1. Institut Experimentelles Software Engineering Fraunhofe r IESE Andreas Birk Ulrike Becker-Kornstaedt Sauerwiesen 6 D-67661 Kaiserslautern Germany Experience from Qualitative Empirical Research at Fraunhofer IESE

2. Copyright © Fraunhofer IESE 2000 ISERN Meeting Hawaii, October, 2000 IESE Slide 1 Qualitative Empirical Research at the IESE Qualitative Empirical Research Acquisition of Experiential Knowledge Cost models Risk models Technology application domains Process models Empirical Studies Case studies (hypothesis driven) Action research Grounded theory

3. Copyright © Fraunhofer IESE 2000 ISERN Meeting Hawaii, October, 2000 IESE Slide 2 Example: Descriptive Process Modeling Process modelling techniques are not yet addressed in SE –What knowledge elicitation techniques to use? –When to use a certain technique? –When not to use a certain technique? Survey, tailor, and define appropriate techniques –Interviewing, observation, document analysis –From social sciences and knowledge engineering Define a process modelling process –Applicable in industry –Effective and efficient –Valid results PhD research of Ulrike Becker-Kornstaedt

4. Copyright © Fraunhofer IESE 2000 ISERN Meeting Hawaii, October, 2000 IESE Slide 3 Challenges of Qualitative Research in SE Develop a body of qualitative research methods for SE –Acquire them from other disciplines –Tailor them for application in SE Establish a culture of qualitative research in SE –How can this be done in the absence of a research methodology? –How to qualify the researchers? (review boards?...) Deal with the characteristics of industrial software projects –Time pressure / availability of software engineers –Complexity / dynamics / tacit knowledge Build relationships with software engineers / organizations –Make them understand the qualitative methods –Build a relationship of trust / long-term relationships –Provide “return of investments”