Gislaine Camila Lapasini Leal

Knowledge and Contextual Information Management in Global Software Development: Challenges and Perspectives

Global Software development approach has become a reality with growing demand for complex software. However, this approach requires a greater attention because it demands additional coordination and communication among the distributed team members. So, tools and techniques to share information and knowledge generated by each team geographically dispersed are necessary. In this scenario, this position paper presents a set of challenges and opportunities for research in global software development (GSD). These challenges and opportunities are focused on contextual information management, knowledge management, performance management, socio-cultural aspects of GSD, and strategies to store and sharing data. They were mapped into a proposed research agenda with the following items: knowledge management in GSD projects; definition of mechanisms to support the capture of contextual information; use of cloud computing paradigm to store data generated; study of techniques for dealing with the contextual information; and establishment of performance dimensions to provide support for the decision maker that manages the distributed teams. The research agenda also includes strategies defined aiming to strengthen the partnership between university and industry. We believe that the collaboration between university and industry can contribute for the consolidation of the area in Brazil.

Context-awareness on software artifacts in distributed software development: a systematic review

Distributed Software Development (DSD) has brought several competitive advantages, but also many challenges, such as communication among physically distributed teams. In order to establish the collaboration in software development, communication and awareness on artifacts generated and shared among team members are essential. The purpose of this article is to present a systematic review identifying papers in the current literature that address acquisition and presentation techniques of contextual information when software artifacts are generated or updated in DSD. Some important properties and contextual information, such as relationship among artifacts and their change history during the software development, were identified and are presented as well.

An Experimental Study of the FIB Framework Driven by the PDCA Cycle

In this paper, we present an experimental study of a framework for construction of graphical interfaces, conducted from the perspective of a tool of quality, the PDCA cycle. The steps related to the implementation of an experimental study, since its planning until the analysis of results are described. The paper aims to show how the PDCA can be used to provide continuous improvement in the conduct of experiments.

An Insight in Perspective about the Capitalization of Knowledge in Software Engineering

The knowledge-intensive nature of software production and its growing demand suggest the need to define appropriate means to capitalize on the knowledge involved in software production and, thus, minimize the problems relating to time, cost and quality. The capitalization of knowledge can be approached under different views or perspectives. Thus, this article presents four perspectives on which the capitalization of knowledge in software engineering can be analyzed: Value, Safety, Utility and State. Each perspective guides a distinct view, but interrelated, over which the knowledge involved in software engineering can be observed and evaluated.

Mixed Integer Programming helping Requirements Allocation for the NRP in SCRUM Teams

This paper proposes an approach based on mathematical modeling to provide decision making support for the Next Release Problem (NRP) arising in software development and maintenance companies that use SCRUM to manage teams and new releases of its software products. This approach aims to support the decisions from Product Owners and Teams about which requirements should be implemented for the next software release. Therefore it is proposed to use mixed integer programming in three different objective functions: (i) maximization of the customer satisfaction (considering their business value), (ii) minimization of software development time and (iii) minimization of the costs to produce the requirements. We consider constraints such as team availability, dependencies among requirements, the teams performance among others. The modeling was performed with the help of the AIMMS tool and some case studies were performed in three software development and maintenance companies using real data. The results show that it was possible to adapt the NRP for this kind of companies, achieving a better customers satisfaction and business results using our approach.

Implantação do lean seis sigma em uma indústria de fios têxteis

Devido a concorrencia acirrada das empresas em conseguir ampliar a participacao no mercado, ha um aumento de interesse no que se diz respeito aos assuntos relacionados com reducao de custos, eficiencia nos negocios e nos processos, adquirir novos clientes, aumento da qualidade e melhoria continua. Diante dessas situacoes, as empresas estao adotando algumas praticas que buscam melhorar suas estrategias, compreender mais as necessidades de seus clientes e promover o crescimento dos negocios, para isso os Programas Lean Manufacturing e Seis Sigmas vieram com o intuito de fazer com que as empresas consigam obter a melhoria continua em seus negocios. O presente trabalho apresenta um estudo de caso em uma industria de fios texteis que com o objetivo de aumentar o faturamento dos seus negocios e a eliminacao de desperdicios, foi utilizado a metodologia do Programa Lean Seis Sigma para auxiliar no alcance do mesmo.

