Java Bytecode Verification: Algorithms and Formalizations

Bytecode verification is a crucial security component for Java applets, on the Web and on embedded devices such as smart cards. This paper reviews the various bytecode verification algorithms that have been proposed, recasts them in a common framework of dataflow analysis, and surveys the use of proof assistants to specify bytecode verification and prove its correctness. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

软件工程学科何以独特——形式化方法的双重路径

本文旨在以数字和文字双语信息处理为例论述软件工程的第二路径及其重要意义。具体涉及如下两个问题及其解答：第一,软件工程学科何以独特？在其解答过程中进一步提出了软件工程的双重路径问题;第二,软件工程的第二路径为什么显著优于第一路径？其中预示软件产业将由此重组。从方法论的角度来看,前者涉及协同智能观;后者涉及第二路径的论证。从学科体系的角度来看,涉及软件的两次定位。其中,如果说第一次是计算机软件产品脱胎于数学和语言学,那么,第二次就是软件工程服务脱胎于计算机学科和信息学及其相关的工程技术学科和管理学以及教育学的相关部分。前一轮形成了软件产品概念,后一轮形成了软件服务概念。这是一个系统工程,其特点是整体大于局部之合。在此,就是虚拟的自然入（设计者和用户）与虚拟的计算机（操作系统和应用系统以及其它各式各样的软件）各自的功能,均不及两者结合而成的协同智能计算系统的整合功能。     

Managing systems development

This article is the first of a two-part series on the unmet promise of IT project management. Here we describe the evolutionary path that has brought us to today's project culture and how successful organizations are managing projects.     

Action research in information systems development

Abstract. Action research is located within a spectrum of problem-solving activity that ranges from pure basic scientific research, the purpose of which is to add to knowledge, to human action designed to achieve a purpose without thought of contributing to knowledge. Action research both adds to knowledge and applies it in practice. Action research is particularly appropriate information systems development. A number of alternative methodologies for action research exist that make differing philosophical assumptions. A body of theory exists that enables a choice to be made among methodologies. This theory is useful in analysing information system problems.     

Difficulties in integrating multiview development systems

Drawbacks of current approaches to integrating multiple perspectives in a development environment are discussed. An integrated environment is defined as one in which a dynamic collection of tools can work together on a single system so that changes made to the system by one tool can be seen by other tools, and integration criteria are set forth. Five representative approaches to systems integration-shared file systems, selective broadcasting, simple databases, view-oriented databases, and canonical representation-are examined, and their relative strengths and weaknesses are summarized. None of the integration mechanisms is shown to be uniformly superior to the others. The issue of environment evolution and its effect on integration is addressed     

Capital budgeting in information systems development

The results of an empirical study on the current usage of capital budgeting techniques for evaluating, terminating, and auditing information system investments are presented. Findings based on 134 senior MIS personnel and management executives indicate that capital budgeting has little impact on IS investment, and simple techniques such as payback period and cost benefit ratio are preferred over more sophisticated discount cash-flow models. Problems with cost and return estimations are shown to be the key factors that limit their use. It is suggested that the decision authority varies according to the project value and the type of decisions being undertaken.     

Expert systems development standards

The current state of Expert Systems development standards is explored. Insight on development approaches and the future of the technology is provided.     

Component-based workflow systems development

Component-based development is a promising way to promote the productivity of large workflow systems development. This paper proposes a component-based workflow systems development approach by investigating the following notions, mechanisms, and methods: workflow component, workflow component composition, reuse–association relationship between workflow components, and workflow component repository. The proposed approach is supported by a set of development strategies and a development platform. Through application and comparison, we show the advantages of the component-based workflow systems and the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

Validation-based development of dependable systems

Early validation of fault tolerance is essential in developing dependable computer systems. The authors have defined a strategy for testing fault tolerance mechanisms, integrated it into the design process, and developed fault injection techniques for VHDL models that are supported by a generic tool     

Material requirement planning systems development

Material requirement planning systems are becoming an integral part of many manufacturing information systems. MRP is both a scheduling and control technique designed to minimize inventory investment, to maximize production efficiency, and to improve customer service. The purposes of this paper are to describe the inputs to an MRP system; discuss the logic of an MRP system; and provide examples of various exception reports generated by an MRP system. A listing of an MRP program with documentation is provided, also.     

Linking soft systems methodology with data-focused information systems development

Abstract. Where the soft systems methodology (SSM) is used in the development of organizational information systems a clear division exists between the use of SSM to identify what information systems are required and conventional development activities in which it is decided how those information systems will be supplied. Discussion of how SSM might be more closely linked to conventional information systems development methodologies has been concentrated upon process-focused approaches to information systems development. This has been partly due to a perceived mismatch between the underlying philosophies of SSM and the alternative data-focused development methodologies. This paper argues that this perception may be mistaken; not only do the existing forms of data analysis have a large though unacknowledged subjective component but the SSM concept of appreciation may provide a model of human sense-making that the data-focused approaches currently lack and from which they may benefit. The idea of appreciation also allows that an alternative, interpretative form of data analysis might be used within SSM. It is therefore the conclusion of this paper that some closer integration of SSM with data-focused approaches to information systems development is theoretically feasible and may be practically desirable. A number of possible advantages of such integration are described.     

Human and organizational issues in information systems development

Abstract

The paper describes the first phase of a project funded in the UK by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Science and Engineering Research Council (Project I ED 1249). The paper reviews a number of systems development methods, examines the extent to which they incorporate consideration of a set of relevant human and organizational issues, and describes the findings of an exploratory study of the ways in which systems analysts work, including their use of methods.     

Integration issues elucidated in large-scale information systems development

This article explores some basic issues in system integration by examining the integration process with information systems. The article begins with a discussion of the domain of interest. Terms are defined, the software process is reviewed, and two system categories are established. It is shown that software is materially different from hardware. Moreover, these differences present opportunities for reducing the integration effort. Several methods that take advantage of software's special characteristics are identified, and a case study of one environment provides some empirical evidence that reveal the benefits that may follow. The article concludes with some observations regarding the transfer of the lessons learned with information systems to other application domains-both hardware and software.This work was supported in part by the U.S. Navy, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) under contract N00039-89-C-001, task VMAR9 with the Office of Naval Research (ONR).