Quality attributes for mobile applications

A mobile application is a type of software application developed to run on a mobile device. The chapter discusses the main characteristics of mobile devices, since they have a great impact on mobile applications. It also presents the classification of mobile applications according to two main types: native and web-based applications. Finally, this chapter identifies the most relevant types of quality attributes for mobile applications. It shows that the relevant quality attributes for mobile applications are usually framed in the Usability, Performance, and Maintainability and Support categories.(undefined

Methodological approaches for software process improvement in multi-model environments

Programa de Doutoramento em Informática das Universidades do Minho, de Aveiro e do PortoSoftware has improved quality of life dramatically and has now a vital role in today’s society, supporting simple services that range from simple electronic shopping to software responsible for flying planes or performing remote medical surgery. The demand on services is increasing and the result are systems of software that grow in size and complexity. For that reason these software systems are more prone to faults and software quality is an increasing concern for organisations developing software. The costs associated to lack of quality can simply put a software organisation out of business and worst, result in loss of human life. The need to ensure high levels of software quality motivates organisations to adopt approaches to improve their software development process, also referred to software improvement models or simply improvement models. There are two paradigms to process improvement, the benchmark and the analytical based process improvement approaches. Benchmark based approaches are prescriptive in nature, defining requirements or prescribing a set of practices originating from top performing organisations, that are adopted by organisations aiming to improve their software process. Analytical approaches are based on strategies that aim first, to define business, process and product goals and then establish a clear understating of the impact of process performance in these goals. A recent trend in software process improvement in the adoption of more than one improvement model into a single organisational environment, originating what are denominated multi-model environments. The goal is to attain the cumulative added benefit of adopted models. Several challenges arise in these multi-model environments that motivate the research work of this dissertation. One challenge in multi-model environments is the comparison of improvement models for selection and integration purposes and existing approaches compare models in qualitative terms. We propose metrics of size and complexity to compare improvement models in quantitative terms. Additionally, in multi-model environments, ensuring compliance to model adopted is often expected and desired. We develop a model to manage compliance of organisational practices with multiple improvement models minimising the effort required for establishing compliance in these environments. In cooperation with CRITICAL Software S.A. a process improvement process is proposed alighted with the analytical paradigm to process improvement and a set of CMMI-Dev level 5 specific goals. Finally we also addressed the issue of modelling complex system of processes that result from adopting multiple improvement models. The main research method guiding this dissertation was Design Research. We followed the steps in the method in different extents. For validation purposes the method expects demonstration and experimental validation. We focussed mainly on demonstration and we lack the desired level of experimentation. Nonetheless we provide detailed demonstrations of proposed solutions. These were submitted and accepted in peer reviewed international conferences. The main contribution of this dissertation is the demonstration, through practical scenarios, of a set to meteorological approaches to addresses challenges on conducting software process improvement in multi-model environments.O Software melhorou a qualidade de vida de uma forma considerável e assume agora um papel vital no suporte a simples serviços como pagamentos eletrónicos a software que é responsável pelo voo em aviões e por possibilitar cirurgia médica remota. A procura por novos serviços baseados em software está a aumentar e a diversificar-se. O resultado prático é que os sistemas de software estão a aumentar em tamanho e em complexidade. Por esta razão, estes sistemas incorrem num maior risco de exibir falhas e a qualidade do Software é uma procuração crescente nas organizações que desenvolvem software. Falta de qualidade pode simplesmente levar uma empresa à falência ou no pior cenário, resultar em perda de vidas humanas. A necessidade de assegurar elevados níveis de qualidade no software motiva as organizações a adotar abordagens para melhoria do processo de desenvolvimento de software, também referidas como modelos de melhoria do software ou simplesmente modelos de qualidade. Existem dois paradigmas na melhoria do processo de desenvolvimento de software, uma primeira abordagem baseada em práticas de referência e uma segunda abordagem de base analítica. As abordagens baseadas em práticas de referência assumem um carácter prescritivo definindo um conjunto de requisitos ou práticas, originárias de organizações com processos de desenvolvimento com elevados níveis de desempenho. Os modelos resultantes são adotados pelas organizações que procuram idênticos níveis de desempenho. As abordagens analíticas são alicerçadas em estratégias que visam numa primeira fase definir objetivos de negócio, de processo e de produto e depois perceber, de uma forma clara o impacto das fraquezas da organização na capacidade de esta atingir os objetivos identificados. Uma vaga recente no domínio da melhoria do processo de software é a adoção de mais do que um modelo de melhoria pela mesma organização, originando os denominados ambientes de melhoria multi-modelo. O objetivo é acumular os benefícios dos modelos adotados. Novos desafios emergem nestes ambientes que motivam o esforço de investigação desta dissertação. Um desafio nestes ambientes ´e a comparação de modelos de qualidade para efeitos de seleção e integração. As abordagens existentes permitem comparar os modelos de uma forma qualitativa. No ˆâmbito desta dissertação um dos contributos ´e uma pro posta de métricas de tamanho e de complexidade de forma a permitir uma comparação de base quantitativa. De igual forma, nos ambientes multi-modelo, assegurar o alinhamento das práticas organizacionais com os modelos adotados ´e na maior parte das vezes um requisito. No âmbito desta dissertação propomos um modelo que permite gerir a informação sobres as práticas organizacionais implementadas e os requisitos/práticas prescritas pelos modelos de melhoria adotados com o objetivo de minimizar o esforço necessário para assegurar o alinhamento de práticas organizacionais e os modelos adotados. Adicionalmente e em parceria com a empresa CRITICAL Software S.A., é proposto um processo para a melhoria do processo de desenvolvimento de software alinhado com a abordagem analítica de melhoria de processos e com os objetivos específicos da área de processo de nível 5 do CMMI-Dev. Finalmente, abordamos o problema de modelação de processos de software de elevada complexidade que resultam tipicamente da adoção de vários modelos de qualidade. É proposta uma abordagem de modelação de processos a níveis elevados de abstração que permite o seu refinamento para modelos de mais baixo nível, baseado num conjunto de regras de transição que permite a sua conversão de uma forma sistemática. A metodologia de investigação adotada nesta dissertação foi Design Research e executámos os passos expectáveis da metodologia na extensão possível. No objetivo de validação, o método espera o uso de demonstrações e de experimentação. O nosso principal foco foi a demonstração, não tendo sido possível atingir o nível de experimentação desejável. Porém, o detalhe e extensão das descrições nas demonstrações é elevado e o trabalho foi submetido e aceite em conferências internacionais da área. A contribuição desta dissertação é a demonstração, através de cenários práticos, de um conjunto de abordagens para endereçar desafios emergentes nas organizações que adotam múltiplos modelos de qualidade na melhoria do processo de software