Melhoria de Processo Operacional Utilizando Mapa de Fluxo de Valor em Uma Indústria Metal-Mecânica / Operating Process Improvement Using Value Stream Map on a Metal-Mechanics Industry

O Mapeamento do Fluxo de Valor (MFV) e uma ferramenta enxuta que direciona as tomadas de decisoes das empresas, permitindo que seja possivel a identificacao de desperdicios por todo o fluxo de valor e pelo processo produtivo. Este trabalho se utilizou de uma pesquisa-acao com o objetivo de destacar a importância do uso do mapa de fluxo de valor como um mecanismo para a melhoria de processo operacional, o qual permite a identificacao e analise de problemas no fluxo de valor, alem de direcionar o uso das ferramentas enxutas por meio de eventos Kaizen para melhorar os processos individuais e dar suporte ao estado futuro. A analise dos processos visou a reducao do lead time de producao e reducao de estoque por meio da implementacao de um sistema de coordenacao de producao puxado, nivelamento do mix e volume de producao e fluxo continuo. Como resultado, pode-se comprovar que o mapa de fluxo de valor e extremamente eficaz na reducao do lead time e do estoque. Palavras-chave : Mapeamento de Fluxo de Valor. Manufatura Enxut. Melhoria de Processo. ABSTRACT The Value Stream Mapping (VSM) is a lean tool that guides the decision making of companies allowing the possibility to identify loss throughout the value stream and the production process. This study used an action search in order to highlight the importance of value stream map used as a mechanism for improving the operational process, which allows the identification and analysis of problems in the value stream, and direct the use of lean tools through Kaizen events to improve the individual processes and support future state. The analysis of processes aimed at reducing the production lead-time and inventory reduction through the implementation of a coordination of pulled production system, flatness of mix and volume of production and continuous flow. As a result, it can be verified that the value stream map is extremely effective in reducing lead-time and stock. Keywords: Value Stream Mapping. Lean Manufacturing. Process Improvement.

Management tools as a support of cleaner production implementation: a case study in a food industry

The manufacturing industry, besides being a major consumer of natural resources, is also considered a major generator of waste. It is clear that the adopted mode of production is currently keeping away companies from what is called sustainable development. Thus, the present study analyses cleaner production models and quality management tools in order to obtain a model that integrates these concepts. To characterise the use of the model proposed in this paper, a case study in an industry of the food sector will be presented. This research allowed the analysis of the method applicability and its impact in reducing waste generation and consumption of natural resources. As a result, there was a 17% reduction in the consumption of the raw material (firewood), and a 20% reduction in waste generation (ashes), and consequently the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Empirical study of the evaluation of perspectives to knowledge capitalisation in Brazilian software industry

Knowledge capitalisation directs the activities of use, exploitation and reuse of knowledge for performing new tasks, including technical and management aspects. Specifically, considering software development, knowledge capitalisation demands an analysis that considers four complementary and interdependent perspectives on knowledge: value, security, utility and status. These perspectives focus on different facets according to which knowledge can be analysed, in addition to provide a foundation for a better awareness on knowledge and the necessary treatment. This study presents an empirical study with the purpose of evaluating the relevance of these perspectives by using a survey questionnaire distributed to software development companies in the Brazilian market. Three hundred thirty nine individuals from different 339 companies were subjects of such a study. The results indicate that the perspectives are relevant for evaluating knowledge and reinforcing the relevance of exploring knowledge capitalisation in software development; therefore, there is a clear understanding of how the knowledge assets involved can be analysed or assessed.

UTILIZAÇÃO DO MÉTODO DE CUSTEIO ABC COMO INSTRUMENTO DE GESTÃO EM UMA LANCHONETE DE PEQUENO PORTE

No atual cenario do mundo globalizado, onde a concorrencia so aumenta, sente-se a necessidade de identificar os problemas da empresa, principalmente a gestao de custos que e fundamental para a empresa nao perder seu mercado. O presente estudo teve como intuito a aplicacao do metodo de custeio baseado em atividade (ABC) em um estudo de caso em uma lanchonete de pequeno porte no interior, mostrando a importância da gestao de custos para as empresas e o quao fundamental e para o auxilio de tomadas de decisoes assertivas e controle de custos para que assim possam se manter no mercado. Com os resultados da pesquisa foi possivel identificar quais produtos merecem mais atencao e direcionar a tomada de decisoes gerenciais da empresa, ja que o metodo ABC proporciona calculos de custos mais acurados, tanto para as atividades, quanto para os produtos e com isso obtem informacoes mais precisas relacionadas as operacoes realizadas na empresa alem de uma melhor definicao de custo sobre cada produto.