****************REQUIREMENTS ENGINEERING NEWSLETTER******************** No. 15. Sorry about the delay since the last issue. Contents 1. SE position at McGill (Prof. N. MADHAVJI) 2. 15th Interdisciplinary Workshop on "Informatics and Psychology" (Michael Tauber) 3. CRICT Research Fellow (Taken from: requirements-request@prg.ox.ac.uk) 4. Update on 1175 mailing & Relationships of IEEE-CS 1175 to other standards (Carl Singer) 5. Requirements Engineering: Foundation of Software Quality REFSQ '94 (Gernot Starke) ---ANNOUNCEMENTS & ABSTRACTS OF TECHNICAL REPORTS ARE PARTICULARLY WELCOME!--- Contributions to: re-list@doc.ic.ac.uk (will be moderated) Subscription or Removal to: re-request@doc.ic.ac.uk Back issues can be obtained via anonymous ftp from ftp-host: dse.doc.ic.ac.uk (IP number: 146.169.2.20). Directory: requirements. Files are called renl1, renl2, etc. If you cannot use ftp then you can get any back issues using email. Send email containing the following to ftpmail@doc.ic.ac.uk open dse.doc.ic.ac.uk cd requirements get quit ********************************************************************** From: Prof. N. MADHAVJI Subject: SE position at McGill SOFTWARE ENGINEERING PROFESSOR The Department of Electrical Engineering of McGill University has a tenure-track opening in Software Engineering, preferably at the assistant professor level, which it would like to fill by September 1994. Applications are invited from individuals who have proven experience in an important area of software design, such as design methods and software architecture, requirements engineering, real-time systems, or concurrency and distribution. Opportunities for research interaction exist within the Department as well as with the Systems group in the School of Computer Science, and the Computer Research Institute of Montreal (CRIM). Candidates must have an earned Ph.D. degree, and a first degree in electrical engineering is desirable. Please send a resume and the names and coordinates of 3 references to Professor F.D.Galiana, Acting Chairman, Department of Electrical Engineering, McGill University, 3480 University St, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2A7, Canada; FAX 514-398-4470. McGill University supports employment equity. ********************************************************************** From: Michael Tauber Subject: 15th Interdisciplinary Workshop on "Informatics and Psychology" COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT, JOHANNES KEPLER UNIVERSITY LINZ, AUSTRIA in cooperation with EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION FOR COGNITIVE ERGONOMICS (EACE) CALL FOR PAPERS Interdisciplinary approaches to system analysis and design 15th Interdisciplinary Workshop on "Informatics and Psychology" TIME: May 24 - 26, 1994 PLACE: Schaerding, Austria STEERING COMMITTEE: Michael J. Tauber, University Paderborn, Germany Roland Traunmueller, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria Gerrit C. van der Veer, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands PROGRAMME COMMITTEE: Susanne Boedker, Denmark Francoise Detienne, France Anthony Finkelstein, United Kingdom Matthias Jarke, Germany Simon Kaplan, USA (Co-Chair) Giorgio De Michelis, Italy Walt Scacchi, USA Dominique Scapin, France Thomas Schael, Italy (Co-Chair) Dan Shapiro, United Kingdom Gerd Szwillus, Germany Hans van Vliet, The Netherlands The problem of designing complex software systems is currently being approached from several different directions, including the technical (object-oriented analysis and design), psychological (task analysis, user-centered design), and sociological (ethnographic studies, work place design). The purpose of this workshop is to bring together researchers and practitioners from these different disciplines to exchange ideas and interest, and seek appropriate common ground for empowering future work. Contributions to the workshop may present e.g. work on theories, principles, approaches, methods, methodologies and tools for software design. Critical papers on existing approaches and their experimental evaluation as well as presentations of new alternative approaches are also solicited. Contributions from several disciplines (Computer Science, Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, AI, ...) and papers presenting the integration of approaches of different disciplines are especially encouraged. Authors should reconsider the theoretical and methodological relations between the various disciplines contributing to interdisciplinary system design. Practioners in interdisciplinary projects should report the concrete experience and identify the circumstances under which the different combinations of disciplines (theories, methods, perspectives,...) are likely to be productive for the final results. At this workshop, leading researchers and developers in the field have the opportunity to discuss the state-of-the-art and future of system design. The workshop will provide ample opportunity for discussions. INSTRUCTIONS TO AUTHORS: Papers should be in English and comprise 8 to 12 single-spaced pages (3000-6000 words) and an abstract of 200 words. Include several keywords which are suitable for interdisciplinary communication. Produce a separate cover page with the title, the name and affiliation of the author(s), and a contact address (including phone number, fax, and e-mail). Publication of the workshop papers is planned as a reviewed book edited after the workshop Paper deadline: January 15, 1994 Notification: March 1, 1994 Final versions due: May 1, 1994 Send 3 copies of papers to one of the two program co-chairs: Simon Kaplan Department of Computer Science University of Illinois 1304 W. Springfield Avenue Urbana, IL 61801 USA Phone: +1 217 244 0392 Fax: +1 217 333 3501 Email: kaplan@cs.uiuc.edu Thomas Schael Istituto RSO Via Leopardi, 1 I-20123 Milano Italy Phone: +39 