Web based object annotation tool using a Triplet-ReID sorting approach

The robustness of the object detection methods has seen an increasing attention, which leads to a desire for more control over the training and testing phases. In practice, the need for labelling unique objects present on a dataset can be of help. However, manually labelling datasets of considerable size can be impractical. This paper describes an approach to improve labelling information of a dataset by supporting an object reidentification task. The primary objective is to find repeated objects in the dataset. The proposed solution relies on a web-based application that allows the user to choose which of the similar objects returned by the Triplet-ReID method are in fact the same as the query object. The effectiveness of the method was tested on a dataset with considerable object variability. Experimental results show a viable sorting performance associated with considerable speed improvement when compared to a traditional labelling approach. In fact, a dataset with 55 unique objects in a total of 1098 images would take 18 hours with a traditional tool and 12 hours with proposed one. Moreover, given the generic architecture of the developed framework, it can certainly be applied to a wide range of use cases.This work is supported by European Structural and Investment Funds in the FEDER component, through the Operational Competitiveness and Internationalization Programme (COMPETE 2020) [Project nº 039334; Funding Reference: POCI-01-0247-FEDER-039334

Transactions Cost Theory influence in strategy research: A review through a bibliometric study in leading journals

Transaction cost theory (TCT) is widely used in several management disciplines. Its value for explaining organizational phenomena and managers? decisions is well accepted and has been recognized with two Nobel laureates (Ronald Coase and Oliver Williamson). In this paper we examine the impact of the TCT on extant research in top tier management journals. We conduct a bibliometric study supported in the analysis of citations and co-citations to uncover the connections between authors and presumably theories. We conclude that the TCT, albeit its specific focus on the transactions as the unit of analysis, is present in a majority of management- and business-related research.transaction costs theory, bibliometric study, strategy research, review

Sistemas de avaliação à distância no ensino universitário: Desafios de conformidade com o RGPD

A supervisão tradicional, conceptualmente humana, da avaliação de conhecimentos no ensino superior português, assegura a vigilância presencial dos avaliados e do meio envolvente, para que o processo de avaliação decorra sem sobressaltos. É um processo de inquestionável maturidade, seja por via do enraizamento cultural, ou pela eficácia comprovada, revelando-se, ainda, um processo prático e adequado às suas finalidades. O contributo dos avanços na área das novas tecnologias, aliado à particular situação de isolamento social a que nos conduziu a pandemia por COVID-19, revelaram-se condições propícias ao desejo de, em alguns casos, testar, e em outros colocar em prática, um sistema de avaliação à distância que permitisse, simultaneamente, vigiar os alunos e o ambiente de realização de uma prova. Ultrapassada a urgência em alcançar uma solução, a que o tempo e a evolução favorável das condições sanitárias viriam a dar resposta, importará agora analisar as soluções de monitorização atualmente disponíveis e as técnicas computacionais a que recorrem, como a de Inteligência Artificial para tratamento de dados, incluindo dados biométricos, refletindo acerca do fundamento de licitude da sua utilização. Vigorando atualmente o Regulamento Geral de Proteção de Dados (RGPD), pretende-se, igualmente, identificar em que condições a utilização destas ferramentas respeitará as disposições legais ali previstas. Por fim, concluir-se-á que a obtenção do consentimento do utilizador será o meio que confere melhores garantias de um tratamento de dados pessoais lícito, incluindo de categorias especiais, simultaneamente em respeito pelos interesses, direitos e liberdades fundamentais do titular.The traditional proctoring process carried out at the Portuguese Universities has been implemented for several years, through human face-to-face interaction. In this process, the proctor guarantees the appropriate surveillance, ensuring the identity of the test taker and the integrity of the test-taking environment, intervening only whenever necessary, so that the evaluation process can run as smoothly as possible. It has been a process of unquestionable maturity, either because of its cultural roots, or by the already demonstrated effectiveness over time, proving to be practical and adequate to its purposes. The development of new technologies, together with the particular situation of social isolation induced by the COVID-19 pandemics created the opportunity to test, in some cases, or even to use, remote proctoring systems to monitor the students and their environment, during their knowledge exams. It is now important to analyze the available e-proctoring tools, and the associated technologies, including the use of artificial intelligence to process personal data, which can be biometric data, while assessing their lawfulness in the context of university exams. Having regard to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), currently in force, we propose to identify in what conditions the use of such tools would comply with the legal provisions. Finally, we conclude that obtaining the user’s consent will be the best way to ensure a lawful processing of personal data, in particular of special categories of data, while guaranteeing data subject’ interests, rights and fundamental freedoms

A systematic reuse-based approach for customized cloned variants

Systematic reuse often becomes possible only after a number of customized cloned variants have already been delivered. Transforming from customized cloned variants to a systematic reuse with the explicit management of variability is beneficial. Hence, industrial companies prefer to adopt a reusebased approach. We propose in this research work an approach that supports the re-engineering of existing customized cloned variants towards systematic software reuse. The approach also eases the process of adding a new variant to a set of customized cloned variants, whenever there is enough implementation similarity between the existing customized cloned variants and the new one. We plan to evaluate our approach in an industrial case study, specifically in a set of customized cloned variants of software applications used by automotive companies. As an initial validation effort, we already have presented our first results to software developers at Bosch. They provided us a positive feedback about the ability of our approach to give an overview of the commonality and the variability of the customized cloned variant. For more robust validation, we propose to use a structured demonstration for the same industrial case study environment with qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the impact.We thank our colleagues from Bosch company in sensor software team (Joao Santos and Helder Vilas-Boas) and we also like to show our gratitude to Matthias Renninger (Development, Mangement of projects) for his assistance. We thank the European Structural and Investment Funds in the FEDER component, through the Operational Competitiveness and Internationalization Programme (COMPETE 2020) Project n° 002797; Funding Reference: POCI-01-0247-FEDER-002797

Development of a grooming process for an agile software team in the automotive domain

At the current unpredictable technical evolution, the market is demanding an increasingly flexibility from companies to adapt to the pace of change in what customers want. The present research was developed in an automotive company, where software teams are pursuing Agile methodologies to coupe with these challenges. Teams use the Scrum framework, however, lack of efficient communication among team members results in poor performance of the product owner and the development team. In an attempt to solve this issue and according to the needs shared by the teams, this paper proposes a grooming process for a Scrum team. It provides a step-wise approach to work breakdown, from customer requirements elicitation to the development of ready work entities using the user story format. This paper describes how agile methods can support requirements engineering in a software project.This work is supported by: European Structural and Investment Funds in the FEDER component, through the Operational Competitiveness and Internationalization Programme (COMPETE 2020) [Project nº 002797; Funding Reference: POCI-01-0247-FEDER-002797

Transactions Cost Theory influence in strategy research: a review through a bibliometric study in leading journals

