3.1 The Director reported that a good level of networking activities has continued. However, some progress has been achieved on the Roadmap front and only administrative progress on the Roadshow front. Lack of progress on the Roadshow is due to issues relating to recruitment. We have now commissioned formal press advertisements for new posts in the Guardian, Times Higher Application Supplement, and Computing for another three research fellowships.
3.2 The Director noted that the Network continues to be significantly under spent.
3.3 The Director reported that Dr Barbara Farbey (Expertise: Economic returns on investments in information systems) will be joining the RENOIR team at UCL from 1st May 1998.
4.1 The membership application from the University of Athens was considered and it was decided that they are invited to join the network.
4.2 The membership application from the University of Karlsruhe was considered. It was commented that Karlsruhe are clearly a centre of excellence in requirements engineering and are invited to join the network.
4.3 Request from the NASA Software Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) Facility in Fairmont, West Virginia to join the Network was approved pending the completion of required forms.
4.4 Request from Georgia Institute of Technology to join the Network was approved pending the completion of required forms.
5.1 The co-ordinator reported that since the last meeting, the Director has approved a total of 11 bids were agreed in the amount of approx. 11.5k ECU. Some of them were good examples of collaborations between nodes
5.2 The Board discussed two bids for funding that exceeded 1200 ECU each. The following was decided:
- That the bid by E Ellmer to support his visit to the UCL needs improved phrasing and the director is authorised to approve the application if it is appropriately rephrased.
- That the bid by the BCS Requirements Engineering Specialist Group (RESG) was discussed. The bid requires RENOIR support to hold a major Europe-wide. industry-orientated event on requirements engineering (Conference on European Industrial Requirements Engineering), that builds on the notable success of the RE day held in September 1997. It was noted that the Board feels very positive about the event, and desires to be associated with it. The details of the request were considered and the following was decided:
RENOIR underwrites the event to the amount of 19,700 ECU in addition to which a sponsorship of 7,600 ECU is provided by RENOIR. In case of a profit, RENOIR expects a refund of the sponsored amount (7,600 ECU) or one third of the profit, whichever is the smaller. The whole is conditional upon a presentation of a full set of accounts to the network director and that appropriate recognition of sponsorship is made in all conference publicity. RENOIR requires a strong European dimension to the event. It was noted that the event organisers may require cash advances from RENOIR for an amount greater than the sponsored amount (7,600 ECU) before the event. It was decided that the payment of any such extra, early cash advances will be conditional upon a progress report by the next RENOIR executive board meeting at which the Executive Board B reserves the right to withdraw from sponsoring the event if a loss is imminent.
5.3 Current State of Budget
The Budget for the second year of the project (ending 31st May 1998) as well as for the third year of the project was submitted to the Board. A new format was adopted which is based on the format submitted to the European Commission. It was noted that the budget for the current year was under-spent by approximately 140 kECU, with greater amount of under-spending for the following year. It was agreed that bids for equipment and responsibilities for activities could be done at other RENOIR nodes. It was agreed that the Director enquires with David Cornwell about extension of the project beyond end of May 1999.
6.1 Road Map
Through a substantial industry-based case study, we have identified of the issues that are important for industry. Papers were written on that case study, which are being made available at the RENOIR stand at ICSE’98 conference. Further activities will be undertaken jointly with the anticipated Research Fellow appointment at the UCL. Kevin Ryan offered to help with this activity, for example through the application of clustering techniques that he is familiar with.
6.2 Road Show
A research fellow has now been recruited to assist with Industrial Liaison, another appointment is currently being sought.
6.3 Research Training
The PhD database application has been completed and should be populated. The PhD mini-workshop in Bommerholz seemed to have been a success. A mini-workshop reader is currently being prepared. Michael Goedicke reported that the intends to organises another Mini-Workshop in Spring 99. The previously suggested "Summer school" will now take place in winter. Tentative title: "RENOIR School on Requirements Engineering". The programme should encourage active participation of PhD candidates. Tentative date: December 98.
6.4 Research co-ordination
Nothing to report.
6.5 Infrastructure
A PhD student: Simone Stumpf has been appointed as a web-master. A mailing-list for RENOIR members is now being set up by her, as well as a general overhaul of the structure and interface of the RENOIR web pages.
Video-conferencing will be conducted as soon as a research fellow is appointed; support from UCL academic staff experienced in the area was promised, in the form of advice and equipment.
6.6 Industrial Liaison
Final comments on Dan Berry’s presentation is to be passed to him by Friday 1st May.
It was agreed that the limit of what can be agreed to by the Director is to be raised to 1700 ECU. Expenses for the Kyoto meeting will not be limited to 1700 ECU.
It was agreed that a flat fee for sustenance and local transport of 53 ECU per day is acceptable without receipts.
Anthony will enquire with Janis Bubenko about the Scandinavian Participation Workshop.
Co-location of RENOIR Mini-Workshop with RE 99 in Ireland (June 6-10 '99).
7th Executive Board Meeting: Tuesday 9th June in Pisa.
8th Executive Board Meeting: Monday 22nd or Tuesday 23rd September in London.
There was no other business.
The meeting finished at approximately 18:20 hrs.