2 72000583 Fax: +39 2 86450720 Email: schael@crai.crai.it and schael@cs.vu.nl FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael J. Tauber Department of Computer Science University Paderborn D-33095 Paderborn Germany Email: tauber@uni-paderborn.de ********************************************************************** Subject: CRICT Research Fellow From: requirements-request@prg.ox.ac.uk BRUNEL UNIVERSITY CENTRE FOR RESEARCH INTO INNOVATION, CULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY (CRICT) RESEARCH FELLOW The Centre wishes to appoint a Research Fellow to join a lively team researching the social and cultural dimensions of information tech- nologies. The appointment will be from 1 January 1994, or as soon as possible thereafter, for one year in the first instance. The salary will be on the RA1A scale. Applications are invited from social sci- entists or from others with an interest in the broad area of social studies of science, technology and communications. Further particulars and application forms are obtainable from the Personnel Secretary, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3PH, United Kingdom or telephone +44 895 812304 (24 hours) leaving your name, address and the post reference. Applications returnable by 1 December 1993. Interested persons may discuss the position further by contacting Professor Steve Woolgar, +44 895 203111, Steve.Woolgar@brunel.ac.uk. ********************************************************************** From: singer@cc.bellcore.com (singer,carl a) Subject: IEEE 1175 Meeting - November 30, 1993 UPDATE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: If you are planning to attend please contact Peter Eirich or me (RSVP) with the following information: Your Name (obviously) Citizenship Social Security Number (if any) Company Name Mailing Address (postal) email address / telephone number ------- the above is needed to process gate passes at our host location --- Following the meeting announcement is a 2-page long discussion of how 1175 relates to other standards. It should answer a number of questions that have been raised. ======================================================================== MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT: IEEE 1175 - Standard Reference Model for Computing System Tool Interactions (approved DEC '92 as a trial use standard for 24 month period) There will be a 1175 planning meeting on November 30th 1993 at the Westinghouse facilities near the Baltimore Washington (BWI) Airport in Maryland, U.S.a. Our agenda will focus on "where to from here", a number of potential work items will be discussed, including addressing object-oriented methodologies and use of the 1175 model with other standards. If you are interested in participating, please reply to (me) I will be on the road through October 29th, so please be patient. (or call Peter Eirich - number follows) Carl Singer singer@cc.bellcore.com (908) 699-8951 c/o Bellcore 6 Corporate Place PYA 1E211 Piscataway, NJ 08854 (USA) Include your mailing address, email, voicemail & fax. Information on hotels, etc. is as follows: (here are 5, there are more to choose from) BWI Marriott $125 (410) 859-8300 Hampton Inn $ 62 / $65 king (410) 850-0600 includes Breakfast & Happy Hour Holiday Inn $ 59 (Westinghouse rate - mention host) (410) 859-8400 Guest Quarters $82 (Westinghouse rate - mention host) (410) 850-8747 Red Roof Inn $31.99 / $41 king (410) 850-7600 Most of these hotels also have "800" numbers. If you have questions about logistics, please contact Peter Eirich at Westinghouse (410) 993-5634. Carl =================================================================== RELATIONSHIPS OF IEEE-CS 1175 TO OTHER STANDARDS Peter Eirich November 8, 1993 (personal opinion - not yet reviewed/agreed by P1175) A. SUMMARY IEEE-CS 1175-1991 is a standard for the exchange of software design content, to and from CASE and other automated software support tools, repositories, and software designers. It provides a standard language (STL) for representing this information, intended for use in file-based exchanges. As such, 1175 complements a number of (better-publicized) tool user interface, tool networking, and tool environment standards efforts now under development. Those standards permit tools to be more easily invoked, to locate and contact each other, and to send messages, much as the telephone system permits humans to communicate. However, the phone system does not help when the person on the other end of the line speaks a different language that is not understood. The 1175 standard provides a standard language that compliant tools can jointly understand, and thereby addresses this second aspect of the data interchange problem. B. DEVELOPMENT BACKGROUND The IEEE-CS P1175 project had three design priorities that distinguish it from others in the software data interchange area: 1. a human-readable and easily human-editable exchange format, but one that was still readily parsable by software tools; 2. support for the exchange of fundamental software design information across a variety of different software life cycle processes, in addition to supporting simpler exchanges among comparable tools within a single lifecyle stage; 3. guidance on implementing tools and automated software data exchanges within organizations. The 1175-1991 standard was developed over a period of several years to meet these objectives. C. CURRENT The recent decision to move the 1175 standard from trial-use to full-use status reflects a belief that (a) no other standard currently addresses these three objectives in a comparable way, and (b) there is a near-term industry need to apply such a standard. As such, the industry experience gained from applying 1175 will contribute a unique perspective toward the development of future, more comprehensive international standards of this type. D. FUTURE