An industrial case study on variability handling in large enterprise software systems

ContextEnterprise software systems (e.g., enterprise resource planning software) are often deployed in different contexts (e.g., different organizations or different business units or branches of one organization). However, even though organizations, business units or branches have the same or similar business goals, they may differ in how they achieve these goals. Thus, many enterprise software systems are subject to variability and adapted depending on the context in which they are used.ObjectiveOur goal is to provide a snapshot of variability in large scale enterprise software systems. We aim at understanding the types of variability that occur in large industrial enterprise software systems. Furthermore, we aim at identifying how variability is handled in such systems.MethodWe performed an exploratory case study in two large software organizations, involving two large enterprise software systems. Data were collected through interviews and document analysis. Data were analyzed following a grounded theory approach.ResultsWe identified seven types of variability (e.g., functionality, infrastructure) and eight mechanisms to handle variability (e.g., add-ons, code switches).ConclusionsWe provide generic types for classifying variability in enterprise software systems, and reusable mechanisms for handling such variability. Some variability types and handling mechanisms for enterprise software systems found in the real world extend existing concepts and theories. Others confirm findings from previous research literature on variability in software in general and are therefore not specific to enterprise software systems. Our findings also offer a theoretical foundation for describing variability handling in practice. Future work needs to provide more evaluations of the theoretical foundations, and refine variability handling mechanisms into more detailed practices.     

TCBR-HMM: An HMM-based text classifier with a CBR system

This paper presents an innovative solution to model distributed adaptive systems in biomedical environments. We present an original TCBR-HMM (Text Case Based Reasoning-Hidden Markov Model) for biomedical text classification based on document content. The main goal is to propose a more effective classifier than current methods in this environment where the model needs to be adapted to new documents in an iterative learning frame. To demonstrate its achievement, we include a set of experiments, which have been performed on OSHUMED corpus. Our classifier is compared with Naive Bayes and SVM techniques, commonly used in text classification tasks. The results suggest that the TCBR-HMM Model is indeed more suitable for document classification. The model is empirically and statistically comparable to the SVM classifier and outperforms it in terms of time efficiency.     

The effects of case libraries on problem solving

Abstract The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of providing access to a case library of related stories while undergraduates solved ill-structured problems. While solving complex food product development problems, the experimental group accessed experts' stories of similar, previously solved problems; the comparable group accessed fact sheets (expository representation of stories' content); and the control group accessed text selected at random from a textbook dealing with issues unrelated to the stories. On multiple-choice questions assessing processes related to problem solving (prediction, inferences, explanations, etc.), experimental students out-performed the comparable and control groups. Performance on short-answer questions also assessing problem-related skills was not significantly different, in part because of test fatigue. Analysis of interviews identified a number of factors that students used in deciding how to apply their study strategies, including causal factors, grounding phenomenon, grounding in context, and outcomes.     

Calculation of fatigue limits of case-hardened specimens with consideration of mean stresses and residual stresses

 The strength of case-hardened parts under cyclic loading can be determined in an experimental manner, but this can produce a large amount of costs due to the expenditure of material and testing time. Therefore, a calculation method is developed, that strongly reduces the number of experiments. The presented model is based on Weibull's weakest-link concept and allows to compute the survival probability of a case-hardened part which is loaded close to the fatigue limit. The essential quantities in this model are the distribution of Vicker's hardness of the material, the exponents of the Weibull distribution of the volume and the surface, the residual stress state, the surface roughness and the surface oxidation depth. By integrating the survival probabilities of the surface and the volume, the survival probability of the entire specimen or part can be calculated, which allows to compute the fatigue limit. The necessary parameters have to be determined from reference specimens. The model is successfully examined by comparing experimental and calculated results of smooth and notched case-hardened specimens under alternating torsion, rotating bending, repeated tension and tension-compression. Received 20 August 2001 / Accepted 11 November 2001     

论我国判例法制度的创建

分析了制定法的不足,阐述了我国建立判例法制度的必要性和可行性,提出了建立判例制度应注意的问题。     

Credibility and applicability of virtual reality models in design and construction

In this paper, we present the findings from an extensive study of the use of virtual reality (VR) models in large construction projects. The study includes two parts: The first part presents a quantitative questionnaire designed to investigate how VR models are experienced and assessed by the workforce at a building site. The second part includes a qualitative field survey of how VR models can be applied and accepted by professionals in the design and planning process of a large pelletizing plant. Through mainly studying persons who had little or no experience with advanced information technology (IT), we hoped to reveal the attitudes of the average person working at a construction site rather than of an IT expert. In summary, the study shows that the VR models in both projects have been very useful and well accepted by the users. Today’s information flow is, from a general point of view, considered to be insufficient and the hypothesis is that using VR models in the construction process have the potential to minimize waste of resources and improve the final result.     

Practice characteristics that lead to 21st century learning outcomes

Abstract The key research question for this study was to ask whether or not innovative teaching practices would lead to the development of learning outcomes essential for preparing the younger generation for the challenges of life in the knowledge society of the 21st century, and if so, how are the pedagogical features related to the different learning outcomes. Preliminary analyses of the case study data collected from the SITES M2 Study in Hong Kong reveal that where the development of more significant learning gains were observed, the cases possess characteristics additional to the criteria defined in the Study for selection of innovation. More importantly, it was found that the impact of the pedagogical practices was not determined simply by the aggregation of characteristics of the practices per se , nor on the technologies used, but on whether 'empowerment' permeates the curriculum goal and process. Further, this paper claims that these affective and socio-cognitive learning outcomes are more important as preparation for lifelong learning in the 21st century than 'knowledge management competencies'.     

Access数据库的三个教学案例设计

针对初学者在学习Access数据库中遇到的困难,设计了三个教学案例,介绍报表中计算控件的使用、if语句的语法格式和通配符“？”和“’,的使用．对于提高Access数据库的教学效果有一定的参考价值。     

让案例教学走进高职计算机学科

"案例教学法"(CaseStudy)是一种以案例为基础的教学法,把真实的情景进行典型化处理后供学生思考分析和决断,让学生分组自助谈论和研究,从而提高学生对于问题的分析和解决的能力。     

Investigating dependencies in software requirements for change propagation analysis

ContextThe dependencies between individual requirements have an important influence on software engineering activities e.g., project planning, architecture design, and change impact analysis. Although dozens of requirement dependency types were suggested in the literature from different points of interest, there still lacks an evaluation of the applicability of these dependency types in requirements engineering.ObjectiveUnderstanding the effect of these requirement dependencies to software engineering activities is useful but not trivial. In this study, we aimed to first investigate whether the existing dependency types are useful in practise, in particular for change propagation analysis, and then suggest improvements for dependency classification and definition.MethodWe conducted a case study that evaluated the usefulness and applicability of two well-known generic dependency models covering 25 dependency types. The case study was conducted in a real-world industry project with three participants who offered different perspectives.ResultsOur initial evaluation found that there exist a number of overlapping and/or ambiguous dependency types among the current models; five dependency types are particularly useful in change propagation analysis; and practitioners with different backgrounds possess various viewpoints on change propagation. To improve the state-of-the-art, a new dependency model is proposed to tackle the problems identified from the case study and the related literature. The new model classifies dependencies into intrinsic and additional dependencies on the top level, and suggests nine dependency types with precise definitions as its initial set.ConclusionsOur case study provides insights into requirement dependencies and their effects on change propagation analysis for both research and practise. The resulting new dependency model needs further evaluation and improvement.