Software modelling languages: A wish list

© 2015 IEEE. Contemporary software engineering modelling tends to rely on general-purpose languages, such as the Unified Modeling Language. However, such languages are practice-based and seldom underpinned with a solid theory-be it mathematical, ontological or concomitant with language use. The future of software modelling deserves research to evaluate whether a language base that is compatible with these various elements as well as being philosophically coherent offers practical advantages to software developers

Predicting software project effort: A grey relational analysis based method

This is the post-print version of the final paper published in Expert Systems with Applications. The published article is available from the link below. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. Copyright @ 2011 Elsevier B.V.The inherent uncertainty of the software development process presents particular challenges for software effort prediction. We need to systematically address missing data values, outlier detection, feature subset selection and the continuous evolution of predictions as the project unfolds, and all of this in the context of data-starvation and noisy data. However, in this paper, we particularly focus on outlier detection, feature subset selection, and effort prediction at an early stage of a project. We propose a novel approach of using grey relational analysis (GRA) from grey system theory (GST), which is a recently developed system engineering theory based on the uncertainty of small samples. In this work we address some of the theoretical challenges in applying GRA to outlier detection, feature subset selection, and effort prediction, and then evaluate our approach on five publicly available industrial data sets using both stepwise regression and Analogy as benchmarks. The results are very encouraging in the sense of being comparable or better than other machine learning techniques and thus indicate that the method has considerable potential.National Natural Science Foundation of Chin

Can k-NN imputation improve the performance of C4.5 with small software project data sets? A comparative evaluation

Missing data is a widespread problem that can affect the ability to use data to construct effective prediction systems. We investigate a common machine learning technique that can tolerate missing values, namely C4.5, to predict cost using six real world software project databases. We analyze the predictive performance after using the k-NN missing data imputation technique to see if it is better to tolerate missing data or to try to impute missing values and then apply the C4.5 algorithm. For the investigation, we simulated three missingness mechanisms, three missing data patterns, and five missing data percentages. We found that the k-NN imputation can improve the prediction accuracy of C4.5. At the same time, both C4.5 and k-NN are little affected by the missingness mechanism, but that the missing data pattern and the missing data percentage have a strong negative impact upon prediction (or imputation) accuracy particularly if the missing data percentage exceeds 40%

Sustaining Places: Sensibility Models as Decision Support Tools for Messy Problems

Methods for passing on findings of ecological research are well established; methods for passing on what is learned in environmental management are much less institutionalized, and much less comprehensive. In particular, questions that are less disciplinable are less likely to be investigated and the learnings shared. A key challenge is that the orderliness of knowing-how is not nearly as systematic as science, law or ethics. It is shaped by practical exigencies, and so is profoundly historical-reflecting tradition and experience. Felt understanding, researched through disciplined reflective practice, provides a valuable empirical opportunity. It is the layer of knowing-how that practitioners rely on (consider, for example, the importance that feeling uncomfortable in a negotiation has). Secondly, it is a window on the field of possibilities practitioners are considering, so it offers a wider lens on know how than research that focuses on what practitioners are observed doing. Thirdly, it makes complex practice skills such as acting simultaneously as scientist, politician and manager researchable. Decision support tools built from explicating felt understanding therefore better support flexibility and openness, and are better suited to scaffolding expert practice than, for example, documenting repertoires of procedures. They are particularly well suited to sharing expertise related to ‘messy problems’ encountered by sustainability practitioners. The ‘sensibility model’ explicated here is a proof of concept of an alternative way of researching know how, and supporting reflective transfer amongst sustainability practitioners

Adaptiveness and openness in ecosystem management : an exemplary sensitivity

11 page(s

Adaptive management planning projects as conflict resolution processes

Adaptive management planning projects use multiparty, multidisciplinary workshops and simulation modeling to facilitate dialogue, negotiation, and planning. However, they have been criticized as a poor medium for conflict resolution. Alternative processes from the conflict resolution tradition, e.g., principled negotiation and sequenced negotiation, address uncertainty and biophysical constraints much less skillfully than does adaptive management. When we evaluate adaptive management planning using conflict resolution practice as a benchmark, we can design better planning procedures. Adaptive management planning procedures emerge that explore system structure, dynamics, and uncertainty, and that also provide a strong negotiation process, grounded in principled exploration of stakeholders' interests and needs. "Crossing" procedures in this manner is a fertile way of developing new forms of professional practice.1 page(s

A Conflicted Corporeality of Cinema

This practice driven research paper is an experimental exploration of the embodied cinematic situation in contemporary art. An assemblage of moments, it investigates how moving and mental images travel between the body and situation as an experience of time in contemporary arts practices. Written in the format of a screenplay, it is constructed as a montage loop of information discussing how the body and film measures and records time as experience in encountering performance, film and situations in expanded cinema. Encompassing topics such as the senses, neurofilmology, material engagement, philosophy, chronoception, situated conceptualisation, caves, and the double slit experiment in quantum mechanics, research draws on examples of creative works from contemporary art exhibitions, theatre and film. Discussion refers to production processes of 16mm film, method acting in performance, the genre of meta-films, the construction of situations and how the percept screen of the body auditions representations of experience

Felt knowing : a foundation for local government practice

18 page(s

Developing platform skills for the workplace : weaving reflective practice experiments into everyday life

5 page(s

How do links between households and NGOs promote disaster resilience and recovery? : a case study of linking social networks on the Bangladeshi coast

Households' links with NGOs are an important support for disaster resilience and recovery in Bangladesh. Previous studies have examined how social capital promotes disaster recovery. However, few explore the complexities of linking social networks and, in particular, the role of NGOs, after disasters. Through a case study of Cyclone Sidr—2007 affected two coastal villages of Bangladesh, using household surveys, focus groups, and key informant interviews, this study examines when these linking networks perform well and poorly. NGOs provide strong support through immediate relief (food, water, medicine, household utensils), shelter (building materials, new houses), and livelihood assistance (microcredit, cropping seeds, livestock, fishing boats, and nets). However, this catalyzes relief dependency also, NGOs generally favour households they lend to, sometimes demand normal repayments continue even though a disaster has occurred, and often take bribes when they are distributing livelihood assistance to households. We suspect many Bangladeshi NGOs focus on relief activities rather than preparedness, because post-disaster relief provides significant opportunities for financial irregularities, as the cash flows (donor support) are relatively large. Instead, NGOs should increase their emphasis on disaster risk reduction, providing more robust housing and fostering alternative livelihood options rather relief centric activities, because households' have a strong preference for empowerment and resilience, rather than relief dependency.21 page(s