Survey on software maintenance profile and knowledge requirement in public higher learning institutions

Software maintenance (SM) environment is highly complex, knowledge-driven and collaborative. Therefore, Knowledge management (KM) is critical to provide an environment for sharing and sustaining knowledge. Issues such as inadequate knowledge and lack on information sharing are still regarded as major challenges in SM. This paper presents the results of a survey on KM of SM process in selected higher learning institutions (HLIs) in Malaysia. Based on the survey, several deficiencies are identified as common to HLIs. Domain knowledge is important but these are seldom stored in KMS or other electronic means. Maintainers also spent considerable efforts collaborating with other parties to obtain information. Therefore, resolving these issues should be given high priority

Applying knowledge management system architecture in software maintenance environment

Knowledge management (KM) become important for organization to take advantage on the information produced and can be brought to bear on present decision. Software maintenance (SM) is a process that requires lots of knowledge. Maintainers must know what changes should do to the software, where to do those changes and how those changes can affect other modules of the system. Knowledge management system (KMS) can support the processes of knowledge creation, storage or retrieval, transfer and application. KMS in SM could help the organization to make tacit knowledge into explicit and therefore decrease the dependency on employees’ cognition. This paper is to apply KMS architecture in SM environment to overcome the problem faced by software maintainers during the software maintenance process

A technical perspective of knowledge management in collaborative software maintenance environment

Knowledge management (KM) is critical in Software Maintenance (SM) organizations to provide an environment for creating and sharing knowledge.SM environment is complex, knowledge-driven and highly collaborative.Issue such as inadequate knowledge is still regarded as a major challenge in SM.To find out more on the above limitation in term of technical perspective, we study the activities of a maintenance organization and conducted a survey and discussion.Based on the results, we conclude that domain and technical knowledge are important to maintainers, but are often not available. Also,usefulness of tools to acquire and share knowledge are limited, mainly due to lack of integration between tools

A framework of collaborative knowledge management system in open source software development environment.

The global economy crisis reveals the advantages of Open Source Software (OSS). Software developers benefit not only from reduced cost of acquisition, but also access to source code and components. In this aspect, knowledge sharing among developers are immensely important in all facets of System Development Life Cycle (SDLC). Feller and Fitzgerald (2000) raised the critical questions on what life-cycle underpins the OSS model and what is the best methodology to support the OSS as well as what toolkit support OSS methodology. This paper shall discuss the formulation of Knowledge Management System (KMS) framework for sharing knowledge in OSS using SDLC from the planning phase until the maintenance phase. An initial fact finding survey was conducted on selected OSS developers in Malaysia to analyze the current usage and acceptance of OSS. The results are quite unexpected, with many OSS developers are still not fully using OSS tools in SDLC stages. The proposed KMS model is envisaged to allow OSS Community-of-Practice to share the OSS knowledge for the whole SDLC

Agent-based tool to support collaborative KMS in software maintenance process environment

Software maintenance (SM) environment is highly complex, knowledge-driven and collaborative. Therefore, knowledge management system (KMS) is critical to provide an environment for sharing and sustaining knowledge among members of SM community of practice (CoP). Several KM retrieval tools are compared to identify the areas that could be improved. One of the important but least available knowledge required by maintainers is the Domain Business knowledge and the relations to the application SM process knowledge. We propose a new tool based on Multi-Agent System (MAS) to address this issue and to assist CoP members to get the right knowledge at the right time

A tale of two construct validation analysis: Rasch model and exploratory factor analysis approach for Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R21) among Malaysian male workers

