How software engineering research aligns with design science: A review

Background: Assessing and communicating software engineering research can be challenging. Design science is recognized as an appropriate research paradigm for applied research but is seldom referred to in software engineering. Applying the design science lens to software engineering research may improve the assessment and communication of research contributions. Aim: The aim of this study is 1) to understand whether the design science lens helps summarize and assess software engineering research contributions, and 2) to characterize different types of design science contributions in the software engineering literature. Method: In previous research, we developed a visual abstract template, summarizing the core constructs of the design science paradigm. In this study, we use this template in a review of a set of 38 top software engineering publications to extract and analyze their design science contributions. Results: We identified five clusters of papers, classifying them according to their alignment with the design science paradigm. Conclusions: The design science lens helps emphasize the theoretical contribution of research output---in terms of technological rules---and reflect on the practical relevance, novelty, and rigor of the rules proposed by the research.Comment: 32 pages, 10 figure

Software engineering for privacy in-the-large

There will be an estimated 35 zettabytes (35$times$10textsuperscript{21}) of digital records worldwide by the year 2020. This effectively amounts to privacy management on an ultra-large-scale. In this briefing, we discuss the privacy challenges posed by such an ultra-large-scale ecosystem - we term this ``Privacy in the Large''. We will contrast existing approaches to privacy management, reflect on their strengths and limitations in this regard and outline key software engineering research and practice challenges to be addressed in the future

Cloud computing: Does every cloud have a silver lining?

Up in the clouds, we go. Ever wondered where pictures uploaded on your Facebook profile are stored? How about files that you keep on your DropBox, that you conveniently access wherever you are and whenever you need them? Perhaps, it is more intriguing to ask where videos you have uploaded in YouTube are being kept. Are you not curious enough to ask why your Google mail can provide additional storage capacity when needed? All the answers to these questions lead us to a single direction—to the clouds

User-driven design of decision support systems for polycentric environmental resources management

Open and decentralized technologies such as the Internet provide increasing opportunities to create knowledge and deliver computer-based decision support for multiple types of users across scales. However, environmental decision support systems/tools (henceforth EDSS) are often strongly science-driven and assuming single types of decision makers, and hence poorly suited for more decentralized and polycentric decision making contexts. In such contexts, EDSS need to be tailored to meet diverse user requirements to ensure that it provides useful (relevant), usable (intuitive), and exchangeable (institutionally unobstructed) information for decision support for different types of actors. To address these issues, we present a participatory framework for designing EDSS that emphasizes a more complete understanding of the decision making structures and iterative design of the user interface. We illustrate the application of the framework through a case study within the context of water-stressed upstream/downstream communities in Lima, Peru

Research paper: assessing the suitability of temporary migrants administrative data for data integration

Investigates the quality of the administrative data of migrants on student and temporary work (skilled) visas as well as assessing the suitability of the data for linking with the Australian Census of Population and Housing and the Australian Taxation Office Personal IncomeTax data. Executive summary In 2014, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) National Migrants Statistics Unit  (NMSU) conducted a study to examine the quality of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) Temporary Visa Holders (TVH) administrative data in  terms of its suitability for data integration. For the purposes of this study, the administrative data on Temporary migrants is composed of data on International Students and Temporary work (skilled) (subclass 457) visa holders as at 31 July 2011.  The study investigates the quality of the administrative data of migrants on student and Temporary work (skilled) visas as well as assessing the suitability of the data for linking with the (ABS) 2011 Australian Census of Population and Housing and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Personal  Income Tax (PIT) data. If this data were linked to the Census data file, a linked Australian Census and Temporary Migrants Integrated Dataset (ACTMID) could provide enhanced information on temporary migrant outcomes. If an integrated dataset could be produced of sufficient quality, then the dataset would provide new information on the characteristics of temporary migrants such as usual residence currently and one year ago, labour force status,  educational qualifications obtained, income  and housing. This data would be very useful for policy and planning as well as providing a rich source of data on this growing population group for academics a nd researchers to inform their studies.  The study also explores methodologies to  improve future data integration studies and  compares the findings with earlier quality studies that have assessed the quality of the  integrated dataset created by linking the 2 011 Census to the Department of Social  Services (DSS) and Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) Settlement Database (SDB)

Agile Game Development : A Systematic Literature Review

A systematic literature review was conducted to examine the usage of agile methods in game development. A total of 23 articles were found which were analysed with the help of concept matrices. The results indicate that agile methods are used to varying degrees in game development. Agile methods lead to improved quality of games through a prototyping, playtesting, and feedback loop. Communication and ability of the team to take responsibility are also enhanced. Challenges arise from multidisciplinary teams, management issues, lack of training in agile methods, and quality of code