Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Reflections on the Need for Disambiguation of Terminology for Software Process Improvement

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Systems, Software and Services Process Improvement (EuroSPI 2018)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 896))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

Researchers often invent new terms or borrow terms from other domains which they modify or reinterpret by attaching novel meanings to suit the context of their investigation. In established disciplines, such as traditional engineering, physics, and mathematics, there is no ambiguity in the relevant terminology as terms as well as their relationships are expressed formally, mostly using mathematical equations. In Software Engineering the fact that there is a need for a glossary or lists of definitions at the end of every book and within nearly all research papers, is evidence that the discipline is not yet mature enough even after 50 years from the coining of the term Software Engineering. Refinements and re-interpretations of existing terms, combined with new terms introduced with every innovation, every new technology or tool, by both researchers and practitioners, result in ambiguities which need to be addressed. As change is inevitable there needs to be a mechanism through which ambiguities can be identified and addressed. This paper outlines major advances in Terminology Management for Software Process Improvement and reflects on the constant need for terminology disambiguation. It proposes a bottom-up pragmatic approach for using ontologies and for integrating research and practice. It also proposes a framework based on SPI Manifesto values and principles for the disambiguation of terms for continuous process improvement and, thus, for enhancing value and for catering for change which is inevitable.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Eco, U.: Social life as a sign system. In: Robey, D. (ed.), Structuralism: An Introduction, Clarendon, Oxford (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bozkurt, A., et al.: Trends in Distance Education Research: A Content Analysis of Journals 2009–2013 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Avison, D., Fitzgerald, G.: Information Systems Development: Methodologies, Techniques and Tools. Graw-Hill (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Jayaratna, N.: Understanding and Evaluating Methodologies, NIMSAD: A Systemic Approach, McGraw-Hill (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Howell, K.E.: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Methodology. Sage Publications, London (2013)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  6. Barn, B.S.: On the evaluation of reference models for software engineering practice. In: Proceedings of the 2nd India Software Engineering Conference, ISEC 2009, pp. 111–116 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Thomas, O.: Understanding the term reference model in information systems research: history, literature analysis and explanation. In: Bussler, Christoph J., Haller, A. (eds.) BPM 2005. LNCS, vol. 3812, pp. 484–496. Springer, Heidelberg (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/11678564_45

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  8. Barn, B.S., Dexter, H., Oussena, S., Petch, J.: An approach to creating reference models for SOA from multiple processes. In: IADIS Conference on Applied Computing, Spain (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Kitchenham, B., Pfleeger, S.L.: Software quality: the elusive target. IEEE Softw. 13, 12–21 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Siakas, K.V., Berki, E., Georgiadou, E., Sadler, C.: The complete alphabet of quality software systems: conflicts and compromises. In: 7th World Congress on Total Quality & Qualex 97, New Delhi, India, 17–19 February (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Georgiadou, E.: Navigating the labyrinth of software ‘re’ words. In: Dawson, R., Ross, M., Staple, G. (eds.) Proceedings of the 17th International Conference Software Quality Management (SQM), Software Quality in the 21st Century. BCS (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Kitchenham, B.: Software Metrics, Measurement for Software Process Improvement. NCC/Blackwell, Oxford (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Abran, A., Sellami, A., Suryn, W.: Metrology, measurement and metrics in software engineering. In: Proceedings of the 5th International Workshop on Enterprise Networking and Computing in Healthcare Industry (IEEE Cat. No. 03EX717) (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Rout, T.P.: Consistency and conflict in terminology in software engineering standards. In: Proceeding of the Fourth IEEE International Symposium and Forum on Software Engineering Standards (ISESS 1999), pp. 67–74. IEEE Computer Society Press, Los Alamitos (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Gilb, T.: Competitive Engineering: A Handbook For Systems Engineering, Requirements Engineering, and Software Engineering Using Planguage. Elsevier Butterworth-Heineman, Oxford (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Garcia-Penalvo, F.J., Colomo-Palacios, R., Garcia, J.: Towards an ontology modelling tool. A validation in software engineering scenarios. Expert Syst. Appl. 39(13), 11468–11478 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Navigli, R.: Word sense disambiguation: a survey. ACM Comput. Surv. 41(2), 10:1–10:69 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Prokofyev, R., Demartini, G., Boyarsky, A., Ruchayskiy, O., Cudré-Mauroux, P.: Ontology-based word sense disambiguation for scientific literature. In: Serdyukov, P., et al. (eds.) ECIR 2013. LNCS, vol. 7814, pp. 594–605. Springer, Heidelberg (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36973-5_50

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  19. Clarke, P.M., et al.: Refactoring software development process terminology through the use of ontology. In: Kreiner, C., O’Connor, Rory V., Poth, A., Messnarz, R. (eds.) EuroSPI 2016. CCIS, vol. 633, pp. 47–57. Springer, Cham (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44817-6_4. ISBN 978-3-319-44817-6

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  20. Jacobson, I., Pan-Wei, N., McMahon, P., Spence, I., Lidman, S.: The Essence of Software Engineering—Applying the SEMAT Kernel. Addison-Wesley, Boston (2013). Forthcoming in January 2013 but available in a prepublication version on safaribooksonline.com