Introduction: This study aims for construct validation using two approaches, i.e., exploratory factor analysis and Rasch Model. Methods: A cross sectional of 313 male workers from multiple worksites had completed self-administered Malay translated version of Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire- R21. Data quality was assessed by misfit person criteria, dimensionality, summary statistic, item measure and rating (partial credit) scale followed by exploratory factor analysis and internal consistency reliability assessment. Results: The dual approaches of construct validation analysis were complement to each other. Rasch analysis supported the theoretical constructs of three eating behaviour dimensions among respondents. In contrary to exploratory factor analysis, it did show presence of a newfound factor (α=0.04) came up from the separation of the cognitive restrain and uncontrolled eating however, the correlation between the two respective sub-factors were fair (r=0.39) and weak (r= −0.08). Both analyses had detected three problematic items but those items were psychometrically fit for used for current study setting. The data had adequate psychometric properties. Cronbach’s alpha for cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating and emotional eating were 0.66, 0.79 and 0.87 respectively. Rating scale quality was conformed to standard criteria. Conclusion: Malay version TFEQ-R21 with promising psychometric properties and valid measures for eating behaviour dimensions among male workers aged between 20 to 60 years old is now available. Further development should focus on the items in relation to Malaysian cultural adaptation before its use for daily practice in future setting

Preliminary study on semantic knowledge management model collaborative learning

Knowledge management (KM) is about collecting, organizing, and storing the knowledge assets of an organization to make it accessible for future knowledge reuse and application. Effective knowledge management system (KMS) should be able to deliver relevant knowledge to the right knowledge user at the right time. Yet, existing KMS is limited in several ways, and still largely relies on human efforts to access, extract and filter information pertinent to their knowledge need. Successful KMS requires the identification of proper technology designed with the right system features to support the KM activities, hence achieve the goals of KM. Due to this motivation, this paper aims to discuss the application of semantic technology to enhance the KMS and propose a semantic KM model to support collaborative learning environment. This preliminary model has been pro posed based on the review of the literatures on KM, KMS, semantic technology and collaborative learning environment and the verification of the model components will be done using a questionnaire survey. A pilot survey was conducted to several academicians in Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs)in Malaysia to validate the survey instruments before the actual survey is carried out. Rasch Unified Measurement Method (RUMM) is used to analyze the pilot data. As a result, Person reliability is found to be quit high, but Item reliability suggested fair data. A few respondents and items were identified as misfits with distorted measurements. Some problematic questions are revised and the negative questions are considered to be reworded into positive questions

KMS components for collaborative software maintenance – a pilot study

Software maintenance (SM) environment is highly complex, knowledge-driven and collaborative environment. Therefore, a Knowledge Management System (KMS) is critical to ensure various parties have the necessary information to perform SM activities. In an effort to model the requirements for sharing and sustaining knowledge in SM environment, we review literatures on Knowledge Management (KM), KMS and SM frameworks to identify the knowledge components, tools and technologies. An initial model of KMS components in collaborative SM is proposed, to be verified vis-a-vis a questionnaire survey. Before the questionnaires are sent out, a pilot study was conducted to identify misfit questionnaire items so that they could be revised before being sent out. Rasch Unified Measurement Method (RUMM) is used to analyze the pilot data. Item reliability is found to be poor and a few respondents and items are identified as misfits with distorted measurements. As a result, some problematic questions are revised and some predictably easy questions are excluded from the questionnaire

Experience based factory model for software development process: item construct validation on questionnaire design

Software development is a highly intensive knowledge process. Information, data, knowledge and experiences are accumulated daily and it is crucial that they are managed appropriately for the purpose of sharing and future reuse. Today, software development has spread across geographical boundaries; therefore, the need for knowledge retention has risen, and the need for collaboration among the community of practice has been further in demand. Based on this motivation, we posit a model of managing the experiences of software development process by using experience based factory approach. An initial conceptual model has been constructed based on relevant theoretical frameworks which include knowledge management, experience factory, software development process, community of practice, technology and infrastructure, and influences from managerial and organizational levels. Based on the literature review, questionnaire items have been designed to form the identified latent constructs. A pilot survey has been conducted to verify the questionnaire items and the results are tested against Rasch measurement analysis. By using Rash logit measures, the items quality is ensured. Findings indicate that the item fitness is good (0.73), outfit and infit mean square values are very much close to 1, and Z-standardized value is within the expected range. Unidimensionality shows that there is no visible secondary dimension even though the scale category structure is rather high. Nonetheless, there are several misfitting items which are further calibrated and revised for future study. The initial model will be the basis of the future model development