Network Programme - Section 7

Strategic Planning and Research Coordination

7.1 Structures and Actions

Research Area Circles - The primary means of research coordination are the research area circles. Each research area described in our categorisation of technical goals is covered by a "research area circle" which brings together groups with active research interests in that area and the issues within it. The purpose of the group is to support the exchange of ideas through: discussion; informal meetings and exchanges; information exchange. A particular emphasis will be on supporting those nodes who are using or systematically evaluating the work of other nodes. Each research area circle will work within a "charter", reviewed on a regular basis, which will be a statement of the evolving research issues and current focus of work. The research area circle will also maintain an "inventory" of ongoing research projects and activities within its research area. It will produce regular "state of play" reports. The charter, inventory and state of play reports will be made available across RENOIR. The means by which this is to be accomplished are discussed under infrastructure below.

Exemplar Circle - It has been frequently observed that a major shortcoming of research in requirements engineering is the lack of shared examples and case study material. This makes it difficult to compare techniques or establish their validity across a range of domains. With each research team using different case studies, relying on local domain knowledge or unstated assumptions there is a lack of a feedback and critical appraisal. Further, nodes with limited access to industry may be tempted to use unrealistic case studies. RENOIR will, through its, Exemplars circle develop and promulgate shared case studies and to coordinate the distribution and exchange of whole or partial working of those case studies and associated discussion.

Meetings - It is anticipated that RENOIR will hold Annual Plenary meetings. These meetings will "review" the research area circle charters and state of play reports. To reduce travel costs the meeting will be linked to a major conference or symposium in the area of software engineering.

Tutorials - The purpose of tutorials is to provide an opportunity for a research group to teach their technique, language or tool to other nodes who would like to make use of it. These Tutorials should be clearly distinguished from Summer Schools whose purpose is research training and from Short Courses whose purpose is technology transfer. RENOIR is very concerned to support nodes in building on the work of other nodes (to eliminate the "not invented here" culture prevalent in computing research). Up to 3 such tutorials may be held annually with attendance sponsored by RENOIR. Bids from nodes who wish to hold such Tutorials will be sought and evaluated by assessors appointed by the research coordination committee.

7.2 Coordination

The responsibility for research coordination is allocated to the Research Coordination Committee . They act through the structures described above, that is through the Research Area Circles, Exemplar Circle and through task groups established to organise meetings and tutorials. Membership of Research Area Circles is based on the skills and research interests identified in Table 2. In principle nodes may belong to any number of Circles, all nodes are expected to participate in at least one Circle. Each Research Area Circle and the Exemplars Circle have a coordinator. These coordinators are identified in Table 1 above. The coordinators will, in the normal course of events be members of the Research Coordination committee.

The policy of RENOIR is to be open to new research initiatives and directions, within the scope of requirements engineering. The structures and activities described above have been organised to accommodate change. The issuing of charters, state of play reports and open review of these provides a tested mechanism for achieving this. We have made a particular effort to employ a light weight and reconfigurable framework which will us to track progress and to build in areas of strength. The objective of our research coordination strategy is to build a vibrant and productive research community and to provide mechanisms by which that research community can share results and technologies. We will measure our success in research coordination with respect to that objective.

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