    Google Scholar 

  21. Karsch, B.I., Sauberer, G.: terminological precision - a key factor in product usability and safety. In: Marcus, A. (ed.) DUXU 2011. LNCS, vol. 6769, pp. 138–147. Springer, Heidelberg (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-21675-6_16

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  22. Sauberer, G., Villar, B.N., Dreßler, J.R., Schmitz, K.-D., Clarke, P.M., O’Connor, R.V.: Do we speak the same language? Terminology strategies for (software) engineering environments based on the Elcat model - innovative terminology e-learning for the automotive industry. In: Stolfa, J., Stolfa, S., O’Connor, Rory V., Messnarz, R. (eds.) EuroSPI 2017. CCIS, vol. 748, pp. 653–666. Springer, Cham (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-64218-5_54. ISBN 978-3-319-64218-5

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  23. ISO/IEC/ IEEE 24765, ISO International Standard ISO/IEC/ IEEE 24765 First edition 2010-12-15 Systems and software engineering—vocabulary was published by ISO JTC 1/SC 7

    Google Scholar 

  24. Hu, B., Dasmahapatra, S., Dupplaw, D., Lewis, P., Shadbolt, N.: Reflections on a medical ontology. Int. J. Hum.-Comput. Stud. 65(7), 569–582 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Jacobson, I., Ng, P.-W., Spence, I.: Enough of process—let’s do practices. J. Object Technol. 6(6), 41–67 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Gómez-Pérez, A., Fernandez-Lopez, M., Corcho, O.: Ontological Engineering: With Examples from the Areas of Knowledge Management, e-Commerce and the Semantic Web. Springer, London (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/b97353

    Book  Google Scholar 

  27. Henderson-Sellers, B., Gonzalez-Perez, C., McBride, T., Low, G.: An ontology for ISO software engineering standards: 1) creating the infrastructure. Comput. Stand. Interfaces 36(3), 563–576 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Standish Group: The CHAOS Report. The Standish Group International (1994). http:// www.standishgroup.com/sample_research/chaos_1994_1.php

  29. Pfitzmann, A., Hansen, M.: A terminology for talking about privacy by data minimization: anonymity, unlinkability, unobservability, pseudonymity, and identity management – version v0.34. Technical report, TU Dresden and ULD Kiel (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Côté, M.-A., Suryn, W., Georgiadou, E.: In search for a widely applicable and accepted software quality model for software quality engineering. Softw. Qual. J. 15(4), 401–416 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Masolo, C., Borgo, S.: Qualities in formal ontology. In: Hitzler, P., Lutz, C., Stumme, G. (eds.) Proceedings of the Workshop on Foundational Aspects of Ontologies (FOnt 2005), pp. 2–16 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Calero, C., Ruiz, F., Piattini, M. (eds.): Ontologies for Software Engineering and Software Technology. Springer, Heidelberg (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-34518-3

    Book  MATH  Google Scholar 

  33. Gonzalez-Perez, C., Henderson-Sellers, B., McBride, T., Low, G.C., Larrucea, X.: An ontology for ISO software engineering standards, 2) proof of concept and application. Int. J. Hum.-Comput. Stud. 65(2007), 569–582 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  34. ISO/IEC TR 14143-3:2003: [23] Information technology—Software measurement—Functional size measurement—Part 3: Verification of functional size measurement methods

    Google Scholar 

  35. Å mite, D.: An empirically based terminology and taxonomy for global software engineering. Empir. Softw. Eng. 19(1), 105 (2014). ISSN 1382-3256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Mahon: The Essence of Software Engineering - Applying the SEMAT Kernel. With Pan Wei Ng, Paul Mc Mahon, Ian Spence and Svante Lidman. Addison-Wesley (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Clarke, P., et al.: An Investigation of Software Development Process Terminology. In: Clarke, Paul M., O’Connor, Rory V., Rout, T., Dorling, A. (eds.) SPICE 2016. CCIS, vol. 609, pp. 351–361. Springer, Cham (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-38980-6_25

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  38. Ralph, P.: Toward methodological guidelines for process theories and taxonomies in software engineering. IEEE Trans. Softw. Eng. (2018). https://doi.org/10.1109/TSE.2018.2796554

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Middlesex University, London, UK

    Elli Georgiadou

Authors
  1. Elli Georgiadou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elli Georgiadou .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Tecnalia Bizkaia, San Sebastián, Spain

    Xabier Larrucea

  2. Tecnalia Bizkaia, San Sebastián, Spain

    Izaskun Santamaria

  3. School of Computing, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland

    Rory V. O'Connor

  4. I.S.C.N. GesmbH, Graz, Austria

    Richard Messnarz

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Georgiadou, E. (2018). Reflections on the Need for Disambiguation of Terminology for Software Process Improvement. In: Larrucea, X., Santamaria, I., O'Connor, R., Messnarz, R. (eds) Systems, Software and Services Process Improvement. EuroSPI 2018. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 896. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97925-0_49

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97925-0_49

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-97924-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-97925-0

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation