1. Empirical Study on Component-Based Development
Li Jingyue
Ph.D Status Report
SUG IDI/NTNU
Ph.D Student Seminar 19 Nov. 2003

2. Agenda Motivation and Background Research Focus Research Design Status
Activity Last 6 Months
Activity Next 6 Months
Ph.D Student Seminar 19 Nov. 2003

3. Background Reuse Component-base Development Components In-house Built
COTS (Commercial-Off-The-Shelf)
OSS (Open Source Component)
Ph.D Student Seminar 19 Nov. 2003

4. Challenges in CBD Issues Roles Challenges Software Product Issues
Component Provider
Granularity
Component integrator
Component selection
Architecture mismatch
Functional deficiencies
Quality maintenance
Software development process issues
Component providers
Test practice
Component integrators
Requirement and capability trade-off
Tools support
Business issues
Internationalization
Responsible for quality
Horizontal and vertical market
Marketing
Vendor relationships
Component trust
Trade-offs
ROI analysis
System maintenance and evolution
Ph.D Student Seminar 19 Nov. 2003

5. Limitation of Current Research
Although most of the previous studies are based on industrial case studies, the limitation is that the sample size is not huge enough. Some of the challenges are either too specific or too general. Some of the challenges are generated purely from theory viewpoints without empirical grounds.
Most of the previous studies regard the different kinds of components (i.e., in-house built, COTS, OSS components) as the same. There is still no systematic research on the similarities and differences between them. So, there is no systematic guideline on how to make a reasonable selection between three of them.
Most conclusions of the causes of these challenges comes from one or two case studies. The conclusions cannot be generalized to other industries. So, the solutions are always case by case.
Ph.D Student Seminar 19 Nov. 2003

6. Research Focus What is the problems? Why did it happen?
How to solve the problem?
Ph.D Student Seminar 19 Nov. 2003

7. Research Design Stages Method Schedule Output What is the problem?
Literature Review Structured Survey
Spring 2003 to Spring 2004
survey result report
Why did it happen?
Structured Survey
Case studies
Spring 2004 to Fall 2004
case study report
How to solve the problem?
Simulation
Fall 2004 to Spring 2005
solution and evaluation report
Research Summary
Writing Dissertation
Fall 2005 to Spring 2006
Dissertation
Ph.D Student Seminar 19 Nov. 2003

8. Status Paper Matrix Credit Plan
Finished: A Study of Developer Attitude to Component Reuse in Three IT Companies
Ongoing: Two papers based on the result of the COTS survey
Credit Plan
Course title
Term
DIF8914: Distributed Information System
Fall 2002
Empirical Software Engineering
Dif8901 Object Oriented System
Spring 2003
SIF8056: Software Architecture
DIS1056: Business Researcher Method, Case Methodology
IT-emner
Ph.D Student Seminar 19 Nov. 2003

9. Activity Last 6 Months
Performed An Empirical Study of Developer Attitude to Component Reuse in Three IT Companies (Mogul, EDB, Ericsson)
Designed a Questionnaire for the Survey on COTS Components in IT Industries (Two phases pre-test have been finished)
Ph.D Student Seminar 19 Nov. 2003

10. Activity Next 6 Months Activities Method Schedule
Continue the survey on COTS components in IT industry
Personal interview or Telephone interview in 40 IT companies
Dec – Jan. 2004
Continue the survey on COTS components by Simula SESE tool in German and Italy
Web Survey
Feb –
Apr
Empirical study on Open Source Component in IT industry
Personal interview in 6 – 7 IT companies
June. 2004
Case study on COTS based development in IT industry
Case study in 1 – 2 IT companies. Focus on COTS-based development in critical system or maintenance / evolution issues
Feb – June. 2004
Ph.D Student Seminar 19 Nov. 2003