to:
Dr. David M. Raffo
School of Business Administration
Portland State University
P.O. Box 751
Portland, OR 97207-0751
e-mail: davidr@sba.pdx.edu