Transaction cost theory (TCT) is widely used in several management disciplines. Its value for explaining organizational phenomena and managers’ decisions is well accepted and has been recognized with two Nobel laureates (Ronald Coase and Oliver Williamson). In this paper we examine the impact of the TCT on extant research in top tier management journals. We conduct a bibliometric study supported in the analysis of citations and co-citations to uncover the connections between authors and presumably theories. We conclude that the TCT, albeit its specific focus on the transactions as the unit of analysis, is present in a majority of management- and business-related research

Nível de Prontidão de Tecnologia de Software: uma reflexão sobre diferentes escalas

As software is not a manufactured product, the assessment of the readiness level of software technology (STRL) differs from that of hardware. Considering recent government investments in software development, the aim of this article is to present the STRL scales used as a reference in analyzing the readiness of this technology, reflecting on their importance for Brazil. The methodology is exploratory, seeking a Brazilian understanding of the level of software technology readiness (STRL), with a qualitative approach, using bibliographic research (TRL classification, according to Mankins, 2009) and documentary research (technical reports, among which: SEI, US-GAO and Embrapii) as procedures and, in the treatment of data, content analysis, from the perspective of Bardin (2016). The main results showed the prominence of the DoD, NASA, GAO and Embrapii STRL scales, but that they require interpretation and possible adaptations, since they all derive from the hardware-focused TRL scale.Como o software não se configura como um produto manufaturado, a avaliação do nível de prontidão da tecnologia de software (STRL) apresenta divergências em relação à avaliação do hardware. Considerando os recentes investimentos governamentais voltados para o desenvolvimento de software, o objetivo deste artigo foi apresentar as escalas STRL usadas como referência na análise de prontidão dessa tecnologia, refletindo sobre a sua importância para o Brasil. A metodologia é exploratória, buscando a compreensão brasileira acerca do nível de prontidão de tecnologia de software (STRL), com abordagem qualitativa, utilizando como procedimentos as pesquisas bibliográfica (classificação TRL, segundo Mankins, 2009) e documental (relatório técnicos, entre os quais: SEI, US-GAO e Embrapii) e, no tratamento dos dados, a análise de conteúdo, sob a perspectiva de Bardin (2016). Os principais resultados mostraram a proeminência das escalas STRL do DoD, NASA, GAO e Embrapii, mas que elas necessitam de interpretação e eventuais adaptações, uma vez que todas derivam da escala TRL focada em hardware

Temáticas de prevenção de lesões musculoesqueléticas em estudantes de música

The purpose of this paper was to analyze themes for the prevention of musculoskeletal injuries in music students that can be included in the political-pedagogical project of the secondary-level technical professional music education in the public network of the Federal District. To this end, its approach included methodological procedures of documentary and literature. Semi-structured interviews were conducted as a methodological procedure for data generation. The content analysis proposed by Bardin (2016) was used to analyze the generated data. Based on the content analysis, three central categories emerged from the narratives of the interviewed teachers: the first was related to musculoskeletal symptoms in music students; the second was related to musculoskeletal injury risk factors in music students; the third was related to preventive behaviors for music students. After the content analysis, the position was taken that musculoskeletal injuries in music students are related to musculoskeletal overload, inadequate postures, as well as the absence of strategies for prevention practices in the school environment. The conclusion is that the inclusion of these themes in the political-pedagogical project of the Escola de Música de Brasília may contribute to the integral training and quality of life of the student. Additionally, it may help in the development of future teaching and learning strategies and more effective educational practices.O objetivo deste artigo foi analisar categorias temáticas de prevenção de lesões musculoesqueléticas em estudantes de música que podem ser incluídas no projeto político-pedagógico da Escola de Música de Brasília. Para tanto, foram utilizados, como abordagem, procedimentos metodológicos da pesquisa documental e bibliográfica, bem como entrevista semiestruturada. Como resultados da análise de conteúdo, três categorias centrais emergiram a partir das narrativas dos professores entrevistados: sintomas musculoesqueléticos, fatores de risco de lesões musculoesqueléticas e comportamentos preventivos. Assumiu-se o posicionamento de que as lesões musculoesqueléticas estão relacionadas com a sobrecarga musculoesquelética, com as posturas inadequadas, bem como com a ausência de estratégias de práticas de prevenção. Concluiu-se que a inclusão dessas categorias temáticas no projeto político-pedagógico da Escola de Música de Brasília pode contribuir para a formação integral e para a qualidade de vida do estudante, bem como pode colaborar com futuras estratégias de ensino e aprendizagem e com práticas educativas mais eficazes