Authors:
Diana Kirk
1
;
Stephen MacDonell
2
and
Ewan Tempero
3
Affiliations:
1
Technology Academy, EDENZ Colleges, 85 Airedale Street, Auckland 1010 and New Zealand
;
2
SERL, School of Engineering, Computer & Mathematical Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142 and New Zealand
;
3
Department of Computer Science, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142 and New Zealand
Keyword(s):
Software Development Practices, Software Process Context, Decision Support, Theoretical Model.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Service-Oriented Software Engineering and Management
;
Software and Systems Development Methodologies
;
Software Engineering
;
Software Process Improvement
Abstract:
Many prescriptive approaches to developing software intensive systems have been advocated but each is based on assumptions about context. It has been found that practitioners do not follow prescribed methodologies, but rather select and adapt specific practices according to local needs. As researchers, we would like to be in a position to support such tailoring. However, at the present time we simply do not have sufficient evidence relating practice and context for this to be possible. We have long understood that a deeper understanding of situated software practices is crucial for progress in this area, and have been exploring this problem from a number of perspectives. In this position paper, we draw together the various aspects of our work into a holistic model and discuss the ways in which the model might be applied to support the long term goal of evidence-based decision support for practitioners. The contribution specific to this paper is a discussion on model evaluation, inclu
ding a proof-of-concept demonstration of model utility. We map Kernel elements from the Essence system to our model and discuss gaps and limitations exposed in the Kernel. Finally, we overview our plans for further refining and evaluating the model.
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