DEVELOPMEMT The IEEE-CS P1175 project team is one of a number of standards activities that have agreed to work together to contribute to the development work for international software data exchange standards under ISO-IEC JTC1/SC7/WG11. Other cooperating activities include EIA CDIF, ECMA PCTE, JTC1/SC21/WG3 IRDS and IMPORT/EXPORT, and related national and international activities. Based on discussions with WG11, the P1175 role is expected to include contributions in the areas of (a) representations for exchange of object-oriented analysis and design results, and (b) general information structures (for the upper- or high-level portions of the WG11 architecture) that cut across the different WG11 subject areas. This complements the planned contributions to WG11 from the other cooperating activities, and also directly applies to the development priorities for the full-use version of 1175. P1175 will also forward to the international effort the "lessons learned" from industrial experience with 1175, which will provide a unique and valuable perspective with regard to the three 1175 development objectives cited earlier. If the international effort is successful in developing improved and comprehensive exchange standards in this area, on schedule, then it is envisioned that 1175 will undergo only one five-year period of full use before being superceded. In this event, 1175 may be expected to be amended or supplemented to provide a migration mapping to the future international standards, so existing 1175 user data will be easily and reliably convertable. In the meantime, 1175 will provide near-term benefits to those vendors and users whose needs are aligned to its particular development priorities. ********************************************************************** Subject: REQUIREMENTS ENGINEERING: FOUNDATION OF SOFTWARE QUALITY From: gernot@i3.informatik.rwth-aachen.de (Gernot Starke) =============================================================== Call for papers REFSQ '94 =============================================================== R E F S Q `9 4 FIRST INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON REQUIREMENTS ENGINEERING: FOUNDATION OF SOFTWARE QUALITY 6-7 June 1994 Utrecht, The Netherlands (preceeding the CAiSE conference) ================================================================ PURPOSE It is generally accepted that requirements engineering is the most crucial phase within software development. Therefore requirements engineering deserves special attention whenever software quality is concerned. During requirements engineering not only the functional requirements have to be elicitated and defined, but also non-functional requirements must be stated. For quality oriented system development the specification of the desired quality goals during requirements engineering is essential. Currently there are deficiencies in exploiting the relationships between requirements engineering and software quality. GOAL The main goal of the REFSQ'94 is to bring together people working in the fields of requirements engineering and software quality, focussing on the - specification of quality requirements - their traceability back to user needs and - measurement of their achievement. In contrast to scientific conferences work will primarily been done in panel discussions with only very brief paper presentations. THEMES REFSQ'94 invites contributions from research as well as from industry, dealing with (but not limited to) the following topics: - Specification of software quality requirements - Quality models for requirements engineering - Integration and extension of specification models by quality aspects - Quality-oriented process models for requirements engineering - Traceability of quality requirements - Measurement of quality requirements satisfaction by suitable metrics PARTICIPATION The workshop will be an interactive forum with presentations of papers and discussion groups. Presentations will be brief (10 minutes maximum), and will be followed by a panel discussion between the authors and the audience, directed by a panel leader. Papers should emphasize what is new and significant about the chosen approach and adequately compare it with similar work. Attendance will be limited to 20 people and all participants must have written accepted papers. The workshop language is English. Participants will be selected on the basis of submitted full papers (10 pages maximum), position papers (5 pages maximum) or experience reports (10 papers maximum), all of which will be reviewed by at least three independent referees from the CAiSE programm committee. Full papers and experience reports must be original contributions, not accepted or sumitted elsewhere. As the workshop is beeing organized in conjunction with the CAiSE conference, which it is immedeately preceeding, all workshop participants are supposed to attend the CAiSE. INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUTHORS Send 4 copies of your submission until December 10th (arrival date) to: REFSQ '94 Lehrstuhl Informatik V Ahornstr. 55 D-52074 Aachen Germany All papers will be published in the workshop proceedings and will be available for all accepted and registered participants at the beginning of the workshop. Selected workshop papers will also be published in the CAiSE proceedings by Springer Verlag. IMPORTANT DATES Submission deadline: December 10th 1993 Acceptance notification: March 15th 1994 Camera ready paper due: April 15th 1994 ORGANIZATION Klaus Pohl Gernot Starke Lehrstuhl Informatik V Lehrstuhl Informatik III Ahornstrasse 55 Ahornstrasse 55 D-52074 Aachen D-52074 Aachen - Germany - - Germany - Tel. +49-241-80-21513 Tel. +49-241-80-21311 Fax. +49-241-80-21529 Fax. +49-241-80-21329 pohl@informatik.rwth-aachen.de gernot@informatik.rwth-aachen.de **********************************************************************